The best times to go are the summer months in early June through to September and maybe October, but June and July is ideal.  Getting there is easy if you know where Hwy 99 runs through the central valley of the state of California.  From Fresno, Ca. you go east on Hwy 180, and one can go all the way back to Cedar Grove and to the Roads End.  Coming from the high desert, north on Hwy 99, I get off at Visalia and go east on Hwy 198 and take Route 63 north and travel all the way to Hwy 180 then right to the park.  The last part of 63 before you get to 180 starts the enteresting, beautiful and breathtaking views of the foothills before heading on up. The hardest part is coming up the freeway to get to this point. Although taking the back roads to Tehachapi from my place is always enjoyable and then you get on Hwy 58 to Hwy 99.  This photo shows the private lodge we stay at most of the time, but camping is always a cheaper option further in, to be near the hiking trails by Cedar grove and beyond. The picture shows riders from the Fresno area in front of the Kings Canyon Lodge on a day ride getting ready and mounting up for the great ride back down.      

            Getting into the park has changed slightly and the charge starting in 2006(I think) is now $20.00 even for motorcycles. By this time you have already climbed the breathtaking, curving, twisting road and smelled the forest and entered into another world where cell phones might only work at the top of the ridge. There's only one gas stop and it's at the Kings Canyon Lodge(private), and very expensive, but if you need it, you get it. There is a turn off to Hume Lake where the map shows a gas pump (private) and a USFS ranger station. At this point you are in Sequoia National Forest until you get down almost to Cedar Grove and then Kings Canyon N.P.begins again. You will receive a map at the entrance to the park.