November changes the camping plan at Azalea Campground in Kings Canyon National Park. The National Park Service’s standing November–April schedule reduces the campground to one loop with 20 first-come, first-served sites, rather than the larger reservation-only layout used during the main season. The park’s latest posted conditions update, dated October 28, lists Azalea as open and neighboring Crystal Springs and Sunset campgrounds as closed for the season.
Azalea sits at about 6,500 feet in the Grant Grove area, where winter can bring cold temperatures and snow. Its location gives campers a base near giant sequoias, but an open campground does not guarantee an open site when an RV arrives. Travelers should confirm the operating setup and road conditions before departure and have an alternative overnight plan outside the park if the reduced loop is full.
First-Come Camping Uses Cashless Payment
When sites operate first-come, first-served, the park directs campers to pay through the Recreation.gov mobile app. Download the app before driving into the mountains: NPS says cellular service is very limited and the installed app can process the campground’s payment procedure without an internet connection. Use the campground’s posted instructions on arrival rather than treating a first-come site as an advance reservation.
The standard campsite fee is $32 per night for up to six people. Azalea’s listing gives a $16 rate for eligible Senior or Access pass holders. Picnic tables, fire rings and food-storage boxes are provided, with potable water and flush toilets available, but there are no hookups, showers or an on-site dump station. Plan tank capacity and waste disposal before arrival instead of relying on a nearby summer-only dump station being open.
Match the Site and the Road to the RV
Vehicle capacity varies by campsite. NPS lists a campground maximum of 47 feet for an RV specifically at site 93 and a 30-foot trailer maximum; that does not establish that site 93 is in the winter loop or available. Confirm the actual open site’s length and layout before positioning a motorhome or trailer. The campground lists generator use from 9 a.m.–9 p.m., and food and scented items must be secured in the provided bear-resistant storage boxes.
For the approach, Recreation.gov advises vehicles longer than 22 feet to use the Highway 180 entrance rather than the winding route into Sequoia from the south. Grant Grove is a different destination from Cedar Grove farther down Kings Canyon: the park currently plans to close the road to Cedar Grove for winter on November 13, subject to weather, and Cedar Grove’s campgrounds are already closed. Do not build a late-fall camping itinerary around continuing downhill to another open park campground.
Drivers adding a day trip toward Giant Forest should also allow for the traffic delays currently listed on Generals Highway between Highway 180 and Giant Forest. Before leaving, review NPS current conditions and the road conditions page, or call 559-565-3341 and follow the road-information prompts. The park warns that tire-chain requirements can change with snow and ice; carry properly sized traction devices and check the current requirements for your vehicle.
Sources checked November 4, 2026: NPS Azalea Campground information; Recreation.gov campground listing; NPS camping fees and guidance; NPS current conditions, updated October 28.
Photo: Robert Badaracco/National Park Service, August 1964. Original photograph and rights record. Public domain. NPS web-sized JPEG retained without additional compression.