Road Trip from Campbell to Sequoia + King's Canyon National Parks


It’s February 8th, 2020, and Jeremy and I are up bright and early, buzzing with excitement — today we’re heading to Sequoia National Park with my parents and my sister, Katrina. We meant to leave before sunrise, but real-life timing wins and we finally pull out around 8:00am, coffee in hand and road trip energy high.


The drive from Campbell is just over four hours. My parents take the front seats while Katrina, Jeremy, and I cozy into the back — and by cozy, I mean we are packed in like excited sardines. I claim car-DJ duty and put on my “Wedding Playlist,” which has a little something for everyone. It turns into a car-karaoke session, off-key notes and all, and suddenly the long drive doesn’t feel long at all.

Winding mountain road with stone barrier curves along steep hillside under bright blue sky.

Entering Sequoia + King's Canyon National Parks


We reach the park entrance in the early afternoon, where the sun is bold and bright. As our Christmas gift, my parents buy us the America the Beautiful National Parks pass — the kind of present that fuels future adventures.


As we start exploring, my family jokes that if I stop for photos as often as I want to, we’ll still be here next week. Honestly… fair.


Our first little stop is Tunnel Rock, where we hop out to climb around and take pictures. Katrina strikes a dramatic Captain Morgan pose, and we scramble up just far enough to feel adventurous without ignoring the warning signs. She’s the brave one, climbing to the top; Jeremy and I stick to a safer angle, enjoying the perfect ledge for our feet.

Mountain stream cascades over rocks through steep canyon under bright sunny sky.
Person enjoying mountain views while sitting spread-eagled on large rock formation.
Hiker sitting on large granite boulder overlooking scenic mountain vista on sunny day.
Mountain stream flows through rocky terrain with blue pools of water in rugged valley landscape.
Natural stone arch formation spanning over hiking trail with people walking underneath.
Large natural rock formation creates archway over hiking trail in mountainous landscape.
Hiker relaxing on rocky outcrop during scenic mountain trail adventure.
Natural rock arch forms tunnel over hiking trail through mountainous terrain.
Rocky mountain stream with clear reflective water flowing between boulders and trees.
Rocky river valley with bright blue pools of water winding through mountainous terrain on sunny day.
Aerial view of rocky river canyon with turquoise water flowing through mountainous wilderness.

The Mountains


Even before reaching the famous giants, Sequoia is stunning. Rolling mountains, dramatic rock faces — the kind of scenery that insists you slow down and stare.


Fun fact: Sequoia National Park is home to Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in California. We don’t visit, but we do admire Mount Eisen and the rugged formation known as Castle Rocks.

Snow-capped mountain peaks rising dramatically against vivid blue sky in Sequoia National Park.
Massive granite cliff face rising above forested mountainside under clear blue skies.
Majestic mountain peaks with snow patches visible through valley in Sequoia National Park.

General Sherman


We drive with purpose toward General Sherman, the world-famous giant. Many people think it’s the “biggest tree on Earth,” which is partly true — it’s the largest by volume, not the tallest or widest. Still, standing near it feels humbling, like standing next to a living piece of ancient history.

Giant sequoia tree trunk illuminated by golden sunlight as visitors admire its massive size.
Historic General Sherman sequoia tree base with wooden fence and visitors viewing massive trunk.
Visitors pose in front of the massive General Sherman sequoia tree with a wooden fence and sign in Sequoia National Park.
Wooden fence surrounds the base of the General Sherman tree with its name displayed on a sign in golden sunlight.

World Record-Breaking Redwood Trees

Largest Tree by Volume

General Sherman, Sequoia National Park, 1,486.9 cubic meters, or 52,508 cubic feet.

Largest Tree by Circumference

Boole, Converse Basin Grove, Giant Sequoia National Monument, 34.4 meters around, or 113 feet.

Tallest Tree

Diamond, Atwell Mill Grove, 87.2 meters, or 286 feet.

Oldest Sequoia (Deceased)

Muir Snag, Converse Basin Grove, Giant Sequoia National Monument, 3,500 years.

Oldest Sequoia (Living)

President, Sequoia National Forest, 3,200 years.

Number of Sequoia Groves

There are 65 named Sequoia Groves in the world.

Black and white photo of a towering sequoia tree reaching towards a dark sky in a majestic forest setting.
Massive sequoia trees stand tall in a sunlit forest with golden light filtering through the canopy.
Giant sequoia trees reach towards a bright blue sky with sunlight illuminating their reddish bark.
Majestic sequoia tree trunk stretches upward against a vivid blue sky in Sequoia National Park.

Grant Grove


Next, we head to Grant Grove and the Fallen Monarch — a massive fallen tree that once sheltered cattlemen and even served as a saloon and horse stable. My mom has photos of herself with each of her kids in the old nearby cabin, taken at different stages of our lives. Today, she gets to update the one with Katrina, and I get photos with Jeremy and my parents too — memories stacked on memories.


As we explore the Fallen Monarch, the sun dips low, casting dramatic golden light through a heart-shaped opening in the wood. Soon it gets dark inside the tree’s massive hollow frame, making it feel almost enchanted.


Once we finish the General Grant Loop, Jeremy and I wander back toward the parking lot and admire the towering sequoias nearby. We find a set of “triplet” trees and of course take selfies — as one must when nature hands you a perfect backdrop. To show their scale, I snap a picture of Jeremy walking toward them; he looks tiny, even while standing closer to the camera than the trees. The size of these giants almost feels unreal.

Tall sequoia tree stands among snow-dusted ground with golden sunlight filtering through the forest.
Towering sequoia tree catches morning light while standing majestically among other forest giants.
Majestic sequoia tree reaches toward the sky with golden autumn foliage at its crown.
A fallen snow-covered sequoia log with moss growing on its side in a winter forest setting.
A snowy forest path winds through towering sequoia trees at dusk.
A giant sequoia tree with a large burn scar at its base stands among snow-dusted forest ground.
Golden sunset light illuminates the top of a towering sequoia tree against a blue sky.
Tall sequoia tree trunk rises straight up through the forest canopy.
Bright sunburst through giant sequoia trees creates dramatic lens flare in a misty forest setting.
A massive gnarled tree root system towers over a visitor at Sequoia National Park.
Sunlight streams through a hollow tree trunk creating a dramatic natural window effect.
Black and white photo of an exposed giant sequoia root system with wooden walkway in background.
Black and white photograph of a massive sequoia tree trunk stretching dramatically toward the sky.
Weathered tree root structure creates intricate patterns in evening light.

Leaving Sequoia National + King's Canyon National Parks


As night settles in, we meet back up with my parents and Katrina and begin the next leg of our adventure — a nighttime drive toward Yosemite National Park. We check into Yosemite View Lodge, and after such a full day of road tripping, singing, climbing, and thousand-year-old-tree-admiring, I fall asleep instantly and sleep like a rock.


The perfect start to a National Parks getaway.