7 SURPRISING National Parks Near Fresno You'll Love (Photos + Guide)

fresno, california, usa-3726808.jpg — Fresno, California | National Parks Near Fresno

National Parks Near Fresno

National Parks Near Fresno! There’s so much more to the Golden State than California Raisins. In this article, More Than Just Parks gives you some exciting vacation destinations within a day’s drive of Fresno.

I’ve been to so many of these amazing places since retiring from teaching in 2018. Did I mention that I taught history? I spent a lifetime teaching about the history behind these momentous sites. Then I got to see them firsthand. And now I’m sharing the stories of these incredible places with you. It doesn’t get any better than that!

To be clear, this list includes national park sites (as in sites managed by the National Park Service) as well as full-fledged national parks. To learn more about the difference between the various National Park Service designations check out our article that explains everything!

Now let’s go ahead with 7 reasons why you’ll want to hop in your car and make a day’s drive from Fresno to one of these truly amazing places.

Why Trust Us About National Parks Near Fresno?
Meet The Parks Brothers
John Muir National Historic Site
Muir Woods National Monument
Point Reyes National Sea Shore
Redwood National Park
Sequoia National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
Yosemite National Park
Map Of The National Parks Near Yosemite
Further Reading

Why Trust Us About National Parks Near Fresno?

You should probably know that we don’t just make this stuff up out of thin air. My sons have spent their entire adult lives exploring and filming America’s national parks and public lands.

As for me, I’m a retired lifelong educator and a proud dad of these two wonderful guys who are hopelessly obsessed with the national parks. I taught history for over a quarter of a century. Now I enjoy researching and writing articles for More Than Just Parks. I’m always on the hunt for topics where nature and history intersect so please feel free to share any ideas that you might have with me.

We’ve worked with the National Park Service, the Department of Interior, and the U.S. Forest Service for years creating films on important places and issues. Our work has been featured in leading publications all over the world and even some people outside of our immediate family call us experts on the national parks.

will jim tony pattiz — Me (Tony) in the middle with my two sons Jim (left) & Will (right)

Meet The Parks Brothers

We’re Jim Pattiz and Will Pattiz, collectively known as the Pattiz Brothers (and sometimes the Parks Brothers) and we absolutely LOVE the national parks.

Our goal here at More Than Just Parks is to share the beauty of America’s national parks and public lands through stunning short films in an effort to get Americans and the world to see the true value in land conservation.

We hope you’ll follow our journey through the parks and help us to keep them the incredible places that they are. If you’re interested in joining the adventure then please sign up below!

Best National Parks Near Fresno

1. John Muir National Historic Site

Distance From Fresno: Two hours & 45 minutes via CA-99 N.

John Muir National Historic Site is located in the Alhambra Valley, just 2 miles south of Martinez, California.

As the National Park Service notes, John Muir is America’s most famous naturalist and conservationist. During his storied lifetime, he fought to protect the wild places he loved. His writings convinced the U.S. government to protect Yosemite, Sequoia, Grand Canyon and Mt. Rainier as national parks. John Muir is appropriate known as the “Father of America’s National Parks.”

There is no entrance fee and you can tour the Muir’s historic home seven days a week. I recommend beginning your exploration of John Muir’s life and legacy at the visitor center, which is located at 4202 Alhambra Avenue in Martinez, California.

You can also hike and explore Mount Wanda. It’s 326 acres of oak woods and grasslands that was named after John Muir’s daughter.

And you can visit the gravesite where John Muir is buried along with family members.

2. Muir Woods National Monument | National Parks Near Fresno

Distance From Fresno: Three hours and 21 minutes via CA-99 N & I-580 W.

If you like the great Redwoods of California then you’ll love exploring Muir Woods National Monument. The park contains 6 miles of trails. There is a 1/2 hour loop, a 1 hour loop, and a 1 1/2 hour loop as well as longer hikes on trails that extend into surrounding Mount Tamalpais State Park.

Please note: Pets, bicycles, smoking, horseback riding and camping are not permitted within the park. Picnics are not permitted in the forest. (Source: NPS)

While you’re there you should also check out Muir Beach. It’s a quiet cove, beach and lagoon located on the Pacific Coast three miles west of Muir Woods, Muir Beach is accessed over a 450-foot long pedestrian bridge that connects the parking lot to the beach, the Coastal Trail, and Kaashi Way, which is multi-use and accessible.

Muir Woods National Monument | National Parks Near Fresno

3. Point Reyes National Sea Shore

Distance From Fresno: Three hours & 38 minutes via CA-99 N & I-580 W.

When it comes to national seashores, there are few places in the world which compare to California and what it has to offer. Point Reyes National Seashore is a case in point.

Point Reyes offers visitors over 1500 species of plants and animals to discover. You’ll also experience ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges.

I recommend beginning your visit at the Bear Valley Visitor Center where you’ll be treated to several ecological and historical museum exhibits, along with a weather station.

You should also check out the Point Reyes Lighthouse. And don’t forget to take a stroll along the Woodpecker Trail where you’ll experience beautiful local forest and meadows.

4. Redwood National Park | National Parks Near Fresno

Distance From Fresno: 35 minutes via CA-99 S & CA-43 S.

Redwood National Park is home to the tallest trees in the world, the mighty Redwood, which can reach staggering heights of over 360 foot and weigh more than 500 tons.

At Redwood, you’ll experience magical forests, miles of spectacular beaches, stunning overlooks, and one of the largest herds of Roosevelt elk on the planet. People travel from all over the world to experience the magic that takes place in this park every single day.

If a picture’s worth a thousand words than just imagine how many words this stunning short film is worth. But why imagine when you can watch it. Courtesy of More Than Just Parks

If you’re visiting the park be sure to check out our full Guide!

5 & 6. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Distance From Fresno: Two hours via CA-180 E & Generals Hwy.

Imagine a 2-For-1 Special. That’s right! Two national parks for the price of one!

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks had 1.2 million visitors in 2020. Sequoia National Park was established on September 25, 1890, making it our country’s second oldest national park.

Kings Canyon was established fifty years later on March 4, 1940. Together, these two parks offer a truly unique experience for travelers looking to experience some of America’s most amazing natural wonders.

Together, these two parks contain the world’s largest and second largest trees. They’re truly a land of giants. Huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world’s largest trees exemplify the diversity of landscapes, life, and beauty at this two amazing parks which are side by side.

Shaded campsite next to a fallen Sequoia — Camp among giant fallen Sequoias and stumps at Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks | Courtesy of the NPS

RELATED: LEARN EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THESE TWO PARKS. CHECK OUT 10+ GIANT SEQUOIA & KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS FACTS YOU DIDN’T KNOW

The Tallest Trees In The World

general sherman tree sequoia national park california — The General Sherman Tree is at the north end of Giant Forest | National Parks Near Fresno

Of course, you’re going to want to be sure to visit the two stars of these two parks. The General Sherman Tree is the world’s largest tree, measured by volume. It stands 275 feet (83 m) tall, and is over 36 feet (11 m) in diameter at the base. It’s located in Sequoia National Park.

The General Grant Tree is located in Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park. The General Grant Tree is the second-largest tree in the world, standing 267 feet tall, and nearly 29 feet wide at the base.

7. Yosemite National Park | National Parks Near Fresno

Distance From Fresno: One hour & 14 minutes via CA-41 N.

In 2020, Yosemite had 2.27 million visitors. Yosemite is not America’s oldest national park though it was first protected eight years before the creation of Yellowstone–America’s oldest national park. The park is best known for its waterfalls, but you can also find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.

In 1849, Yosemite Valley, located in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, began to receive many tourists to the region. They came because of the California Gold Rush. As a consequence, conservationists appealed to President Abraham Lincoln to make Yosemite Valley a public trust of California.

Yosemite is famed for its giant, ancient sequoia trees, and for Tunnel View, the iconic vista of towering Bridalveil Fall and the granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome. In Yosemite Village are shops, restaurants, lodging, the Yosemite Museum and the Ansel Adams Gallery, with prints of the photographer’s renowned black-and-white landscapes of the area.

Yosemite National Park | National Parks Near Fresno

Map Of National Parks Near Fresno

List Of National Parks Near Fresno

John Muir National Historic Site
Muir Woods National Monument
Point Reyes National Sea Shore
Redwood National Park
Sequoia National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
Yosemite National Park

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National Parks Near Fresno

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