10 Best Campgrounds in (and Near) Sequoia National Park

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If you’re wondering where to camp in Sequoia National Park, the good news is that there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

The downside is that there are so many campgrounds that it can be hard to choose the best campground to stay at!

There are lots of campgrounds in and around Sequoia National Park. To make planning more difficult, the National Park Service co-manages Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks as one unit so the list of campgrounds in these parks are lumped together online.

I’m sharing my list of the best campgrounds in and around Sequoia National Park from my own research and experience when I visited this park.

I’ve distinguished which campgrounds are within the park boundaries versus outside it to make it even easier to pick the best campground for you based on their locations.

I hope this list helps you so you can spend less time planning and more time exploring the great outdoors!

Ready to book your campsite? Here are the best campgrounds in (and near) Sequoia National Park.

Camping in Sequoia National Park: Know Before You Go

All of Sequoia National Park’s campgrounds can be reserved up to 30 days in advance.
Bears live throughout Sequoia National Park. It’s crucial that you store your food and any scented items like toiletries in your campsite’s bear box – NOT in your vehicle – to prevent bears from being attracted to campgrounds and becoming aggressive.
When fire danger is very high in the park, campfires and wood-burning stoves may be prohibited. Check the park’s camping page for current fire restrictions before your camping trip.
Check out the National Park Services’ official map of Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Parks to see where each of these campgrounds are located.

Best Campgrounds in Sequoia National Park

The factors that make a campground “best” vary from person to person so I’ve listed a variety of campgrounds to include something for everyone. Here are descriptions of the best campgrounds in Sequoia National Park so you can choose the ideal campground for you!

Can’t find a campsite in one of the best Sequoia National Park campgrounds? Try a service like Campnab which sends you alerts when a reservation is canceled and a campsite becomes available.

Lodgepole Campground

Lodgepole Campground is the campground that I’d recommend for most people visiting Sequoia National Park. This is the best campground for the typical visitor because of its location in the park and the amenities available onsite.

Lodgepole Campground is just north of all of the park’s highlights in the center of Sequoia National Park. The location makes it super easy to spend more quality time visiting landmarks like General Sherman and Moro Rock and less time driving to them.

There are more amenities at Lodgepole Campground than at any other campground in the park. This campground has a visitor center with a general store which is really convenient if you need any forgotten or last-minute items to make your camping trip comfortable. Lodgepole Campground also has an amphitheater to host ranger programs so you can get even more out of your trip to Sequoia National Park.

The shuttle that runs through Sequoia National Park stops at Lodgepole Campground, giving visitors the option to avoid the headache of finding parking during the busy season.

Lodgepole Campground is one of the larger campgrounds in Sequoia National Park. The 214 campsites, which can accommodate both tents and RVs, make it easy for anyone to find a campsite available to reserve.

On top of all this, Lodgepole Campground is also the starting point for great hikes like the easy trek to Tokopah Falls.

Click here to reserve a campsite at Lodgepole Campground up to 30 days ahead of your stay.

Dorst Creek Campground

As of this writing, Dorst Creek Campground is closed while the NPS makes the campground safe from the impacts of the 2021 KNP fire. Check the Dorst Creek Campground web page to check when the campground reopens.

Dorst Creek Campground is a beautiful campground surrounded by a mixed conifer forest and meadows with multiple small streams running through it.

Additionally, Dorst Creek Campground is one of the best campgrounds in Sequoia National Park because of its convenient location and size.

The campground is near the northern end of the park, close to the border with the Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park. It’s also only 10 miles from Sequoia National Park’s popular Giant Forest Grove. This makes it an ideal location if you plan to see both national parks but don’t want to switch campgrounds during your stay.

Several day hikes start at Dorst Creek Campground including the trails to Muir Grove and the Lost Grove. The campground is also near the Little Baldy trail, which was one of my favorite experiences in Sequoia National Park.

Dorst Creek Campground is the largest campground in Sequoia National Park with 222 sites, which includes sites for both tents and RVs and 4 group campsites. Like Lodgepole Campground, this is a go-to campground that can be reserved by any camper.

(While I’ve described the number of campsites as a benefit, I know that a large campground is a camping con for other people. If that’s the case, the next campground on this list is for you!)

Click here to reserve a campsite at Dorst Creek Campground up to 30 days ahead of your stay.

Buckeye Flat Campground

Buckeye Flat Campground is one of the best places to camp if you want a quieter camping experience but still want to access the highlights of Sequoia National Park.

There are only 27 campsites here, making it one of the smallest campgrounds in Sequoia National Park. These campsites are for tent camping only.

Though the small size gives it a more remote feeling than other campgrounds, Buckeye Flat Campground still has basic comforts like flush toilets and drinking water.

The campground also isn’t too far from the park’s popular sights. It takes less than an hour to get to General Sherman, the main attraction in Sequoia National Park. Buckeye Flat Campground looks close to the highlights of Giant Forest Grove on a map, but Generals Highway is steep and winding along this stretch so prepare for a slow drive between the campground and the attractions.

This campground is located down at a lower elevation in the Sierra Foothills. Keep this in mind since it is hotter and drier here in the summer than it is at most of the other campgrounds in Sequoia National Park, which are higher up in the mountains.

Click here to reserve a campsite at Buckeye Flat Campground up to 30 days ahead of your stay.

Potwisha Campground

Potwisha Campground is the closest campground to Sequoia National Park’s southern entrance and is right off of the park’s main highway. This makes it a great choice to consider if you’re arriving from the south of the park and want to set up camp before launching into your adventure.

It’s only 3 miles away from Buckeye Flat Campground so these two campgrounds offer a similar experience. The main difference is that Potwisha Campground welcomes small RVs in addition to tents. It is also a bit larger with 42 campsites.

Potwisha Campground also has an amphitheater for campers who are interested in evening programs.

Click here to reserve a campsite at Potwisha Campground up to 30 days ahead of your stay.

Cold Springs Campground

If you’re coming to Sequoia National Park for the excellent hiking into the Great Western Divide instead of the park’s main attractions, Cold Springs Campground is for you.

This campground is a great home base for a more rugged adventure in Sequoia National Park.

Cold Springs Campground is nestled among conifer and aspen trees near the far east end of Mineral King Road, two hours away from the attractions in the Giant Forest Grove. This road is narrow, winding, and mostly unpaved, so be prepared for the drive in to this less developed section of the park.

This is one of the highest elevation campgrounds in Sequoia National Park. A number of trails to alpine lakes – including Eagle Lake, Mosquito Lakes, and Monarch Lakes – start near Cold Springs Campground.

There are 40 campsites here, including 9 walk-in sites which are 100-200 yards away from their parking spots. All of the campsites are for tents only.

Although Cold Springs Campground is in a less developed section of Sequoia National Park, basic amenities are still provided. Vault toilets and drinking water are both available for campers.

Click here to reserve a campsite at Cold Springs Campground up to 30 days ahead of your stay.

Atwell Mill Campground

Similar to Cold Springs Campground, Atwell Mill Campground is also located along Mineral King Road in the south of Sequoia National Park.

From here, you’ll have easy access to trails that lead to alpine lakes and mountain passes including the lengthy Atwell-Hockett Trail. This is a beautiful section of the park to explore if you’re up for the challenge!

Atwell Mill is only half the size of Cold Springs Campground with 21 campsites. These campsites only allow tent camping.

Vault toilets and drinking water are both provided at the Atwell Mill Campground.

Click here to reserve a campsite at Atwell Mill Campground up to 30 days ahead of your stay.

Best Campgrounds Near Sequoia National Park

If you didn’t reserve a campsite in one of the campgrounds listed above, don’t worry. There are plenty of places to camp in the area around Sequoia National Park. Here are the 4 best campgrounds near Sequoia National Park to consider exploring.

Stony Creek Campground

Although Stony Creek Campground is not within the national park limits, it is still in one of the best locations for visitors who want to be close to both amenities and the popular destinations in Sequoia National Park.

Stony Creek Campground is right off of Generals Highway in the area of Sequoia National Forest that’s between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. This makes it an ideal place to stay if you plan to explore both national parks.

The campground is only half a mile away from the Stony Creek Resort, which offers services including groceries, gasoline, and showers. These amenities put the campground in an even more convenient place if you didn’t stock up on the necessities before entering the park.

At Stony Creek Campground itself, facilities include flush toilets, drinking water, and an amphitheater for evening programs in the summertime.

Stony Creek Campground is home to 49 campsites, most of which can handle either tent or RV campers.

Click here to reserve a campsite at Stony Creek Campground up to 6 months in advance.

Upper Stony Creek Campground

Upper Stony Creek Campground is across the street from Stony Creek Campground. Its location offers the same benefits as Stony Creek Campground for campers who want to be close to it all.

Upper Stony Creek Campground is half the size though with only 22 campsites. These campsites are spread along Stony Creek and can host either tents or RVs.

From this campground, visitors can access the trail to Jennie Lake and a network of other trails for multi-day hikes.

Click here to reserve a campsite at Upper Stony Creek Campground up to 6 months in advance.

Sunset Campground

There are a few more campgrounds in the national forest, but they are further off the main highway that runs between Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. If you are going spend time driving between Sequoia and your campground, you might as well spend that time driving into a second national park to see that destination as well!

Sunset Campground is the closest campground to Kings Canyon National Park’s entrance. It’s right off the highway that leads to Sequoia National Park, so you can reach the core section of Sequoia in less than an hour.

This forested campground is in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park. It’s about a mile away from the General Grant tree, which is one of the biggest trees in the world and a main attraction in Kings Canyon National Park.

Sunset Campground offers a number of amenities for campers. It’s two minutes away from the Grant Grove Village which offers a visitor center, restaurant, and gift shop. The campground itself has flush toilets, drinking water, and an amphitheater.

There are 158 campsites at Sunset Campground. Both tents and RVs can be used here.

Click here to reserve a campsite at Sunset Campground up to 30 days ahead of your stay.

Azalea Campground

Azalea Campground is just as great of an option as Sunset Campground.

This campground is about half a mile down the highway from Sunset Campground. Its location provides the same benefits of proximity to amenities and sights in both national parks.

And like Sunset Campground, Azalea Campground is situated in a conifer forest for a classic camping experience in the woods.

There are 110 campsites at Azalea Campground. Both tents and RVs are permitted here.

Click here to reserve a campsite at Azalea Campground up to 30 days ahead of your stay.

Summary of the Best Campgrounds In and Near Sequoia National Park

Phew, that was a lot of information on a lot of campgrounds!

Here’s a summary of the best camping spots in Sequoia National Park depending on what you’re looking for in a campground:

Best campground to be near the park’s highlights and amenities: Lodgepole Campground
Best campground to access both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: Dorst Campground
Best campground to be secluded but still close enough to the park’s highlights: Buckeye Flat Campground
Best campground to kick off a rugged adventure hiking to alpine lakes: Cold Springs Campground

Each campground has something different to offer so there is a campground for everyone. No matter where you choose to camp, an awesome adventure awaits you.

Enjoy your camping trip in Sequoia National Park!

As always, enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Leave no trace on all of your adventures.