Planning a Trip

In the pages that follow, you'll find all the information you need before setting off on your adventure to one of these spectacular national parks.

Money

Frommer's lists exact prices in the local currency. However, rates fluctuate, so before departing consult a currency-exchange website such as www.oanda.com/convert/classic to check up-to-the-minute rates.

Yosemite is a premium-priced destination, with lodging and meals priced accordingly high, especially during the summer season. In fall and spring, room rates drop precipitously. Sequoia & Kings Canyon are more moderately priced. There are ATMs in most of the developed areas in all of the parks.

Clothing & Equipment

Nothing will ruin a trip to the parks faster than sore or wet feet. Take some time planning your travel wardrobe. Bring comfortable walking shoes that are broken in, even if you plan to keep walking to a minimum. If you want to do some serious hiking, get sturdy boots that support your ankles and wick away water. Early in the season, trails may be wet or muddy; late in the fall, you can get snowed on. The more popular trails are sometimes also used by horses, which can make stream crossings a mucky mess.

Wear clothing in layers, and bring a small backpack or fanny pack so that you can take those layers off and on as the temperature, altitude, and your physical exertion change. Cotton is a no-no in the backcountry; synthetic fabrics are recommended because they dry much faster. Gloves or mittens are useful before the park heats up, or in the evening when it cools down again, even in summer.

The atmosphere is thin at higher altitudes, so protect your skin. Bring a strong sunblock, a hat with a brim, and sunglasses. Insect repellent, water bottles, and a first-aid kit are also recommended.

Staying Connected

When it comes to modern telecommunications, Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon national parks have limited infrastructure: Lack of connectivity is the rule, not the exception. These are not the best destinations for those who need to check e-mail every minute -- or even every day. Many of the lodgings in the parks lack Internet connections, and even in-room telephones are not the norm, but cell service is fairly good and continues to expand.

Cellphones -- The parks have several cell towers in developed areas. Cell service is widely available on the floor of Yosemite Valley; in Sequoia & Kings Canyon, it is available in the villages but largely unavailable on the roads and in wilderness areas. Cell service is available in all of the gateway cities.

Internet & E-Mail -- In Yosemite, Internet access is available at Degnan's Cafe on fee-based terminals. Wi-Fi is available at Yosemite Lodge for a fee. In Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Wi-Fi is available at Wuksachi Lodge and in Grant Grove Village. Internet access is widely available in all of the gateways.