Best Time to Visit Sequoia National Park

Pick a month. Best months are in bold.

The best months to visit Sequoia National Park are May, June and October — computed from official NPS visitation (2021–2025 average), NOAA weather normals and daylight. July is the crowd peak (194,120 monthly visits); February is quietest at 21% of peak.

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Best months for fewer crowds

The quietest months at Sequoia, leaving out harsh weather and months when main access is typically closed.

Monthly crowd curve

Average monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). Amber bar = current month.

Sequoia month by month

Crowds: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, mean of 2021–2025 (2020 excluded as a COVID-19 anomaly). Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station LODGEPOLE, CA US (4 mi from park coordinates). Daylight: computed for the 15th of each month at the park's location. Methodology.

How many people visit Sequoia each year

Sequoia National Park had 1,378,337 recreation visits in 2025, 5% more than 2024 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). The busiest year since 2015 was 2025, with 1,378,337. Over 2021–2025 it averaged 1,176,246 visits a year, which makes it the 24th most-visited of the 63 national parks.

Calendar-year recreation visits as published by NPS Visitor Use Statistics. 2020 is shown here but left out of the monthly averages above, because the COVID-19 pandemic makes it unrepresentative. See how every park compares: all 63 parks ranked by visits.

What to pack for Sequoia in May

Computed from May's weather normals — Sequoia's best month above. Visiting another month? Each month page has its own weather-computed list.

• Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy) — mornings average 33°F
• Packable rain jacket — 2.0″ of precipitation is normal this month
• Traction devices (microspikes) and gaiters — 6″ normal snowfall (compare other options)
• Insulated, waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 6″ of snow is normal this month

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Common questions

Sequoia month by month: notes from the park service

• January: January is the heart of Sequoia's chain season. The park service says tire chains or cables are most often required from November through March, and under any chain requirement every vehicle in the control zone has to carry them, four-wheel and all-wheel drive included.
• February: February is still peak chain season on Sequoia's roads, which the park service says runs most often from November through March. When chain controls are posted, every car must carry chains or cables, whatever its drive, and must hold to 25 mph.
• March: March at Sequoia shows how much elevation matters: temperatures can differ by 20 to 30 degrees across the park, and there may be spring flowers in the foothills while Giant Forest is still under snow. The foothills average about 64°F in the afternoon, while the sequoia groves reach only the mid-40s.
• April: April begins spring in Sequoia, a season the park service says lasts until about mid-June depending on elevation. The sequoia groves are often still snowy, late storms are common and chains may still be required, so check the forecast before driving up.
• May: May in Sequoia still counts as spring at most elevations, according to the park service, with melting snow in the groves and the chance of a late snowstorm. Mineral King, one of the parks' two seasonal areas, opens from spring to fall, while Giant Forest and Lodgepole, the Foothills and Grant Grove offer services all year.
• June: June brings hot, dry weather to Sequoia's foothills, around Potwisha, Buckeye Flat and Hospital Rock, where afternoons average about 89°F and summer rain is rare. Up in the Giant Forest, Lodgepole and the Sherman Tree area, the groves stay pleasant, typically near 68°F by day and the mid-40s at night.
• July: July is Sequoia's peak: the park service says most visitors come in summer, when the sequoia groves are comfortable and a welcome break from the heat in the foothills. It strongly recommends reserving summer camping and lodging.
• August: August is warm days and cool evenings in Sequoia's big-tree groves, about 76°F in the afternoon and 50°F at night, with occasional afternoon thundershowers. The foothills below stay very hot, averaging the mid-90s with records above 110°F, and in the foothills rain is rare in summer, since most precipitation falls from January to mid-May.
• September: From September the weather in Sequoia usually starts cooling at night, the park service says, though days can stay warm and it can turn stormy fast after a hot spell. Through the fall, facilities cut their hours or close and ranger programs thin out, and Mineral King and Cedar Grove close once the snowy season comes.
• October: October is when Sequoia's chain season can begin. The park service says tire chains or cables are often required on park roads from fall through spring, most often November through March, but a storm can bring them at any time.
• November: November is when Sequoia's chain season gets serious: the park service says chain requirements can come at any time from fall through spring but are most common November through March. Every vehicle in a chain control zone, four-wheel and all-wheel drive included, must carry chains or cables, and the speed limit drops to 25 mph while controls are on.
• December: December in Sequoia means planning for snow on the road up. The park service says chain requirements are most common from November to March, and that when they are in force all vehicles need chains or cables on board, four-wheel drive or not, with a 25 mph limit.

Each month page carries the full note and the NPS page it comes from.

Dive into a month

Comparing parks for the same trip? See how Sequoia ranks against all 63 parks in May, June and October.

Last verified 2026-09-24 · all parks