Death Valley National Park Guide, According to Experts

There are few national parks as extreme as Death Valley National Park, which straddles the border of California and Nevada. The saltwater flats of Badwater Basin sit well below sea level and face steady drought, while snow-capped Telescope Peak towers at 11,049 feet above sea level. Death Valley is both the driest place in North America and the hottest place on Earth, with summer temperatures often surpassing 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

And yet, in this seemingly uninhabitable landscape, there is life. Over 1,000 species of plants and 440 animal species thrive within the park, including several not found anywhere else in the world. The vast, extreme landscape, which is renowned for its massive sprawl and variance in elevation, also has a long human history.

“For 1,000 years the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe has called the valley home. They do not refer to it as Death Valley, as that name was given to it in 1849,” explained Jan Jensen in an interview with Travel + Leisure. Jensen is a descendant of 1849 Death Valley pioneer Harry Wade and a life member of the Death Valley ’49ers, an organization dedicated to preserving the history and natural beauty of Death Valley.

For hundreds of years before the ‘49ers arrival, the Timbisha Shoshone lived in the valley, harvesting pinyon pine nuts and mesquite beans and hunting. The name Death Valley was given to the landscape after some ‘49ers “took a turn that led them into the valley. Some families were stranded for 25 days until their help returned with supplies to get them out,” according to Jensen.

This landscape, while still uninhabitable to most, continues to capture the imagination and curiosity of over one million annual visitors who come to the park each year to witness the vast expanse of space, to experience the extremes, and to imagine the human history that played out here. 

To guide you through this dramatic landscape, we chatted with Jensen, along with Death Valley’s official spokesperson and a representative from a tour company that operates within the park.

How to Get There

There is no public transportation to or within Death Valley National Park, so most visitors arrive in their personal vehicles. The park is just under two hours by car from Las Vegas and around 3.5 hours from Los Angeles. There are several paved entrances as well as a handful of dirt road entrances. 

No matter which route you decide on, it pays to be prepared. “There is very little cell phone service. Before coming to the park, I recommend you get the free NPS app and download the Death Valley National Park info. That way you’ll have the park map, guided tours, and lots of other information available,” recommended the park’s spokesperson Abby Wines. 

The park website adds that “GPS navigation to remote locations like Death Valley National Park are notoriously unreliable. Numerous travelers have been directed to the wrong location and dead-end or closed roads by following incorrect GPS information.”

There are also no rapid EV chargers inside the park, and there are just three gas stations in the park’s 3.4 million acres, so come prepared.

There is a small public airport for private planes within the park, but most travelers fly into Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), which is less than two hours from the park by car, or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which is around four hours away.

Know Before You Go

The park’s poor cell phone service is a major factor to keep in mind as you prepare for your trip. Come ready to use paper maps and the map in the NPS app. Jensen notes that there is also limited Wi-Fi within the park.

In addition, keep in mind that you’re visiting a land of extremes. Death Valley is not only the hottest place on Earth and the driest place in North America — it’s also the largest national park in the contiguous U.S., so help is often far away. Your car should be loaded with more than enough water for the day’s adventure, a full tank of fuel, food, and personal and vehicle emergency kits. 

“Without a doubt, always bring twice as much water as you think. Also, it’s best to use a tracking app like Strava if you’re getting off the trails into the wild so that you can see and make your way back to your vehicle or camp,” said Fisher.

You’ll also want to keep an eye on the weather. “Check weather and road conditions often,” suggests Jensen. “Weather can change within minutes to hours — including flash floods,” which are more common in the late summer. Wind is frequent, especially in the spring, and summer temperatures regularly surpass 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The world’s highest air temperature of 134 degrees was recorded at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913.

The standard entrance fee for a private vehicle is $30 and includes seven days within the park. 

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Death Valley National Park is “any time it’s not hot” according to Wines. “Generally, temperatures are ideal any time from October through April.”

Fall

The weather starts to cool in October, creating enjoyable temperatures for the annual Corral 14 wagon train in November, which commemorates the first wagons and pioneers that passed through Death Valley in 1849. The wagon train runs for multiple days along the same route the pioneers took and is a favorite of Jensen.

Winter

Death Valley is one of the best national parks to visit during the winter because you can enjoy the stunning landscapes without the oppressive heat. Wines suggests planning a visit around the winter holidays, noting that, “People don’t tend to travel just before or just after the big winter holidays, so the weather is great and the park is empty.”

Spring 

Spring is also a good time to visit Death Valley National Park because the temperatures are still bearable, and if the conditions are right, there may be a spectacular wildflower bloom. Spring wildflowers tend to arrive in late March and early April at the park’s low elevations and in April and May at mid elevations. Higher in the mountains (remember, the park tops out at 11,049 feet), wildflower season happens in June.

Best Things to Do

Drive through the expanse on nearly 1,000 miles of roads.

Ready for another superlative? Death Valley has more miles of road than any other national park, boasting nearly 1,000 miles of roadway. In addition to the park’s paved roads, there is a vast network of dirt roads, many of which require a four-wheel-drive vehicle. If you want to explore beyond the pavement, but don’t have the right vehicle, visit Farabee’s Jeep Rentals in Furnace Creek. 

“My favorite trail, so far, is Johnson Canyon which can only be explored via high-clearance 4×4 vehicles,” shared Jensen.

Driving off designated roads is prohibited, and off-road vehicles like ATVs, dirt bikes, and Rhino or Polaris vehicles are not allowed in the park.

Visit the sand dunes.

When you imagine Death Valley, you might picture a landscape covered with sand, but in all reality, “less than one percent of the desert is covered with dunes,” according to the NPS.

The most-visited set of dunes, Mesquite Flat Dunes, are located near Stovepipe Wells and are the easiest dunes to access. They’re also popular because you are allowed to sand board the dunes, an activity that is banned on other sand dunes within the park. For a full rundown of the park’s dunes, visit the NPS website.

Stay the night to stargaze.

Many parks have been recognized by the International Dark Sky Association, but very few have “gold tier” stargazing. 

“Mesquite Springs Campground is the best for night sky viewing,” said Wines. “However, the dark skies are almost as good at any of the park campgrounds. The trick is to get away from the lights of other campers by walking to the edge of the campground then giving your eyes time to adjust.”

If you don’t want to stay the night in the park, you can just drive into the park at night to stargaze (the park is open 24/7). Favorite in-park stargazing spots include Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Harmony Borax Works, Badwater Basin, and Ubehebe Crater.

Death Valley National Park also hosts night sky programs at Furnace Creek Visitor Center most Friday and Saturday nights during the winter, and the Death Valley Dark Sky Festival runs Feb. 21-23, 2025. 

Hike through the narrow Mosaic Canyon.

One of the coolest hikes within the park is Mosaic Canyon, which leads hikers into a narrow canyon with smooth, steep walls.

“My favorite hiking trail is Mosaic Canyon. It’s out-and-back, so you can go as far as you want, but the best parts are within the first mile,” said Wines. In total, the hike is four miles round-trip and takes most people between 2.5-3 hours.

Book a multi-day bike tour.

During the park’s cooler months, Escape Adventures runs multi-day road bike and mountain bike tours through Death Valley. Nights are spent in casual inns or campgrounds.

“Some of the hardest bike rides in the world are in Death Valley. And at the same time, some of the best bike rides are in Death Valley,” said Fisher. 

Check out the salt flats of Badwater Basin.

Visiting the lowest point in North America (at 282 feet below sea level) is at the top of the list for most park visitors. The Badwater Basin salt flats sprawl nearly 200 square miles and mark the former site of Lake Manly, an ancient lake that evaporated tens of thousands of years before the arrival of the ‘49ers and left concentrated salt deposits in its wake.

For the best views of the salt polygons, you’ll want to hike out onto the salt flats.

Places to Stay

Hotels and Lodges

There are four lodging options within the park, but two of our favorites are The Inn at Death Valley at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells Village in Stovepipe Wells. The former is a high-end property that feels like a desert oasis, and many travel just to stay at the historic inn. Fisher says The Inn is his favorite in-park lodging, while Jensen calls out Stovepipe Wells for its more affordable rates and a new concessionnaire that is upgrading amenities.

Campgrounds

If you’re visiting Death Valley to stargaze, your best way to see the stars (and maybe even the Milky Way) is to camp at one of the park’s many campgrounds. Wines recommends Mesquite Springs Campground, while Jensen suggests Texas Springs Campground.

If you really want to get away from the park’s minimal light pollution, follow Fisher’s suggestion and head to one of the primitive campgrounds. “In my personal opinion, the best campsites are outside of the campgrounds in the backcountry,” said Fisher. Primitive campgrounds can only be reached via high-clearance 4×4 vehicles, and campers must pack in their water and pack out their trash. 

Places to Eat

Death Valley National Park’s dining options are all located in the four in-park lodges, with the exception of the fry bread tacos and shaved ice found in Timbisha Shoshone Village in the Furnace Creek area and a selection of grab-and-go sandwiches at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center.

The Inn at Death Valley serves breakfast and dinner, while food can be found around the clock at The Ranch at Death Valley. The Stovepipe Wells Village lodging also serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as does the Panamint Springs Resort in the Panamint Springs area.

It is highly recommended that park visitors bring their own hearty snacks, especially when undertaking a big drive, bike ride, or hike.