Sequoia National Park - in January

Posted by Jamie Lynne (North Carolina, US) on 11/29/24 10:19 PM

So each January my husband has a work conference in Las Vegas. I have started joining him (with our now 2.5 yr old son) and we take a few days afterwards to visit nearby places of interest. We've done everything now except Sequoia National Park.

Unfortunately, I see that it appears tire chains are required for most of the park. As far as I can tell, I can't find a rental company that has the option of tire chains. If there is a snow storm, we simply won't go. But if the weather is clear I'd love to know a rental company that has the option of tire chains!

Anyone have any experience with this??

Posted by KD

11/29/24 11:09 PM

977 posts

I believe most (maybe all) car rental companies don't allow you to put chains on your rental car; so you can't even purchase them and put them on yourself without negating your contract and/or insurance. However, if you rent an AWD or 4WD and the road condition is R2 then you only have to have them in your car. (Any level chain control zone requires that chains be at least carried in your car.) This is CA law, about carrying chains; not anything related to renting a car.

Apparently there are places in Three Rivers where you can rent them; but I don't have anything more specific than that.
You could also purchase them at Auto Zone, Napa Auto Parts, Walmart, etc in Visalia.

https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/road-conditions.htm

It's a 6-7 hour drive from Las Vegas.
You need to come in from the west and please use every precaution and be prepared for treacherous weather and keep emergency supplies in your vehicle.

Posted by Jamie Lynne OP

North Carolina, US

11/29/24 11:13 PM

92 posts

That is excellent information! Thank you!

Posted by KGC

Alsenborn, Germany

11/30/24 09:29 PM

1548 posts

To get into Sequoia in January you're going to have to go in from the west side. That's not a short trip. And the roads are no joke when there's snow. They are steep and twisted in places.

Posted by Kenko

Citizen of the World

12/01/24 05:53 PM

2065 posts

In Las Vegas Big O Tires, Firestone, and O’Reilly Auto Parts are just a few retail auto repair/supply stores that rent tire chains. The sporting goods store REI also rents chains.
These same companies are located in Bakersfield, which you will need to drive through to reach Sequoia Nat’l Park from Las Vegas— a trip that normally takes about 6.5 hours outside of weekends and holidays.

Posted by phred

Los Angeles

12/11/24 11:32 PM

4871 posts

Interesting factoid about Sequoia, it's at just the altitude where the smog lies. And if there are wildfires the air quality can be quite bad, we had to leave early a few years ago because my travel partner couldn't breathe.

Posted by Lola

Seattle, WA

12/12/24 03:38 PM

17559 posts

Have you been to Joshua Tree NP? That might be a better choice. It is closer to Las Vegas, and an easier drive (there should not be a chain requirement).

Whatever you choose, you will have to drive both ways—-there and back—-unless you want to pay a huge drop fee to return the rental car in California.