About Death Valley National 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.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
SPRING is the most popular time to visit Death Valley. Warm and sunny days with the possibility of spring wildflowers is a big attraction. SUMMER starts early in Death Valley. By May the valley can be scorching hot. AUTUMN arrives in late October, with warm but pleasant temperatures and generally…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: California, Nevada. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Entrance Fees
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Operating Hours
The park is open daily all year.
Activities
Current Alerts
Gasoline is available at Panamint Springs Resort from 7am-9:30pm, daily. Gas is available at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells 24hrs.
Getting There
There are multiple entrances to the park. Click below to learn the best ways to travel to Death Valley.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Entrance Passes
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.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Explore Wildflowers in Death Valley
Learn about the different flowers you might be able to see in Death Valley during spring months.
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…
Bird Watching
Roadrunners and ravens and hummingbirds- oh my! With many resident and migratory species, bird watching opportunities abound in Death Valley.
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…
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…
Drive Twenty Mule Team Canyon
A short scenic drive along an unpaved road through colorful badlands.
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Experience Death Valley at Night
Death Valley is just as spectacular at night as it is during the day- learn about a few ways you can explore…
Running in Death Valley
Go for a run in Death Valley! The park can be a very interesting and challenging place to test your road running…
Day Hiking
Looking for somewhere to hike in Death Valley? The park has interpretive trails, hiking trails, and unofficial hiking routes, and is open…
Visit Badwater Basin
Badwater Basin is the lowest elevation in North America at - 282 feet (- 86 m) below sea level. A visit to…
Hiking/Visiting with Pets
Due to the extreme weather, it is not usually a good idea to bring a pet to Death Valley if you want…
Mountain Biking
Hundreds of miles of dirt roads are available for mountain biking exploration.
Cycling
Whether you prefer flat and straight or mountainous and curvy, Death Valley has paved roads suitable for all levels of cycling enthusiasts.
Check Out Devils Golf Course
An immense area of rock salt eroded by wind and rain into jagged spires. So incredibly serrated that "only the devil could…
Visitor Centers
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…
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…
Campgrounds
Stovepipe Wells Campground
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…
Sunset Campground
Open seasonally, typically late fall through mid-to-late April. First-come, first-served, large campground that rarely fills. This location has little to no vegetation and is comprised…
Texas Springs Campground
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.…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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