Death Valley National Park is truly iconic. The hottest place on earth, the lowest point in North America … The superlatives go on. It is also surprisingly beautiful and diverse.
There are towering white sand dunes, expansive salt flats and ridged badlands. You can visit ruins of old mines and a historic hacienda in the middle of the desert. There are rocks painted with multi-colored ores, marbled slot canyons and golden arches. You can clamber though narrow canyons, climb to see panoramic views or see deep volcanic craters. There are so many micro desert environments all in one compact place.
One thing – it does get very HOT in summer!
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Death Valley National Park at a Glance
⭐ State: California
⭐ Main attractions: Badlands, salt flats, colored rocks, sand dunes, slot canyons, historic mines and buildings, volcanic craters
🛏️TOP HOTEL PICK: Check availability now
🚘FIND THE CHEAPEST CAR RENTAL: Search Discover Cars for the best deals
✈️FIND THE CHEAPEST FLIGHTS: Search Skyscanner for the best deals
🧳GET TRAVEL INSURANCE: Get insured with Travelex before you go
📱TAKE AN AUDIO TOUR: Buy an audio tour now
Death Valley National Park Travel Guide
Planning a trip to Death Valley National Park can be overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be. Use this Death Valley guide for all your trip planning. Click on the links below to go to detailed guides and answers to your questions.
How to Plan a Trip to Death Valley National Park
The national park is a truly a land of extremes, so planning your trip carefully is very important.
Read More: TIPS FOR VISITING DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
This guide will help you with what you should AVOID doing when you plan a trip to Death Valley National Park.
Read More: 7 MISTAKES TO AVOID IN DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
Entrance Fee for Death Valley National Park
There is an entrance fee for the park. Find the latest fees on the NPS website.
To avoid long lines and save money, if you are planning to visit more than just Death Valley this year, it can be great value to purchase an America The Beautiful pass.
The one-year pass includes standard entrance at all sites managed by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Army Corps of Engineers. The pass covers the entrance fee for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle or up to 4 adults at sites that charge per person.
Get an America The Beautiful pass here
There are other types of passes available for seniors, veterans, etc.
Read More: NATIONAL PARKS PASSES
Death Valley National Park Visitor Centers
There is one main Visitor Center.
ℹ️ The Furnace Creek Visitor Center is open every day of the year. In addition to the usual information desk, there are ranger programs, a 20-minute park film, museum displays, and a bookstore. Don’t miss the giant thermometer outside displaying the current temperature (a great photo opp. if you’re visiting in summer)
ℹ️ The Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station is only open when staffing permits. There’s information and you can pay the entrance fee there, when it’s open.
Best Tours of Death Valley National Park
🎧 Get a self-guided audio tour of Death Valley National Park
Hikes in Death Valley National Park
There are some really great hikes, ranging from very easy to challenging.
Read More: BEST HIKES IN DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
Where to Stay In and Near Death Valley National Park
There are several lodges and campgrounds in the national park. The main area is Furnace creek, but there are also some options in Stove Pipe Wells.
Lodges inside Death Valley National Park
🛏️ The Inn at Death Valley is the more upscale option at The Oasis at Death Valley in Furnace Creek. It’s open all year.
🛏️ The Ranch at Death Valley is a motel at The Oasis at Death Valley in Furnace Creek. It’s open all year.
🛏️ Stovepipe Wells Village has resort-style accommodations plus some RV sites with full hookup in Stove Pipe Wells. It’s open all year.
🛏️ Panamint Springs Resort has resort-style accommodations and camping in Panamint Springs. It’s open all year.
⛺ There are 7 developed campgrounds inside Death Valley National Park that are run by the NPS.
⛺ There are also privately operated campgrounds within the park at Stovepipe Wells RV Park, The Ranch at Death Valley, and Panamint Springs Resort. They are open year round and accept reservations.
⛺ There are 5 primitive campgrounds run by the NPS. They’re accessible by high clearance 4 x 4 vehicles only and you need to pack in your own water and pack out your own trash.
Lodging is also available east of the park in Beatty NV, Pahrump NV, Shoshone CA and Las Vegas NV.
➡️ Find a hotel east of Death Valley on Expedia.
➡️ Find a vacation rental east of Death Valley on VRBO.
Lodging is also available west of the park in Lone Pine CA, Ridgecrest CA and Bishop CA.
➡️ Find a hotel west of Death Valley on Expedia.
➡️ Find a vacation rental west of Death Valley on VRBO.
How to Get To Death Valley National Park
The most common ways to get to Death Valley National Park are to drive or fly to a nearby airport and pick up a rental car there.
Read More: HOW TO GET TO DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
✈️ If you’re looking for a flight, find a good deal on Skyscanner
The Nearest Airports to Death Valley National Park
See all the airports near Death Valley National Park with the pros and cons of each of them.
Read More: THE AIRPORTS NEAR DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
This is the closest airport to Death Valley National Park.
✈️ If you’re looking for flights, use Skyscanner to scan the Internet for the cheapest deals.
How to Get Around Death Valley National Park
There are no shuttles in Death Valley National Park, so the only way to get around is to have your own vehicle or take a tour. The roads main roads are paved, but if you want to venture into the backcountry, the roads are all unpaved and you’ll need a high clearance 4WD vehicle for those roads. If you’re doing this, always check that your rental vehicle is covered on unpaved roads,
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
The Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park
The park is literally the hottest place on the planet, so I really don’t recommend you go in summer. You might get bragging rights, but the heat is extremely dangerous and you’ll be limited in what you can do. However, it isn’t that hot all year round.
A quick summary of the best time to visit the national park for different interests and priorities.
Take a look at what the park’s like in each season and month to help you decide when to visit Death Valley National Park.
Read More: WHAT TO EXPECT IN DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
How Long to Spend in Death Valley National Park
How many days you should go to Death Valley National Park for depends on when you have time off, how much time you have, your budget, and your interests. However, I recommend at least two days in the park to see the mina attractions. More time will mean you can explore even more!
Travel Insurance for Death Valley National Park
In addition to working out the logistics of your trip using this travel guide, Death Valley National Park planning should also include travel insurance. Protect yourself against trip cancellation, loss or theft of your property, or any medical emergencies.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can compare Travel Insurance plans here or get a quote right now:
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About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.