Sequoia National Park With 3 Kids Under 4: Our One-Day Family Adventure

Taking three little kids to a national park might not sound like the most relaxing vacation imaginable... and I can confirm, it wasn't. 😂 But our one day at Sequoia National Park was absolutely worth it.

We stayed in an Airbnb in Three Rivers, California, with friends, right outside the park. Since we only had one full day to explore, we got up early, loaded everyone into the car, and headed into the park ready to make the most of it.

Staying in Three Rivers, California

Three Rivers was such a convenient home base for this trip. We could spend the day exploring Sequoia and then head back to the Airbnb, relax with our friends, feed everybody, and recover from adventuring with three kids under four. 😂

One thing I didn't fully appreciate before this trip was that getting through the park entrance is only the beginning. The drive from the foothills up toward Giant Forest is a long, winding mountain road with plenty of curves and elevation changes.

Our First Experience With a Carsick 3-Year-Old 😅

Our three-year-old had never been carsick before this trip. Apparently Sequoia decided it was time. Those winding mountain roads got him, and suddenly we could add dealing with a carsick toddler on a national park road trip to our parenting résumé. 😂 If your little one is sensitive to curvy roads, this is definitely something I'd prepare for before heading up the mountain.

Twin Carrier On, and Off We Went

Once we made it up to the Giant Forest area, we loaded the twins into their carrier, grabbed what we needed for the day, and hopped on the park shuttle. With twins and a three-year-old, wearing the babies made exploring so much easier for us than trying to maneuver a big stroller.

Somewhere between giant trees, shuttle rides, and keeping up with a three-year-old, we stopped for lunch with the babies still strapped to us. 😂 Family adventures look a little different with three kids under four, but that's also what makes these memories so good.

Seeing the Giant Sequoias

Nothing really prepares you for how huge the sequoias feel until you're standing underneath them. You can look at pictures all day, but seeing your own family standing next to one makes the scale completely different.

We made our way to the General Sherman Tree and spent time hiking and wandering around the surrounding area. I can't remember the exact trail we took—and that's okay because this blog is about real motherhood, not pretending I kept detailed hiking notes while wrangling three tiny humans. 😂

Exploring Sequoia With a 3-Year-Old

One of my favorite parts was watching our oldest actually take everything in. At three, he obviously isn't going to remember every fact about giant sequoias, but he could look at the displays, explore the forest, climb around, and be part of the adventure instead of just tagging along.

And of course, there were plenty of fallen trees and little places to explore along the way.

The Junior Ranger Badge 🤎

We also made a stop at the Lodgepole Visitor Center so our three-year-old could participate in the Junior Ranger program. I love adding things like this to family trips because it gives kids something that's theirs. Instead of Mom and Dad just taking them to look at trees, they get to participate and leave with a little reminder of what they learned and experienced.

Seeing him with the ranger and his badge was definitely one of my favorite moments from the day.

One of My Favorite Family Photos

This picture pretty much sums up this season of life: hiking shoes, a baby strapped to me, a three-year-old ready to keep moving, and giant trees everywhere. 🤎

What We Packed for Sequoia With 3 Kids Under 4

With three little kids, I try to bring the things that actually make getting out of the house easier without carrying half of our house with us. These are a few of the everyday items that fit naturally into a park day like this.

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TwinGo Twin Baby Carrier — Having both babies close while keeping my hands available was one of the biggest helpers on this trip.

Bagstellar Corduroy Tote — My everyday mom bag for keeping snacks, diapers, wipes, extra clothes, and all the random things three little boys need together.

VEGER Portable Charger — Between photos, maps, and a full day away from the Airbnb, I like having backup power with me.

Welly First Aid Kit — With a toddler exploring outside, a small first-aid kit is one of those things I'd rather have and not need.

Clear Diaper Bag Organizer Pouches — These help me separate diapers and wipes, snacks, and the little essentials so I'm not digging through one giant bag in the middle of a park.

What I Wish We Had More Time to Do

One day was enough to fall in love with Sequoia, but definitely not enough to see everything. If we'd had another day, I would have loved to catch sunrise from Moro Rock, after checking the current access and road conditions, drive through Tunnel Log, and spend more time sightseeing without feeling like we needed to fit everything into a single day.

But honestly, I'm kind of glad we didn't squeeze everything in. Now we have the perfect excuse to bring the boys back when they're a little older. 🌲🤎

What I'd Tell Another Mom Visiting Sequoia With Little Kids

Get there early, especially if you only have one day. Bring more snacks than you think you'll need, keep water easy to reach, and be prepared for a winding mountain drive. The road from the foothills toward Giant Forest has plenty of curves and hairpin turns, so after our surprise carsickness experience, that's one thing I would absolutely plan for next time.

I also wouldn't try to do everything. We saw General Sherman, wandered underneath giant sequoias, rode the shuttle, explored with our three-year-old, got his Junior Ranger badge, and made a whole day of memories together. With three kids under four, I'd call that a pretty successful day. 😂🤎

One planning note: park roads, shuttle schedules, visitor-center hours, and access to places like Moro Rock can change seasonally. Check the National Park Service's current Sequoia & Kings Canyon conditions before your trip.

What Kept Our 3-Year-Old Busy on the Drive

A long drive with a three-year-old takes a little preparation. 😂 I like packing a few simple, screen-free activities that are easy to reach from the car seat and don't require a huge setup. These are a few of the things I packed to help keep him entertained on the way to Sequoia and during downtime at our Airbnb.

Liquid Motion Sensory Toys

These little liquid motion toys are an easy quiet activity for the car. He can flip them over and watch the colorful drops move through without batteries or a big setup. Shop the liquid motion sensory toys on Amazon →

Nicpro Dry-Erase Lap Board

A small dry-erase board gives him something he can draw on again and again, which makes it handy for a longer road trip. I like activities we can reuse instead of packing a pile of paper for every drive. Shop the dry-erase lap board on Amazon →

Kids Travel Activity Tray

The travel tray gives our three-year-old his own little activity space in the back seat. We can use it for coloring, toys, snacks, and whatever else I've packed instead of having everything floating around the car. Shop the kids travel tray on Amazon →

Mini Magnetic Tiles Travel Set

I love having a compact building activity for trips. This mini magnetic-tile set comes with its own case, so it's easy to toss into our travel bag and pull out in the car, at a restaurant, or back at the Airbnb. Shop the mini magnetic tiles on Amazon →

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Mama Kim's Takeaway

Family travel looks different with little kids. Sometimes somebody gets carsick. Sometimes you forget the name of the trail you hiked. Sometimes you're carrying two babies while trying to make the day magical for your three-year-old. And sometimes you leave with half your list unfinished.

But we got to stand underneath some of the biggest trees in the world with our boys. That's the part I'll remember. 🌲🤎