Photo: SEKICrystal Springs Campground Mid-Sized Group Sites
★4.4(32 reviews)
High DemandSequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · Three Rivers, California🏞️Lake AccessRiver Access
Photo: SEKIBest For
Mid-sized groups in Grant Grove who need more space than a standard site but can't fill a large group loop. Book well ahead for August — it's the hardest single month to secure a group site in this campground, with only 0.5% of reservations made 6+ months out.
14
Sites
No
Hookups
These 14 mid-sized group tent sites at Grant Grove (6,500 feet) are separate from — but adjacent to — the standard Crystal Springs sites, and they function as a distinct reservation pool. The booking pattern is notably different from the standard sites next door: only 7.0% of August reservations across 199 bookings were last-minute (versus 100% at the standard sites), meaning groups need to actually plan ahead here. June is the peak volume month at 209 reservations with a 10.5% last-minute rate, confirming this is a plan-ahead campground. September drops to just 3 reservations with 33.3% last-minute, hinting at genuine cancellation availability in early fall.
Content from Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks park guide
June through August is peak season with 4,000+ reservations per month at Lodgepole alone and zero site-nights currently available park-wide — if you must go in summer, target Crystal Springs (CA) for walk-up availability or Sentinel for its unusually high 44.5% July last-minute rate. October is the best shoulder-season bet: Azalea shows 35.9% last-minute availability across 1,036 October reservations, and Potwisha remains open year-round for winter visits with 59.3% last-minute fill in December. Avoid September for advance planning — it's the hardest month to book both Potwisha and Azalea, with each showing only 0.3% of reservations planned 6+ months out.
The free NPS shuttle operates seasonally in the Giant Forest and Grant Grove areas and is highly recommended — parking at popular trailheads fills by mid-morning on summer weekends. Private vehicles are required to reach Cedar Grove (Kings Canyon Scenic Byway), Mineral King (a narrow, mostly unpaved 25-mile spur off Highway 198), and the South Fork area. The Mineral King Road is explicitly not recommended for RVs and trailers, and vehicles over 22 feet should avoid it entirely — plan for a 90-minute drive each way from Three Rivers. Cedar Grove Road closes in winter, so Sentinel, Sheep Creek, Moraine, and Canyon View are inaccessible outside the summer season.
Total reservations in May 2024: 60
Address
Three Rivers, California
Coordinates
36.7447, -118.9618
Very high demand - sites typically fill up immediately when the booking window opens. Plan to book the moment reservations open.
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Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
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Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
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Sequoia National Forest
Sequoia National Forest
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Sequoia National Forest
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The park entrance fee is $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days, covering both Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Nightly camping fees vary by campground — frontcountry sites generally run $22–$35 per night depending on campground and site type. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80) covers the entrance fee for the pass holder's vehicle and is worth purchasing if you're visiting two or more national parks in a year. There are no electrical hookups at any campground in the park, and no hookup surcharges apply.
The 14-day maximum stay applies to nearly every campground in the park — Wolverton Stock is the exception at 7 days. Bears are actively present throughout the park and food storage in bear canisters or bear boxes is required; improper food storage is the leading cause of citation and can result in campsite eviction. Three Rivers, California is the nearest town for fuel, groceries, and supplies before entering via the Highway 198 entrance — stock up there, as in-park options are limited to a small market at Lodgepole. Cell service is unreliable to nonexistent throughout most of the park, so download offline maps and park information before you arrive.