Salt Lake City, Utah to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

[Keith Schweizer]

I am in the very early stages of planning a trip to the above mentioned national parks. Some time early spring to early summer 2018. I would like to stay out of the park, but be close enough to visit both parks. For this trip I would tow my jeep to navigate the steep and narrow roads inside the park. Therefore I would be looking for a rv park with reasonable size sites or with additional parking for my jeep.
Traveling from SLC area I am not sure yet if i would take I-80 west to California, then south or I-15 south to Nevada / California border.Then traveling north to the parks.
If anyone has traveled these highways in general to these two parks, any info would be appreciated.

Thanks to all who might want to chime in on this, Keith

[Carl n Susan]

I went from Sacramento (where I-80 meets I-5) via I-80 to SLC last month. I also did it two years ago. The road is fine, if not boring, and pretty much flat most of the way to Reno/Truckee. The long grade from Truckee to Donner Summit is a climb but eminently doable and then it is downhill all the way to Sacramento. I-5 from Sacramento continues the dull and boring road with a few rolling hills. Hwy-99 parallels I-5 passing through more cities and local traffic.

If you are willing to get off the freeway, I would recommend at Reno you take Hwy-88 south to Hwy-99 just north of Stockton. Hwy-88 is a much more scenic ride.

I can't help with the alternate I-15 route.