They call it Death Valley for a reason. Maybe because it holds the record for the HOTTEST place on earth? Perhaps it is because there seems to be no trace of other life forms? The name shouldn’t scare you away. Death Valley is by far one of the most beautiful and unique national parks I have ever visited. I know you’ll agree with me once you go there and see for yourself! I took a road trip to Death Valley and spent only one day inside the park which was plenty of time to see most of the iconic sights. This guide will give you ideas on how to make the most of your 1 day itinerary inside Death Valley.
Park Entrance
When entering Death Valley, it costs $35 at the machine to drive through the park. Technically, paying the fee is based on the honorary system as there is no one at the booth to collect the money, but to keep the national parks clean and running it is advised to pay the dues when you enter the park. There is a risk of getting ticketed if the ranger sees your car without a ticket.
Tips before you go
- Visit between October-April due to extreme temperature recordings. Check the weather before you go.
- Don’t rely on cell service: the only place I got cell service was Death Valley visitor center in Furnace Creek
- Make sure your gas tank is full and ready to go! The gas stations are limited in the park, and once you exit the park you won’t find one for several miles
- There is no shuttle service inside this national park, so you will need a vehicle to drive to all of the scenic viewpoints
- Make sure to have a spare tire; not a bad idea considering it would take at least 2+ hours for car assistance to get to you
- Pack snacks and water for your road trip; there is not any fast food restaurants we came upon so you don’t want to go hungry!
- You can find a gas station in Furnace Creek, open 24 hours
Weather in Death Valley
If you are planning a trip to Death Valley, be sure to take a look at the weather before you go. It would be a shame to go all the way there and have your trip be cut short because you can’t stand the extreme temperatures outside. The sun is a different kind of HOT in the desert. Unbearable to say the least!
Here is Death Valley’s weather chart compiled by the National Weather Service.
Hiking Trails in Death Valley
Zabriskie Point
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 10 minutes
Distance: .5 mile roundtrip
The formations of the valley are incredible! You take a paved concrete ramp to the top of the overlook. It is wheelchair accessible. There is also a trailhead you can find if you are wanting to hike. Connector trails lead to Golden Canyon, Gower Gulch, and Red Cathedral.
Badwater Basin
Difficulty: Easy
Time: .5 hour-2 hour roundtrip (pending how far you want to walk)
Distance: 1-4 miles roundtrip
The vast salt flats mark the lowest elevation of North America, at -282 feet below sea level! There is a flat platform to walk on that leads you to to the salt flats. The farther you walk, you will see larger salt polygons take shape. The salt flats that have a lot of foot traffic will have a more brown tinge to them, but if you keep walking you will find pristine white salt flats that seem to go on forever.
Mesquite Sand Dunes
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: .5 hour-2 hour (it’s up to you, but if you want to get preserved dunes without the foot traffic, you’ll have to walk longer!)
Distance: 0-3 miles roundtrip
You don’t have to travel abroad to find whimsical sand dunes! Thankfully I had visited the sand dunes when the weather was 70 degrees out. If you go to the dunes on a hot day, it will be unbearable to walk through the sand in the heat and you can risk getting some serious burns. The further you walk, the larger dunes you’ll stumble upon and you won’t be around so many of the crowds. We even brought a sand board to slide down – mother nature is the best playground after all!
Dante's View
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 10 minutes
Distance: 0-1 miles roundtrip
For a quick viewpoint, Dante’s view is a stunning capture of the valley below. It was probably 20 degrees colder up on top of the point. When we got there right after sunrise, I wasn’t prepared for the cold so bring a jacket and beanie if you plan on going there during the fall and winter months! The wind will hit you up there!
Where do you enjoy taking road trips? Although I am based in California, I would love to take a road trip in your neck of the woods if you have a place in mind!