The biggest advantage of this KOA is its proximity to Yosemite and Sequoia (about 40 minutes). My trip to Sequoia was a bit impromptu, and since Memorial Weekend is one of the biggest for camping, we resorted to the Visalia / Fresno KOA, since all park sites were full. The campground wasn’t bad. Not great, but not bad either. On trail, I spoke with a man who was staying at a campground within the park, and he said it was completely full, lots of people, and the restrooms were… enough said. In comparison, the KOA had free coffee, free showers, a pool, very friendly staff, and clean restrooms (KOA has a great reputation for this across the country). The downside: our site didn’t have a picnic table (though most do) and it felt like camping in your backyard. Not to mention, the surrounding landscape is flat and lackluster. This isn’t exactly the wilderness experience you’ve had visions of, but what do you expect?

One thing to keep in mind, depending on the time of year you are going, is elevation. Within the park, it is not uncommon to find campgrounds above 6,000 ft. In winter and early spring, it gets very chilly with temperatures at or below freezing. At this KOA, you won’t run into this problem. But you’ll be 40 minutes from the entrance of Sequoia. You really have to weigh your options and how far you’ll be traveling. For those wishing to break up a long drive, this might be the perfect place to stop since it’s near the 99. Nothing beats camping in a National or State park, but this might be the next best thing.