As the largest national park in the lower 48, California’s – and a bit of Nevada’s – Death Valley National Park has more miles of road than any other park in the park system. Because it’s so large, spread out and really, really hot most of the year, you have to be prepared.
There are literally hundreds of things to do in Death Valley National Park but having a solid plan will help maximize time and not waste it driving around needlessly.
In this article you’ll find some of the easiest and best things to do in Death Valley National Park for first time visitors and even return visitors. Keep reading for suggestions, tips and a driving map from Las Vegas.
Please note: Death Valley National Park suffered unprecedented flooding in the summer of 2022. Many roads and areas were affected and there are still a lot of closures. Visit nps.gov before you go for the latest details and a map of roads that are closed.
Death Valley National Park Road Trip Report:
- Months visited: June, August and October
- Traveling with: my daughter
- Stayed in: Furnace Creek Campground
- Road tripping from: Boulder City, Nevada and Highway 395 North
Things To Do in Death Valley National Park
Along with 1000 miles of roads that includes paved and gravel roads, Death Valley National Park has an abundance of hiking and walking trails, historic mining towns, a visitor center and countless other things to do. Start your visit with these.
Dante’s View
When you enter the park on Highway 190 from Las Vegas, Dante’s View is one of the first stops you come to inside the park. And it’s a great stop. It makes the list of things to do in Death Valley National Park because it’s the ideal introduction to the area and the terrain.
Not only is there a topographical map of valley that helps you get your bearings but from this viewpoint 5500 feet above sea level, you get a panoramic view of the entire valley and the surrounding mountain ranges.
Just below is Badwater Basin – the park’s lowest point. Across the flats to the west, is the Panamint Mountain Range with Telescope Peak – the highest point in Death Valley National Park. From this unique vantage, you’re able to see the lowest point in Death Valley and the highest point at the same time.
Southerner Says park tips:
- The parking lot is right at the viewpoint so you just pull right up, however, there are some trails where you can walk out a little further
- Vehicles longer than 25 feet aren’t allowed on the Dante’s View Road but there’s a parking lot for trailers at the entrance to the road
- Go early. The sun will be in the east and and you will be able see the area better
20 Mule Team Canyon
Since the 1870’s, white gold – aka borax – has been mined in this mineral rich region. The only way to get the borax out of the valley was with horses and mules in teams of 8 and 10 pulling wagons.
Since Death Valley is so hot and the terrain is so rugged, even teams this size struggled to transport the borax. So, to make it easier, one creative miner came up with the idea to put two, 10 mule teams together, to haul the borax out. Voila: the 20 Mule Team name was born.
Over the years, 20 mule teams carried millions of pounds of borax out of Death Valley and the name ” 20 Mule Team” stuck. Even now, it still appears on boxes of Borax that you buy at the store.
The drive through 20 Mule Team Canyon isn’t the exact route the mules took on their treacherous ride out of the valley but it is similar. Driving through the canyon gives you an idea of just how difficult those journeys with 20 mules would have been back then.
Just imagine spending at minimum, a ten day trip with a bunch of mules – and not in your air conditioned car – in one of the hottest and most dangerous parts of the country.
Southerner Says park tips:
- 20 Mule Team Canyon Drive is right off Hwy 190
- The road is an unpaved, 2.5 mile, one way road, safe for cars as long as it hasn’t rained
- Visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon as the sun is going down
- There are plenty of pullouts and trails for hiking.
Zabriskie Point
Zabriskie Point is one of the most amazing things to do in Death Valley National Park. With it’s otherworldly vibes, it’s a must see at any time of the day but sunrise and sunset is when it’s most special.
This area of the park, in the Amargosa Range, is made up of erosional landscape and is composed of sediments from Furnace Creek Lake, which dried up long before Death Valley came into existence.
The light from the setting sun brings out the different hues and colors as the evening light bounces off the surrounding rocks, softening the peaks and valleys with an ethereal glow.
Zabriskie Point is the perfect place to relax after a long hot day. The overlook has a wall that you can sit on but for maximum comfort, I suggest bringing a chair or two – and a snack or beverage – so you can sit back and take it all in.
The overlook has plenty of trails for wandering around, including popular Badlands Loop.
Southerner Says park tips:
- Zabriskie Point is located off Hwy 190
- There is a large parking lot and from there, it’s gentle, uphill walk to the viewpoint
- Visit at sunset for the best colors
Badwater Basin
Created by movements in the earth’s crust, Badwater Basin is one of the most recognizable sites in Death Valley National Park. Sitting at 282 feet below sea level, it’s the lowest area of the park and in the United States.
In a wet climate, a place this low would normally be covered by water but because it’s so dry in the park – when it does get rain – the water evaporates and leaves behind the Badwater Salt Flats. The effect is seen by the crusty circles and hexagons that form in the salt.
After entering the site, check out the viewing platform for a quick look but to truly appreciate it, you have to make a short walk out onto the flats. The further you go, the less of a crowd and the bigger the shapes in the salt are.
Badwater Salt Flats are another one of the top places to catch a sunrise, sunset or even a full moon since the moon lights up the white of the salt.
While you’re on the flats, make sure to turn around and look back towards the parking lot and the mountain behind it. There’s a sign that shows where sea level is and you’ll get a feel for being 282 feet below sea level.
Southerner Says park tips:
- Badwater Salt Flats are located on Badwater Road paved off of Hwy 190
- There is a parking lot with plenty of parking and restrooms
- Best visited October through March
Golden Canyon
Hiking is not what you really want to do too much of in 116F degree heat but Golden Canyon lured us in late one afternoon. The trail is three miles out and back to one of the canyon’s most vibrant colored features – Red Cathedral.
The Golden Canyon trail passes through a variety of unique geology and rock formations. In the evening when the color of the rocks change with the setting sun it looks as if someone turned a bright light on.
If you visit when it’s hot like we were, you can do that section of the hike and then just turn around and go back the the same way you came. Or other trails can be added to make a loop.
Southerner Says park tips:
- Golden Canyon is located on Badwater Road
- There’s a parking lot with plenty of parking and a vault toilet
- Go very early for sunrise or late in the afternoon
Artist Drive
Artist Drive is one of the most popular scenic roads in Death Valley National Park. It’s an easy drive – perfect for those that aren’t able do a lot of walking or one of the things to do in Death Valley National Park when it’s too hot to do much else.
The one way paved road winds through the different colored hills close enough to touch from the car at times. There are no marked trails along the road but there are several pull outs for parking so you can wander around and explore the area on foot.
Southerner Says park tips:
- Artist Drive is located off of Badwater Road
- No RV’s, buses or trailers over 25 feet allowed
- For best photography, visit early in the morning while the sun is in the east or sunset
Artist Palette Overlook
Artist Palette is a popular overlook on Artist Drive. Here, the colors in the hills are some of the most vibrant on the entire area. The hues you see are due to volcanic deposits that contain compounds such of iron oxides and chlorite.
This gives the hills the look of an artist’s pallet or a rainbow. Depending on the time of day and the amount of recent rain, you might see red, orange, yellow, blue, pink, and even green colors in the hills.
The overlook has interpretive signage and several trails for walking.
Southerner Says park tips:
- The parking lot is right off Artist Drive
- Go early or late in the day
- Take plenty of water
Devil’s Golf Course
No you can’t play golf there but Devil’s Golf Course is definitely worth a stop in Death Valley National Park. This large area of the park is filled with rock salt that has been eroded by wind and rain forming rough mounds.
It’s so rugged that it’s been said that “only the devil could play golf on such rough links”. Since the salt crystals expand and burst in the heat, you can literally hear the popping noises they make.
Southerner Says park tips:
- Located off Badwater Road
- The road and parking lot are gravel, suitable for most vehicles
Furnace Creek Visitor Center
Even if you don’t have much time, one of the best things to do in Death Valley National Park is Furnace Creek Visitor Center. Everyone should see the giant thermometer that monitors the temperature in this area of the park.
Stopping at the visitor center is also a practical way to stay up to date on what’s happening in the park. You can find out if there are are any current closures or park alerts, pick up a map, chat with a ranger or inquire about organized educational programs.
Related: Death Valley National Park Guide
The visitor center also has interpretive displays with educational data about the park, a book store for souvenirs and Junior Ranger activities.
Southerner Says park tips:
- Located in Furnace Creek on Hwy 190
- Open every day 8am-5pm
- There is a convenient shaded parking lot
- Bathrooms and water available
Harmony Borax Works
Harmony Borax Works was built in 1881 and was key to the development of the Furnace Creek Area after borax was discovered. In its heyday, over forty men worked processing the ore to remove borax. The Harmony company was also responsible for coming up with the 20 Mule Team wagons.
Unfortunately, the plant was short lived and closed 1888. A few remnants still remain and the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Visitors can walk around some of the buildings and mining equipment used.
Southerner Says park tips:
- Located on Mustard Canyon Drive off Hwy 190
- The gravel road and parking lot suitable for most vehicles
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
One of the most fun things to do in Death Valley National Park is visiting some of he many sand dunes in the area. There are several spots in the park that have dunes but the easiest to reach via car is Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes were formed by years of constant wind eroding the rocks in Death Valley. Made up of crescent, linear, and star shaped dunes (thank you NPS). The highest dune is a two mile out and back hike. Although you could, it’s definitely not necessary to hike that much to enjoy the dunes and the mezmerizing views.
Star Wars fans, you may recognize the Mesquite Dunes as the dunes of Tatooine. And while you probably won’t see any droids in the area, if you visit in the early morning, you might spot a sidewinder rattlesnake that overnighted in the cool sand. Thankfully, we didn’t see any.
Southerner Say park tips:
- Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes is off of Hwy 190
- Parking lot with plenty of parking and vault toilet
- Go early in the morning, when it’s cooler
Ubehebe Crater
If I had to pick one of my favorite things to do in Death Valley National Park, Ubehebe Crater would be in the top three. Ubehebe is one of the best examples of a volcanic crater I’ve ever seen.
The crater was formed when hot magma rose to the surface of the earth and once it reached water, the steam produced caused a massive explosion that formed the hole. Ubehebe Crater is six hundred feet deep and half a mile wide. It’s so large, it’s hard to capture the size accurately in a photo.
Once you make the short drive to Ubehebe and park your vehicle, there’s a short uphill walk to crater. At the rim, there’s a 2.2 mile trail around the perimeter of the crater.
You can also walk down into the crater. Getting down there is the easy part. It’s getting back up that would be hard. The crater is full of small loose rocks so appropriate footwear is really important.
There are a few other craters in the area and even a Little Hebe Crater. You can hike just beyond the main crater to see it.
Southerner Says park tips:
- Ubehebe Crater is off of Scotty’s Castle Road (paved)
- The road is subject to flooding and might close during or after rain
- There is a parking lot and a walk to the rim
Wildrose Canyon Road
If you’d like to think you did a bit of off-roading while in Death Valley National Park but not enough to damage your vehicle – hopefully – then Wildrose Canyon Road is it.
To do what turned into a fun loop, we drove from Stovepipe Wells to Panamint Springs to check it out. Then, when we headed back towards the park on Highway 190 we turned right on Panamint Valley/Trona Wildrose Road and then left on Wildrose Road.
The road is paved and mostly decent but there are sections that are bumpy and down to nothing but gravel. (note this was before the 2022 flooding) There’s one section in particular that’s susceptible to flooding so it’s hard to keep maintained. That’s where the pavement is the roughest.
Wildrose Canyon Road twists and winds up the mountain to a refreshing 5300 feet elevation and eventually runs into Emigrant Canyon Road, which joins back up with Highway 190 at Emigrant Campground. To drive it in a loop like this, it’s approximately thirty one miles.
Use my Google Map below for exact driving directions and other features on this things to do in Death Valley National Park.
Southerner Says park tips:
- RV’s, buses or trailers over 25 feet are not allowed on this route
- The road floods easily so don’t risk it during or right after a rain
Wildrose Station
High on the pass through Wildrose Canyon, we stopped for a picnic lunch at what used to be Wildrose Station. There’s not much info about this part of the park online but from what I did read, because of a nearby spring, this area was once a privately owned stagecoach stop.
Then, when the park was named a monument in 1933, the land was leased to the owner and the station continued to operate as normal. However, at some point the National Park Service decided not to renew the lease and eventually it ceased operations and the buildings were torn down.
To find this spot- keep an eye out for a few remaining palm trees. The National Park Service has also added a few picnic tables on either side of the road.
As we sat eating our lunch at one of the tables, we could hear burros – which are quite common in the park – leftover from the teams in the past but we couldn’t see them.
Once we continued our drive, we literally ran right up on a group of them standing in the middle of the road. No doubt it’s a favorite spot for them because of the cooler temperatures and the nearby spring.
Southerner Says park tips:
- The road is a little wider at the site of the former station and you can park on the side of the road
- If you do see burros remember they are wild animals so don’t feed them
- Leave no trace and take all your trash and food with you
Wildrose Charcoal Kilns
Another piece of the interesting historical mining to visit when in the Wildrose area of the park are the Wildrose Charcoal Kilns. These kilns were built in the late 1800’s by one of the mining companies as a source of fuel for their smelters – a way of removing metal from its ore.
There are ten kilns still standing and they are believed to be the best known remaining examples of kilns in the western states.
Southerner Says park tips:
- Add a visit to the the kilns to the Emigrant Canyon Road/Wildrose Canyon drive.
- The kilns are located 28 miles from Highway 190 on Emigrant Canyon Road and the last 2.1 miles are unpaved but suitable for most vehicles.
Father Crowley Vista Point
Death Valley National Park is full of stunning views but one of the best in the entire park is Father Crowley Vista Point. This overlook is named after the Catholic priest, Father John J. Crowley – or the desert padre – who ministered to the people of Inyo County.
Father Crawley loved this area of California. His parish included the lowest point in the country – Death Valley and the highest – Mt. Whitney. Before it was even a park, Father Crowley frequently stopped at this viewpoint on his way to Death Valley from his home in Lone Pine, California.
The main feature here is the stunning Rainbow Canyon – a colorful striped canyon created by volcanic activity. In recent years, the canyon has commonly been referred to as Star Wars Canyon because of the military jets that practiced in the canyon. But after a crash in 2019, the canyon is no longer used for that purpose.
Southerner Says park tips:
- The overlook has plenty of parking
- There are bathrooms onsite
- This are is also wheelchair accessible
How to use this Google Map: this map has layers. Access the layers by clicking the tab in the left top. You can remove a layer you don’t want to see by simply unchecking that layer. You can also add the map to your own Google account by clicking the star at the end of the title.
Things to do in Death Valley National Park Tips
Located in the northern Mojave Desert, and bordering the Great Basin Desert, Death Valley National Park is geologically unique and hot. Visiting the park means you need to be well prepared and ready for anything. Use these tips to help you plan.
Purchase an America the Beautiful Park Pass. For more info about how the pass saves you money in the parks and how to purchase click the link.
To easily navigate the park, pick up a map at one of the entrance kiosks, visitor center or download one here.
Make sure your vehicle is in tip top shape. Check all the fluids and tires. Verify you have a good spare tire, a tire gauge in case your tire light comes on and fix-a-flat. (keep the can in a box or bag because of the heat). Also an roadside emergency kit is super helpful.
It’s also a good idea to have jumper cables or a jump box. Some jump boxes will air up your tires. This is the one I have.
Fuel up your vehicle before you get to the park. There are gas stations inside the park at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells and Panamint Springs but gas is more expensive.
There is no cell service in many areas of the park. If you have any car trouble, the NPS recommend staying with your vehicle. Help will come eventually. Just be prepared to wait it out. Carry plenty of water and food. These cubes for refilling are useful.
Did you know the National Park Service has an park app now? Download it here.
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Final Thoughts on Things to do in Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park is a truly unique experience and since it’s so close to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, it’s easy to visit or to include in a longer road trip. It does take a bit of effort to prepare but I promise it’s worth it.
See you on the road!
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