Death Valley National Park

Death Valley holds the verified world record for highest air temperature: 56.7 degrees Celsius recorded in July 1913 at Furnace Creek. It sits at the lowest point in North America (Badwater Basin, 86 metres below sea level). The park covers 13,600 square kilometres of desert, salt flat, and mountain range in eastern California and Nevada. People die here every summer from heat and dehydration combined with poor planning. The Park Service does not issue this warning for liability reasons; they issue it because it is accurate.

From June through September, daytime temperatures regularly exceed 48 degrees on the valley floor. These months are for the heat-tolerant and the very well-prepared only. October through April is when Death Valley makes sense as a destination.

2026 update: Record fall 2025 rainfall triggered a wildflower superbloom; higher-elevation blooms are active through April-June 2026, making this spring an exceptional time to visit.

Entry Fees

The 7-day vehicle pass costs $30 (all passengers). Motorcycles $25, pedestrians and cyclists $15 per person, under-16s free. The $80 America the Beautiful Annual Pass covers all US national parks and is worth buying if you visit three or more. Death Valley operates a fully cashless entrance system; bring a payment card.

Key Sites

Badwater Basin, 30 kilometres south of Furnace Creek on Highway 190: 280 square kilometres of salt flat formed when seasonal flooding evaporates, leaving sodium chloride in hexagonal crystalline patterns. A sign on the cliff above marks sea level, 86 metres up from where you are standing. The walk onto the flats is straightforward; in cooler months you can walk for kilometres.

Zabriskie Point, east of Furnace Creek: eroded badlands in brown and gold formed from lakebeds that dried 5 million years ago. Sunrise from the viewpoint is reliably good. The Golden Canyon trail (5 kilometres return) into the badlands is better than standing at the viewpoint.

Mesquite Flat Dunes near Stovepipe Wells: the photogenic sand dunes of most Death Valley photographs, 30 metres high. Arrive very early or at sunset for the best light and cooler temperatures.

Staying and Eating

The Oasis at Death Valley (formerly the Inn at Death Valley) at Furnace Creek is the upscale option: Spanish colonial architecture from 1927, a spring-fed pool at 33 degrees, rooms from $350 per night. The Ranch at Death Valley nearby is considerably cheaper and less atmospheric. Both are operated by the same concessionaire. Stovepipe Wells Village is a simpler motel option.

Outside the park: Pahrump, Nevada (about an hour east) has chain motels at half the in-park price. Beatty, Nevada is closer and has several basic motels.

Getting There and Safety

Las Vegas is about 2.5 hours away; Los Angeles about 4 hours. There is no public transport to Death Valley. A hire car with a full tank, several gallons of emergency water, and a working engine are not optional.

During spring visits: carry minimum 4 litres of water per person for any walk. Never rely on GPS or cellular service working reliably in the desert. The park is open 24 hours year-round; the Furnace Creek Visitor Center operates 8am to 5pm.