Death Valley National Park

Otherworldly Extremes and Silent Beauty

Death Valley National Park spans a vast area in eastern California where the land drops below sea level and temperatures often climb past 38 degrees Celsius. The landscape includes salt flats, sand dunes, rocky mountains and dry riverbeds that tell stories of ancient climates. Visitors encounter unique plant life adapted to extreme conditions and see rock formations shaped by wind over thousands of years. At night, clear skies reveal bright stars due to minimal light pollution, making stargazing a prominent experience in this remote desert environment.

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National Park in United States

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 3.7

General Safety:	4
Health & medical:	2
Accessibility:	4
Tap water:	6

Read details

5/5

All park staff, signage, and visitor information are in English. Some staff and materials are available in Spanish. English-speaking visitors will have no trouble communicating or navigating.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Death Valley National Park Summary

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World-famous for desert extremes and vast landscapes. Drive scenic roads, hike salt flats and dunes, photograph colorful canyons and enjoy star-filled night skies.

Place score

6.4

Best at:

Deserts

Natural sites

Stargazing

Secluded

Spotless

Personal score

Suited for

👶 5

Families

🧓 4

Seniors

♻️ 8

Sustainability

❤️ 7

Couples

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Death Valley National Park, United States

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High season:	Jan. - March, Nov. - Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, Oct.
Crowdedness:	4 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Summer temperatures regularly exceed 45 °C (113 °F); hiking is only sensible November to March

Wildflowers bloom late February to March after wet winters, not every year

Flash floods most likely July to September, road closures can last days

Don't miss

🌅 Watch sunrise from panoramic Zabriskie Point
🦶 Walk across the vast salt flats of Badwater Basin
🎨 Explore colorful rock formations at Artists Palette
🏜️ Climb the sandy dunes at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
🪨 Discover mysterious moving rocks at Racetrack Playa
🌋 Visit the volcanic Ubehebe Crater rim for views

You've been here?

Why travel to Death Valley National Park?

Come for the surreal landscapes: walk on the salt flats at Badwater Basin (the lowest point in North America), marvel at the rainbow hills of Artist’s Palette and catch sunrise at Zabriskie Point or sunset at Dante’s View. The park’s silence is profound and the night skies are legendary for stargazing. If you love hiking, geology or just want to experience the raw power of nature, Death Valley is unforgettable. But this is a land of extremes – summer heat is dangerously intense (often 120°F/49°C or more), so plan for late fall through early spring for the most comfortable experience. Some roads require high-clearance or 4x4 vehicles and the remoteness means you need to come prepared with water, food and a full tank of gas. Cell service is spotty and the silence can be eerie, but that’s part of the magic.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Zabriskie Point
2 Visitor Center Parking

🎡Places for activities

1 Dante's View
2 Harmony Borax Works
3 Salt Creek Interpretive Trail
4 Rhyolite Ghost Town

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Artist's Palette Parking
2 Badwater Basin
3 Devils Golf Course
4 Salt Creek
5 Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
6 Ubehebe Crater
7 Telescope Peak
8 Golden Canyon
9 Natural Bridge Road

🛍️Shopping

1 Stovepipe Wells General Store
2 Furnace Creek General Store
3 Panamint Springs General Store

🎈Events

Death Valley Dark Sky Festival
Spring Wildflower Blooms (variable)
Ranger-led night sky programs
Death Valley 49ers Encampment
Marathons and running events
Astronomy workshops
Art in the Park events

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Carry lots of water; heat and distances can be dangerous.
Start each drive with a full tank; fuel stops are limited and far apart.
Plan for weak cell service; download offline maps and share your itinerary.
For photography and cooler temperatures, visit dunes and Badwater at sunrise or sunset.

How to travel to Death Valley National Park

The closest major airport is Harry Reid International (Las Vegas), about 2 hours from the eastern entrance. From Los Angeles, it’s a 4–5 hour drive. All access is by car; there’s no public transport into the park. Main entrances are via Death Valley Junction (from Las Vegas) and Panamint Springs (from California).

Access summary

From Las Vegas (LAS): Rental car, about 2–2.5 hours’ drive.
From Los Angeles (LAX): Rental car, usually 4.5–5.5 hours’ drive.
From Furnace Creek airstrip: Private planes only; a few minutes to Furnace Creek.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Death Valley National Park

Death Valley offers four main lodges (including The Oasis and Stovepipe Wells) and several campgrounds, from full-service RV parks to primitive tent sites. Book lodging well in advance, especially in spring and fall. Camping is popular and ranges from developed campgrounds to remote backcountry options. Food and supplies are available only at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells and Panamint Springs.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Death Valley Inn

8.8

Clarion Inn Near China Lake Naval Station

8.2

Howard Johnson by Wyndham Ridgecrest, CA

8.9

Hampton Inn & Suites Ridgecrest

8.8

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ridgecrest - China Lake By IHG

8.8

Baymont by Wyndham Ridgecrest

8.4

Days Inn by Wyndham Ridgecrest near China Lake Naval Station

8.5

America Inn & Suites

8.5

Amargosa Opera House & Hotel

6.9

Quality Inn Near China Lake Naval Station

8.2

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Death Valley National Park

You’ll need your own vehicle-there’s no park shuttle and public transport doesn’t reach the park. Most major sights are accessible by regular car on paved roads, but some backcountry areas require high-clearance or 4x4 vehicles. Gas stations are few and expensive, so fill up before entering. Park maps are essential as cell service is unreliable. Plan your route to minimize driving time across this vast park.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-35 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 35% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Pahrump, United States - 100 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£43	£145	£409
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£11	£90	£263
🍝 Food per day	£24	£47	£117
🚕 Transportation per day	£8	£8	£29

Notable additional fees: US$30 (£22.53) per vehicle (7 days), cashless gates. No non-resident surcharge; the America the Beautiful annual pass is US$250 (£187.78) for non-US residents.

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£13
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£15
🍟 Fast food combo	£6
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£9
☕ Cappuccino	£2.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.30

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£2.20
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£16
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.70

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£9
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£75
🤧 Cold medication	£7.50
💇 Basic haircut	£13

Safety information overview

General safety

Death Valley is generally safe if you respect the environment. The biggest dangers are heatstroke and dehydration, especially in summer. Always carry extra water, avoid strenuous activity in the heat and never hike alone. Watch for flash floods after rare rains.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities are limited to first aid at visitor centers. Closest hospitals are outside the park. Bring any medications you need and be prepared for remote conditions. Heat-related illness is a real risk — know the symptoms and act quickly if you feel unwell.

Accessibility

Many main viewpoints and visitor centers are accessible, but terrain can be rugged and trails are often rocky or sandy. Some historic sites and canyons are not wheelchair-friendly. Check the park’s accessibility guide for details before visiting.

Tap water

Drinking water is available at visitor centers and main developed areas, but is limited elsewhere. Always carry plenty of water — never rely on finding it on the trail. Tap water at developed sites is safe to drink.