Sequoia and Kings Canyon Entrance Fee and Pass Options (2026)

Where these numbers come from

These two neighboring parks are managed together, so one entrance payment covers both. The $35 vehicle pass is valid for seven days, which is enough to drive between the giant-tree groves and the deep canyon country without paying twice. The park pass, at $70, admits every passenger in a private vehicle for a year.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon is on the list of eleven parks with the $100 nonresident fee for visitors aged 16 and up. Holding an annual or interagency pass removes it. The parks say reservations are neither accepted nor required, so there is nothing to book in advance for entry. Because cash is not taken at the gates, plan to pay with a card or a phone wallet.

Reservations and payment: Reservations are not accepted or required for entry; pay by card or digital wallet at the entrance station.

Break-even arithmetic for U.S. residents: at $35 per vehicle, the interagency annual pass at $80 beats single passes once you make 3 entries across federal fee sites, since 3 x $35 = $105. The $70 park pass beats single passes from visit 2: 2 x $35 = $70, which ties it, so the second entry is the point where you stop losing. Use the pass break-even calculator to plug in your own mix of parks, or the entrance fee finder to compare other parks.

For nonresidents the surcharge changes everything. One adult pays $35 + $100 = $135 for a single visit; two adults pay $235; four adults pay $435. The $250 interagency pass covers a vehicle, or the passholder and three adults where fees are per person, and it also waives the surcharge. So it is the cheaper choice from three adults at this park, and it stays valid at every other federal fee site for a year.

Fee-free days in 2026 are Feb 16, May 25, Jun 14, Jul 3-5, Aug 25, Sep 17, Oct 27 and Nov 11, but from 2026 they apply only to U.S. citizens and residents. As of 2026-09-30, the remaining dates this year are Oct 27 and Nov 11. Timed entry and reservation fees can still apply on those days. For nearby options on the same road trip, compare this neighboring park page and this second park page.

Sources

• NPS Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks fees
• NPS entrance passes and 2026 free days
• NPS nonresident fees

Figures checked on September 30, 2026.

This page is general information, not legal, insurance or travel-agent advice. Fees, rules and limits change, so confirm the figures with the official sources listed above before you book or travel.