Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the contiguous United States. In addition to its size, it is also the hottest, driest, and lowest national park. This park offers a truly unique landscape, featuring salt flats, mountains, canyons, and sand dunes, making it unlike any other national park.

How to Get to Death Valley National Park

To get to Death Valley National Park, fly into a nearby Las Vegas or Los Angeles airport. From there, rent a car and drive to the park—it’s about a 2-hour drive from Las Vegas and a 4-hour drive from Los Angeles. This makes it a great opportunity to combine your visit to Death Valley with a trip to either Las Vegas or Los Angeles.

Best Time to Visit 

The best time to visit Death Valley National Park is October to April. Due to the extreme heat, it’s advisable to avoid visiting during the summer, making it an ideal destination for the winter months.

Best Things to Do

In this Death Valley National Park itinerary, we’ll show you how to experience this unique destination in just one day.

Zabriskie Point

For the best views of Death Valley, head to Zabriskie Point. Here, you’ll witness a stunning landscape shaped by the forces of wind and water. Located in the Amargosa Mountain Range, Zabriskie Point offers a dramatic panorama of the valley below. You can drive up to the parking area and take a short walk to the viewpoint, or explore various hiking trails of different lengths.

The best times to visit are at sunrise or sunset, when the light enhances the beauty of the scene, but keep in mind that these times can also be quite crowded. Overall, Zabriskie Point is one of the highlights of Death Valley National Park, and it’s a spot you definitely shouldn’t miss on your trip. Star Wars fans will recognize the area, as it was featured in the movie

Badwater Basin

Visit the lowest point in North America at Badwater Basin, where you’ll be surrounded by an extraordinary landscape. The vast, polygon-shaped salt flats stretch out before you, with the Black Mountains to the east and the Panamint Range to the west creating a stunning backdrop. You can park your vehicle in the designated area and take a walk across the salt flats—an otherworldly experience you won’t forget.

Artist’s Palette

Next, take a scenic drive along the narrow, winding roads of the Artist’s Drive loop to reach Artist’s Palette, where you can marvel at nature’s vibrant “painting” on the rugged mountains. The mountains are streaked with a stunning array of colors—blues, pinks, yellows—created by volcanic deposits of various compounds like iron oxide. The drive from Badwater Basin to Artist’s Drive takes about 30 minutes.

You can enjoy the colorful landscape from the parking area or take a short hike into the mountains to explore the area and experience the views up close. It’s a truly breathtaking sight, showcasing the natural beauty and geological history of Death Valley.

Dante’s View

For the best panoramic views of Death Valley’s white salt flats, take a 45-minute drive from Furnace Creek to Dante’s View. While it’s a bit of a detour, it’s definitely worth the visit if you have the time. You can drive directly up to the parking lot, and from there, take short hikes to various viewpoints for even more stunning vistas. The view from Dante’s View offers a unique perspective of the valley below.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

A visit to the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes offers a completely different landscape within Death Valley National Park. Over the years, the wind and mountains have sculpted these vast sand dunes into a striking natural feature. You might wonder why they’re called “Mesquite Flat” Sand Dunes—it’s because of the mesquite trees that grow in the surrounding area. As you venture out into the dunes, you’ll quickly realize the terrain is far more dramatic than it sounds.

While there are other sand dunes in the park, Mesquite Flat is the most famous and the easiest to explore. You can simply walk across the dunes or even try sandboarding for a little more adventure. Just be prepared to get covered in sand! During our visit, this was the last stop on our trip, and it turned out to be the perfect spot to watch the sunset, wrapping up our Death Valley experience in spectacular fashion.

Essential Tips for Preparing Your Death Valley National Park Trip

Prepare for No Cell Phone Service – There is no cell phone coverage within Death Valley National Park, so make sure to download maps and any important information before you arrive.

Fuel Up Before Entering – The park has only three gas stations, so it’s crucial to fill up your tank before entering.

Death Valley National Park is a truly unique and awe-inspiring destination, offering everything from vast salt flats and colorful mountains to towering sand dunes and dramatic viewpoints. With its striking contrast of extremes—heat, height, and desolation—Death Valley is a must-visit for nature lovers and adventurers alike.

Make sure to plan your visit wisely, and you’ll experience a place like no other on Earth. Pin this guide to Pinterest for easy trip planning to Death Valley National Park!