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badlands bathed in pale pink and orange light from the setting sun
CA,NV

Death Valley National Park

Entrance Fee

$30.00

/ Entrance - Private Vehicle

Park Hours (Today)

All Day

Furnace Creek Visitor Center: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

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About the Park

In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes. Yet, each extreme has a striking contrast. Towering peaks are frosted with winter snow. Rare rainstorms bring vast fields of wildflowers. Lush oases harbor tiny fish and refuge for wildlife and humans. Despite its morbid name, a great diversity of life thrives in Death Valley.

Archeology Asian American Heritage Incarceration Japanese-American Internment Industry Mining Native American Heritage Westward Expansion
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What to See & Do

Notch-leaved Phacelia and Golden Evening Primrose bloom in a desert wash.
Scenic Driving

Explore Wildflowers in Death Valley

Learn about the different flowers you might be able to see in Death Valley during spring months.

In Park1-3 Hours
a one story block building and flag pole
Museum Exhibits

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 Valley's history and natural wonders. Watch the park film, which is 20 minutes in length and plays throughout the day. Shop at the bookstore - light snacks/sandwiches/water are available for purchase. Become a Junior Ranger! Complete the activities in the booklet and earn a badge.

In Park15-120 Minutes
A green hummingbird with a purple and white throat drinks from a yellow flower.
Birdwatching

Bird Watching

Roadrunners and ravens and hummingbirds- oh my! With many resident and migratory species, bird watching opportunities abound in Death Valley.

In Park
Two adults and a child look at a waist high sign next to a wooden and metal wagon in the desert.
Self-Guided Tours - Walking

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 area. The 1/4 mi (0.4 km) paved walking path at this site takes visitors back in time by exploring the ruins of the plant and associated townsite and an original twenty mule team wagon. 

Harmony Borax Works parking area15-35 Minutes
A vehicle drives along a single lane road through colorful, eroded hills.
Scenic Driving

Tour Artists Drive

Enjoy a scenic drive through a geologic rainbow! Artists Drive is a one-way, nine mile (14.5 km) drive which passes through eroded, colorful desert hills. Artists Palette (a viewpoint) has the most colorful scenery along the road.

Artists Drive25-45 Minutes
A dirt road through bare brown and yellow striped hills.
Scenic Driving

Drive Twenty Mule Team Canyon

A short scenic drive along an unpaved road through colorful badlands.

Twenty Mule Team Canyon15-30 Minutes

Self-Guided Tours

Car driving on a windy one-way road between colorful brown and yellow hills.

Highlights: 3 Hour Driving Tour

Learn about the powerful forces which have shaped Death Valley and some of the incredible plants and animals which call this extreme place home. This is a self-guided driving tour starting from Furnace Creek Visitor Center. Stops include: Badwater Basin, Artists Palette, Zabriskie Point, and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Internet and cell service in Death Valley National Park are limited. To ensure the best visit possible, please download this tour prior to your arrival.

3-5 min 5 stops
a park ranger stands next to C-3PO, a Star Wars robot character

Star Wars Film Locations Tour of Death Valley

Have you ever dreamed of visiting Tatooine? Then you've come to the right place! Two movies from the famous Star Wars series, Episode 4 - A New Hope, and Episode 6 - Return of the Jedi, were filmed here! Check out the film locations on this tour and see if you can spot familiar vistas where droids, jawas, and jedis once walked. Internet and cell service in Death Valley National Park are limited; downloading the app prior to your arrival is recommended.

5-7 min 7 stops
Four people walk up a rocky wash between yellow and tan canyon walls.

Golden Canyon Hike

Golden Canyon is one of the most popular hikes in Death Valley, and for a good reason- it is incredible! Walk between towering golden walls and learn about some of the many changes which have occurred over time in the area we now call Golden Canyon. This hike is an out and back, is slightly uphill on the way out, and is considered easy/medium difficulty. Make sure to take plenty of water and do not attempt during the heat of summer.

1-3 min 7 stops

Visitor Centers

A paved walkway leading to the brick one-story building.

Furnace Creek Visitor Center

Furnace Creek Visitor Center is the central hub for all things Death Valley. Here you can pay the park entrance fee, speak with a ranger about trip plans or questions, participate in the Junior Ranger program, watch the 20-minute park film, explore museum displays, and browse the park bookstore.

8:00AM - 5:00PM 760-786-3200

Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station

Talk with a ranger and pay the park entrance fee. Note: This is a contact station, not a full visitor center. Hours vary- not open every day. Please call: (760) 786-3200 for today's hours.

Where to Stay

Eye level bulletin board stands on 2 wood posts. Wood box with hinged top opening attached to side.

Wildrose Campground

***No Potable Water Available in the Wildrose Area. Closest available water ~31 miles north at Stovepipe Wells, CA. First-come, first-served campground with no additional fee, high in the Panamint Mountains. Located at an elevation of 4100 ft / 1250 meters. No water. No hook-ups available. Generators allowed 7am - 7pm. This area is prone to high winds. Sites are dirt and gravel surrounded by mesquite bushes and rolling hills.

🏕 23 sites🚽 Toilets
a small building with a flagpole

Furnace Creek Campground

Furnace Creek Campground, near the Visitor Center at 190ft below sea level, is the only NPS campground in the park that accepts reservations. It offers full RV hookups and dry RV/tent sites. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance for dates between October 15th and April 15th. As the most popular campground in the park, reservations are strongly recommended. From late-April through mid-October each year, the campground reduces to 41 sites and is first-come, first-served.

🏕 136 sites💧 Water🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Row of loose 12 inch rocks separate a flat, gravel area. Metal picnic bench on far side.

Emigrant Campground

The campground, water system, and restrooms at Emigrant have been closed since late August 2025 due to flood damage. The damage to the 5-mile-long water pipe and associated water system is substantial and there is no estimated repair date. First-come, first-served tent-only campground with no additional fee. Located next to CA 190 at 2100' feet in elevation. This is a small campground with 10 sites southwest of Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station.

🏕 10 sites💧 Water🚽 Toilets
a long distance view of RVs and trailers in a gravel area with distant mountains

Sunset Campground

***Scheduled to open mid to late November 2026. Check our Alerts and Conditions page for up-to-date information. Open seasonally, typically late fall through mid-April. First-come, first-served, large campground that rarely fills. This location has little to no vegetation and is comprised of desert gravels. Car and tent camping is permitted. No picnic tables or fire rings. Campfires are not allowed in Sunset except at a few established community fire grates within the campground.

🏕 230 sites💧 Water🚽 Toilets
overlooking a valley with a few green trees surrounded by mountains

Texas Springs Campground

***Scheduled to open mid to late November 2026. Check our Alerts and Conditions page for up-to-date information. Typically open seasonally, late fall through mid-April. First-come, first-served campground located in the hills above Furnace Creek. Great views and some trees. No generators allowed. Each site has a fire grate and picnic table. Fee is paid at pay stations at the front of the campground and in upper loop.

🏕 106 sites💧 Water🚽 Toilets
A rectangular building with mens and womens doors on opposite ends & a third door in center.

Stovepipe Wells Campground

***Scheduled to open late October 2026. Check our Alerts and Conditions page for up-to-date information. Open seasonally, typically late fall through mid-to-late April. First-come, first-served campground located at sea level. Fee is paid at the pay station at the front of the campground. Campground is next to the Stovepipe Wells general store, ranger station, and a privately operated RV park. Guests are welcome to visit Stovepipe Wells Village to purchase pool/shower passes and use free hotel wifi.

🏕 190 sites💧 Water🚽 Toilets
Camper sits on dirt ground outside tent with bicycles nearby.

Mesquite Spring Campground

First-come, first-served campground at an elevation of 1,800 feet, located 2 miles off of the Scotty’s Castle Road below Grapevine Canyon. It is a great base camp for your adventures in the northern parts of Death ValIey National Park. It is surrounded by desert mountains and geological features. Each site has a fire grate and picnic table. There are no hook-ups available. Fee is paid at the automatic pay station at the front of the campground.

🏕 40 sites💧 Water🚽 Toilets
2' metal tent sign on top of small wood horizontal sign on a post reads, Thorndike Campground.

Thorndike Campground (Primitive)

***No Potable Water Available in the Wildrose Area. Closest available water ~38 miles north at Stovepipe Wells, CA. First-come, first-served primitive, forested campground with no additional fee located at 7,400' elevation. Accessible to high clearance vehicles (no longer than 25') and 4x4 may be necessary. Closest available water ~38 miles north at Stovepipe Wells. May still be impacted by snowy/icy conditions in late spring.

🏕 6 sites🚽 Toilets
Pine trees surround wooden sign on wood posts reads Mahogany Flat Campground Elevation 8133 Feet.

Mahogany Flat Campground (Primitive)

***No Potable Water Available in the Wildrose Area. Closest available water ~39 miles north at Stovepipe Wells, CA. First-come, first-served primitive campground with no additional fee located in a Pinyon Pine and Juniper forest at 8,200' elevation. Great views down into Death Valley. Located near the Telescope Peak trailhead. Dirt road access requires high-clearance vehicles, often 4x4 required. May still be impacted by snowy/icy conditions in late spring.

🏕 9 sites🚽 Toilets
Desert campsite with picnic table, metal fire ring, view of tall sand dunes in the background

Eureka Dunes Campground (Primitive)

Remote campground at the base of Eureka Dunes (the tallest sand dunes in California and home to several endemic plant species). This campground is located at 2,880ft and is only accessible to high-clearance vehicles. Please drive only on existing roads and tread lightly on the dunes to protect this fragile and unique environment.

🏕 7 sites🚽 Toilets
Homestake Site 1 unpaved road with tent spot

Homestake Campground (Primitive)

Extremely remote campsite at 3,785ft of elevation, accessible only by high-clearance vehicles with all-terrain tires. Access from Saline Valley Road requires navigating Lippincott Pass and should only be attempted by experienced 4-wheel drivers. There are no approved toilet facilities at this location and no water available. Pack in all that you need, pack out all that you bring.

🏕 10 sites
Information Board at entrance to Campround

Saline Valley Campground (Primitive)

This is a clothing-optional hot spring area approximately 35 miles from the nearest paved road. A high-clearance vehicle and all-terrain tires are necessary to access this campground and road/weather conditions may necessitate 4-wheel drive. This campground is located at 1,375ft, but requires navigating either North Pass at 7,300ft or South Pass at 5,997ft and may be inaccessible due to winter conditions.

🏕 15 sites

Getting Here & Transit

How to Get Here

There are multiple entrances to the park. Click below to learn the best ways to travel to Death Valley.

Park Amenities

ATM/Cash Machine
Accessible Rooms
Assistive Listening Systems
Automated Entrance
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Benches/Seating
Bicycle - Rack
Captioned Media
Cellular Signal
Electric Car Charging Station
Electrical Hookup - Boat/RV
Entrance Passes for Sale
Fire Extinguisher
Fire Pit
Firewood For Sale/Available

Permits & Reservations

Permits may be required

Some activities in Death Valley National Park — including backcountry camping, certain trails, and climbing routes — require advance permits. Check the official NPS website for current requirements before your visit.

Entrance Fees & Passes

Standard Fees

Entrance - Private Vehicle

$30.00

All visitors, including Non-US residents, may purchase and utilize this entrance fee. Purchasing this entrance fee allows all persons traveling in one single private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van/RV/aircraft) to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during the 7-day period from the date of purchase.

Entrance - Motorcycle

$25.00

All visitors, including Non-US residents, may purchase and utilize this entrance fee. Purchasing this entrance fee allows all persons traveling on 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during the 7-day period from the date of purchase.

Entrance - Per Person

$15.00

All visitors, including Non-US residents, may purchase and utilize this entrance fee. Purchasing this entrance fee allows a single individual traveling on foot or individuals traveling on one bicycle to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during the 7-day period from the date of purchase.

Commercial Entrance - Per Person

$15.00

1 - 15 Passenger Vehicle: $15 per person. In addition to the entrance fees listed below, additional permits are required for commercial groups, special park uses (weddings, memorialization, group events, etc.), commercial film and photography, research, and more.

Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus

$100.00

16 - 25 Passenger Vehicle: $100 In addition to the entrance fees listed below, additional permits are required for commercial groups, special park uses (weddings, memorialization, group events, etc.), commercial film and photography, research, and more.

Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach

$200.00

26 + Passenger Vehicle: $200 In addition to the entrance fees listed below, additional permits are required for commercial groups, special park uses (weddings, memorialization, group events, etc.), commercial film and photography, research, and more.

Entrance - Non-commercial Groups

$15.00

Non-commercial Groups (e.g., Scout groups, church groups, etc.) entering in a vehicle with a capacity of 16 persons or more are charged per-person for each person on board, not to exceed $200.

Entrance - Education/Academic Groups

$0.00

National Park Service regulations allow school groups and other approved national and international academic institutions to obtain a waiver of Park entrance fees, provided that visit is for educational or scientific purposes, and the resources or facilities that the group intends to use, support those purposes. Submit your waiver through the link below at least one month prior to your visit.

Annual & Lifetime Passes

Annual Entrance - Park

$55.00

This pass allows all persons traveling with the pass holder in one single private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van) or those on a motorcycle to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish for 12 months from the month of purchase.

Operating Hours

Death Valley National Park

The park is open daily all year.

  • MondayAll Day
  • TuesdayAll Day
  • WednesdayAll Day
  • ThursdayAll Day
  • FridayAll Day
  • SaturdayAll Day
  • SundayAll Day

Live Webcams

Click any camera to open the live feed on the NPS website.

When to Go

Crowd Calendar

Plan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.

Jan

Low

Feb

Low

Mar

Moderate

Apr

Moderate

May

High

Jun

Low

Jul

Low

Aug

Low

Sep

Moderate

Oct

Moderate

Nov

High

Dec

Low
Low Crowds
Moderate Crowds
High Crowds

Location

PO Box 579
Death Valley, CA 92328

Around This Park

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Common Questions

Planning Death Valley

These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.

Reservation policies vary heavily by season. During peak summer months, many popular national parks require timed-entry permits or vehicle reservations just to enter the park, or specific permits for popular hikes (like Half Dome or Angels Landing). Always check the official NPS alerts and recreation.gov before setting your dates.