Overview
Sequoia National Park is one of the most spellbinding national parks in the United States. From vast mountainous landscapes to wildlife viewing, Sequoia fits the traditional view of what it means to be a national park.
And of course, the sequoia trees themselves are timeless, stunning reminders of the power of nature.
Sequoia National Park is managed together with its neighbor, Kings Canyon National Park.
And if you’re flying to get there, there’s one great airport option, followed by several far away options about 4 hours away.
Let’s look at the best airports to visit Sequoia National Park.
Map of Airports Near Sequoia
Where is Sequoia National Park?
Sequoia National Park is in California's southern Sierra Nevada mountains. It lies east of Fresno and south of Yosemite National Park. Known for its giant sequoia trees, including General Sherman, the world's largest tree, the park offers breathtaking landscapes, hiking trails, and unique ecosystems.
There are two entrances to the park. One, the Big Stump Entrance, is technically an entrance to Kings Canyon. But, it takes you to the Generals Highway, which exits Kings Canyon and then enters Sequoia from the north.
The Big Stump Entrance is just 53 miles, or a little over an hour, east of downtown Fresno.
However, we’ll talk about the main Sequoia entrance, the Ash Mountain Entrance, which is near the town of Three Rivers. The Ash Mountain Entrance is 77 miles, or about an hour and a half, south of downtown Fresno.
Sequoia Airports
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
Fresno Yosemite International Airport
- Location: Fresno, CA
- Distance from Sequoia: 82 miles
- Driving Time: 1.5 hours
More than likely, the most convenient airport to fly into for Sequoia is Fresno Yosemite International Airport. It’s the closest major airport to Sequoia, and several major carriers fly into it. And, like it says in the title, the airport is also convenient for visiting Yosemite National Park, which is just a couple hours away from Sequoia. Many people visit Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon all in the same trip.
Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
- Location: Burbank, CA
- Distance from Sequoia: 192 miles
- Driving Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
The next closest major airport is actually way south of the park, on the north side of the Los Angeles area in Burbank. Hollywood Burbank Airport is a reliever airport for the LA area. Most major airlines have flights heading into the airport, though Southwest has the most connections. Flying into this airport gives you the potential to add the LA area into your California itinerary.
San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)
San José Mineta International Airport
- Location: San Jose, CA
- Distance from Sequoia: 233 miles
- Driving Time: 3 hours 50 minutes
Moving on, the San Francisco Bay Area has three major airports. San Jose is the closest one to Sequoia National Park. It’s also the smallest. All major carriers fly into the airport, which mostly connect to major hubs. Southwest has the most connections.
Oakland International Airport (OAK)
- Location: Oakland, CA
- Distance from Sequoia: 245 miles
- Driving Time: 3 hours 55 minutes
Just squeaking in at under 4 hours is the Oakland International Airport, the next closest airport of the three in the Bay Area. Oakland is dominated by Southwest Airlines, which primarily connects to cities west of the Mississippi River.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
San Francisco International Airport
- Location: San Mateo County, CA
- Distance from Sequoia: 265 miles
- Driving Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
The furthest away of the Bay Area airports is San Francisco International Airport. It’s also by far the largest, handling over 50 million passengers a year. All major carriers are present, especially United and Alaska which operate hubs here.
Final Thoughts
Most people visiting Sequoia National Park will fly to California to get there. And most will probably fly into Fresno, because it’s the closest and most convenient airport.
But for some, flying into one of the airports farther away could be convenient if another part of California is part of their itinerary, or if the price is right. Keep in mind that flying into any of the three Bay Area airports adds traffic to the mix, which could add more drive time.
Looking for more airport choices? You can also look into Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) and Sacramento International Airport (SMF), both also around 4 hours away.
And wherever you fly in, remember to check out the Shaka Guide tour of Sequoia National Park.
We also have tours of California’s other National Parks, including Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Joshua Tree, and Redwood, as well as Lake Tahoe.
Ready to take the tour? Check out Shaka Guide's Sequoia National Park Tour!
We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at aloha@shakaguide.com.
For more detailed information to help you plan, check out our Sequoia National Park Itinerary and Know Before You Go article.
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