Death Valley National Park: The Perfect 3 Day, 2 Night Itinerary

Death Valley National Park is the hottest, driest, and lowest place in North America. Driving through the park feels like you’re exploring a Mars-like planet. And with over 5,270 square miles (3.4 MILLION acres) to explore, crafting an itinerary for Death Valley National Park is no easy feat. Luckily, I’ve perfected my route through the park after multiple visits, so I’ve got you covered!

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Death Valley is a n incredibly special place. It is a land of extremes, from the lowest point in North America sitting at 282 feet below sea level, to its record-setting temperatures in the summer. It sits in the heart of the Mojave Desert and makes a great, easy road trip accessible from cities like Los Angeles (4.5 hour drive) and Las Vegas (2 hour drive).

Plan a long weekend in Death Valley National Park

If you want to plan a long weekend visiting Death Valley National Park, consider a few things:

• Travel: If you are flying into a nearby city from another part of the country, it is best to fly into Las Vegas. Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas is about a 2 hour drive from Death Valley, whereas Los Angeles International Airport is 5 hours away. However, driving back toward Los Angeles allows to you make a really awesome detour in the Alabama Hills!
• Time of year: Mid-October through mid-May is the best time to visit Death Valley National Park. Do NOT visit in the summer, which is when record breaking temperatures can soar to dangerous levels above 120ºF.
• Accommodations: Will you tent camp, RV camp, or do you prefer glamping or hotel rooms? There are nearly a dozen camping and hotel options within the National Park to choose from!
• Entrance Fee: Whether you need to purchase a pass at the Visitors Center or you already have an annual America the Beautiful National Parks Pass, you must stop at the Visitors Center to show proof of your pass or purchase a new one and display your receipt on your car’s dashboard.
• Car Rental: If you’re not road-tripping in your own car, you will need to rent a vehicle to travel through Death Valley National Park because there is no shuttle service within the park. There are some areas where high-clearance or 4WD is required, so make sure your car can handle the roads! I’ve noted any areas where 4WD is require below.

How to get to Death Valley National Park

Las Vegas is the closest major city and International airport, about 2 hours away from Death Valley. You can take 95-N to NV-373 S to CA-190 W which will bring you to Furnace Creek to start your journey at the visitor center. You can also take 160-W to Bell Vista Ave and continue until you reach the Death Valley Junction. From there, take 190-W until you reach Furnace Creek.

From Los Angeles, you’ll take CA-14 N to US US-395 N to CA-190 E until you reach Furnace Creek. You can also get to Death Valley by taking I-15 N to CA-127 N and CA-190 W until you reach Furnace Creek. The drive from LA is 4.5-5 hours.

What is the best time of year to visit Death Valley National Park?

Late October through early May is the best time of year to visit Death Valley National Park. October through early November and April through early May will have the best temperatures for hiking (usually sunny and in the 70s-80s) and temperatures at night for camping will be fairly mild (usually high 40s-60s). Winters can sometimes bring inclement weather and flash flooding, but is still one of the best National Parks to visit during this season.

• Spring: Late winter and early spring is my favorite time of year to visit Death Valley. Average temperatures in from March through April typically range from high 70s to 90s in most of the park, and night time temperatures are cool but comfortable. Plus, the mountains in the distance are still capped with snow from the winter, making the perfect backdrop for photography.
• Summer: I cannot stress this enough, DO NOT go to Death Valley in the summer! Temperatures reach dangerously high levels averaging around 117ºF in July. It is not safe to explore the park during this time of year.
• Autumn: Late October and November are great times of year to visit this National Park.
• Winter: Death Valley is one of the best National Parks in the country to visit during the winter! Always check the weather before you plan your visit, as winter weather can sometimes bring rain. Due to the dry nature of this park, rain can lead to flash flooding.

Where should I stay in Death Valley National Park?

Camping

There are many developed and dispersed campgrounds located within Death Valley, most of which are operated on a first-come first-serve basis. Dispersed campgrounds require 4×4 vehicles no longer than 25 feet. More information on those sites can be found on the NPS website.

• Recommended: Furnace Creek Campground is the most popular campground in the park and the only campground that accepts reservations. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance from 10/15-4/15, and the rest of the year is available on a first-come first-serve basis. It features potable water, flush toilets, and a sink for dishwashing. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. Reservations can be made on Recreation.gov.
• Texas Spring Campground is a first-come first-serve campground located in the hills above Furnace Creek. Overnight fees are paid at pay stations inside the campground. There are flush toilets and seasonal potable water. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table.
• Sunset Campground is a large first-come first-serve campground that rarely fills and has little to no vegetation. There are no fires allowed except for two group fire rings in the campground. The $18 overnight fee is payable at a pay station in the campground.
• Stovepipe Wells Campground is a first-come first-serve campground featuring views of Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and is near the Stovepipe Wells General Store. Fires are permitted, but there are only 28 tent-only sites with fire pits. The $18 nightly fee can be paid at a pay station.
• Emigrant Campground is a small, free campground with only 10 sites. It sits at 2100 feet in elevation overlooking the Cottonwood Mountains. There are flush toilets just down a dirt trail from the campground, and fires are not allowed.
• Wildrose Campground is another free camping option located at an elevation of 4100 feet in the Panamint Mountains. There are vault toilets and fires are permitted only in provided fire pits.
• Mesquite Spring Campground sits at an elevation of 1800 feet a couple miles off of Scotty’s Castle Road. Each site has a fire grate and picnic table, and the campground features flush toilets. The $20 fee is payable at a pay station in the campground.

Hotels

There are three hotels inside of the National Park, ranging from budget-friendly to a truly luxurious experience to help melt the travel stress away.

• $ Budget: A good budget-friendly option is Panamint Springs Resort. It is located about an hour west of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and it is the only pet-friendly hotel option in the park (for a small fee of $5 per day). They offer glamping tents, standard rooms, and cabin-style rooms for a more rustic lodging experience. There is a mini market and snack bar on site, along with a restaurant. See availability.
• $$ Mid-Range: The Ranch at Death Valley is a great option for a mid-range hotel. They have standard rooms and cottages available, and the hotel has parking, wifi, a pool, spa, paid breakfast, and more. Centrally located in the park in Furnace Creek, it also offers walking tours and is walking-distance to the visitor center and general store. See availability.
• $$$ Luxury: The Inn at Death Valley is a more luxurious option, offering standard rooms and casitas, a pool, fitness center, full service spa, and more. There is one on-site restaurant and paid breakfast. It is also centrally located within the bark at the intersection of Badwater Rd. and CA-190. See availability.

Food and Restaurants in Death Valley National Park

• 19th Hole Bar & Grill: This restaurant serves lunch only and offers a small menu featuring classic American fare.
• 1849 Buffet: This buffet-style restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and kids under 5 eat free!
• Last Kind Words Saloon: This old Western-style restaurant features ornate decor that takes you back to a bygone era. They serve lunch and dinner and guests are seated on a first-come first-serve basis.
• The Badwater Saloon and The Toll Road Restaurant are both located in Stovepipe Wells, close to Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes. The Saloon offers a full bar and serves appetizers, lunch, and dinner. The Toll Road Restaurant features classic American fare and seasonal menus.
• The Inn at Death Valley Dining Room is located in the park’s most luxurious hotel and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservations are accepted here.
• All three tourist areas (Panamint Springs, Furnace Creek, and Stovepipe Wells) have General Stores with a modest selection of groceries and snacks for more on-the-go options.

Death Valley National Park Tours

If you’d prefer a guided tour for a more educational travel experience, check out these tours!

The Ultimate Death Valley National Park Itinerary for 3 Days and 2 Nights

Day One in Death Valley National Park

On Day One, you will drive into Death Valley National Park. If you are driving from Los Angeles, I suggest leaving around 7am to arrive around 12pm, giving you plenty of time in the afternoon and evening for some sightseeing, setting up camp, or checking into your lodging. Driving from Vegas, you have more flexibility with timing.

Need to stop for lunch in the park before you start your day of adventures? There are a few restaurants near the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, or you can stop at the General Store for some snacks.

Overview:

• 12pm: Drive into Death Valley and visit the Visitor Center
• 1pm: Lunch and/or set up camp
• 2:30pm: Golden Canyon
• 4pm: Artist’s Drive & Artist’s Palette
• 5pm: Sunset at Badwater Basin
• 7pm: Stargaze at night

💡Tip: Be sure to visit the Furnace Creek Visitor Center on your way into the park! Here, you will have to purchase your National Parks Pass (or if you already have the America the Beautiful Annual Pass, show proof of the pass to receive a receipt to display on your car’s dashboard). The Visitor Center is also a great place to learn some interesting facts about and history of the park, buy some souvenirs, and pick up a park map.

Go for a Hike in Golden Canyon

After spending time in the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, head to Golden Canyon for a hike (Drive time: 7 minutes). There are a few routes. you can take for a short, medium or longer hike in Golden Canyon.

• The shortest trail is 0.8 miles out and back and takes about 21 minutes to complete with only 118 feet of elevation gain. This is a great trail to follow if you are short on time but want to take a moment to stretch your legs after road tripping into the park!
• A mid-length trail is the Golden Canyon Trail to Red Cathedral. It’s a 2.9 mile out-and-back trail with 577 ft. of elevation gain. It takes about an hour and a half to complete.
• A long trail to take is the Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop via Zabriskie Point. This is a 6.4 mile loop trail with over 1000 feet of elevation gain. The trail on AllTrails indicates a starting point at Zabriskie Point instead of the Golden Canyon trailhead, but you can always park at the Golden Canyon Trailhead instead and follow the route on the GPS map within the app. This trail takes 3-4 hours to complete, and may not be suitable for this quick itinerary.

Cruise the Artists Drive Scenic Loop and Stop to Admire Artists Palette

After hiking Golden Canyon, drive to Artists Drive (Drive time: 9 minutes). Once you take a left onto Artists Drive, it takes about 20 minutes to complete the drive through the Scenic Loop, but of course you’ll want to stop at Artists Palette to explore the colorful rocks.

Artists Palette is a short 0.3 mile loop trail and only takes just over 10 minutes to complete at a fast pace, but I would budget at least 20 minutes so you can walk slowly to admire the spectacular array of colors that adorn the hills.

Devil’s Golf Course

Once you exit Artists Drive, continue heading south and make a quick pit stop at Devil’s Golf Course (Drive time: 10 minutes). Take a right down Devil’s Golf Course Rd. and you’ll land at a scenic spot where you definitely don’t want to walk around barefoot! It’s a massive area of rock salt that has eroded into jagged spires that are so rough, “only the devil would play golf” there! If you listen carefully, you can hear the pops of bursting salt crystals.

Go on a Short Hike on Natural Bridge Trail

If you arrive in Death Valley early enough in the day, you should absolute add this quick hike into your Day 1 itinerary. Once you leave Devil’s Golf Course, continue heading south on Badwater Basin Rd. to the Natural Bridge Trailhead (Drive time: 10 minutes). The Natural Bridge Canyon Trail is a 1.4 mile out and back trail with 450 feet of elevation gain and takes just under an hour to complete. The bridge rises 35 feet above the canyon floor and is 35 feet thick, and is the result of thousands of years of flash floods that carved out the canyon and bridge that you get to hike to today! You can also continue to hike beyond the bridge to explore more of the geology that Death Valley has to offer.

Walk to the Lowest Point in North America at Badwater Basin

Once you leave the Natural Bridge Trail parking lot, continue heading south to Badwater Basin Salt Flats Trail (Drive time: 5 minutes). Walk out and back about 2 miles to the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level. And don’t forget to turn around and look at the cliffs of the Black Mountains behind the parking lot to try to spot the “Sea Level” sign! This is a beautiful place to watch the sunset over white salt flats and a backdrop of mountains from the Panamint Range.

In March of 2024, I was lucky enough to visit Death Valley after an atmospheric river dumped several inches of water into Death Valley. Badwater Basin is typically bone dry, but after this weather event, the basin was covered in a few inches of water for the. first time in over 18 years! It was an incredible natural phenomenon to experience in person.

Dinner and Dark Sky Stargazing

Stick around Badwater Basin after sunset, or head back to your camp to look up at the night sky! Death Valley is considered one of the darkest places on Earth, making it an incredible place for stargazing.

If you aren’t cooking dinner at camp, there are plenty of food options within Furnace Creek for dinner.

Day Two in Death Valley National Park

On Day 2, you’ll explore more of the west and north sides of the park. You’ll catch a beautiful sunrise and sunset at two of my favorite points in the park. Be sure to plan out your meals, whether you’re cooking at camp, bringing a packed lunch, or stopping at one of the restaurants in Stovepipe Wells or Furnace Creek.

Overview:

• 6am: Zabriskie Point
• 10am: Ubehebe Crater
• 2pm: Mosaic Canyon
• 5pm: Sunset at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
• 7pm: Stargazing

Catch the Sunrise at Zabriskie Point

If you’re a fan of Star Wars, you may recognize Zabriskie Point! Be sure to check what time the sun rises before you lose service within the park. Plan to arrive at Zabriskie Point about 45 minutes before the time of sunrise so you can watch the colors change in the sky and the hills (the lookout is only a 7-10 minute drive from any campgrounds or lodging in Furnace Creek). This is one of those places that feel like you’re on another planet.

Stay at the top of the lookout just to watch the sunrise, or walk down into Zabriskie Point to explore more. The Red Canyon Loop starts at Zabriskie Point. You can complete the full 4.7 mile (3 hour) hike, or just walk out and back to explore a bit before heading to your next stop!

Take a Hike Around Ubehebe and Little Hebe Craters

Ubehebe and Little Hebe Crater Trail is one of my favorite hikes in the park! It’s a 1.8 mile round trip with about 350 feet of elevation gain. You’ll walk around the perimeter of two craters. Ubehebe Crater is a a volcanic crater that is half mile across and 600 feet deep! This trail is rated as moderately difficult due to the loose footing and initial climb, but it’s well worth the trek!

Ubehebe Crater is located about 1 hour 15 minutes from Zabriskie Point and Furnace Creek. If you’re not cooking breakfast at camp, you can stop at one of the restaurants in Furnace Creek before heading to the craters!

Admire Mosaic Canyon

Mosaic Canyon Trail is a 4 mile out-and-back trail with 1200 feet of elevation gain just outside of Stovepipe Wells. Over time, flash floods carved out the walls of this canyon to a smooth rock finish. As you walk through the canyon, be sure to look out for mosaic-like formations of rocks in natural cement. The full hike takes about 2.5-3 hours to complete, so plan accordingly.

Mosaic Canyon is about a 1 hour 20 minute drive from Ubehebe Crater. Pack your own lunch or stop in Stovepipe Wells to dine at one of their restaurants in the park.

Watch the Sunset at Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes

Sunset is one of the best times of day to explore Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes because the sun at a low angle casts beautiful shadows on the waves in the sand. Sand, wind, and mountains that trap air flow here are the perfect combination to create these rippling dunes.

The hike out to the tallest dune is about 2 miles round trip, but this journey can take around 1.5 hours because walking in sand is no joke! If you prefer a more chill time, play around in the sand, bring a sand board, and try not to get too much sand in your shoes.

The sand dunes are a convenient 10 minute drive from Mosaic canyon. After watching the sunset, stay a bit longer to watch the stars come out. Or head to dinner at one of the restaurants in Stovepipe Wells if you’re not cooking dinner at camp!

Day Three in Death Valley National Park

All good things must come to an end, but not without squeezing in a few more sights before leaving the park! If you’re driving west toward Los Angeles, be sure to add The Alabama Hills as a stop on your way home, just two hours outside of Furnace Creek.

Darwin Falls and Dante’s View are about two hours away from each other, with Furnace creek smack dab in the middle. Plan the order in which you complete these hikes based on which side of the park you will exit at the end of your visit.

For food options, you can stop in Stovepipe Wells or Furnace Creek for your meals. If you are exiting the west side of the park to head toward Alabama Hills, there are plenty of dinner options in Lone Pine!

Overview:

• Vegas Itinerary: Darwin Falls Trail, Dante’s View
• LA Itinerary: Dante’s View, Darwin Falls Trail, Alabama Hills

Darwin Falls Trail

If you’re exiting the east side of the park at the end of your stay to head back toward Vegas, then start your day with the Darwin Falls Trail in Panamint Springs. If you’re leaving Death Valley to drive back toward Los Angeles, exiting the park on the west side, this is a great hike to do in the afternoon on your way out after visiting Dante’s View first.

The trailhead is 1 hour 13 minutes from Furnace Creek, or 1 hour 55 minutes from Dante’s View.

While the rest of the park is dry and arid, Darwin Falls is a peaceful oasis with a flowing waterfall cascading into a shallow pool. It’s truly an unexpected sight to see!

Darwin Road was destroyed due to flooding in 2023, so hikers must now park on CA-190 and walk to the trailhead. The hike is 6.7 mile round trip (plus more due to the need to park further away) but it is well worth the trip. It is relatively flat (about 670 feet of elevation gain) and takes less than 3 hours to complete.

Dante’s View Trail

If you are exiting the east side of the park toward Las Vegas, then start with the Darwin Falls hike first. Make your way to Dante’s View Trail for sunset to see a view of the entire park from this lookout. It’s only a mile long out-and-back trail but the views are spectacular.

If your plan is to drive back toward Los Angeles, considered waking up very early to drive to Dante’s View first for an epic sunrise view. Then, complete the Darwin Falls hike on the way out of the west side of the park.

Dante’s View is a 42 minute drive from Furnace Creek, and 1 hour 52 minutes from Darwin Falls.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Death Valley

Are pets allowed in the park?

Death Valley National Park prohibits pets on any trails. However, you can bring pets to campsites if they are on a 6-foot leash. The park also prohibits pets at The Ranch and The Inn.

Is Death Valley National Park expensive?

In general, the food and gas you buy within the park will be more expensive than outside of the park. Death Valley is incredibly hot and poses risk to deliveries coming in from outside of the park. The pavement can get so hot in summer months that it could melt tires! The scarcity of resources within the park also makes goods more expensive. The basic economic principle of high demand, low supply means prices can be high! Try to fill up on gas before entering the park, and pack a cooler full of food for your trip.

How much does a camping trip cost in Death Valley?

For this 2 night, 3 day itinerary, a camping trip for two people might cost around $400. Here is a general cost breakdown:

• National Parks Pass: $30
• Campsite fees: $42
• Firewood: $30
• Food (to cook): $100
• Gas (assuming 700 miles total, from LA area): $100
• Miscellaneous: $100

Is there cell phone reception in the park?

In general, there is no reliable cell reception in the park except for the tourist hotspots like Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, and Panamint Springs. Download offline maps via Google before entering the park so you can navigate the park easily.

Do I need 4WD in Death Valley National Park?

You can get away without having 4WD in Death Valley. However, there are some dirt roads and rocky areas that benefit from having higher clearance vehicles. Some areas of the park, such as The Racetrack require 4WD. Most other areas do not require 4WD, but always practice careful driving on dirt roads!