Death Valley National Park | American Tour Association

A PLACE TO REMEMBER

Make room for the wonder.

Salt basins, colorful hills and far-reaching desert views give Death Valley an astonishing sense of scale. A rewarding itinerary can be built around a few well-chosen roadside viewpoints.

Low, warm light skims across pale sand dunes. — The Mesquite Dunes are known for dramatic shadows at sunrise and sunset, as ripples and edges in the dunes stand out in greater contrast.
NPS · Photography credit

In the foreground, a narrow stream curves through clumps of green grass and low shrubs. — Home to some of the most unique and fascinating fishes in the world – the pupfish!
NPS · Photography credit

BUILD YOUR OWN PARK DAY

Places to consider

01Badwater Basin
02Zabriskie Point
03Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

Choose the stops that suit your time and your party. These are ideas for exploring, rather than a fixed itinerary or a promise that every road, trail or facility will be open.

Before you set out

Extreme heat changes what is reasonable outdoors. Check roads, fuel and water supplies; never use a cool morning as a guide to afternoon conditions.

Give the day room

Allow time for the approach, parking and breaks. Pick walks for the least mobile members of your party, and leave space for weather or a change of plans.

Bring your group

Confirm vehicle access, drop-off and parking with the park. Check any guided tours, transport and accessibility arrangements before fixing the rest of the itinerary.

Official park visitor guide ↗Current conditions ↗

Check the official NPS guide for current access, fees, passes, reservations and permits. Gateway names identify useful surrounding communities or access areas, not exact entrance directions. Photographs may show earlier seasons or conditions.