After almost two decades, I finally had the chance to visit Death Valley National Park. While many understandably view visiting Death Valley as a desolate desert, beauty is found in the dust and dirt.

The Death Valley National Park hikes, camping, and photography offered here are unbelievably unique and offer so much to every visitor. With so many Death Valley National Park things to do, you’ll be totally booked for three days.

Below we’ll dive into how to plan the trip with a three-day Death Valley itinerary, camping options, and how far a drive it is from major metro areas. Plus, enjoy the stunning photos as well. Visiting Death Valley impressed me so much, and I’m sure you’re going to fall in love with it as well!

Three-Day Itinerary for Death Valley National Park

What to know about Visiting Death Valley National Park

Is Death Valley National Park worth visiting?

Yes. Full stop. It’s one of the upper-echelon national parks America has to offer. It’s a different type of environment than many are used to, but it’s beautiful and unique, and offers a magnitude of hiking and adventuring for people of all skill levels.

What is the best time for visiting Death Valley National Park?

Not the summer. Let me repeat, not the summer! Summertime in Death Valley can reach 125 or 130 degrees and is quite literally an oven. Instead, come between October and March, and you’ll have one of the most magical experiences you can imagine.

Death Valley Camping

Death Valley has nine campgrounds throughout the park, with three in Furnace Creek and the rest between 30 minutes and two hours from Furnace Creek. It won’t come as a shock to learn that most Death Valley camping is done from October through April, as the summer months can see lows in the 90s or 100s. The only campground that takes reservations is Furnace Creek. The rest are first-come, first-serve.

I stayed one night at Sunset Campground, a gravel parking lot. It was excessively windy, which didn’t give us a good night’s sleep. We then moved up to Texas Springs Campground, a great Death Valley camping location with fire rings for campfires. It’s also more protected with hills surrounding the sites.

Ideally, the first on your Death Valley things to do list is get your reservation at Furnace Creek. If you don’t, plan to be in the park before 10 am to find an unoccupied campsite or one that will be unoccupied in a few hours. Campers have until noon to be at their site.

Don’t feel like camping? Book a spot in the center of the park here.

Gas

It will not be cheap while visiting Death Valley. There are two places for gas in Death Valley National Park: Stovepipe Wells and Furnace Creek. Stovepipe Wells was cheaper by nearly two dollars per gallon. There is also gas in Trona and Panamint Springs. Keep in mind that if you’re coming in from the west, you have a sizeable uphill climb to get into Death Valley. It isn’t a place you want to be low on gas.

How Far of a Drive Is to Death Valley National Park?

From Los Angeles: 4.5 hours
From San Francisco: 8.5 hours – check winter road conditions
From Las Vegas: 2.25 hours (For national parks near las vegas, this is the one I’d choose)
From Phoenix: 7 hours

What is there to eat in Death Valley?

There are a few restaurants/saloons in Death Valley, but the grocery/general store did not have much more than pre-made sandwiches and snacks. Breakfast items were severely lacking. I highly recommend bringing everything you’ll need when you visit.

Gear to bring while visiting Death Valley

Wide Brimmed Hat
Sunglasses
Moisture-wicking shirt or long sleeve sun shirt
Hiking shorts or pants
Sunblock
5 or 10-gallon water jugs

Death Valley Itinerary – 3-Day trip

Death Valley Itinerary Day 1 – Friday

Locations: Badwater Basin

Death Valley National Park hikes — Badwater basin | death valley itinerary 3 day

death valley national park itinerary — Badwater basin | death valley itinerary 3 day

We left Santa Barbara a little later than we had intended, with a 5.5-hour drive in front of us. Once you get into the desert, you’re driving through some rough-looking terrain. We arrived in Death Valley National Park by 3 pm and were disappointed to find the Texas Springs CG full. This means camping at the Sunset CG. As mentioned above, this wasn’t anything special.

After setting up camp, we went south to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the park and the Western Hemisphere. At -282 feet, it doesn’t look much different than the rest of the valley. As for the Badwater Basin, it’s incredible. I’d recommend walking a half-mile or more away from the main area. Doing this will 1) get you away from people and 2) give you the classic octagon shapes you see in photos. Add this to your Death valley national park things to do list when planning.

Badwater Basin is great for both sunrise and sunset. But, while it’s excellent, you need some sky action to make the photo pop. Unfortunately, we didn’t get so lucky and had clear skies. Next time!

Death Valley Itinerary Day 2- Saturday

Locations: Artist’s Pallete, Golden Canyon, Mesquite Sand Dunes

My girlfriend and I woke up early and headed to Artist’s Pallete for sunrise. Surprisingly, we were the only ones there for about 45 minutes. I was shocked, considering it was a weekend visiting Death Valley. This is best viewed in low light – before sunrise/after sunset as it allows the colors to come out! The Artist Drive is 8 miles from Furnace Creek, and the loop takes about 20 minutes with no stops. (But do stop, it’s beautiful.) When ranking Death Valley National Park hikes, this one is near the top.

After breakfast, we wanted to check out the Golden Canyon hike. It’s less than 10 minutes from the FC campgrounds, which makes it super accessible. Be warned it is a bit crowded at the trailhead, but road parking is available. The trail is about 3 miles long and provides a great view of the valley from the top. Knowing how pretty this is, don’t forget to add this as a Death valley national park things to do. But it does heat up in the afternoon hours.

Death Valley National Park photos

artists palette — Artists’ Point | Death Valley National Park hikes

artists palette Death Valley National Park hikes — Artists’ Point | Death Valley National Park hikes

With that hike behind us, we needed to decompress for a bit. We took a break at the campsite and headed to the Mesquite Sand Dunes near Stovepipe Wells. The drive is 30 minutes from point to point. When visiting Death Valley, traffic isn’t usually a problem. However, it is only a single-lane road each way, so if there is an issue, traffic can get backed up.

There’s no one route in the sand dunes. We did, though, have a goal in mind. The highest sand dune in the area. This is two miles round-trip consisting of many smaller dunes before finally hitting the big one. Even though the distance isn’t far, hiking in the sand is not easy. Our legs were feeling it on the way back! I recommend this as one of the Death Valley National Park hikes you don’t skip.

death valley mesquite sand dunes — death valley national park photos

mesquite sand dunes — death valley national park things to do

mesquite sand dunes death valley national park photos — death valley national park photos

Death Valley National Park hikes mesquite sand dunes — visiting death valley

Death Valley Itinerary Day 3 – Sunday

Locations: Zabriskie Point, Mosaic Crater, Ubehebe Crater, Father Crowly Overlook

zabriskie point death valley national parks near las vegas — Zabriskie Point | visiting Death Valley

zabriskie point Death Valley National Park hikes death valley national park photos

We awoke before sunrise again and drove 12 minutes to Zabriskie Point. As we pulled into the parking lot, it was the polar opposite of the previous morning. There were easily 50 people – primarily photographers – spread out across the dirt, capturing the sunrise show.

It was a beautiful morning watching the sun slowly flood onto the valley floor and hit the tip of Zabriskie Point. With sunrise behind us, we returned to the campsite, started a small fire, and enjoyed a quick breakfast before packing up the site.

After stuffing my Prius full, we headed to Mosaic Canyon for a quick 2-mile stroll and took the 40-minute drive to Ubehebe Crater. We had no idea what to expect, but it turned out to be one of the trip’s highlights. It was stunning in size, and the chance to walk the circumference allowed us to see it from all angles.

This is one of the Death Valley National Park hikes you must do.

Ubehebe Crater death valley death valley national park photos

little hebe crater national parks near las vegas

Ubehebe Crater Death Valley National Park hikes — visiting Death Valley

As the sun set, we headed out of Death Valley National Park on our way back to Santa Barbara. We were graced with a stunning sunset, which was the perfect bookend for a beautiful trip.

Wrapping up – Death Valley Itinerary

Death Valley National Park is a remarkable and awe-inspiring destination that captivates visitors with its unique landscapes, extreme climate, and rich history.

Despite its name, the park is teeming with life, showcasing the resilience of various plant and animal species adapted to this harsh environment. From towering sand dunes to vast salt flats and colorful canyons, Death Valley offers an array of natural wonders that leave a lasting impression on all who venture into its depths.

Whether it’s exploring remote trails or stargazing under the clear desert skies, there is no shortage of experiences to be had in this extraordinary national park.

I hope this Death Valley itinerary helps guide your trip and you have as amazing time as I did!

Until next time adventurers, take care and be safe.

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