NationalParkEntry

CA · Pacific West

Kings Canyon National Park entry requirements

No timed-entry or vehicle reservation is needed to enter Kings Canyon in 2026. Entrance is $35 per vehicle. Check any visit date against the official 2026 rules.

The 2026 season at Kings Canyon

This is what applies across the published season. Use the date checker below for a specific day.

No reservation is required to enter Kings Canyon National Park in 2026. Some activities need their own permit.

An entrance fee or accepted pass is required on every visit, separately from anything below.

  1. Park entrance

    Required

    You must pay the park entrance fee or show an accepted pass.

    • Private vehicle: $35, valid for 7 days.
    • Motorcycle: $30.
    • Per person on foot or bicycle: $20.
    • An America the Beautiful pass covers this entrance fee. It does not cover any reservation or permit below.
    • One fee admits you to BOTH Kings Canyon and Sequoia, plus the Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest — you do not pay twice. Entrances: Big Stump (Hwy 180, Kings Canyon), Ash Mountain (Hwy 198, Sequoia). $35 vehicle, $30 motorcycle, $20 per person, valid 1–7 days; $70 annual pass. Under 16 free. Cashless. Non-U.S. residents aged 16 and over pay an extra $100 per person, unless admitted on an Annual or America the Beautiful pass.

  2. Timed entry

    Not required

    Nothing here is required in 2026.

    • No timed entry, no vehicle reservation, no entry reservation. Reservations ARE required for lodging, camping, wilderness permits during the quota season, and (in Sequoia, not Kings Canyon) Crystal Cave tours.

  3. Vehicle, road, or corridor

    Not required

    Nothing here is required in 2026.

    • Highway 180 to Cedar Grove and Roads End closes for the winter (typically mid-November to late April/early May). The Grant Grove area (Big Stump Entrance Station to Hume Lake Road, General Grant Tree, Kings Canyon Visitor Center) stays open year round, subject to temporary snow closures. Tire chains can be required at any time on park roads due to snow and ice; vehicles without proper traction devices may not be allowed on certain roads or into the parks. Opening and closing dates may change depending on weather and conditions — no fixed dates are published.

  4. Shuttle

    Not required

    Nothing here is required in 2026.

    • There are NO shuttles in Kings Canyon — the free shuttle system runs only in Sequoia. Visitors to Sequoia's Giant Forest can use the free shuttle there; it does not extend to Kings Canyon.

  5. Your campground or lodging

    Required all year

    Kings Canyon campground reservation applies on every date in 2026.

    • Kings Canyon campground reservation

      Dates
      Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
      Hours
      All day
      Fee
      Not published
      Opens
      Rolling window

      Applies to Grant Grove area: Azalea, Crystal Springs and Sunset Campgrounds. Cedar Grove area: all campgrounds (reachable only while Highway 180 east of Hume Lake Road is open).

      • The parks' Current Conditions page does not publish Kings Canyon nightly rates; they are listed on the individual campground pages and on Recreation.gov.
      • During the winter, part of Azalea Campground is open on a first-come, first-served basis.
      • Reservation windows vary between campgrounds — check the individual campground page or Recreation.gov.
      • A campground reservation does not include the park entrance fee or the nonresident fee, and there is no entry reservation for it to cover.
    • In-park lodging: Lodging is optional; camping is the alternative.
    Book on recreation.gov

  6. Selected activity

    Required on some dates

    Wilderness permit for overnight backcountry trips apply during part of 2026.

    • Wilderness permit for overnight backcountry trips

      Dates
      May 22, 2026 – Sep 26, 2026
      Hours
      All day
      Fee
      $15
      Opens
      Rolling window · 7 a.m. Pacific Time

      Applies to All Kings Canyon wilderness entry points, including the Roads End (Cedar Grove) and Grant Grove trailheads. Permits are picked up at the station closest to your trailhead — Roads End Ranger Station, Grant Grove, or Cedar Grove.

      • $15 per trip plus $5 per person during the quota season, paid on Recreation.gov. Free outside the quota season. The per-person portion is refundable for cancellations or party-size reductions up to one week before the trip.
      • Day hikers do not need a wilderness permit.
      • Outside the quota season (September 28, 2025 - May 21, 2026) wilderness permits are free, self-issued at trailhead kiosks, and not limited by daily quotas.
      • Reservations are available for most, but not all, entry points.
      • A wilderness permit does not cover the park entrance fee, and a campground booking does not cover the wilderness permit.
    Book on recreation.gov

Fees and passes

Private vehicle$35
Motorcycle$30
Per person, on foot or bicycle$20
Valid for7 days
Park annual pass$70

One fee admits you to BOTH Kings Canyon and Sequoia, plus the Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest — you do not pay twice. Entrances: Big Stump (Hwy 180, Kings Canyon), Ash Mountain (Hwy 198, Sequoia). $35 vehicle, $30 motorcycle, $20 per person, valid 1–7 days; $70 annual pass. Under 16 free. Cashless. Non-U.S. residents aged 16 and over pay an extra $100 per person, unless admitted on an Annual or America the Beautiful pass.

An America the Beautiful pass is accepted here. It covers the entrance fee only. It does not cover a timed-entry permit, a vehicle reservation, a parking tag, a shuttle ticket, or an activity permit.

An America the Beautiful pass or the $70 Sequoia & Kings Canyon annual pass covers the entrance fee AND waives the $100 nonresident fee for the holder and passengers (or holder plus three adults for per-person fees). It does NOT cover wilderness permits, camping, lodging or cave tours. 2026 change: fee-free days now apply only to U.S. residents. Pre-2026 passes keep their original terms.

Fee-free days

  • Feb 16, 2026
  • May 25, 2026
  • Jun 14, 2026
  • Jul 3, 2026
  • Jul 4, 2026
  • Jul 5, 2026
  • Aug 25, 2026
  • Sep 17, 2026
  • Oct 27, 2026
  • Nov 11, 2026

From 2026 a fee-free day waives the entrance fee for U.S. residents. Other visitors still pay it, plus the $100 nonresident fee where it applies. A fee-free day never waives a reservation, a permit, or a booking fee unless the park says so.

Rules that apply to one area only

These do not apply to the whole park. Where you go changes the answer.

  • Kings Canyon National Park (Grant Grove and Cedar Grove areas), entered at the Big Stump Entrance Station on Highway 180 from Fresno. The same pass also admits you to Sequoia National Park (Ash Mountain Entrance Station on Highway 198) and the Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest.Entrance fee — one pass covers Kings Canyon AND Sequoia · Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
  • Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks — one of only 11 NPS units charging this fee$100 per-person nonresident fee for non-U.S. residents aged 16 and over (new for 2026) · Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
  • All Kings Canyon wilderness entry points, including the Roads End (Cedar Grove) and Grant Grove trailheads. Permits are picked up at the station closest to your trailhead — Roads End Ranger Station, Grant Grove, or Cedar Grove.Wilderness permit for overnight backcountry trips — quota and fee May 22 - September 26, 2026; free self-issue outside that window · May 22, 2026 – Sep 26, 2026
  • Grant Grove area: Azalea, Crystal Springs and Sunset Campgrounds. Cedar Grove area: all campgrounds (reachable only while Highway 180 east of Hume Lake Road is open).Kings Canyon campgrounds are reservation-only in spring, summer and fall · Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

What a campground or lodging booking does and does not cover

  • Entrance fee — one pass covers Kings Canyon AND SequoiaNot covered by an in-park booking. A campground, lodge or wilderness permit booking does not include the entrance fee.
  • $100 per-person nonresident fee for non-U.S. residents aged 16 and over (new for 2026)Not covered by an in-park booking. A campground or lodging booking does not waive the nonresident fee.
  • Wilderness permit for overnight backcountry trips — quota and fee May 22 - September 26, 2026; free self-issue outside that windowNot covered by an in-park booking. A wilderness permit does not cover the park entrance fee, and a campground booking does not cover the wilderness permit.
  • Kings Canyon campgrounds are reservation-only in spring, summer and fallNot covered by an in-park booking. A campground reservation does not include the park entrance fee or the nonresident fee, and there is no entry reservation for it to cover.

Quick answers

Do I need a reservation for Kings Canyon?
No. Kings Canyon National Park does not require a timed-entry or vehicle reservation to enter in 2026. You still pay the entrance fee ($35 per vehicle) or show an accepted pass.
Is there an entrance fee at Kings Canyon?
Yes. A private vehicle pass is $35 per vehicle. An America the Beautiful pass is accepted for the entrance fee, and does not cover any reservation or permit.

Official links, coverage, and sources

When reservations are released

  • Sequoia and Kings Canyon entrance feeSold on demand at entrance stations and visitor centers, or online in advance. Nothing sells out. The parks are CASHLESS at entrance stations — most credit/debit cards and Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay are accepted. Cash buyers must pre-buy a $35 7-day vehicle pass at the Sequoia Parks Conservancy store in the Kings Canyon Visitor Center (Grant Grove Village) before entering.
  • $100 per-person nonresident fee for non-U.S. residentsCharged at the entrance station in addition to the standard entrance fee; no advance booking. Residency is checked by photo ID.
  • Wilderness permit for overnight backcountry tripsReleased on a rolling window. Release time: 7 a.m. Pacific Time. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance of your trip and are released daily at 7:00 AM Pacific. Reservations can be made between six months and one week prior to entry. Permits must be physically picked up and validated; pick up from 1:00 pm the day before entry until 10:00 am on the entry day, or the reservation is cancelled at 10:00 am and released to walk-ups.
  • Kings Canyon campground reservationReleased on a rolling window. Booked on Recreation.gov. The parks state that reservation windows vary by campground and do not publish a single release date or clock time — do not assume a uniform window.

Official booking and park information

What this does not cover

  • Road, weather, and fire closures that change day to day. Check the park’s alerts page.
  • Backcountry and wilderness permits beyond the headline permits listed above.
  • Commercial use authorizations, filming permits, and group-size rules.
  • Availability. We tell you what is required, not whether anything is left.
  • Individual campsite and lodge availability, which is handled by the booking system.

Effective dates and sources

  • Fees and passesNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-30 · applies to Park entrancePrivate Vehicle $35.00 — This pass is valid for 1-7 days and includes everyone traveling in a single vehicle for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument. Same page, read 2026-07-30: "Each non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass."
  • Entrance Fees & Passes - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service)National Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Sequoia and Kings Canyon entrance feeReservations are not accepted or required. Most credit cards, debit cards, and digital forms of payment are accepted... The entrance fee amount varies depending on how a visitor arrives at the park, and whether they are part of a commercial tour group or not.
  • Entrance Fees & Passes - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service)National Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to $100 per-person nonresident fee for non-U.S. residentsEach non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass.
  • Permits & Reservations - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service)National Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to No timed entry, no vehicle reservationReservations are not required to enter the parks, but an entrance fee is collected at our entrance stations, or you may buy a pass online to save time waiting in line. Reservations are required for other services, such a lodging, camping, and cave tours.
  • Road Conditions - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service)National Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Highway 180 to Cedar Grove and RoadsHume Lake Road to Roads End (access to the Cedar Grove area) — Provides access to the Kings River Canyon and Cedar Grove area. This section of the highway closes for the winter. It typically closes in early to mid-November and reopens in late April or early May.
  • Wilderness Permits & Reservations - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service)National Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Wilderness permit for overnight backcountry tripsWilderness Permits during the Quota Season (May 22, 2026 - September 26, 2026)... Wilderness permit reservations are available on Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance of your trip, and are released daily at 7:00 AM Pacific Standard Time.
  • Current Conditions - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service)National Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Kings Canyon campground reservation[Grant Grove Area Conditions (Kings Canyon National Park)] All camping is by reservation only, through recreation.gov. Azalea Campground is open. During spring, summer, and fall, camping is by reservation only. During the winter, part of the campground is open on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Park Shuttles - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service)National Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to There are NO shuttles in Kings CanyonShuttles ONLY operate within Sequoia National Park; there are no shuttles in Kings Canyon National Park. ... Summer 2026 Shuttle Service Will Run From May 22 Through September 7
  • Current Conditions - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service)National Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to In-park lodging[Cedar Grove Area Conditions (Kings Canyon National Park)] Cedar Grove Lodge (overnight accommodations): OPEN. Market and Grill: OPEN. Showers, Laundromat: OPEN.

Something wrong here?

Park rules change, sometimes at short notice. If a line on this page does not match what the park publishes, tell us and we will fix it and re-check the source.

corrections@nationalparkentry.com· Last factual change 2026-08-05 · Sources last reviewed 2026-07-26

Nearest other national parks

Chosen by distance from Kings Canyon, not by editorial preference.