National parks near Palo Cedro, California
Palo Cedro sits inside the Redding area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Redding for the full write-up.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is the closest national park to Palo Cedro, California — 39.1 mi (62.8 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 1 hr 19 min behind the wheel.
Lassen Volcanic and Redwood make a full day trip — leave early. Crater Lake is better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Palo Cedro gates the entrance itself, but 6 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Palo Cedro has a population of about 1,269.
National parks near Palo Cedro
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lassen Volcanic National Park | 39.1 mi (62.8 km) | 1 hr 19 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Redwood National Park | 105 mi (169 km) | 2 hr 56 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Crater Lake National Park | 164 mi (264 km) | 4 hr 20 min | Best as a weekend |
| Yosemite National Park | 236 mi (379 km) | 6 hr 2 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pinnacles National Park | 288 mi (464 km) | 7 hr 16 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kings Canyon National Park | 323 mi (521 km) | 8 hr 6 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Sequoia National Park | 343 mi (552 km) | 8 hr 34 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Death Valley National Park | 419 mi (674 km) | 10 hr 21 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Mount Rainier National Park | 435 mi (700 km) | 10 hr 45 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Basin National Park | 435 mi (701 km) | 10 hr 45 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Palo Cedro
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lassen Volcanic | Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| 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 |
| Death Valley | Death Valley National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Mount Rainier | Mount Rainier National Park Wilderness and Climbing Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Palo Cedro
Within reach of Palo Cedro, 60 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
Lassen Volcanic 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 Palo Cedro 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Yosemite → Pinnacles | 131 mi (211 km) | 3 hr 33 min |
| Lassen Volcanic → Redwood | 142 mi (228 km) | 3 hr 48 min |
| Redwood → Crater Lake | 149 mi (240 km) | 3 hr 59 min |
| Lassen Volcanic → Crater Lake | 171 mi (276 km) | 4 hr 30 min |
Planning a trip from Palo Cedro
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 Shasta County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Palo Cedro?
Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is about 39.1 mi (62.8 km) from Palo Cedro, roughly 1 hr 19 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Palo Cedro?
Yes — Lassen Volcanic National Park and Redwood National Park are within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Palo Cedro?
10 parks are within reach of Palo Cedro, 2 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Palo Cedro?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 6 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Permits, Half Dome Permits at Yosemite, 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 Palo Cedro?
Recreation.gov lists 60 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Palo Cedro. They are spread across 9 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Palo Cedro?
For Lassen Volcanic 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.