California has nine national parks, more than any other state. I’ve visited all of them, some multiple times across different seasons, and they range from the most famous park in America to hidden gems that barely register on most travelers’ radar. Every single one is worth your time, but if you’re planning a trip, you need to know the logistics, because some of these parks have become genuinely difficult to visit without advance planning.
Here’s my complete guide to all nine, including the honest truth about which ones to prioritize.
The Big Three: Parks Everyone Should See
1. Yosemite National Park
Yosemite is the park that made the national park concept famous, and it lives up to every expectation. Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and the Merced River running through it all. I’ve been at least eight times and I still catch my breath driving into the Valley.
- Entry fee: $35 per vehicle (valid 7 days)
- Best time to visit: May and June for waterfalls, September and October for fewer crowds
- Reservation system: Yosemite requires advance day-use reservations from April through October. They’re released in batches on Recreation.gov and sell out fast. Set a reminder for the release dates.
- Camping: There are 13 campgrounds. Upper Pines, Lower Pines, and North Pines in the Valley are the most popular and book up the instant the 5-month reservation window opens. Arrive at 7:00 AM for first-come-first-served sites at Camp 4.
- Must-do hike: Mist Trail to Vernal Fall (5.4 miles round trip, moderate). If you’re fit, continue to Nevada Fall for a stunning 7-mile loop.
- Budget tip: Curry Village canvas tent cabins run $130-170 per night and are the most affordable in-park lodging.
2. Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree hits different. The surreal landscape of twisted trees, jumbo boulder piles, and wide-open desert sky feels like another planet. It’s also one of the best stargazing parks in the system.
- Entry fee: $30 per vehicle (valid 7 days)
- Best time to visit: October through April. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 110°F and the park becomes dangerous for hiking.
- Reservation system: No day-use reservations required. Campground reservations through Recreation.gov for the more popular sites.
- Camping: Jumbo Rocks Campground ($15 per night, no water) is my favorite for its setting among massive boulders. Black Rock and Cottonwood have flush toilets and water for $25 per night.
- Must-do hike: Ryan Mountain (3 miles round trip, moderate) for 360-degree views of the park. Skull Rock Trail (1.7 miles, easy) is great for families.
- Budget tip: Free dispersed camping is available on BLM land just outside the park boundaries. I’ve camped off the road near the north entrance many times.
3. Death Valley National Park
Death Valley is the largest national park outside Alaska and one of the most extreme environments on earth. I’ve been there when it was 120°F and when it was 40°F, and both experiences were unforgettable.
- Entry fee: $30 per vehicle (valid 7 days)
- Best time to visit: November through March. Do not underestimate summer heat; people die here every year from heat exposure.
- Reservation system: No day-use reservations required.
- Camping: Furnace Creek Campground ($22 per night) has water and flush toilets. Texas Spring ($16 per night) is close by and slightly quieter. Both fill up on winter weekends.
- Must-do experiences: Zabriskie Point at sunrise, Badwater Basin (lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level), Artist’s Drive, and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes at golden hour.
- Budget tip: The Ranch at Death Valley has rooms starting around $200 in winter but often drops to $130-150 midweek. The park is free during designated fee-free days.
The Sierra Parks: Ancient Trees and Deep Canyons
4. Sequoia National Park
Home to the General Sherman Tree, the largest living thing on earth by volume. Walking up to this tree for the first time is a humbling experience. Sequoia pairs naturally with Kings Canyon next door.
- Entry fee: $35 per vehicle (valid 7 days, covers both Sequoia and Kings Canyon)
- Best time to visit: June through September for full access. The road to Giant Forest is open year-round but chains may be required in winter.
- Camping: Lodgepole Campground ($22 per night) is closest to Giant Forest and reservable. Potwisha ($22 per night) is at lower elevation and warmer.
- Must-do hike: Congress Trail (2.1 miles, easy) through the Giant Forest among dozens of massive sequoias. Moro Rock (0.5 miles, steep stairs) for incredible views.
5. Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon is Yosemite’s less-visited cousin with equally dramatic scenery. The canyon itself is deeper than the Grand Canyon in places, and the solitude is remarkable.
- Entry fee: Included with Sequoia pass ($35 per vehicle)
- Best time to visit: June through September. Kings Canyon Scenic Byway typically opens late April or May and closes with the first snow.
- Camping: Sentinel Campground ($22 per night) in Cedar Grove is first-come-first-served and rarely fills on weekdays.
- Must-do hike: Zumwalt Meadow Trail (1.5 miles, easy) along the Kings River. Rae Lakes Loop (42 miles, backpacking) is one of the best multi-day hikes in the Sierra.
The Coastal Parks: Redwoods and Islands
6. Redwood National and State Parks
Walking among the tallest trees on earth is a near-spiritual experience. The park is actually a patchwork of one national park and three state parks that are jointly managed.
- Entry fee: Free for the national park areas. State park day-use is $8 per vehicle.
- Best time to visit: June through September for the driest weather, though fog and mist are part of the experience year-round.
- Camping: Jedediah Smith Campground ($35 per night through ReserveCalifornia) is gorgeous and set among old-growth redwoods. Elk Prairie ($35 per night) is close to Fern Canyon.
- Must-do hike: Fern Canyon (1 mile, easy) with its 50-foot walls covered in ferns. You need a permit to drive to the trailhead ($12 per vehicle, book on Recreation.gov).
- Budget tip: The Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway is free and drives you right through incredible old-growth forest.
7. Channel Islands National Park
California’s “Galapagos” sits just off the coast of Ventura. Five islands with no development, no cars, and no cell service. This is one of the least-visited parks in the system and one of the most special.
- Entry fee: Free (but you need a boat or plane to get there)
- Best time to visit: Spring for wildflowers and whale watching, summer for kayaking and snorkeling, fall for the clearest water
- Getting there: Island Packers runs ferries from Ventura and Oxnard. Round-trip tickets are $60-82 per adult depending on the island. Santa Cruz Island is the most popular and closest.
- Camping: Scorpion Ranch on Santa Cruz Island ($15 per night, reservable on Recreation.gov). You carry everything in.
- Must-do: Kayaking the sea caves at Santa Cruz Island. Guided tours run $65-120 per person.
The Volcanic Park
8. Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen is California’s hidden gem and one of the least-visited parks in the lower 48. It has all four types of volcanoes (shield, composite, cinder cone, and plug dome) plus boiling mud pots, fumaroles, and hot springs.
- Entry fee: $30 per vehicle (valid 7 days)
- Best time to visit: July through September. The park road through the middle typically opens in June and closes by late October.
- Camping: Manzanita Lake Campground ($26 per night) is the largest and most developed. Summit Lake North and South ($24-26 per night) are beautiful lakeside sites.
- Must-do hike: Bumpass Hell Trail (3 miles round trip, moderate) to the park’s largest hydrothermal area. The boardwalk through boiling pools and steam vents feels like Yellowstone without the crowds.
- Budget tip: Lassen rarely fills up even in peak summer. You can usually get a campsite without a reservation on weekdays.
The Pinnacles
9. Pinnacles National Park
The newest of California’s national parks (designated 2013), Pinnacles protects the remnants of an ancient volcano and is one of the best places in California to spot California condors.
- Entry fee: $30 per vehicle (valid 7 days)
- Best time to visit: February through May for wildflowers and comfortable temperatures. Summer exceeds 100°F regularly.
- Camping: Pinnacles Campground on the east side ($30 per night for tent sites, $40 for RV with electric) is the only campground and run by a concessionaire.
- Must-do hike: Bear Gulch Cave to High Peaks Trail loop (5.3 miles, moderate to strenuous). The cave section requires a flashlight and involves scrambling through talus caves. Check for closures during bat maternity season (May through July).
The America the Beautiful Pass
If you’re visiting more than two parks, buy the America the Beautiful Annual Pass for $80. It covers entry to all national parks and federal recreation areas for a full year. At $30-35 per park visit, it pays for itself after just two or three parks. I buy one every year and it’s the best deal in outdoor recreation.
Which Parks to Prioritize
If you have time for only one: Yosemite. It’s iconic for a reason.
If you have a week: Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon make a natural loop from the Central Valley, or combine Joshua Tree and Death Valley for a desert trip from LA.
If you want solitude: Lassen Volcanic, Channel Islands, or Kings Canyon. These parks see a fraction of Yosemite’s traffic.
If you’re short on time from LA: Joshua Tree is 2.5 hours from the city and doable as a long day trip. Channel Islands is a full day trip from Ventura (1 hour from LA).
California’s national parks represent some of the most diverse landscapes in the world, all within a single state. The key to enjoying them is planning ahead for reservations, visiting during shoulder seasons when possible, and giving yourself enough time to actually slow down and take it all in.