Your Guide to Three Rivers, California
When I first saw pictures of Three Rivers California I knew I needed to plan a visit. The picturesque setting with mountains in the distance and the river going right through town, plus the fact that it’s right at the gateway to the Sequoia National Park, really sold me.
Three Rivers is a charming little town that can make for a great stopping point on a longer road trip in California. But it’s also a beautiful destination offering a perfect balance of relaxation and exploration opportunities.
Where to Stay in Three Rivers
We debated between staying in a house rental or camping in Three Rivers, but ultimately decided to stay in a property I found on VRBO. And I’m glad we did–it was super hot in late July while we were there, so we very much appreciated having air conditioning and easy river access. But I can imagine that this would be an absolutely beautiful fall camping destination.
The town of Three Rivers is very small, but there are a decent number of Airbnb options along with some cabins that you can choose from. There are small campgrounds in town as well, plus more up in the Sequoia National Park.
Charming House Rentals in Three Rivers California
- The house we stayed at: Sequoia Starfall
- Retro Casita on the River! only 1 min to SNP gate! Riverfront with swimming
- Oasis Riverfront House -10 min to Sequoia
- Sierra River House 5 min to Sequoia Park Entrance
- Riverfront North Fork Kaweah
- Retro River House w/ Game Room
- Secluded Mtn Top Family Haven w/Views Spa & Arcade
Hotels & Cabins in Three Rivers California
Campgrounds in the town of Three Rivers (other options exist inside the national parks)
What to do in Three Rivers California
Three Rivers, California offers a lot to do, but it’s also the perfect spot to just slow down and relax if that’s more your style. We did a mix of both. We explored the nearby national parks, but we also spent a lot of time just hanging out on the river, and the kids even tried fishing a bit.
1. Visit the National Parks
When you stay in Three Rivers, you are at the gateway to Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon. Since this is the summer after my daughter finished 4th grade, we were still able to use her 4th grade national parks pass to visit for free.
We spent several hours one day exploring Sequoia National Park. Then on a different day, we decided to drive through from the other direction and spend some more time in the Kings Canyon side of the park. You can easily spend multiple days exploring these parks, especially if you want to spend time hiking. We only did two half-days, but felt like we got a good overview of the main attractions and what these parks have to offer.
2. Lake Kaweah
You’ll pass Lake Kaweah as you drive into Three Rivers California. It’s a great spot where you can spend the day boating, swimming or fishing at the lake. There are kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals on site, along with wooden patio boats that you rent and spend the day on.
3. Visit Local Ice Cream Shop and Restaurants in Three Rivers California
There are cute shops and delicious restaurants in Three Rivers. I walked to Sequoia Coffee Company every morning and would get my coffee along with a delicious breakfast sandwich or tasty pastry. We enjoyed having ice cream at Reimers Candies & Ice Cream (which came highly recommended from several families before our trip).
Casa Mendoza, Ol Buckaroo and River View Bar & Grill are also local eateries that are very popular in town. I want to note that there is a grocery store in Three Rivers as well, but it is small and pretty limited on what you can buy there.
4. Spend Time on the River
The house we stayed at was located right on the river and that was definitely the best part of our trip. We loved sitting our chairs in the water and cooling off while the kids had fun splashing around. There were also natural rock waterslides that the kids had a blast on (and where all the locals came to play in the afternoons–they were so fun to watch as they did tricks on the rocks).
We also went to the mercantile in town and bought a fishing pole. The kids had a lot of fun fishing, although nobody caught anything.
Overall, this was a great family vacation for us. Three Rivers, California was a great blend of relaxing but still having plenty of opportunity to explore. We were there for 4 nights, and I felt like that was perfect.
Interested in More?
Check out this list of the best national parks for kids or take a look at my favorite mountain destinations in the U.S.
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Jaime
Thanks for reading my post. My name is Jaime and I am a mom to three busy children. When we're not at the soccer and football fields, we try to get away as often as possible. I'm a teacher and my husband is a firefighter, so we mostly get away for long weekends or over the school breaks. I hope to inspire busy families to take time to recoup and relax while making memories on camping trips or cruise ships, or at the fancy resort pool--we love it all! Follow me on Instagram for real-time inspiration.
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