Visiting Sequoia National Park: General Sherman, Narrow Roads and Why a Driver Helps

The General Sherman Tree is the largest tree in the world by volume. The National Park Service gives its height as 274.9 feet and its volume as an estimated 52,500 cubic feet. The trunk alone weighs close to 1,400 tons. It stands at the north end of Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park, and the road to reach it is the part of the trip people underestimate.

Park facts and road advice checked against the National Park Service on November 9, 2026, by the Private USA Tours planning team.

How big is the General Sherman Tree?

According to the NPS tree statistics:

Measurement	Feet	Meters
Height above base	274.9	83.8
Circumference at ground	102.6	31.1
Maximum diameter at base	36.5	11.1
Height of first large branch	130.0	39.6
Diameter of largest branch	6.8	2.1

The NPS estimates that the tree contains about 630,000 board feet of lumber, enough for roughly 120 average-sized houses. It is the largest by volume, not the tallest tree on Earth; coast redwoods grow taller.

How to reach Sequoia: Highway 198 or 180

• Highway 198 enters Sequoia National Park at the town of Three Rivers (Ash Mountain Entrance). Beyond the entrance, the road is narrow and winding. The NPS advises against vehicles longer than 24 feet between the Foothills Visitor Center and Potwisha Campground, and longer than 22 feet between Potwisha and the Giant Forest Museum.
• Highway 180 reaches Kings Canyon National Park from the west via Fresno at the Big Stump Entrance. It is straighter and wider and is the NPS-preferred route for longer vehicles.

No road crosses the Sierra mountains from west to east through Sequoia and Kings Canyon, so you enter and leave on the same side.

The NPS also warns that GPS and online maps may send you onto unpaved or gated remote roads that avoid the entrance stations. Use Highway 198 for Sequoia and Highway 180 for Kings Canyon, and turn off the "avoid tolls" setting if your map app asks.

Things that catch visitors out

• There is no fuel in the parks. No gas stations or chargers inside park boundaries. Fill up or charge in the foothills first.
• Chains. During snowy weather, tire chains may be required, and the NPS warns that chains may be required at any time on the mountain roads.
• Summer lines. On Fridays, Saturdays and holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, long lines of cars have extended from the entrance stations.
• No entry reservation. The NPS says no reservation is required to enter Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Check the basic information page before you go, as rules can change.
• Slow driving. Roads are steep, winding and narrow, so allow more time than the map says.

Fees for overseas visitors

Sequoia & Kings Canyon is one of the 11 parks where visitors from outside the US pay a $100 nonresident fee per person aged 16 or over, on top of the entrance fee. See our guide to the America the Beautiful pass for international visitors to check whether the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass saves you money.

Drive yourself or take a private tour?

Driving yourself works well if you are comfortable on mountain roads, are in a car under the length limits and have a full day. A private driver-guide is worth it when:

• Your group includes older travelers or anyone who gets carsick on winding roads.
• You are doing Sequoia as one stop on a longer California trip and do not want to spend your day navigating.
• You want a guide to explain the trees and fit in the quieter groves and viewpoints, away from the General Sherman crowds.

FAQ

How tall is the General Sherman Tree?

274.9 feet (83.8 m) above its base, according to the NPS.

Is General Sherman the biggest tree in the world?

It is the largest tree by volume, estimated at 52,500 cubic feet. Coast redwoods are taller.

Is there gas inside Sequoia National Park?

No. There are no gas stations or chargers within park boundaries, only limited seasonal stations on nearby national forest lands.

Which road should I take to Sequoia National Park?

Highway 198 for Sequoia, via Three Rivers. Highway 180 for Kings Canyon, via Fresno, and the preferred route for longer vehicles.

Do I need a reservation to enter Sequoia?

The NPS says none is required, but check its site for your dates.

Plan Sequoia with a specialist

Sequoia fits well into a California road journey with Yosemite and the coast. See our Grand American Odyssey for one example, or talk to a USA specialist and we will build a private itinerary with a driver-guide.

Sources: General Sherman Tree, NPS; Sequoia & Kings Canyon driving directions, NPS; Sequoia & Kings Canyon basic information, NPS; Nonresident fees, NPS.

Cover photo: Lahti213, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.