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Death Valley National Park is a landscape unlike any other, filled with colorful canyons, rugged salt flats, rolling sand dunes, and breathtaking mountain views. While the park’s extreme heat and vast size can make planning a visit feel intimidating, a little preparation goes a long way.

This two-day Death Valley itinerary covers many of the park’s highlights, including Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Artist’s Palette, and several scenic hikes and drives. You’ll also find helpful information about entrance fees, lodging, dining, trail conditions, and staying safe in the desert heat. Whether you love hiking or prefer exploring from the comfort of your car, this itinerary will help you make the most of your time in Death Valley National Park.

Entrance Fee:

$30 for a 7-day vehicle pass

*This park does not accept cash.

Another option, especially if you plan on visiting California’s other national parks, is an America the Beautiful Pass.  It covers the entrance fees for over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including all national parks. 

If you have a 4^th grader in your crew, check out Every Kid Outdoors for a free National Park Pass instead!

Lodging:

There are three lodging options within the park.  The first is Stovepipe Wells Village near the park’s west entrance.  The second and third are located near the Furnace Creek Visitor Center: The Ranch at Death Valley and The Inn at Death Valley.  These two options are more centrally located to everything on the itinerary.  All three are open year-round.

We personally stayed in the cottages at The Ranch and loved it.  It was conveniently located near everything on this itinerary; we could swim in the afternoons when the heat was too high to hike, and there were plenty of food options right on the property.  The Inn and Stovepipe Wells also have pools and plenty of on-property food options. 

You can make reservations for The Ranch at Death Valley and The Inn at Death Valley here: The Oasis at Death Valley.

There are also camping options within the park.  The park has 7 developed campgrounds: Furnace Creek, Texas Springs, Sunset, Stovepipe Wells, Emigrant, Wildrose, and Mesquite Spring.  Furnace Creek, Wildrose, and Mesquite Spring are open year-round.  The rest are open seasonally.  Reservations for Furnace Creek can be made at Recreation.gov.  Wildrose and Mesquite Spring do not accept reservations. 

The park also has 5 primitive campgrounds: Thorndike, Mahogany Flat, Eureka Dunes, Homestake, and Saline.  All primitive campgrounds are only accessible with high-clearance 4×4 vehicles. 

The park also has three privately owned campgrounds: Ohyu RV Park, The Ranch at Death Valley, and Panamint Springs Resort. 

For lodging options outside the park, consider Beatty, NV, to the east, and Lone Pine, CA, or Ridgecrest, CA, to the West.

Dining:

Thankfully, the park offers a wide variety of dining options right in the middle of the park. 

Furnace Creek Area:

• The Ranch- 1849 Restaurant, The Last King Words Saloon, Coffee and Cream, General Store, Wild Rose Tavern
• The Inn- Dining Room, Pool Café
• Visitor Center- Bookstore

Stovepipe Wells Area:

• Toll Road Restaurant
• Badwater Saloon
• General Store

Panamint Springs Area:

• Dining & Bar
• General Store

Know Before You Go:

1. If you are traveling during the summer months, your biggest obstacle will be the unrelenting heat in a park with close to zero shade. Bring all kinds of sun protection- sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, etc.- and PLENTY of water.
2. Review the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
3. Water is available at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, and Panamint Springs.   
4. I would start hiking by 7 am for both days.  By 9 am in May, it was already in the 80s.
5. The desert can be prone to flash floods.  Do NOT hike in canyons during an active rainstorm or if there is a high probability of rain in the forecast. 
6. I recommend downloading an AllTrails map for trails on this itinerary. (Want to check out AllTrails+?  Use this link for a discount- AllTrails+.)
7. Please remember to follow Leave No Trace principles.

2 Day Itinerary

Day 1

Early Morning

Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral

Distance: 3 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 500+ ft

Trail Access: Park in the Golden Canyon Lot via Badwater Road.

Pet Friendly: No

Restroom at Trailhead: Yes

This trail offers very little shade, and the desert heat can be brutal. If you want to complete the entire trail, I recommend starting early. We began at 6:30 AM in May, and the return trip to the car felt quite toasty. However, watching the morning light illuminate the vibrant canyon walls was pretty incredible.

The trail is easy to follow and well-marked. There are two trail junctions: one at 0.5 miles in and another at 1 mile in. Be sure to continue straight at both junctions, NOT left, to stay on the Golden Canyon Trail.

Most of the trail is relatively flat, but be prepared for a steep scramble near the end. The path can be slick, so exercise caution while climbing. However, the views from the top are fantastic and definitely make the final push in the desert heat worthwhile.

Devil’s Golf Course

Starting from the Golden Canyon Parking Lot, turn left onto Badwater Road. After 4 miles, make a right onto Devil’s Golf Course Road. This road leads to a small circular drive with parking available. There is no defined path, so you can choose to explore the unique formations as much or as little as you like.  The rock salt can be very sharp, so please be careful where you step.

Badwater Basin

Distance: ~2 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Gain: 0 ft

Trail Access: Park in the Badwater Basin Lot via Badwater Road.

Pet Friendly: No

Restroom at Trailhead: Yes

From the Devil’s Golf Course, Badwater Basin is just another 10 miles south on Badwater Road. Like the Devil’s Golf Course, there is no defined trail. Depending on water levels, personal preference, and the heat, you can walk as much or as little as you like. While trekking all the way out offers spectacular views, the sights from the parking lot and the small boardwalk are still remarkable.

Afternoon

Twenty Mule Team Canyon Drive

In the afternoon, when the heat is at its peak, drive through Twenty Mule Team Canyon Road. The entrance to this scenic route is located just one mile south of Zabriskie Point via CA-190. The drive is 2.5 miles long and curves through a beautiful canyon where you can enjoy the views while staying cool in the AC. Please note that the road is one-way and unpaved, but it should be passable for most vehicles. Fun fact: If you’re a Star Wars fan, several scenes from *Return of the Jedi* were filmed here! 😊

Dante’s View

Distance: 1 mile round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 200+ ft

Trail Access: Park in the Dante’s View Lot at the very end of CA-103.

Pet Friendly: No

Restroom at Trailhead: No, but there are restrooms along the main road on your way up the mountain.

This spot is incredible, as is the entire drive up to the top! It is located over 5,000 feet above Badwater Basin and offers magnificent panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. In the afternoon, the high elevation provides a brief escape from the heat.  Later in the day, it’s also an ideal location for watching the sunset or stargazing.

While the views from the parking lot are fantastic, I highly recommend taking the path on the south end of the lot. The scenery gets better and better as you head toward the viewpoint. Keep in mind that the path runs near the edge and can be slick due to the rolling terrain and loose sand, so please use caution, especially if you have little ones running ahead.

Evening

Zabriskie Point

Distance: 0.3 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Gain: 50+ ft

Trail Access: Park in the Zabriskie Point Lot via CA-190.

Pet Friendly: No

Restroom at Trailhead: Yes

This short, well-paved path leads to some of my favorite views in Death Valley National Park. The layered, vibrant landscape is truly spectacular. If you only check out one spot in this entire park, make sure it’s this one! If you have the whole day, it’s the perfect place to end your evening.

Day 2

Early Morning

Mosaic Canyon Trail

Distance: 4 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 900+ ft

Trail Access: Park in Mosaic Canyon Parking Area via Mosaic Canyon Road.

Pet Friendly: No

Restroom at Trailhead: Yes

To avoid the heat, once again, plan to start your day early. Take CA-190 to Mosaic Canyon Road. This road is approximately 2 miles of unpaved terrain, but it should be passable for most vehicles; take it slowly.

Once you’re parked, follow the path into the canyon. You’ll climb steadily as the path narrows and widens before narrowing again. Around the 1-mile mark, you will encounter the Boulder Jam. You’ll need to scramble up the left side of the jam to continue along the path.

About another 0.5 miles beyond the Boulder Jam, the trail ends at a drywall. Do not attempt to climb this drywall; instead, backtrack about 150 feet. There, you will find a small path leading up the western part of the wall. Continue through the narrow canyon until you reach one last vertical drywall. That is the turnaround point and is located around the 2-mile mark.

*If you are not interested in scrambling, I still recommend hiking this trail to the Boulder Jam and then turning around there. This colorful canyon is stunning and worth a visit, even if you only hike a portion of the trail.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

Distance: ~2 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Gain: 100+ ft

Trail Access: Park in the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Lot via CA-190.

Pet Friendly: No

Restroom at Trailhead: Yes

This area of the park is beautiful, showcasing the rolling dunes set against the backdrop of vibrant, distant mountains. I highly recommend hiking to the highest dune- the views are fantastic. The path is about 2 miles long, but since it isn’t well defined, the length will vary. Even if you don’t plan to walk all the way to the highest peak, bring water and know your limits. Hiking on sand is more demanding than packed dirt. There is also no shade available, and- I know I am getting repetitive- but the desert heat can be harsh after 10 a.m.

Afternoon

Harmony Borax Works

Distance: 0.25 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Loop

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Gain: 20+ ft

Trail Access: Park in the small lot via Mustard Canyon Drive.

Pet Friendly: No

Restroom at Trailhead: No

This is a very quick trail where you will learn about some of the area’s history and the borax plant that operated in the 1880s.  The quick loop is paved and features several informational signs as you loop around the structures and wagons from the mining site. 

Mustard Canyon Drive

After visiting the Harmony Borax Works Loop, continue driving along Mustard Canyon Road. Two additional structures line this route, both on the right side of the road. The winding dirt road through the mustard-colored hills is one-way only after the Harmony Borax Works parking lot. From there, it’s just one mile to CA-190, which drops you roughly a mile north of where you started. This unpaved road is generally passable for most vehicles. 

Evening

Artists Drive and Artists Palette

Artists Drive stretches for about 9 miles one way, starting roughly 9 miles north of the Badwater Basin/CA-190 junction. Keep in mind, vehicles longer than 25 ft aren’t allowed because the winding, narrow road includes several steep dips.  This was such a fun scenic drive! As you curve through the colorful canyon, you’ll discover several wonderful viewpoints along the way. Around 4.3 miles in, take a right onto Artists Palette Road and find a spot to park at the end of the drive. From there, enjoy a short walk down into the canyon to marvel at the vibrant hills. After exploring Artists Palette, head back to the junction and turn right to keep going along Artists Drive for another 5 miles, ending your scenic journey at Death Valley National Park.

*Restrooms are available near the Artists Palette Lot, about halfway into your drive.

Have an incredible adventure!  

Looking for another California National Park itinerary? Check out my Yosemite National Park post!

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