Death Valley National Park may be one of the most unique places to visit in the US. America’s largest national park and home to sand dunes, salt flats, colorful canyons, and wild landscapes, Death Valley should be on your bucket list! Although this is a large park, the major sites can be visited in 2.5 days. We’ll help you make the most of your Death Valley itinerary in this detailed guide.
How to get to Death Valley
The closest major airports to Death Valley are Las Vegas (LAS) and Los Angeles (LAX). It’s also possible to fly into the Bishop California (BIH) airport which is 2.5-3 hours from the park. This is a great choice if you have some extra time and want to check out Mammoth Lakes!
We chose to fly into Las Vegas because it’s incredibly easy to get to from Denver and they have an Escape Campervans location. The 2 hour scenic drive to Death Valley which passes Red Rock Canyon and tons of Joshua Trees flew by.
Where to stay in Death Valley
There are limited accommodation options in the park. We rented an Escape Campervan from Las Vegas and would highly recommend it! All of the major attractions have campgrounds near them, so we were able to sleep right next them and it was very affordable. We were also able to cook our own meals which saved money.
There are many campgrounds in the park as well as some free primitive campgrounds right outside of the park. See the complete list of campgrounds on the National Park Service website.
During the summer (April 15th – October 15th), many campgrounds close and all campgrounds are first come, first serve.
During the winter/spring (October 15th- April 15th), you can reserve a campground up to 6 months in advance on recreation.gov.
For a non camping experience, you can stay at the Oasis at Death Valley which is a beautiful property with villas, shops and pools.
When to visit Death Valley
Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth during the summer! It’s recommended to visit October through April as temperatures can be scorching and likely not tolerable at other times of the year.
When we went in mid-April, it was already extremely hot. Plan to do most of your exploring during the early morning and late afternoon unless you visit during the winter.
Death Valley is a huge place and is the very definition of a scorching hot desert. It is extremely important to plan ahead and bring more than enough food and water.
Day 1 in Death Valley
Twenty Mule Team Canyon Drive
After arriving in the morning, we started our Death Valley itinerary with this somewhat hidden gem. Twenty Mule Team Canyon Drive is a one way, 6 mile scenic drive that takes you through a narrow canyon with towering walls of multicolored rock. The road begins near the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and is easy to miss. It ends at Harmony Borax Works, a historic borax processing site known for great stargazing. The drive takes about an hour to complete with photo stops and is a great introduction to the landscapes in this park.
Dante’s View
This scenic viewpoint is a must stop. Dante’s View sits at 5,475 feet.
From the viewpoint, you can see panoramic views of the park’s valleys, mountains, and salt flats.
There is a short trail along the ridge or an overlook that doesn’t require hiking. This would be an absolutely beautiful sunrise or sunset spot!
Be sure to bring a jacket as the high elevation results in dramatically cooler temperatures.
Last Kind Words Saloon at the Oasis at Death Valley
Time for a rest! If you want to escape the hottest part of the day, head to the Last Kind Words Saloon for some drinks and lunch. A margarita hit the spot on the hot April day we were there. The Oasis at Death Valley is a beautiful property that we enjoyed exploring. It was our first time visiting a true oasis in the desert and it was so interesting to see the lush palm trees against the dry, desert landscape.
Devil’s Golfcourse
This unique geological feature is an easy stop that doesn’t require hiking. The name suits the landscape of jagged salt crystals. You can walk through the crystals but be careful as the salt crystals are very sharp. This spot was so fun for photography and we loved the late afternoon light here.
Badwater Basin
End your day at Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America at 282 below sea level. The best views of the hexagonal salt patterns require a 1 mile walk. This is a popular spot, but is vast so it’s not hard to find solitude. Sunset was magical here.
Day 2 in Death Valley
Zabriskie Point
Sunrise and sunset are some of the most magical times at Death Valley. Don’t miss Zabriskie Point for sunrise. Although popular, we were able to find an area to ourselves and the crowd is worth it. Zabriskie Point offers panoramic views of the park’s badland formations.
Zabriskie Point to Red Cathedral Hike
After sunrise at Zabriskie Point, you can take a beautiful trail from Zabriskie Point to Red Cathedral. If you start early, you’re unlikely to encounter many people. Walking through the badlands feels like walking on another planet! We loved all of the interesting rock formations on this hike and had so much photographing them.
Harmony Borax Works
This is a quick stop at a historic site where you can learn about the history of the borax industry in Death Valley and see the remains of the processing plan.
Mustard Canyon scenic drive
A short scenic drive through towering yellow rocks, Mustard Canyon is a quick stop you won’t regret. It’s a quick easy stop near Harmony Borax Works.
Lunch at Stovepipe Wells Restaurant
Stovepipe Wells is a small village comprised of a gas station, a small store, and a restaurant. The restaurant offers a variety of items, such as sandwiches, burgers, salads, and soups and is open from 7 AM to 9 PM.
Mosaic Canyon hike
This hike is worth doing if you want to see a slot canyon. The full trail is around 3 miles, but you encounter the slot canyon within the first 0.5 miles, so you don’t have to go far if you only want to see the slot canyon. On the rest of the trail, you’ll walk through a large canyon between interesting rock formations. When hiking in Death Valley, prepare for the heat by bringing ample water, sunscreen, and a hat.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
The best end to an epic day, sunset at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes! Possibly the park’s most well known feature, these beautiful sand dunes cover 3 square miles and are centrally located within the park. This is a must stop on your Death Valley itinerary. Be prepared for intense wind! It may be helpful to bring a bandana to cover your face.
Day 3 in Death Valley
Artist’s Palette
Walk through pastel rock formations in this iconic photography spot at Death Valley.
At golden hour, the colors are at their most vibrant so we recommend going for sunrise or sunset.
There are multiple viewpoints here and you’re free to explore! It’s like a giant playground made up of sorbet colored mounds of rock.
Although you can roam where you want, it’s best to stay on already created paths to preserve the beautiful colors for future travelers.
Golden Canyon trail
This 3 mile out and back trail is absolutely beautiful! We went right after sunrise and had the trail to ourselves. Walking through towering golden canyons makes you feel so small! We loved this hike.
Depart
We fit so much into our Death Valley itinerary in a short amount of time! We hope you enjoy this park as much as we did.
