- Sequoia and Kings Canyon are the closest parks, making them the easiest to combine with Yosemite.
- Pinnacles is a great off-the-beaten-path option, offering unique rock formations and fewer crowds than major parks.
- Death Valley and Joshua Tree are best visited outside of summer due to extreme heat and limited hiking conditions.
- Lassen Volcanic is more remote but offers geothermal features similar to Yellowstone with lighter visitor traffic.
- Driving times vary significantly by season, especially when Tioga Pass is closed, adding hours to travel routes.
Yosemite National Park is an amazing destination by itself, but California has so many incredible national parks within its borders. What are California’s other national parks, and are they worth exploring?
Let’s go through them one by one. We’ve left off Redwood and Channel Islands National Parks, California’s other two remaining parks, because they are quite a distance away from Yosemite.
1. Sequoia National Park
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Yosemite’s southern neighbor, about 2.5 hours away, is another Sierra Nevada wonder, with mountains, valleys, and of course, the most outstanding forests of sequoias anywhere in the world. That includes General Sherman, the largest known sequoia.
Surprisingly, there are also caves to explore in the park, as well as:
- alpine meadows
- hikes to towering waterfalls, and some cozy lodges
- Hike to the viewpoint atop Moro Rock
- Drive your car through a sequoia tree
- Marvel at the ancient pictographs on Hospital Rock
It’s a quintessential national park experience, much like Yosemite.
2. Kings Canyon National Park
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Kings Canyon National Park is adjacent to Sequoia and is connected by the Generals Highway. In fact, the two parks are administered jointly by the NPS.
Kings Canyon is similar to Sequoia but a little quieter, and it has its own impressive sequoia stands that include General Grant, the second-largest known sequoia.
There’s also the drive into Kings Canyon itself, which is deeper than even the Grand Canyon. There are more alpine meadows, waterfalls, and caves to explore as you descend deeper into the canyon.
3. Pinnacles National Park
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Only a national park since 2013, Pinnacles slips quietly under the radar in the hills east of the Salinas Valley, about 2.5 hours south of San Francisco and 3.5 hours west of Yosemite.
Volcanic spires make this a whimsical landscape for hiking and rock climbing. Not only that, but the talus caves on some of the trails are a true adventure. Pinnacles is also known for its California Condors.
4. Lassen Volcanic National Park
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Perhaps California's most remote national park, Lassen Volcanic, is located over 5 hours north of Yosemite in Northern California.
Because of its location between the Sierra Nevada to the south, the Cascades mountain range to the north, and the Great Basin desert to the east, it has a varied landscape that is sometimes reminiscent of Yosemite, Crater Lake, and even Yellowstone.
Its geothermal areas and Lassen Peak are highlights, and with only one major road traversing the park, it’s easy to explore in just a day or two.
5. Death Valley National Park
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Death Valley is the hottest and lowest point in all of North America, and its superlatives are stunning to see in person. The scope of the massive mountain ranges and valleys is simply hard to fathom.
Stand at the lowest point in North America at Badwater Basin. Then get a birds-eye view of the basin from Dante’s View, where, on a clear day, you may also see Sequoia’s Mt. Whitney, which is the highest point in the contiguous United States. That’s right, the lowest and highest points in one look.
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and Zabriskie Point are also highlights.
The distance from Yosemite to Death Valley depends on the season. When Tioga Pass is open, Death Valley is only about 3 hours away. But if it’s closed due to snow, you have to pass south of the Sierra Nevada, adding a few more hours.
6. Joshua Tree National Park
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About 6 hours south of Yosemite is another heavy hitter and increasingly popular destination: Joshua Tree.
The whimsical namesake plants look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book, and combined with the other unique desert plants and the ever-fun-to-climb rock gardens, this corner of the Mojave and Colorado deserts really looks like another planet.
Be sure to check out the Hidden Valley trail, climb around Arch Rock and Skull Rock, and take in the landscape of the San Andreas Fault from Keys View. There are plenty of hiking and rock climbing adventures to be had in this fantasyland.
FAQs About Visiting Parks Near Yosemite
How many national parks are within a few hours of Yosemite?
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are by far the closest and easiest to see within a few hours of Yosemite. Both are about 2.5 hours away.
Pinnacles National Park is about 3.5 hours away. The rest are well over 5 hours or more.
Can you visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon in one trip?
Absolutely! They are both connected by the Generals Highway, making it easy to explore one and then the other. With only one day, you’re probably only seeing the major highlights and won’t have time for any major hiking. You may also not have time to fully explore Kings Canyon itself.
What’s the best time of year to explore these parks?
Summer is when everything is the most accessible, and when the mountain passes are open. However, Death Valley and Joshua Tree are brutally hot during the summer and should be visited with caution. You should not attempt any major hikes during the summer, especially during the heat of the day.
Are there entrance passes that cover multiple parks?
The NPS offers an annual America the Beautiful pass that gets you into every NPS site, including national parks, national monuments, historic sites, and more.
Which nearby park is best for families or beginners?
While everyone’s priorities are different, Sequoia and Kings Canyon are easy to navigate and see some amazing sequoias with minimal effort.
Explore with Shaka Guide
Want an easy way to explore these national parks? Shaka Guide has you covered with a self-guided driving tour of every one of these parks. Our turn-by-turn navigation, trip planning, and storytelling will enhance your experience and help you get the most out of your time. Leave each national park as an expert!
Matt Caracciolo is a travel writer based in Ohio and author of the Shaka Guide tour for Yosemite. Born and raised in Columbus, Matt fell into travel writing while teaching English abroad in South Korea.
He has written two travel books, including the Moon Ohio guidebook, and enjoys writing and editing tours for Shaka Guide. Matt follows Mark Twain’s belief that “travel is fatal,” embracing travel as a way to learn more about the world and ourselves.
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