California Est. 1994

Death Valley National Park

Desert Mountains Canyon

Plan a visit Check conditions

Established

1994

Size

3,408,407 acres

Visits in 2025

1.3M

Entrance

$30

Best season

November through March

Nearest airport

LAS Las Vegas McCarran

Park Closure: Some Roads Closed due to Flood Damage +1 more Details Wildfire Tracker

Why Death Valley is worth the trip

California · Established 1994

Death Valley deals in extremes the way other parks deal in views. Badwater Basin sits 282 feet below sea level, the lowest ground in North America, while Telescope Peak rises more than 11,000 feet directly above it. The hottest air temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth, 134 degrees, happened here in 1913. And at 3.4 million acres, this is the largest national park in the contiguous United States, most of it empty enough to make your ears ring.

Come between November and March, when the weather turns merciful and low winter sun sets the badlands at Zabriskie Point glowing. Walk the salt polygons at Badwater, catch dawn on the Mesquite Dunes before the footprints arrive, and drive through Artists Palette in late light. In rare wet years the valley floor erupts in wildflowers, which is exactly the kind of joke this place likes to tell.

Death Valley National Park drew 1.32 million visits in 2025, the 24th most visited of the 63 national parks.

Start with our full Death Valley guide, then use the planning below.

Visits are 2025 recreation visits from NPS Visitor Use Statistics (irma.nps.gov), read July 30, 2026.

Conditions today Check before you go

WeatherHigh 54°F · Partly Sunny

Air qualityAQI 11 Good

WildfireNo active fires nearby Clear

NPS alerts1 closure posted 1 active

Air quality map Wildfire tracker

See live Death Valley conditions in the all-parks tracker

The park reports a partial closure.

Top things to do in Death Valley

Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.

Start here

25 Things to Do in Death Valley National Park (2026 Guide)

Read the guide

Scenic Driving · nps.gov Explore Wildflowers in Death Valley Learn about the different flowers you might be able to see in Death Valley during spring months. 02

Museum Exhibits · nps.gov Visit the Furnace Creek Visitor Center Stop by the visitor center to speak with park rangers and pay park fees and purchase national park passes. View the exhibits about Death... 03

Birdwatching · nps.gov Bird Watching Roadrunners and ravens and hummingbirds- oh my! With many resident and migratory species, bird watching opportunities abound in Death Valley. 04

Self-Guided Tours - Walking · nps.gov Harmony Borax Works Self Guided Walk Harmony Borax Works was instrumental in drawing people to Death Valley in the late 1800s and in the subsequent popularity of the Furnace Creek...

Best hikes in Death Valley

The trails that define the park, with the distance and elevation numbers that decide your day.

The trail guide Natural Bridge, Death Valley National Park: Hike Guide 6 min read

Before you go

Get the Death Valley heads-up

Permit windows, closures and seasonal alerts, plus our best Death Valley guides, in your inbox before you go. Free, no spam.

Planning day by day? Death Valley Itinerary: How to Spend 1 to 3 Days

Plan your trip

Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Death Valley.

Things to Do Best Hikes When to Visit Itinerary

Where do people stay when visiting Death Valley?

Lodging, food and outfitters are in the gateway towns of Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells and Pahrump, and inside the park you can camp at Wildrose Campground, Furnace Creek Campground and other park campgrounds.

Furnace Creek, CAGateway town
Stovepipe Wells, CAGateway town
Pahrump, NVGateway town
Wildrose Campground 23 sites
Furnace Creek Campground 136 sites · Reserve

Compare stays near Death Valley

Maps & guides

Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.

Death Valley Trails Illustrated map

Waterproof National Geographic topo of the park.

View on Amazon

Death Valley field guide

Trail-by-trail detail and planning help in print.

View on Amazon

America the Beautiful pass

$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.

Get the pass

What to bring

Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.

Sun Hat

Full-brim coverage for exposed trails with zero shade. View on REI
Water Bottles

Carry at least 2 liters. More in desert heat. View on REI
Hiking Boots

Ankle support and grip for rocky, uneven terrain. View on REI
Sun-Protective Shirt

UPF 50+ fabric keeps you cool and blocks UV all day. View on REI

Getting there

LAS Las Vegas McCarran 130 mi

NPS Official Page Reservations Google Maps

Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.

Death Valley map

VC Visitor Center CG Campground Nearby Park

When to go

Read our seasonal guide

Loading weather...

Month-by-Month Conditions

Tap any month for details

Month

High

Low

Crowds

Roads

Jan Best

67°

40°

Moderate

Open

Feb Best

73°

46°

Heavy

Open

Mar Best

82°

54°

Peak

Open

Apr

92°

62°

Heavy

Open

May

101°

72°

Moderate

Open

Jun

111°

81°

Moderate

Open

Jul

117°

88°

Moderate

Open

Aug

116°

85°

Moderate

Open

Sep

108°

76°

Light

Open

Oct

93°

62°

Moderate

Open

Nov Best

77°

48°

Moderate

Open

Dec Best

65°

38°

Heavy

Open

Best months to visit Crowd level (low to peak)

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