Azalea Campground – Kings Canyon National Park, California

Azalea Campground is one of the most conveniently located and accessible campgrounds in Kings Canyon National Park, offering a peaceful forest environment just steps from the Grant Grove Village area. With its mix of towering pines, open forest meadows, and quick access to giant sequoia groves, Azalea provides an ideal basecamp for exploring both Kings Canyon and the adjacent Sequoia National Park. Its year-round accessibility and central location make it especially popular for road trippers, families, and visitors exploring the parks at any time of year.

Location & Setting

The campground sits near the Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park at roughly 6,500 feet in elevation. It is located just uphill from Grant Grove Village, where visitors can find a market, dining, visitor information, and fuel. The surrounding landscape features dense stands of fir, pine, and cedar, as well as open patches of forest floor and granite outcrops. Azalea’s elevated location provides cool mountain air during summer months and occasional snowfall in winter, creating a classic Sierra Nevada high-country feel without requiring a long drive down into Kings Canyon proper.

Campground Overview

Azalea Campground contains a large number of campsites arranged across rolling forest terrain, with many sites offering partial views, open forest light, or high levels of shade. It accommodates tents, trailers, and mid-sized RVs, with wide loops and several pull-through sites available. Some sites are tucked into wooded pockets for privacy, while others sit in more open, sunny clearings. Because of its central location and sizable capacity, Azalea frequently serves as a convenient base for travelers exploring both parks in the Giant Sequoia region.

Amenities

Campsites include picnic tables, fire rings, and bear-resistant food lockers. The campground provides modern restrooms with flush toilets and potable water spigots distributed throughout the loops. In peak season, Grant Grove Village—just a short walk or drive away—offers groceries, fuel, a restaurant, gifts, and park information, giving campers easy access to essentials. Azalea does not offer showers, electrical hookups, or a dump station, but its proximity to village services helps cover most needs for extended stays.

Activities & Nearby Highlights

Azalea Campground is ideally positioned for exploring some of the most iconic features in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. The General Grant Tree—one of the largest trees on Earth—is only minutes away by car or a moderate walk. The nearby Panoramic Point offers sweeping views of the High Sierra, while several local trails weave through the Grant Grove area’s forests and meadows. Visitors can also easily reach the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (in summer), Redwood Mountain Grove, and Lodgepole/Wuksachi areas to the south. Stargazing is excellent thanks to the high elevation and low light pollution, and wildlife sightings are common throughout the forest.

Summary

Azalea Campground offers one of the most convenient and enjoyable camping experiences in Kings Canyon National Park. With its shaded forest setting, close proximity to Grant Grove Village and major sequoia groves, year-round accessibility, and central location between Kings Canyon and Sequoia’s top attractions, it serves as an excellent all-around basecamp. For visitors seeking a comfortable, scenic, and well-located campground in the Sierra Nevada, Azalea delivers a truly classic national park stay.