Best Tent Camping near Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Tent campsites in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks accommodate various camping preferences across diverse ecosystems. Established options include Cold Springs Campground, which offers primitive tent sites along a creek, and Atwell Mill Campground, set within an old Sequoia grove. Buckeye Flat Campground provides tent-only sites with picnic tables and bear boxes, making it suitable for those seeking basic amenities while remaining immersed in nature.
Most tent campgrounds feature designated sites with fire rings and food storage lockers, essential for bear safety. Vault toilets are available at established campgrounds, though shower facilities are notably absent throughout the parks. Elevations range from 5,000 to 11,400 feet, affecting seasonal access patterns. The Mineral King area campgrounds require navigating a narrow, winding mountain road that can take over an hour to travel just 20 miles. According to reviews, this drive "can be scary for those afraid of heights," but tent campers find the seclusion worth the journey.
Backcountry tent camping options provide remarkable solitude with sites at Guitar Lake, Twin Lakes, and Weaver Lake accessible only by hiking trails. These areas require wilderness permits and adherence to strict food storage regulations due to active wildlife. The higher elevation sites typically remain snow-covered until late June. Sites at Weaver Lake accommodate tents on terrain with natural boulder formations that create privacy barriers between camping areas. One camper noted that Weaver Lake offers "a backpacker's dream with the satisfaction of having a water source at your first night's location." Tent campers at Atwell Mill enjoy camping among giant sequoia stumps in what one visitor described as "an amazing place with sites that hardly ever fill up."
