National parks near Cedar Ridge, California
Cedar Ridge sits inside the Sonora area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Sonora for the full write-up.
Yosemite National Park is the closest national park to Cedar Ridge, California — 42.4 mi (68.2 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 1 hr 25 min behind the wheel.
Yosemite makes a full day trip — leave early. Pinnacles, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, Lassen Volcanic, and Death Valley are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Cedar Ridge gates the entrance itself, but 5 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Cedar Ridge has a population of about 1,132.
National parks near Cedar Ridge
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yosemite National Park | 42.4 mi (68.2 km) | 1 hr 25 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Pinnacles National Park | 120 mi (193 km) | 3 hr 17 min | Best as a weekend |
| Kings Canyon National Park | 124 mi (200 km) | 3 hr 23 min | Best as a weekend |
| Sequoia National Park | 142 mi (229 km) | 3 hr 49 min | Best as a weekend |
| Lassen Volcanic National Park | 180 mi (290 km) | 4 hr 43 min | Best as a weekend |
| Death Valley National Park | 228 mi (367 km) | 5 hr 51 min | Best as a weekend |
| Channel Islands National Park | 284 mi (458 km) | 7 hr 11 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Redwood National Park | 298 mi (480 km) | 7 hr 31 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Basin National Park | 329 mi (530 km) | 8 hr 14 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Crater Lake National Park | 350 mi (563 km) | 8 hr 44 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Cedar Ridge
| 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 |
Camping near Cedar Ridge
Within reach of Cedar Ridge, 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 Cedar Ridge 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 Cedar Ridge
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 Tuolumne County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Cedar Ridge?
Yosemite National Park. It is about 42.4 mi (68.2 km) from Cedar Ridge, roughly 1 hr 25 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Cedar Ridge?
Yes — Yosemite National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Cedar Ridge?
10 parks are within reach of Cedar Ridge, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Cedar Ridge?
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, 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 Cedar Ridge?
Recreation.gov lists 62 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Cedar Ridge. They are spread across 9 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Cedar Ridge?
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.