For the longest time, I wanted to head to Sequoia and camp out of my SUV. So, I did a ton of research and found where you’re allowed to camp out of your car in the area. Here’s what I found.
To car camp in Sequoia, you can either reserve a campground in the national park on recreation.gov or take part in free dispersed camping on land owned by the Bureau of Land Management. Ant Canyon Dispersed Area and Sequoia National Park Dispersed Campground are both dispersed camping sites in Sequoia.
Let’s get into more options and how to find the sites.
Where Can You Car Camp in Sequoia?
| Dispersed Camping | Reservation? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sequoia National Park Dispersed Campground | No | Free |
| Dome Rock Dispersed Camping | No | Free |
| Brush Creek Dispersed Camping | No | Free |
| Ant Canyon Dispersed Area | No | Free |
| Kern River Dispersed Camping | No | Free |
| Ten Mile Road Dispersed Camping | No | Free |
| Hanning Flat Dispersed Camping Area | No | Free |
| Chico Flat Dispersed Camping | No | Free |
| Calkins Flat Dispersed | No | Free |
| Campgrounds | Reservation? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Potwisha Campground | Required | $28/night |
| Azalea Campground | Required | $28/night |
| Buckeye Flat Campground | Required | $28/night |
8 Dispersed Camping Spots in Sequoia (Free)
1. Dome Rock Dispersed Camping
Open Season: Year-Round
Restrooms: No
Water: None
Busiest Season: Summer
Dome Rock is a spacious site with many spots to pick from. The area is full of enormous sequoia trees, right at the end of the dirt road Route 21S69.
The town of Ponderosa is super close. It also isn’t too far of a drive from the Giant Sequoia National Monument.
The elevation is above 6,000 feet, so it does get colder here at night, so be sure to pack accordingly.
Coordinates: 36.06814615768293 N, -118.53154697485996 W
2. Sequoia National Park Dispersed Campground
Open Season: Closed in Winter
Restrooms: Vault toilets at Holey Meadow
Water: None
Busiest Season: Summer
The actual camping area is directly a mile southeast of Holey Meadow, along M-50.
Here, you will find a running creek, huge trees, and a beautiful meadow nearby.
This dispersed site is not too far from other established campsites, but is still very secluded.
You can either park right along the road or venture off closer to the creek and meadow. Be sure to lock your food up, as this area is known for wildlife.
Coordinates: 35.95221 N, -118.59576 W
3. Brush Creek Dispersed Camping
Open Season: Year-Round
Restrooms: Yes
Water: None
Busiest Season: Summer
Brush Creek is a dispersed camping or day-use site open year-round. There are vault toilets available and seasonal trash bins.
This area is where Brush Creek meets the Upper Kern River and is a good spot for fishing (U.S. Forest Service).
Like all the dispersed sites on this list, campfire permits are required for campfires and camp stoves.
4. Ant Canyon Dispersed Area
Open Season: Year-Round
Restrooms: Portable Toilets
Water: None
Busiest Season: Summer
Ant Canyon Dispersed Area is known for snowcapped peaks up high and rushing water below. There are many sites next to the water, where you can swim in.
This site is just north of Goldledge Campground along the Upper Kern River. Portable toilets and trash bins are available in the summer months (U.S. Forest Service).
5. Ten Mile Road Dispersed Camping
Open Season: Year-Round
Restrooms: None
Water: None
Busiest Season: Summer
Just down the road from the established camping area “Ten-mile Campground”, you will find a huge dispersed area you can sleep in your car.
Ten Mile Road is also the road that leads to Hume Lake, a popular spot in Sequoia.
6. Hanning Flat Dispersed Camping Area
Open Season: Year-Round
Restrooms: Yes
Water: None
Busiest Season: Summer
Hanning Flat Dispersed is on the shore of Lake Isabella. No trash receptacles available (Pack In-Pack Out). No Camping or Campfires are allowed within 25 feet of the water’s edge (U.S. Forest Service).
7. Chico Flat Dispersed Camping
Open Season: Year-Round
Restrooms: Seasonal portable toilets
Water: None
Busiest Season: Summer
This site offers dispersed camping on Upper Kern River approximately 4 to 5 miles north of Kernville, right along the river.
You can park at your own “established” site.
8. Calkins Flat Dispersed Camping
Open Season: Year-Round
Restrooms: During the Summer
Water: None
Busiest Season: Summer
Calkins Flat Dispersed Camping is located on the Upper Kern River and similar to Ant Canyon, you can camp right by the water.
Be sure to arrive early as reservations run on a first-come, first-serve basis and there are fewer car sites than there are primitive walk-to sites.
3 Campgrounds in Sequoia
1. Potwisha Campground
Located in the southern region of Sequoia National Park, Potwisha Campground is located on the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. This campground is full with sunlit sycamore and oak trees. The adjacent Marble Fork of the Kaweah River adds a charming water element.
Not to mention, this site is more likely to be open in the colder months because it is lower in elevation.
Every site is equipped with a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and a food storage box to safeguard against the park’s native black bears.
Shared amenities include potable water sources, flush toilets, and a dump station.
2. Azalea Campground
Azalea Campground is located in the heart of Kings Canyon National Park.
Each campsite features a picnic table, a bear-resistant food storage box, and a fire ring. Shared amenities include flush toilets and drinking water.
Sited at an elevation of around 6500 feet, Azalea Campground is an excellent starting point to explore the park’s notable attractions such as the General Grant Tree and Panoramic Point. Accessible from late spring to early fall, it provides campers with a unique opportunity to soak in the beauty of the high Sierra.
Ranger-led programs are also available during the summer, offering an insightful peek into the park’s diverse flora, fauna, and geology!
3. Buckeye Flat Campground
Offering 28 tent-only sites, Buckeye Flat caters to the traditional camper. Each site is furnished with a picnic table, fire ring, and a bear-resistant food storage container.
Shared facilities include drinking water and flush toilets.
Situated at an elevation of approximately 2800 feet, Buckeye Flat Campground is located on the banks of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River. The ambient sound of the flowing river adds to the experience.
A short drive from the campground will take you to some of the park’s popular attractions, like the General Sherman Tree and Moro Rock. Operational from March to early November, Buckeye Flat also features ranger-led programs during summer.
For insight into how we converted our SUV into a camper, give our video below a watch!