The Sequoia Shuttle is back in operation for the 2026 summer travel season.
The service that takes riders from Visalia into Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, started its annual seasonal schedule on May 21 and will continue through the Labor Day Weekend.
The Sequoia Shuttle, which is operated by the city of Visalia Transit Division, offers five pickup and drop-off locations in Visalia, plus unlimited shuttle service inside the park. All the shuttles are ADA-compliant.
Shuttles start their departures from the Wyndham Visalia at 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., and pick-up and drop-off times vary depending on where passengers start their trip. Other shuttle stops are La Quinta Inn & Suites, Comfort Suites, Visalia Convention Center and Visalia Transit Center.
Shuttles return to the Wyndham hotel at 4 and 5:30 p.m.
The ride takes approximately an hour and 45 minutes, according to Marla Bermudez, Visalia community outreach coordinator.
“There is a stop at the Foothills Visitor Center for a bathroom break,” she said.
Free internal shuttles inside the park loop continuously between major park destinations – Giant Forest, Morro Rock, Lodgepole, Wolverton Route – with the Wuksachi Lodge route only operating on Saturdays and Sundays.
“Reservations are required 90 minutes before your trip, and that is because we need to print out the manifest for our drivers,” Bermudez said. “That ensures that we don’t leave anyone behind in the park.”
She added that the shuttle will not make a particular stop if nobody has made a reservation to start their trip from that location.
The cost of a round-trip ticket is $15, the same price as last year, even with rising gas prices. This year, there is a discount for Visalia residents.
“Visalia residents get to ride for $10 for a roundtrip, as long as they make reservations at Visalia Transit Center and bring ID and proof of residency,” Bermudez said.
Riders on the Sequoia Shuttle are required to have a National Park Entrance Pass (a standard seven-day entrance pass, an annual pass, etc.) before entering Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
Reservations for the Sequoia Shuttle can be made at www.sequoiashuttle.com or by phone at (877) 287-4453.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Sequoia Shuttle is back for summer 2026, here’s what to know
Reporting by Steve Pastis, Visalia Times-Delta / Visalia Times-Delta
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
