Located in southeastern California near the border with Nevada, Death Valley National Park lies about 4 hours’ drive northeast of Los Angeles and a little over 3 hours’ drive west of Las Vegas.
Death Valley is the largest U.S. National Park in the continental US, covering 3.4 million acres. It features vast, incredible salt flats, mountain ranges, hidden canyons, a multitude of interesting geological features, colorful badlands, and important historic and cultural sites.
In the summer, Death Valley is one of the hottest places on earth. Temperatures can soar to over 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.9 C) in the hottest months of June, July and August, with daily average high temperatures over 100 F from May through September. The extreme heat is caused by the low elevation of the valley – Badland Basin is 282 feet below sea level – and mountains to the west trapping heat in the air as it passes over the ranges, which then settles into the valley.
We visited Death Valley as part of a business trip to Las Vegas. On this trip, we also visited nearby Hoover Dam, the Mt. Charleston Wilderness Area, and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
How Much Time Do You Need to Visit Death Valley National Park
The park is vast and it’s impossible to see everything in a single day. The park could be visited in a half day to a day, but we spent 1.5 days and really got to see a lot. We could have easily spent three days and included the northern parts of the park.
Why Visit Death Valley
Death Valley is often visited because of its unique geography and elevation. It is a place of austere beauty, unusual landscapes, and interesting geography.
Night skies in Death Valley are also amazing. The International Dark-Sky Association has given its highest designation to the park.
(Click on thumbnail photos for expanded view.)
When to Visit Death Valley National Park
The most pleasant time to visit Death Valley is November through March, when daily average highs range from 65 ℉ to 82 ℉. During those months, nighttime temperatures average 40s to 50s. Note that the park pass (fee) is $30 per private vehicle or an “America the Beautiful Pass”, which covers all national parks in the USA for a year, click here.
We visited Death Valley in June because we were in the area on business. It was hot, hot, hot! At one point, the exterior thermometer on our rental car registered 124 ℉! But for us, that added to the experience. In addition to seeing the sights, we really “felt” that we were in Death Valley, including the below-sea-level elevation, when that heat slapped us in the face!
Accessing Death Valley National Park
California Highway 190 runs through the park, providing access from the east and from the west. The best way to visit Death Valley is by car, either from Las Vegas, NV or from Los Angeles, CA. Here is a map of sights we will discuss with a route starting at the east entrance (which has a National Park sign).
Download as a KML file and use in Google Maps, Google My Maps, OpenMaps, or other mobile apps. Start from the full screen view of the map.
Our suggest order of sights assumes entry from the east. If you are coming from the west, just switch the order.
There is limited gas (petrol) in the park. The map includes the stations at Stovepipe Wells Village and Furnace Creek. Expect the prices to be very high relative to prices in nearby towns.
Please see the embedded map for our suggested itinerary. A workable, one-day route includes the following ordered stops:
- Zabriskie Point
- Badwater Basin
- Devil’s Golf Course
- Artist’s Drive
- Harmony Borax Works
- Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes
- Salt Creek Interpretive Trail
- Stovepipe Village
- Mosaic Canyon
- Dante’s View ⋆ (catch this on your way in/out)
If you have more time, follow the route in the embedded map, saving Dante’s View or Aguereberry Point.
Note: The map includes Scotty’s Castle (Death Valley Ranch) in the northern part of the park, in the oasis of Grapevine Canyon. This historic resort area has been closed for nearly 10 years and reopened in late 2024. The area was flooded in 2015 (see picture below of flooding of Death Valley).
Zabriskie Point ⋆⋆⋆
Zabriskie Point is a great first stop on a visit to Death Valley National Park if arriving from the east. It is one of the most photographed and iconic spots in the park. From the parking lot, it’s an easy 0.2 mile walk to the lookout. From here, panoramic views of the salt flats and badlands of Death Valley, the impressive Manly Beacon to the northwest, and the Panamint Mountain range in the distance are amazing.
The point is named for Christian Zabriskie, who led the Pacific Coast Borax Company for 36 years after this important compound was discovered in Death Valley.
Continue on CA-190 and turn left onto Badwater Basin Road (bypassing the turnoff to Dante’s View for now – you’ll catch it on your way out of the park.) Badwater Basin is 20 miles from Zabriskie Point.
The Inn at Death Valley
Originally opened in 1927, and originally called the Furnace Creek Inn, the Inn at Death Valley is part of the Oasis at Death Valley complex. It is situated in a lush, natural oasis, which is a beautiful surprise in the otherwise austere surroundings. Visit the historic lobby area and check out The Inn Dining Room, which features breathtaking views of the stunning views of the valley’s salt pans with the Panamint Mountains as a backdrop. The restaurant gets lackluster reviews for dinner. Wander around the grounds of the Oasis complex to see the palm trees and lush foliage.
If considering stay at the Inn at Death Valley, or any of the Oasis accommodations options, visit the Xanterra resorts website. There are a variety of accommodation options, including hotel rooms, cottages and casitas, and camping. When we looked, rooms were almost $400/night.
The resort area features a golf course, swimming pool, spectacular views, lush grounds with palm trees, and several restaurants.
Badwater Basin ⋆⋆⋆
Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America, at 282 feet below sea level. There’s a parking area and boardwalk. You can walk off the boardwalk out onto the salt flats, which seem to stretch for miles. The name “Badwater” derives from a spring that produces unpotable water, hence the name Badwater. Check out the sign marking sea level on the hills behind you to get a better feel for how low this spot really is.
When we were here, the exterior thermometer on our rental car showed the temperature as 124 ℉.
Pro tip: Enter the Inn from the parking lot via the historic stone tunnel entrance, which protects the inn from the extreme heat and is a welcome sight on a hot day.
Devil’s Golf Course ⋆⋆
The aptly named Devil’s Golf Course is a vast area of salt formations shaped by wind and rain. This is one of the most inhospitable places I’ve seen on earth. It is accessed by a short gravel road that turns off Badwater Road. It’s easy to view Devil’s Golf Course from your vehicle or step out of your car for photos. If you choose to walk out onto the salt formations, be careful – the spires are sharp and it is easy to be injured here!
Natural Bridge ⋆
Natural Bridge is accessed via a 1 mile out-and-back trail. The Natural Bridge, which is found at the turnaround point on the trail, is an incredible arch formed by alluvial deposits. There is not a marked trail here; to hike up to the Natural Bridge, just follow the wash from the parking lot.
Artist’s Drive and Artist’s Palette ⋆⋆⋆
Artist’s Drive is an 8.6 mile detour off Badwater Road that winds through the beautiful Artist’s Palette area of Death Valley National Park. The rock formations here contain mineral compounds that create various shades of blues, greens, reds and yellows. The area is a beautiful work of art indeed!
The road is paved, winding and fun to drive. Note that it is one way, starting in the south and winding back toward the Furnace Creek area.
Golden Canyon ⋆⋆
The uniquely-colored rock walls in Golden Canyon are formed of an ancient mudstone. While you can view the canyon from the parking lot, a hike into it on the relatively easy, well-marked 2 mile out-and-back trail is a starkly beautiful experience. This canyon is the site of “Jawa Canyon” in the Star Wars Episode IV, A New Hope.
Old Stovepipe Wells
The historical plaque at Old Stovepipe Wells marks the site of a rare, historic fresh water spring in Death Valley. Old Stovepipe Wells derives its name from the length of stovepipe that was inserted into the ground to mark the water source’s location in the sand. For years, it was the only source of water along the road that transported Rhyolite and Skidoo out of the valley. The site is a mile or so out of the way, so you may want to bypass if you are short on time.
Stove Pipe Wells Village ⋆
The area known as Stove Pipe Wells Village includes a motel with swimming pool (the water was unbelievably warm and the air still over 100 F, but we went for an evening swim because it was there), campground (campers have access to the swimming pool), restaurant, gift shop, general store, and gas station (be prepared for as high prices!).
We stayed at the Stovepipe Wells Hotel, which has basic, motel-style rooms. Our room had a view of mountains in the distance across the parking lot. Room prices start around $200. It’s pricey for what you get, but you are in expensive California, and in the heart of relatively inaccessible Death Valley. An overnight stay here is worth the money if you plan to spend more than a day in the park.
Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes ⋆⋆⋆
The Mesquite Flat Dunes are best viewed at sunrise. We visited at sunrise on the second morning of our time in Death Valley for amazing photos and to watch the light play on the dunes. Sunset is great as well but not as cool.
The mesmerizing Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes are found near Stovepipe Village. This was one of my favorite places in Death Valley National Park. Formed when sand, eroded from nearby mountains, is carried into the valley and then trapped by the mountains on the opposite side, these dunes stretch for miles. From the parking lot, you can walk out onto the dunes for your Instagrammable photos.
Mosaic Canyon Trail ⋆⋆⋆
The unpaved 2.5 mile road to the Mosaic Canyon Trailhead turns off CA State Route 190 at Stovepipe Village. It is passable in a regular car, but avoid deep pits and large rocks.
Mosaic Canyon is winding and narrow and features mosaic breccia, or compressed layers of ancient rock. The complete out-and-back trail is 3.5 miles, but you don’t need to hike it all. The first 0.5 mile is sufficient to experience the first narrow slot canyon section, or you can continue another .75 mile to a series of boulders which requiring scrambling to pass. After the boulders, you may continue on to turnaround point at an impassable rock wall. This is an incredibly beautiful, otherworldly, and relatively easy hike.
Salt Creek Interpretative Trail ⋆⋆
Salt Creek flows in the winter when small fish can be seen in its waters and plants spring up along its edges. The rest of the year, the creek is dry. A 0.5 mile long, flat, accessible boardwalk runs along the creek. A worthwhile stroll, especially early in the day. The information about the ecosystem is interesting and there are rabbits and lizards just asking to be photographed.
Harmony Borax Works ⋆⋆
Harmony Borax Works was a processing plant for this important salt compound. Borax was discovered in Death Valley in 1881, and this processing plant and associated company town sprang up. Today, you can see remnants of the operation on a self-guided, 0.4 mile long easy walk.
Mustard Canyon Drive ⋆
Mustard Canyon Drive is one-mile long, graded gravel, and passable by regular car. It winds through an area yellow rock consisting of oxidized minerals and salts.
Twenty Mule Team Canyon Road ⋆⋆
This 2.5 mile one-way gravel road winds through spectacular, multi-colored badlands worn by erosion. Access to the road is along CA-190 just east of Zabriskie Point. The road is passable for most cars. It is named for the original route used to transport Borax from Death Valley.
This is an amazing place for photography, especially in the morning and late afternoon. Scenes from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, were also filmed here, making the drive special for fans of that genre (including us!).
Dante’s View (⋆⋆⋆ if entering the park from the east)
Dante’s View sits more than 5,500 feet above Badwater Basin and affords incredible views of Death Valley. Although visiting Dante’s View requires an almost 15-mile detour off CA-190, it well worth your time. You will travel from CA-190 on Furnace Creek Wash Road and then onto Dante’s View Road to access Dante’s View. Photographers love this spot, especially at sunrise and sunset. If crowded, hike up to the north to find solitude!
Looking for stars? Look no further than Dante’s View! Death Valley National Park is an International Dark Sky Park. If you’re lucky enough to visit during a new moon phase, you will be awed by the stars and the Milky Way. A full moon reflects on the salt flats, creating a different, but still stunning scene.
Fred visited Dante’s View in October of 2015 when Death Valley was flooded and took this picture of the valley partially covered in water.
Aguereberry Point (⋆⋆⋆ if entering or leaving from the west)
Getting to this lookout requires a 6-mile drive along a maintained gravel road. But Aguereberry Point is about 1000 feet higher than Dante’s View and provides a look at Death Valley from the west. This road may not be passable for low-clearance vehicles (although we made it without problem in a standard sedan rental car).
Western Entrance Area
Near the western entrance there are several opportunities for views of the mountains, like Father Crowley Vista Point. There is also the popular Darwin Falls Trail, an in-and-out 7 mile round trip to a waterfall and deep pool. This hike is not recommended after 10am in the summer and the road to the trailhead is not always passable, adding 5 miles round trip to get to the trailhead. Conveniently, there is a National Park sign at the entrance for a photo op.
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