Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park - gettingaround (U.S. National Park Service)

Two main roads take you through these parks:

The Generals Highway (connecting CA 198 to CA 180) enters the southwest boundary of Sequoia National Park at Ash Mountain and meets CA 180 in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon park to the north.
The Kings Canyon Highway (CA 180) enters Kings Canyon National Park at Grant Grove, descends into the Kings Canyon, and stops at Road's End.
Available only during the summer, a new shuttle service! For a small fee you can now ride a shuttle from the city of Visalia to the Giant Forest Museum. Once at the museum explore the Giant Forest area on the free park shuttle.

Distances and travel times within the parks:

Between Ash Mountain in the foothills and Giant Forest/Lodgepole (17/21 miles) allow 1 hour due to tight, steep switchbacks (maximum advised vehicle length is 22 feet. Longer vehicles are advised to use CA 180 to Grant Grove, then come south on the Generals Highway to the Giant Forest).
Between Giant Forest/Lodgepole and Grant Grove (28 miles) allow 1 hour.
Between Grant Grove and Cedar Grove in the Kings Canyon (28 miles) allow 1 hour + 15 minutes.
Between Ash Mountain and Mineral King (28 miles) allow 1 hour + 20 minutes on this very narrow and winding road (no trailers).

All roads in the park are very curving; many are steep, most are narrow. Always keep right of the yellow lines, and pull into a turnout to let those behind you pass.
Downshift when going downhill, even in automatic transmission vehicles. This lets the engine help to slow you down and helps to avoid the common problem of burned-out brakes.
Do not park hot cars on dry grass as this can cause a fire.

Map showing roads in and around Sequoia and Kings Canyon Naitonal Parks

Only the western side of these parks has roads. No roads cross the parks from east to west.