National parks near Lodi, California
Lodi sits inside the Stockton area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Stockton for the full write-up.
Yosemite National Park is the closest national park to Lodi, California — 96 mi (155 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 43 min behind the wheel.
Yosemite makes a full day trip — leave early. Pinnacles, Lassen Volcanic, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Lodi gates the entrance itself, but 5 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Lodi has a population of about 64,596.
National parks near Lodi
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yosemite National Park | 96 mi (155 km) | 2 hr 43 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Pinnacles National Park | 114 mi (184 km) | 3 hr 9 min | Best as a weekend |
| Lassen Volcanic National Park | 164 mi (264 km) | 4 hr 20 min | Best as a weekend |
| Kings Canyon National Park | 170 mi (273 km) | 4 hr 28 min | Best as a weekend |
| Sequoia National Park | 185 mi (298 km) | 4 hr 50 min | Best as a weekend |
| Redwood National Park | 263 mi (423 km) | 6 hr 40 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Death Valley National Park | 278 mi (447 km) | 7 hr 1 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Channel Islands National Park | 303 mi (487 km) | 7 hr 37 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Crater Lake National Park | 335 mi (539 km) | 8 hr 23 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Basin National Park | 381 mi (613 km) | 9 hr 28 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Lodi
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yosemite | Half Dome Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Lassen Volcanic | Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Kings Canyon | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Sequoia | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Death Valley | Death Valley National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Lodi
Within reach of Lodi, 62 campgrounds across 9 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 16 at Yosemite, 14 at Lassen Volcanic, 9 at Kings Canyon, and 7 at Sequoia, plus 5 more parks with fewer sites.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Yosemite National Park is generally best July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow, with late June and late September as the quieter shoulder either side.
High passes and trails hold snow from October into June, and some roads close entirely for the winter.
Afternoon thunderstorms build fast above treeline in summer. Start early and be off exposed ridges by early afternoon.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Lodi are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Kings Canyon → Sequoia | 21.1 mi (33.9 km) | 48 min |
| Yosemite → Kings Canyon | 88 mi (142 km) | 2 hr 32 min |
| Yosemite → Sequoia | 108 mi (174 km) | 3 hr |
| Yosemite → Pinnacles | 131 mi (211 km) | 3 hr 33 min |
Planning a trip from Lodi
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Other towns in San Joaquin County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Lodi?
Yosemite National Park. It is about 96 mi (155 km) from Lodi, roughly 2 hr 43 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Lodi?
Yes — Yosemite National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Lodi?
10 parks are within reach of Lodi, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Lodi?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 5 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Half Dome Permits at Yosemite, Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Permits, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Lodi?
Recreation.gov lists 62 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Lodi. They are spread across 9 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Lodi?
For Yosemite National Park, the closest one, generally July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow. Either side of that, late June and late September stays quieter.