TEL:800-227-9900
Montecito Sequoia Lodge
A Classic,All-Inclusive, Year-round Lodge &
Summer Family Camp in California
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Weather Forecast
Click Snowflake for Current Weather Forecast
Winter Travel Advisory
2022/2023:
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Please Do NOT rely on GPS to travel to Montecito! You will often be directed the wrong way by GPS in these mountain areas, adding hours to your trip and possibly putting your safety at risk by getting stuck on closed roads/unplowed roads in the snow (WARNING: DO NOT take the road to Hume Lake in winter, it is not safe and will take you in the wrong direction from Montecito). Please follow directions below for the most direct and safest routes!
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Additionally, in Winter it is critical to fill your vehicle with gas before entering the park, as there are not gas stations open in the parks in winter. NOTE: Valero Gas, open 24-hrs., in Clingan's Junction on Hwy. 180 is the last gas station before the National Park Service Kings Canyon entrance (on Hwy. 180).
IMPORTANT: You can only access Montecito via the Northern "Big Stump" Entrance, via Hwy 180, in the winter and you must carry Tire Chains (Winter storms can happen from Oct - June, but usually occur between November through March; although 4WD or AWD is usually fine except during severe winter storms, California Law requires that you carry chains in a chain-control zone)!
Check the weather forecast in advance of your trip so you are prepared! If there is a snowstorm predicted during your stay, you may get snowed in until the roads are safely plowed/cleared, so we recommend bringing extra supplies with you in the winter season just in case (such as medications, diapers, wipes, baby formula, feminine products, etc.).
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Call our Front Desk before you leave home to see if we are on "Escort-only" Service into Montecito due to snow: 1-559-565-3388, press "0"; You can also call the National Park Service Road Conditions hotline for current road conditions, closures, and 4WD/chain requirements: 1-559-565-3341, press 1, 1.
Escorts meet at 5:00pm in Grant Grove Village (in front of the Grant Grove Village Market & Post Office) and caravan into Montecito at 5:30pm. (Please be patient if it is actively snowing or there has been significant snowfall prior to your arrival, as our escort will often have to clear obstructions/or drive slowly for added safety; click on "Winter Travel Info" and "Winter Escort FAQ" above for more tips and info). Grant Grove Village is located on Hwy 180, approximately 3 miles beyond the parks Northern "Big Stump" Entrance (see map). Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to arrive early for our escort!
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Winter Escort-only Service into Montecito:
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Before your trip, check our Weather Forecast and call the NPS Road Conditions Hotline. Bring your tire chains, even if you have 4WD or AWD, or you may not be able to enter the parks. More info on Winter Driving requirements from the National Park Service available here, including where to buy chains near the Kings Canyon Park ("Big Stump")/Hwy. 180 Entrance.
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Call our Front Desk (1-559-565-3388, press "0") before you leave home, to see if we are on or expect to be on "Escort-only Service" into Montecito. If we are on escort service, you will need to make a reservation for our escort caravan with our Front Desk (complimentary to our guests), so that we know you will be coming.
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Plan to arrive via the Northern/Kings Canyon "Big Stump" Entrance to the parks via Hwy 180 no later than 5 pm; (There is no access to Montecito via the Sequoia "Ash Mountain" Entrance to the south via Hwy 198 during the Winter months).
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Once you enter the park, all vehicles continue on Hwy 180 to Grant Grove Village. NOTE: Grant Grove Village is located on Hwy 180 approximately 3 miles beyond the Northern "Big Stump" Entrance to the parks (see map).
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Turn right into the Grant Grove Village; then immediately turn left and park in front of the Grant Grove Village Market & Post Office by 5 pm to meet our escort; our escort will depart Grant Grove Village for Montecito at 5:30 pm.
For more details: Click on our Winter Travel Info & Winter Escort FAQs documents.
Montecito Sequoia Lodge
& Summer Family Camp
63410 Generals Highway
Kings Canyon National Park, CA 93633
(NOTE: Do NOT rely on GPS; see map & directions)
Front Desk: 1-559-565-3388, press "0"
NPS Road Conditions: 1-559-565-3341 (press 1, 1)
Montecito Sequoia Lodge & Summer Family Camp is located inside the Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park gates, along the Generals Highway (aka Hwy 198), which is the road in between the parks, connecting Kings Canyon to Sequoia (see map). Please note that during winter, the portion of Hwy 198 between the parks closes; thereby you can only access Montecito via the Northern Entrance (via Hwy 180 - the Big Stump/Kings Canyon National Park Entrance) during the winter months.
Also, while Montecito is actually located on Sequoia National Forest land, you will still need to pay the Parks Entrance Fee to drive to our lodge. Visitors pay only one entrance fee to visit both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park .
NOTE: Many online/GPS mapping systems will suggest that you take Hwy 245. Do NOT take Hwy 245! It is a very winding road that will take you an additional hour to get to Montecito!
Google MAP
GPS Coordinates:
36°41'42"N, 118° 52'22"W
DIRECTIONS TO MONTECITO
You should always enter the parks at the Northern entrance ("Big Stump"/Kings Canyon entrance) via Hwy 180 during Winter as a portion of Hwy 198 between the parks closes for the Winter Season, not allowing you access to Montecito from the Southern entrance/Sequoia Park entrance via Hwy 198.
Additionally, due to our remote location, some GPS systems will send you the long way up to the parks. Make sure your GPS follows the directions below to keep your drive as short as possible. Do NOT take Hwy 245, as it is a long & winding road that will add an extra hour to your drive!
FROM THE NORTH:
Take Hwy 99 South to Hwy 180 East (Kings Canyon, Exit 133). Follow Hwy 180 East all the way to the Big Stump/Kings Canyon National Park Entrance.
Once you pay your entrance fee, continue on Hwy 180. Take the 1st RIGHT-hand turn onto the Generals Highway (aka Hwy 198; direction Sequoia National Park & The General Sherman Tree). Drive 7.5 miles, then turn RIGHT at the Montecito Sequoia Lodge (aka Montecito Lake Resort) Entrance sign. Follow signs to the Main Lodge.
(Note: if we are on escort-service only into Montecito, continue on Hwy 180 after you pay at the Big Stump entrance. Grant Grove Village Market will be approximately 3 miles along Hwy 180 on your right. Arrive by 5pm - the escort will depart Grant Grove Village at 5:30pm; make sure to bring your chains!)
FROM THE SOUTH:
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DO NOT enter the Parks from the Southern entrance (via Hwy 198/Sequoia Park Entrance), as the section of road between the parks closes for the Winter and you will not be able to get to Montecito from the Southern entrance. You can only access Montecito via the Northern entrance (via Hwy 180 - The Big Stump/Kings Canyon Park Entrance).
Take Hwy 99 North to Hwy 41 North/East to Hwy 180 East (towards Kings Canyon). Follow Hwy 180 East all the way to the Big Stump/Kings Canyon National Park Entrance.
Once you pay your entrance fee, continue on Hwy 180. Take the 1st RIGHT-hand turn onto the Generals Highway (aka Hwy 198; direction Sequoia National Park & The General Sherman Tree). Drive 7.5 miles, then turn RIGHT at the Montecito Sequoia Lodge (aka Montecito Lake Resort) Entrance sign. Follow signs to the Main Lodge.
(Note: if we are on escort-service only into Montecito, continue on Hwy 180 after you pay at the Big Stump entrance. Grant Grove Village Market will be approximately 3 miles along Hwy 180 on your right. Arrive by 5pm - the escort will depart Grant Grove Village at 5:30pm; make sure to bring your chains!)
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Additionally, DO NOT Take Hwy 245 at any time of year as an alternate route, as it is VERY windy, and will take much longer than the other routes (an extra hour or more).
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National Park Service Entrance Fees for Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nat'l Parks:
$35 per vehicle (7-days of access)
Sequoia & Kings Canyon Annual Pass: $70
'America the Beautiful' Annual National Parks Pass: $80
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GO HERE TO PAY YOUR ENTRANCE FEE ONLINE BEFORE ARRIVAL.
'Every Kid In A Park' Pass: Free to 4th graders & their families;
you must print out your pass and bring it with you:
Click here for Every Kid In A Park Pass
Senior Pass: $80 (Lifetime access to all federal recreation sites for U.S. Citizens, or permanent residents, 62 years or older)