Which national parks in California need a reservation
California has 9 national parks in this catalog: Channel Islands National Park, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Pinnacles National Park, Redwood National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park.
None of California's national parks in this catalog require a timed-entry permit to drive in.
Yosemite National Park does not.
What people usually mean by a reservation in California is a hike permit, a campground, or one road. Those bookings keep their own scope.
National parks in California
- Channel Islands National Park
A chain of islands off southern California. Reach them by boat; expect wind, wildlife, and limited services.
- Death Valley National Park
Hot, dry basin and range in California. Salt flats, sand dunes, and colorful badlands; summers are extreme.
- Joshua Tree National Park
Mojave and Colorado desert meeting in southern California. Twisted Joshua trees, boulder piles, and clear night skies.
- Kings Canyon National Park
Deep granite canyon and giant sequoia groves in California’s Sierra. Shares a boundary with Sequoia National Park.
- Lassen Volcanic National Park
A volcanic landscape in northern California with hot springs, cinder cones, and a plug-dome peak.
- Pinnacles National Park
Volcanic rock spires and talus caves east of the Salinas Valley in California. Condors sometimes soar overhead.
- Redwood National Park
Coast redwood forest in far northern California. Tall trees, fog, and state-park stretches mixed into the visit.
- Sequoia National Park
Giant sequoia groves on the western Sierra slope in California. Big trees, granite, and shared access with Kings Canyon.
- Yosemite National Park
A granite valley and high Sierra country in California. Waterfalls in spring; valley floors get crowded in summer.
What actually needs booking in California
| Park | Drive-in reservation | Other bookings | Park page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel Islands National Park | Not required | 8 campgrounds | Timed entry and tours |
| Death Valley National Park | Not required | Death Valley National Park Wilderness Permits and 2 campgrounds | Timed entry and tours |
| Joshua Tree National Park | Not required | Joshua Tree National Park Wilderness Backpacking Permits and 9 campgrounds | Timed entry and tours |
| Kings Canyon National Park | Not required | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits and 9 campgrounds | Timed entry and tours |
| Lassen Volcanic National Park | Not required | Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Permits and 14 campgrounds | Timed entry and tours |
| Pinnacles National Park | Not required | Pinnacles campground | Timed entry and tours |
| Redwood National Park | Not required | 2 campgrounds | Timed entry and tours |
| Sequoia National Park | Not required | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits and 7 campgrounds | Timed entry and tours |
| Yosemite National Park | Not required | Half Dome Permits, Yosemite National Park Wilderness Permits, and 16 campgrounds | Timed entry and tours |
Related lists
Common questions
Which national parks in California need a reservation?
No sourced park in California requires a timed-entry permit to drive in. Hike permits, campgrounds, and single-road bookings are a separate system.
Do you need a reservation to enter a national park in California?
No timed-entry permit is required to drive into the California national parks in this catalog.