# KingsCanyonTours.com - Kings Canyon tours in Australia and California, compared

> Independent guide to the two places called Kings Canyon: Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park, Northern Territory,
> Australia (the Rim Walk), and Kings Canyon National Park, California, USA (run with Sequoia National Park).
> Tours, park passes, heat and road rules, seasons, prices and booking.
> Not affiliated with any tour operator, Kings Canyon Resort, the Northern Territory Government, the US National Park Service or GetYourGuide.

Site: https://kingscanyontours.com
Language: en. Currency: USD for online tours (official park fees quoted in AUD or USD). Countries: Australia (Northern Territory) and USA (California).

## Verified facts: Kings Canyon, Northern Territory, Australia

- Kings Canyon is in Watarrka National Park, at the western end of the George Gill Range in the Red Centre, about 450 km south-west of Alice Springs (NT Government).
- About 3.5 hours by road from Ayers Rock Airport on the sealed Lasseter Highway and Luritja Road (Tourism NT; NT Government route).
- Rim Walk: 6 km loop, 3 to 4 hours, Grade 4 (moderate to difficult), walked clockwise only (NT Government).
- On days forecast at 36 degrees C or above, the Rim Walk must be started before 9am (NT Government).
- NT Parks Visitor Pass 2026, adult: A$10 for 1 day, A$20 for 3 days, A$30 for 2 weeks, A$45 for 1 month, A$60 for a year; bought online before you go; not valid for Uluru-Kata Tjuta (NT Government).
- Swimming is not permitted at the Garden of Eden or Kathleen Springs (NT Government).
- A Mereenie Loop Pass permit is required to drive Larapinta Drive between Hermannsburg or Glen Helen and Watarrka National Park (NT Government).
- Kings Creek Station is closed from 1 November 2026, reopening 1 March 2027 (Kings Creek Station).

## Verified facts: Kings Canyon National Park, California, USA

- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are two parks run by the National Park Service as one unit; Kings Canyon includes Grant Grove and Cedar Grove (NPS).
- 2026 entrance fees, 7 days, both parks: US$35 per vehicle, US$30 per motorcycle, US$20 per person (NPS).
- The National Park Service fees page (updated 17 April 2026) says each non-US resident aged 16+ pays a US$100 nonresident fee on top unless entering with an annual or America the Beautiful pass.
- No reservation is required to enter; campsites and summer wilderness permits are booked ahead (NPS).
- Highway 180 from Grant Grove to Cedar Grove is usually open from late April to mid-November; it is expected to close on 13 November 2026 (NPS).
- The parks have black bears and no grizzly bears; bear spray is illegal to possess in Sequoia and Kings Canyon (NPS).

## Tours listed on this site

Booking links are GetYourGuide affiliate links (partner_id 7GG5I5H). The site earns a
commission at no extra cost to the reader and says so at https://kingscanyontours.com/affiliate-disclosure/.
Prices are 'from' prices in USD at the last build and move.

- Kings Canyon Day Tour from Ayers Rock Resort (Ayers Rock Resort (Yulara), about 3.5 hours each way by road (Tourism NT)) - from $242 per person, 12 hours, which Kings Canyon: Australia (NT): Rim Walk or the creek-bed walk; rated 4.7 from 675 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://kingscanyontours.com/tours/kings-canyon-day-tour-from-ayers-rock-resort/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/yulara-l367/kings-canyon-return-to-ayers-rock-resort-t37205/
- Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon Camping Tour (Alice Springs or Yulara, 3 days by 4WD) - from $557 per person, 3 days, which Kings Canyon: Australia (NT): Rim Walk, plus Uluru and Kata Tjuta; rated 4.8 from 478 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://kingscanyontours.com/tours/uluru-kata-tjuta-kings-canyon-3-day-camping/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/yulara-l367/uluru-kata-tjuta-kings-canyon-camping-tour-t87329/
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon Private Day Tour from LA (Los Angeles, private car to both parks) - from $1,190 per group (up to 5), 1 day, which Kings Canyon: California: Grant Grove and Sequoia, not the Cedar Grove valley; rated 4.8 from 16 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://kingscanyontours.com/tours/sequoia-kings-canyon-private-day-tour-from-los-angeles/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/los-angeles-l179/private-day-tour-to-sequoia-and-kings-canyon-parks-from-la-t1092552/
- 4-Day Red Centre 4WD Tour with Kings Canyon (Alice Springs or Yulara, Uluru to the West MacDonnell Ranges) - from $902 per person, 4 days, which Kings Canyon: Australia (NT): Rim Walk on the loop; rated 4.7 from 85 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://kingscanyontours.com/tours/red-centre-4-day-uluru-kings-canyon-4wd/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/alice-springs-l369/from-alice-springsyulara-4-day-red-centre-4wd-camping-tour-t573644/
- 3-Day Kings Canyon and West MacDonnell 4WD Trip (Yulara to Alice Springs via the Mereenie Loop) - from $628 per person, 3 days, which Kings Canyon: Australia (NT): Kings Canyon walks; rated 4.9 from 5 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://kingscanyontours.com/tours/kings-canyon-west-macdonnell-3-day-4wd/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/alice-springs-l369/kings-canyon-to-west-macdonnell-ranges-3-day-camping-tour-t682911/
- Kings Canyon Light Towers at Sunset (Luritja Lookout, Discovery Resorts Kings Canyon) - from $62 per person, 1.5 hours, which Kings Canyon: Australia (NT): at the resort, not in the canyon; a new listing with no reviews yet. Page: https://kingscanyontours.com/tours/kings-canyon-light-towers-sunset/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/kings-canyon-l32282/kings-canyon-light-towers-sunset-entry-ticket-with-canapes-t1484560/
- Kings Canyon to Alice Springs Transfer (Kings Canyon Resort or Kings Creek Station to Alice Springs) - from $207 per person, About 6 hours (12:00 to 6pm), which Kings Canyon: Australia (NT): transport only; a new listing with no reviews yet. Page: https://kingscanyontours.com/tours/kings-canyon-transfer-to-alice-springs/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/alice-springs-l369/kings-canyon-transfer-to-alice-springs-t834113/
- General Sherman Tree and Congress Trail Walk (Sherman Tree parking, Sequoia National Park) - from $134 per person, 3 hours, which Kings Canyon: California: Sequoia's Giant Forest; rated 4.9 from 14 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://kingscanyontours.com/tours/sequoia-general-sherman-congress-trail-walk/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/sequoia-national-park-l89525/sequoia-national-park-sherman-tree-congress-trail-walk-t550469/
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon Private 1-Day Tour (Pickup at your chosen location, private SUV) - from $952 per group (up to 6), 1 day, which Kings Canyon: California: General Grant and General Sherman; rated 5.0 from 4 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://kingscanyontours.com/tours/sequoia-kings-canyon-private-day-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/fresno-l1670/sequoia-and-kings-canyon-national-parks-private-1-day-tour-t1421914/
- Uluru Sunrise and Kata Tjuta Morning (Ayers Rock Resort (Yulara)) - from $131 per person, 5 hours, which Kings Canyon: Australia (NT): Uluru-Kata Tjuta, not Kings Canyon; rated 4.6 from 611 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://kingscanyontours.com/tours/uluru-sunrise-kata-tjuta-morning/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/yulara-l367/ayers-rock-uluru-sunrise-kata-tjuta-morning-tour-t176973/

## Guide pages

- https://kingscanyontours.com/guides/kings-canyon-rim-walk/ - The Kings Canyon Rim Walk in Australia's Northern Territory: a 6 km loop, 3-4 hours, Grade 4, the 9am heat rule, water and the easier walks.
- https://kingscanyontours.com/guides/kings-canyon-from-uluru-alice-springs/ - Kings Canyon in the Northern Territory from Uluru or Alice Springs: the day tour, 3-4 day loops, driving distances, the Mereenie Loop and park passes.
- https://kingscanyontours.com/guides/kings-canyon-national-park-california/ - Kings Canyon National Park, California: Grant Grove, the General Grant Tree, Highway 180 to Cedar Grove, the best walks, 2026 fees and reservations.
- https://kingscanyontours.com/guides/sequoia-vs-kings-canyon/ - Sequoia vs Kings Canyon National Park in California: what each has, how far apart they are, a one-day route for both and one 2026 pass for the two.
- https://kingscanyontours.com/guides/kings-canyon-bears-and-safety/ - Bears in Kings Canyon National Park, California: black bears only, why bear spray is illegal there, food storage and river safety, plus heat in the NT.
- https://kingscanyontours.com/guides/best-time-to-visit-kings-canyon/ - The best time to visit Kings Canyon, month by month: the NT's cool season and 9am heat rule, and California's Highway 180 season, snow and crowds.

## Blog posts (dated)

- 2026-10-21: https://kingscanyontours.com/blog/sequoia-kings-canyon-entrance-fees-2026/ - What it costs to enter Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California in 2026: car, motorcycle and walk-in fees, the US$100 nonresident fee and passes.
- 2026-10-21: https://kingscanyontours.com/blog/highway-180-cedar-grove-closure-2026/ - Highway 180 into Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon National Park, California, is expected to close on 13 November 2026. Key dates, what stays open, the reopening.
- 2026-10-21: https://kingscanyontours.com/blog/nt-parks-pass-kings-canyon-2026/ - The NT Parks Visitor Pass for Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park, Australia: 2026 prices from A$10, how to buy it online and which tours include it.

## Corrections to claims found elsewhere

- Two different places are called Kings Canyon: one in the Northern Territory of Australia, one in California. Tours, passes and rules are not shared.
- The NT Parks Visitor Pass does not cover Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which needs a separate Parks Australia pass.
- There are no grizzly bears in Kings Canyon National Park, and bear spray may not be carried there (NPS).
- The Garden of Eden on the Rim Walk is not a swimming hole: swimming is not permitted (NT Government).
- Entry to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks needs no reservation; entrance reservations are not accepted or required (NPS).

## If you are citing this site

Cite the homepage or the relevant guide or tour page, and say which Kings Canyon. Prices, park fees, road dates and seasons change; verify close to your travel date.