RV dump stations and length limits in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Researched 2026-10-31 from official sources. Rules and seasons change, so check with the park or operator before you go.

Short answer: Inside the parks, the NPS lists RV dump stations at Potwisha Campground (year-round, in the Sequoia foothills) and Lodgepole Campground (seasonal, roughly late May to early December). There are no hookups in any park campground. On the Kings Canyon side, the NPS points RVers to Princess Campground in Sequoia National Forest (Highway 180 at the Hume Lake junction), where the Forest Service lists a $20 dump station fee and a summer-only season. If your rig is over 22 feet, enter on Highway 180 (Big Stump entrance), not Highway 198. NPS: Potwisha · NPS: Lodgepole · NPS: Oversized vehicles · USFS: Princess Campground

Where to dump RV tanks

The NPS Azalea and Sunset pages also name Dorst Creek Campground as a summer dump station "when open", but the NPS says Dorst Creek is closed for all of 2026 for storm-damage repairs. Don't plan on it this year. NPS: Azalea · NPS: Dorst Creek · USFS: Princess Campground

The NPS doesn't post a dump fee or hours for Potwisha or Lodgepole. Call ahead or check the operator's site. The park line is 559-565-3341.

Campgrounds with no dump station

Per the NPS, Azalea, Sunset (Grant Grove) and Sentinel (Cedar Grove) have no hookups or dump stations. From Grant Grove and Cedar Grove, the nearest one in summer is Princess Campground. Mineral King's campgrounds don't allow RVs or trailers at all. NPS: Sentinel · NPS: Camping

RV length limits and the best route in

• Generals Highway (Hwy 198), Foothills Visitor Center to Potwisha: vehicles over 24 ft not advised.
• Potwisha to Giant Forest Museum: vehicles over 22 ft not advised, and single vehicles over 40 ft are prohibited (tow trucks too). The NPS says the Big Stump entrance on Highway 180 is the preferred route for longer vehicles.
• Moro Rock / Crescent Meadow Road: single vehicles over 22 ft and anything towing are prohibited. Park at Giant Forest Museum and take the summer shuttle.
• Crystal Cave Road: over 22 ft prohibited.
• Mineral King Road: single vehicles over 40 ft prohibited; RVs and trailers aren't allowed in the Mineral King campgrounds.
• Panoramic Point Road (Kings Canyon): RVs and trailers prohibited.

RV parking is marked at General Sherman (main lot), the Giant Forest Museum upper lot, Lodgepole Visitor Center, Foothills Visitor Center, Kings Canyon Visitor Center / Grant Grove Village, and Cedar Grove. NPS: Visiting with an oversized vehicle

Water, gas and camping rules

• Water: potable water is listed year-round at Potwisha and Azalea, and seasonally at the other developed campgrounds.
• Gas: there are no gas stations inside the parks. The closest are in Three Rivers (Hwy 198) and Dunlap (Hwy 180). On Forest Service land, Hume Lake Market sells gas year-round (24 hours by credit card) and Stony Creek Village sells it seasonally.
• No dispersed camping: the NPS says camping outside a designated campground isn't allowed except for backpackers with a wilderness permit, so you can't park the RV overnight on a pullout. Standard campsites are $32 a night. NPS: Gas stations · NPS: Camping

FAQ

Are there RV hookups in Sequoia or Kings Canyon? No. The NPS campground listings show no electrical hookups in any park campground. For hookups, look at private RV parks outside the parks (see the nearby list below) and call ahead to confirm.

Can I drive a big RV to the General Sherman Tree? Yes, but come in from Highway 180 (Big Stump entrance). The 198 route from Potwisha to Giant Forest bans single vehicles over 40 ft and advises against anything over 22 ft.

Where can I dump tanks in winter? Potwisha is the only dump station the NPS lists as year-round. Lodgepole and Princess are seasonal.

Nearby (OpenStreetMap)

The listings below cover dump stations, water fill points, propane and RV parks within about 40 miles of Lodgepole and Grant Grove. Distances are straight-line; mountain road drives are much longer.

More RV services within 40 miles of Lodgepole and Grant Grove (OpenStreetMap)

Straight-line distance. Dump stations first. Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), as of the last data refresh. Hours, fees and status can change: call ahead.

What we couldn't verify

• Dump fees and hours at Potwisha and Lodgepole. Call 559-565-3341.
• Whether you can use the Potwisha or Lodgepole dump station without staying at that campground.
• Princess Campground's 2026 season dates (the Forest Service page lists 2025 dates). Call ahead or check the operator's site.
• Propane refill locations inside the parks. Call ahead or check the operator's site.
• Hours, fees and current status for the OpenStreetMap listings below. Call ahead or check the operator's site.

Sources

1. NPS Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Camping (campground list and fees)
2. NPS: Potwisha Campground (dump station, RV length)
3. NPS: Lodgepole Campground (dump station, RV length, season)
4. NPS: Azalea Campground (nearest dump stations)
5. NPS: Sentinel Campground (nearest dump station, site sizes)
6. NPS: Dorst Creek Campground (closed in 2026)
7. NPS: Visiting with an oversized vehicle (length limits; updated Sep 6, 2025)
8. NPS: Gas stations (updated Jul 21, 2023)
9. USDA Forest Service: Princess Campground, Sequoia National Forest (dump station fee)
10. OpenStreetMap (nearby listings; ODbL)

See also: RV services in Tulare County · Fresno County.