National Park · California
The hottest, driest, lowest national park in the country, where below-sea-level salt flats meet 11,000-foot peaks.
Field briefing
Death Valley changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
Go from November through March, when valley highs sit in the 60s to 80s F and the salt flats, badlands, and dunes are genuinely walkable. Skip the summer for anything strenuous: midday heat above 115F below sea level is the real hazard, not the mileage. This is mostly a scenic-driving, short-hike, and night-sky park, with a few big climbs for the fit. Whatever the season, water is the headline item: carry far more than feels reasonable, add electrolytes, and start hikes at first light. Pack sun protection, a warm layer for cold desert nights, sturdy shoes for rocky canyons, and a full tank of gas, since services are sparse and distances are huge.
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Conditions, crowds, and what each season asks you to pack.
Highs climb from the 80s F in March to the 90s and low 100s F by May. Most comfortable hiking window and prime wildflower season after wet winters.
Pack Layers for cool mornings, sun protection, and far more water than you think you need.
115-120F
Brutal. Daytime highs routinely top 115-120F at Furnace Creek, among the hottest on Earth. Hiking below sea level is dangerous after mid-morning.
Pack Gallons of water per person, electrolytes, and a stay-in-the-car-and-AC mindset for midday.
Heat breaks slowly: 90s-100s F in October easing to 70s-80s F by late November. Crowds and comfort both rebuild.
Pack Sun protection and steady water, plus a light layer for cooler evenings.
Mild valley days in the 60s-70s F with chilly nights near freezing; snow caps Telescope Peak while the valley floor stays dry.
Pack A warm layer for cold mornings and sturdy shoes for rocky canyon trails.
The lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level, a surreal flat of cracked salt polygons.
A short walk to a golden badlands overlook that glows at sunrise and sunset.
Easy-to-reach rolling dunes near Stovepipe Wells, best at dawn or under a full moon.
A one-way scenic loop past hillsides streaked in mineral greens, pinks, and purples.
A strenuous 14-mile round-trip climb to 11,049 feet, the park's high point with snow into spring.
Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in Death Valley, make Badwater Basin the non-negotiable, add Zabriskie Point only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes as the flexible finish.
Turn Death Valley's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Death Valley. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions Death Valley changes: water, footing, weather, and overnight needs. The checklist is there once your route and dates are set.
Kit Authority
Death Valley packing list
0 of 25 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
25 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Death Valley asks of your kit. Each one has our current top picks across budget and use case.
Stay strategy
Choose the base that protects the permit window.
Stay strategy
Death Valley distances are the lodging decision. Furnace Creek keeps the classic low-elevation stops close. Stovepipe Wells works for the dunes and north valley. Panamint Springs, Beatty, and Pahrump save money or change the route, but they add real driving.
Compare base options
Use the options below to protect the permit, pickup, and early-start parts of the trip before you optimize for comfort.
Most efficient
Choose Furnace Creek when the trip is built around the central valley. It reduces the daily penalty of Death Valley's scale and makes dawn or night-sky plans easier.
North valley
Stovepipe Wells is the practical alternative when dune photography or a north-south route matters more than central-valley convenience.
Outside base
Use outside bases only when price or route demands it. Carry extra water, fill the tank early, and do not underestimate the time between stops.
Season first
The best lodging choice cannot rescue a valley-floor summer hiking plan.
Fuel
Top off before the park and again whenever the route gives you a chance.
Sunrise math
A cheaper outside room can cost you the best light.
Camping reservations
Campground systems change by season and sometimes by individual campground. Start with the official park camping page, then confirm open dates, reservation windows, and permit rules before booking.
Reviewed June 6, 2026
Booking window
Check the official park camping page before choosing dates.
Where to book or verify
Use this first for current campground status and park-specific rules.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Use this for wilderness permits, timed systems, tours, and other park-specific reservations.
Build the arrival around the reservation.
Entry windows, permit pickups, and drive time should be checked before the itinerary gets crowded.
Getting there
Fly in
Most visitors fly into Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, rent a car, and drive about 120 miles (roughly 2 to 2.5 hours) west to Furnace Creek via Pahrump or Death Valley Junction.
Car strategy
There is no public transit into the park and distances inside it are enormous, so a vehicle is essential.
Local movement
Fill up on gas and water before entering, since stations are few, far apart, and pricey.
Pair this with lodging: choose the base that keeps the reservation or permit pickup from becoming the hardest part of the day.
Late fall through early spring, roughly November through March, is the sweet spot. Valley highs sit in the comfortable 60s to 80s F, making the salt flats, dunes, and canyons walkable. In good rain years, March and April can also bring a wildflower bloom.
You can visit, but you must respect the heat. Summer highs regularly exceed 115 to 120F, among the hottest temperatures recorded on Earth. Stick to scenic drives and very short stops, carry gallons of water per person, and avoid any hiking below sea level after mid-morning.
The entrance fee is $30 per vehicle and is valid for 7 days; motorcycles are $25 and individuals on foot or bike are $15. There is no timed-entry reservation system, so you can show up anytime. Fee collection is cashless, and an America the Beautiful annual pass also covers entry.
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas is the nearest major airport, about 120 miles and 2 to 2.5 hours by car from Furnace Creek. Rent a car there, since there is no public transit into the park and the distances inside it are large.
Hit Badwater Basin (the lowest point in North America), Zabriskie Point for sunrise, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes near Stovepipe Wells, and the colorful Artists Drive loop. If you have the time and stamina, the Telescope Peak climb rewards you with the park's highest views.
Nearby parks
Joshua TreeWhere the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet: spiky Joshua trees, golden boulder piles, and some of the darkest night skies in Southern California.
Great BasinA free, gloriously empty Nevada park of 4,000-year-old bristlecones, a 13,000-foot peak, and some of the darkest skies in America.
SequoiaHome of the General Sherman, the largest tree on Earth, in a high Sierra forest of giant sequoias.