National parks near Redwood City, California
Pinnacles National Park is the closest national park to Redwood City, California — 91.4 mi (147 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 37 min behind the wheel.
Pinnacles makes a full day trip — leave early. Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Lassen Volcanic are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Redwood City gates the entrance itself, but 6 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Redwood City has a population of about 85,288.
National parks near Redwood City
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinnacles National Park | 91.4 mi (147 km) | 2 hr 37 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Yosemite National Park | 150 mi (241 km) | 4 hr | Best as a weekend |
| Kings Canyon National Park | 202 mi (325 km) | 5 hr 14 min | Best as a weekend |
| Sequoia National Park | 212 mi (341 km) | 5 hr 28 min | Best as a weekend |
| Lassen Volcanic National Park | 212 mi (341 km) | 5 hr 28 min | Best as a weekend |
| Redwood National Park | 280 mi (450 km) | 7 hr 4 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Channel Islands National Park | 287 mi (462 km) | 7 hr 15 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Death Valley National Park | 311 mi (501 km) | 7 hr 49 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Crater Lake National Park | 377 mi (607 km) | 9 hr 22 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Joshua Tree National Park | 438 mi (704 km) | 10 hr 49 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Redwood City
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yosemite | Half Dome 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 |
| Lassen Volcanic | Lassen Volcanic National Park 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 |
| Joshua Tree | Joshua Tree National Park Wilderness Backpacking Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Redwood City
Within reach of Redwood City, 66 campgrounds across 9 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 16 at Yosemite, 14 at Lassen Volcanic, 9 at Kings Canyon, and 9 at Joshua Tree, 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
Pinnacles National Park is generally best May, June, September, and early October, with April and late October as the quieter shoulder either side.
Winter is cool and wet at low elevation and snowy in the mountains, with reduced hut and refuge service.
July and August combine peak heat with peak domestic holidays. Shoulder months are both cooler and quieter.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Redwood City 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 |
| Pinnacles → Yosemite | 131 mi (211 km) | 3 hr 33 min |
Planning a trip from Redwood City
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 Mateo County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Redwood City?
Pinnacles National Park. It is about 91.4 mi (147 km) from Redwood City, roughly 2 hr 37 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Redwood City?
Yes — Pinnacles National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Redwood City?
10 parks are within reach of Redwood City, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Redwood City?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 6 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Half Dome Permits at Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 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 Redwood City?
Recreation.gov lists 66 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Redwood City. They are spread across 9 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Redwood City?
For Pinnacles National Park, the closest one, generally May, June, September, and early October. Either side of that, April and late October stays quieter.