Death Valley National Park

The largest US national park outside Alaska, Death Valley encompasses 3.4 million acres (1.4 million hectares). It’s a popular day trip from Las Vegas, offering a remote respite from Sin City’s nonstop buzz. Tours showcase the Mojave Desert’s geology, history, and best views, with stops at sites such as Badwater Basin, the Ubehebe Crater, the Borax Museum at Furnace Creek Ranch, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Rhyolite Ghost Town, Zabriskie Point, Devil’s Golf Course, Artist’s Palette, and Dante’s Peak.

• Badwater Basin, which sits 282 feet (86 meters) below sea level, is the lowest point in North America.

• For those visiting the park independently by car, the per-vehicle entrance fee is valid for seven days.

• Death Valley National Park is typically dry and sunny throughout the year with some winter storms; avoid summer, when temperatures can reach 120°F (49°C).

• Stay hydrated with plenty of water, no matter what time of year you visit.

• During summer, restrict outdoor activities to the early morning; stick to paved roads in an air-conditioned vehicle.

• Furnace Creek Visitor Center offers informational exhibits, a bookstore, a short film, and ranger talks.

Death Valley National Park sits at the California–Nevada border (with the majority in California), about two hours by road from Las Vegas. Enter the park on California Highway 190 from Death Valley Junction; 190 is the main road traversing the park from east to west and leads to the Furnace Creek area.

Many visitors purposely visit in summer simply to experience the extreme heat, but spring, fall, and winter are the recommended times of year to visit; take caution if visiting in the summer. Depending how much rainfall the park has had during winter and spring, wildflowers can bloom from late March to early April at low elevations, in April and May at medium elevations, and into June in the mountains.

When the once-booming mining industry for materials such as gold, silver, and lead came to an end, miners and other locals escaped the area for other pursuits, leaving Death Valley with a handful of ghost towns. Rhyolite—once home to two churches and 50 saloons—is the best preserved and most popular, just west of Beatty, Nevada. Panamint City, Ballarat, and Chloride City are also accessible on foot or by car.

Travelers generally spend one or two days in Death Valley—even though it's the fifth-largest national park in the US. A couple of days is usually enough time to see many of the park's highlights as well as some off the beaten path spots. An overnight stay also allows you to do some stargazing.

Visit in any season except summer, although some travelers visit in the hottest months to witness the extreme heat. Spring, fall, and winter (November–March) are the recommended seasons. Depending on winter rainfall, the desert can bloom with wildflowers, usually peaking in late March to early April, which makes springtime popular.

From where you enter the park (Death Valley Junction) it’s a 100-mile (161-kilometer) drive along CA-190 through the valley, which takes about two hours. Along the way, you'll pass Mt. Perry, Funeral Mountains Wilderness, Zabriskie Point, and Furnace Creek. It’s easy to navigate and can be completed in a day.

Yes. Animals that can withstand the heat and lack of water such as bighorn sheep, kangaroo rats, jackrabbits, and desert tortoises live in Death Valley. Many of the animals like coyotes are also nocturnal—resting in the day, active at night. Coyotes, ravens, roadrunners, ground squirrels, and lizards are commonly seen.

Bring the usual hiking gear, plus a sun hat, sunglasses, jacket, GPS device, food, and first-aid kit. Drink one gallon of water per day. Start with a full gas tank and consider bringing a filled canister, especially if going off the beaten path. Gas is available inside the park.

Yes. Bring insect repellent and consider wearing a long-sleeved shirt and pants to protect yourself from bites. Bugs typically come out in the morning and as the sun sets. They can be a big nuisance, which most travelers don’t expect. The Devil’s Golf Course is an area known for insects.