Advice needed please re seeing Sequoia NP without a car

Hello,

My husband and I are traveling from Australia in July/August and will have 5 days free in early August between leaving Minneapolis and going to LA during which we hope to see some of the wonderful giant sequoia trees.

My vague plan is to fly to Fresno, and use public transport (?coach) to get to Three Rivers, where we would probably stay for about 3 nights. Buckeye Lodge sounded appealing, as it is close to the river and has some restaurants nearby.

I believe there is a forest shuttle that goes through Three Rivers that could take us on tours of the National Parks? Hopefully you can get off and explore and hop on again later.

If anyone has any suggestions or comments about whether this is likely to work, or any better ideas I would be very pleased to hear them.

BTW we are early 50s and not up to too much hiking, especially if it%26#39;s uphill!

Many thanks

Tina

Advice needed please re seeing Sequoia NP without a car

The problem with your plan is getting from the Fresno Airport to Three Rivers. I can%26#39;t think of any method to get you from that airport to Three Rivers without a rental car.

To do Sequoia without a car you%26#39;ll need to look at using a different airport.

USAir operates flights between Visalia and Las Vegas. The 19 passenger aircraft fly the route several times a day.

From Downtown Visalia there is a summer park shuttle to Sequoia, you can then use the in the park busses to see the sights. From Visalia Airport to Downtown Visalia will probably require a 4 or 5 mile taxi ride.

The web site for the Sequoia Shuttle is here, but the schedules are not listed yet.

http://www.sequoiashuttle.com/

I don%26#39;t know if the shuttle will stop in Three Rivers, supposedly it will.

You might consider staying in the downtown Visalia area. I%26#39;d recommend the Visalia Marriott or the Visalia Comfort Suites, both only a couple of blocks from where the park shuttle will depart. That area also has many food and entertainment choices.

If you are considering a hotel in Three Rivers you might contact them for more info about getting from the Visalia Airport or Fresno Airport to their hotel without a rental car. They may also have more info on the shuttle.

This link from the park provides more info about getting to Sequoia and Kings Canyon using airlines or trains, including the phone numbers to find out more about the schedules and fees for the new shuttles inside and outside the park.

nps.gov/seki/…publictransportation.htm

Advice needed please re seeing Sequoia NP without a car

Actually, Greyhound Bus has service between Fresno and Visalia (probably downtown to downtown). So you would probably need a taxi or local Fresno FAX bus from Fresno Airport to downtown Fresno, then the Greyhound bus to Visalia. See www.greyhound.com

The Visalia Marriott and Comfort Suites both provide convenient curbside pick up for the Sequoia Shuttle several times daily, seven days a week.

For more information, and the most recent schedules, visit us online.

Thank you all for you assistance.

We are now going to travel via Amtrak from LA to Hanford then by bus to Visalia and have booked 5 nights at a B%26amp;B.

I have rung the Sequoia Shuttle and it seems this will meet our need to get to and around the park without a vehicle.

If anyone has any other tips about things to see/do/places to eat in the area they would be greatly appreciated.

Tina

I think your amtrak plan is the best. Amtrak from LA to Hanford is not all by train though. The LA to Bakersfield portion is by Amtrak Bus. Then Bakersfield to Hanford is by train. Then as you know, you will get back on the bus. This will be the easiest and by far the cheapest.