Kings Canyon National Park may live in the shadow of Yosemite for some, but for those who love solitude, granite peaks, and riverside serenity, it’s a crown jewel. For our family, this Kings Canyon National Park van camping trip was the perfect way to unplug and explore; and it all started with a Van Voyage camper van rental in San Diego.

(Pro Tips: On the road to Kings…There’s excellent dispersed camping along the turnoff to Boole Tree. You’ll also find more spots on the way to Chicago Stump, also known as Cherry Gap Road. Which is 26/27 miles from Sentinel Campground. Lastly, as you head down / away from Kings toward Sequoia National Park, a popular dispersed camping area can be found on the road to Big Meadows, just off Generals Highway. Paste this into Google Maps: 36.698322649848016, -118.87624104752537 for the turnoff. The road is labeled Forest Rte 14S11. We heard Princess Campground is nice and is located in a great spot because it is close to Hume Lake and not too far from Roads End.)

Use the map below for reference throughout this blog article.

We hit the road in one of Van Voyage’s adventure vans, fully stocked and kid-ready, heading north on I-5. Fortunately, we breezed through LA traffic and soon found ourselves climbing the Grapevine past Pyramid Lake. That moment, leaving the city behind and entering open sky and rolling hills, is what makes every camper van rental in Southern California so worth it.

By the time we reached Bakersfield and then the gateway town of Visalia, the scenery had completely transformed. As we wound our way into the Sierra Nevada Mountains, we timed it just right, dropping into the canyon during golden hour. Make sure to stop by the Kings Canyon Visitor Center and check out the lookout point and learn about the geological forces that created Kings. With the sunset painting the cliffs in rich amber tones, we arrived at Sentinel Campground. After a bit of drama and a prayer or two, we got camp set up and kicked off the night with a crackling fire which is always van camping perfection.

(Pro Tip: Moraine and Canyon View Campgrounds are currently closed, so plan accordingly.)

Originally, we had only booked one night, figuring we’d figure it out as we went. But the family loved Sentinel Campground so much that we inquired with the camp host about extending. Fortunately, the campground holds a few “emergency sites” that aren’t listed online and we scored one!

(Pro Tip: Sites 25, 45, and 69 are the secret emergency spots at Sentinel Campground.)

With the extra night secured, we set out to explore. First up: Roaring River Falls, an easy 100-yard walk that’s a must-see. From there, we dipped into the Mist Falls Trail, but with little ones in tow, we turned around at Bubbs Creek Bridge which is a great place to cool off along the river. Muir Rock, affectionately known as “Party Rock,” was another highlight. It’s famous as the place John Muir once gave passionate talks about the park’s natural wonders.

Another favorite was the Zumwalt Meadows loop. A  family-friendly trail with epic views. You can even link it to Mist Falls Trail via a network of interconnected paths that wind through the canyon floor.

One unexpected gem on our Kings Canyon National Park van camping trip was Knapp’s Cabin. Untouched for nearly a century, this simple structure was once used by George O. Knapp, a wealthy Santa Barbara businessman who hosted extravagant fishing trips here in the 1920s. Today, it stands as a rare historic site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

After two nights in the canyon, we craved a change of scenery. So we loaded up the van and headed to Hume Lake. Hume Lake is a gorgeous alpine escape with a public beach at Sandy Cove and plenty of open water. The kids paddled out on stand-up paddleboards, and even our youngest got a taste of the lake from a cozy seat in a kayak.

(Pro Tip: If you need to fill up the tank, they have diesel fuel. Hume Lake is one of the few places nearby that has it.)

We received some awesome local knowledge about a secret dispersed camping location near Hume Lake. Driving from the lake, pass 3 campsites (Logger Flat Group Campground, Landslide, Ten Mile) as you pass Ten Mile Campgrounds there is forest road with a road sign called “Huckleberry MDW” which is a right hand turn. On google it is labeled “Forest Rte 13S02.” Or paste this into google maps for the location of the turnoff for this forest road: 36.747943, -118.904840 Stay on the main forest road by staying right on the fork. The second best spot near the road is the second spot on the right hand side which is great for a larger group. (Skip the 1st and 3rd spots) The spot we stayed was after the 3rd spot where there is a dirt road that goes back a little off the forest road (right hand turn). We didn’t drive past this point but looking on Google Maps after the trip the road stays descent for a while and meets up with Bearskin Creek with plenty of pulloffs and turnaround spots deeper down the road.

(Pro Tip: Ten Mile Campground didn’t look that great compared to the other campgrounds we explored.)

(Pro Tip: Coming from Landslide Campground, about .8 miles past it, there is a large dispersed camping area off the road with a few large areas that can support multiple vehicles in multiple areas. The forest road is labeled 13S09J, but is labeled differently on Google Maps. BUT, it is hard to miss if you set your odometer at Landslide.)

The map above shows the general area that dispersed camping is not allowed.

We wanted to break up the long drive so we stopped by Pyramid Lake. Pyramid Lake (Los Angeles County) is a scenic reservoir situated in the eastern Topatopa Mountains, bordering Angeles and Los Padres National Forests, just off Interstate 5 near Castaic — only about 60–90 minutes from LA. The campground was descent and we discovered it is fairly open with a “first come first serve” mentality. Making it a easy last minute decision.

Whether you’re heading out with the whole family or flying solo, a Kings Canyon National Park van camping trip offers the freedom and flexibility that only van life can. And starting out with a camper van rental in San Diego or anywhere in Southern California puts you in the perfect position for an unforgettable adventure in one of the most breathtaking regions of the state.