Death Valley
The hottest, driest and lowest national park, with salt flats, dunes and colorful canyons
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, all year
- Entry
- $30 per car
- Reservations
- Not required
- Size
- 3,422,024 acres
Death Valley Weather Now
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Death Valley holds three big records: it is the hottest, driest and lowest national park in the country. Badwater Basin sits 282 feet below sea level, while Telescope Peak rises more than 11,000 feet just 15 miles away. The valley formed as the earth's crust stretched and dropped, leaving salt flats, alluvial fans and colorful layered rock. It became a national monument in 1933 and a national park in 1994.
Despite the name, the park is full of life, from desert pupfish in salty springs to rare wildflower blooms after wet winters. Most first-time visitors base themselves at Furnace Creek and take short walks to the major viewpoints. The air temperature here reached 134 degrees in 1913, the hottest ever recorded on Earth. It is also the largest national park in the lower 48 states.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- November through March brings comfortable daytime temperatures, and spring can bring wildflowers after a wet winter.
- How long to stay
- Two days covers the main sights; three to four days lets you explore the far corners.
- Getting there
- Harry Reid International in Las Vegas (LAS) is about 2 hours from Furnace Creek. Los Angeles International (LAX) is about 4.5 to 5 hours away.
- Wildlife
- Watch for coyotes, desert bighorn sheep, roadrunners, ravens, lizards and the tiny pupfish at Salt Creek.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
- Hotels in Beatty (opens in a new tab)Nevada
- Hotels in Pahrump (opens in a new tab)Nevada
- Hotels in Lone Pine (opens in a new tab)California
- Lodges inside the park (opens in a new tab)Official NPS list
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Death Valley
- Large water jugExtra water in the car is essential in case of a breakdown far from help.
- Wide-brim sun hatThere is almost no shade on the salt flats or in the canyons.
- Cooling towelA wet towel around your neck helps on warm walks.
- Electrolyte tabletsYou lose salt fast in dry heat, even on short hikes.
- Sturdy sandals or hiking shoesGravel washes and crusty salt are rough on thin soles.
A first day, start to finish
- Sunrise at Zabriskie Point
- Badwater Basin salt flats
- Artists Drive
- Golden Canyon hike
- Sunset at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Don't miss
- Badwater BasinWalk out onto bright white salt flats at 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in North America.
- Zabriskie PointA short paved walk leads to a classic view over golden, wrinkled badlands, best at sunrise.
- Golden CanyonA 3-mile round-trip hike climbs through narrow yellow walls to the base of Red Cathedral.
- Mesquite Flat Sand DunesDunes rise about 100 feet near Stovepipe Wells, and you can wander anywhere on them.
- Dante's ViewA viewpoint at 5,476 feet looks straight down on Badwater Basin with the Panamint Range beyond.
Know before you go
Do
- Carry at least 1 gallon of water per person per day, plus extra in the car.
- Fill up on gas before you arrive; stations in the park are few and pricey.
- Finish low-elevation hikes by 10 am when it is hot.
Don't
- Hike in the low valleys after 10 am in summer; heat there can be deadly.
- Rely on your phone or GPS shortcuts; cell service is rare and some mapped roads are closed.
- Bring cash for fees; the park only takes cards and digital payment.
The park is open year-round, 24 hours a day, though some roads and services keep their own schedules. Scotty's Castle and Bonnie Clare Road remain closed for flood recovery, and Titus Canyon Road and Darwin Falls Road are closed into 2027. Several campgrounds (Sunset, Sea Level, Stovepipe Wells) open only in the cooler months starting October 15.
Catch sunrise at Zabriskie Point, then drive to Badwater Basin before the salt flats heat up.Trekker's tip