Death Valley National Park Travel Guide: Heat, Roads & Trails
Updated: Oct 14
Death Valley, a place of extremes, is home to the hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the U.S. But this wonder of the Mojave Desert is far from lifeless. Its golden canyons, wide salt flats, colored mountains and spring wildflower blooms make it a park like nowhere else. Straddling the California-Nevada border, Death Valley is a vast and surprisingly diverse landscape that will leave you in awe.
Death Valley is Earth turned up to full volume: heat, color and silence stretched across a desert like no other.
How to Get to Death Valley
The closest big hub is Las Vegas (LAS, 2 hrs), making it the most common entry point. Los Angeles (LAX, 4 hours) is another option for a more extended California road trip. From either, visitors enter via Highway 190. Roads inside the park are well-paved, but distances are vast, fill your gas tank before venturing far.
Nearest Airports: LAS (2 hrs), LAX (4 hrs)
By Car: Access via Hwy 190; carry extra water and fuel
Pairings: Mojave Preserve, Joshua Tree NP, Red Rock Canyon
Know Before You Go
Summer heat in Death Valley can be deadly, temperatures can soar above 120°F. It's crucial to plan hikes only in the early morning or avoid them altogether during the summer. Services are limited, so always carry extra water and food. Entry is $30 per vehicle.
Entry Fee: $30 per vehicle
Safety: Extreme heat in summer
Permits: Needed for overnight backcountry
Wildlife: Coyotes, roadrunners, kit foxes
Desert Driving
Death Valley is huge, and services are far apart. Fill your tank whenever you can, carry extra water in the car, and do not rely on your phone for directions or calls.
Backroad Tip
Many of the park's dirt roads need high clearance, and some need four-wheel drive. Carry a full-size spare tire, tell someone your route, and if your car breaks down, stay with it.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley
Winter and spring are the best times, with highs in the 60s–80s. Wildflower blooms after rainy winters are legendary. Fall is also pleasant. Summer is a dangerous time for hiking, but it can still be enjoyed for scenic drives.
Best Things to Do in Death Valley
Badwater Basin: Lowest point in North America (-282 feet)
Zabriskie Point: Sunrise overlook of the Golden Badlands
Artist's Drive: 9-mile loop through multicolored mountains
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: Iconic dune fields near Stovepipe Wells
Dante's View: Panoramic overlook high above the valley
Best Hikes in Death Valley
Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral (3 miles, moderate): Vibrant canyon walls
Badwater Salt Flats (2 miles, easy): Walk out into the dazzling white basin
Mosaic Canyon (4 miles, moderate): Smooth marble walls and narrows
Places to Stay
Inside the park, Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells offer lodging and campgrounds. The Inn at Death Valley is a historic luxury stay. Outside, Beatty and Pahrump (NV) offer motels.
In Park: The Inn at Death Valley, Furnace Creek Ranch, Stovepipe Wells Village
Nearby: Motels in Beatty, Pahrump
Places to Eat
Dining options are limited inside the park, primarily available at inns and ranches. For more options, Pahrump offers a variety of restaurants, ranging from steakhouses to Mexican cuisine.
In Park: The Inn Dining Room, Toll Road Restaurant
Nearby: Symphony's Restaurant (Pahrump)
Sources
NPS & Government
Death Valley National Park, National Park Service
Golden Canyon, Gower Gulch, & Badlands - Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service) · Plan your visit
Badwater Basin (U.S. National Park Service)
Mosaic Canyon - Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service) · Plan your visit
