Last Updated on: 21st November 2023, 11:20 pm
Death Valley National Park is the United States’ largest park outside of Alaska. While many picture it as a lifeless desert, at over 3 million acres, few other parks offer as much variety as Death Valley. While by no means an exhaustive list, the guide below takes a look at the top five things to do in Death Valley National Park.
For more information on things like the best places to stay in Death Valley and park entry fees, be sure to check the very end of the article.
Explore Badwater Road
If you only have a day in Death Valley, spend it exploring the sites along and nearby Badwater Road. And if you’ll be spending multiple days, Badwater Road would serve as a great introduction to the park.
As you turn onto the road, you’ll be at sea level. But by the time you reach Badwater Basin 14 miles away, you’ll find yourself at 282 feet (85.5 m) below sea level – the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere!
What makes Badwater Road so special is the wide variety of geological oddities you can find along the way to Badwater Basin. Easily the most beautiful among them is Artist’s Drive. In total, the one-way scenic drive stretches out for nine miles.
While all of it’s pretty impressive, the most famous viewpoint is called Artist’s Palette, known for its striking array of colors.
Just about every kind of natural disaster that could possibly happen occurred in Death Valley at one point or another. And that’s why you’ll find such a wide variety of formations and colors in a single National Park.
Another highlight of Badwater Road is Devil’s Golf Course, named as such due to it being the last place you’d ever want to play golf! The area is comprised of salt that’s crystalized into rough, sharp formations.
Listen carefully, and you might even hear the salt cracking in the heat!
Speaking of salt, Badwater Basin, after which the road was named, is a salt flat. It was formed by water from surrounding mountains flowing down to the region’s lowest point. And given the extreme heat, the water quickly evaporates, leaving only salt behind.
Visitors are free to walk from the parking lot to the main area of salt flats some thirty minutes away. Just take proper precautions, as this is America’s lowest and hottest point.
While not directly located along Badwater Road, no visit to Death Valley is complete without seeing Zabriskie Point, the park’s most famous overlook. You can access the viewpoint via Highway 190, the road most people take to enter the park from Las Vegas or Pahrump.
Zabriskie Point offers a view of Badwater Basin in the background, while there’s even a hike that connects this area with Golden Canyon, also situated along Badwater Road.
If you only have a day in Death Valley, you can also fit in things like Dante’s View, the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Check out our comprehensive guide to spending a day in Death Valley to learn more.
Experience Historical Death Valley
As was the case with much of the Western United States, miners fled to Death Valley in search of gold. And the town of Rhyolite, Nevada, was founded in 1905, a year after gold was discovered in the region.
Within just a few years, the town greatly expanded in size, and it was once home to as many as 8,000 people. It was clearly quite luxurious – at least for a short period of time.
Today, the Rhyolite Ghost Town exists on land just outside of Death Valley National Park, and which is instead controlled by the Bureau of Land Management. Nevertheless, the site is still considered to be an integral part of Death Valley’s history.
You’ll find various abandoned buildings to explore (at least from a distance, as they’re now gated off), such as the Cook Bank Building, constructed in 1907. Incredibly, it was just one of four banks in Rhyolite, but it would already shut down by 1910.
Other highlights include the Porter Brothers’ Store, run by siblings who’d also established franchises throughout the Western US during mining boom periods. This store, which opened in 1906, was a huge success for several years before ultimately closing in 1910.
Nearby is the Rhyolite Schoolhouse. It was a concrete structure built in 1909 to school the children of local miners. But it would only last for two years before most of the local mines closed and the town was largely abandoned.
Another fascinating building here is the Tom Kelly Bottle House, which as the name suggests, was largely built out of bottles. In a region where wood and other building materials were so scarce, the bottles were used like bricks held together with adobe mortar.
While not the only such bottle house built in the area, this one was constructed in 1906 by Tom Kelly, an Australian-born gold miner. But Kelly auctioned it off rather than live here himself, and it was largely inhabited by the Bennett family.
While not a historical ruin, Rhyolite is now also known for the Goldwell Open Air Museum. It features a collection of ghostly figures added by artist Albert Szukalski in 1984, among various other contemporary pieces.
As you can tell by learning about Rhyolite’s history, there wasn’t enough of the metal here to make gold mining in Death Valley sustainable long-term.
But local miners would indeed strike it rich thanks to another substance that happens to be abundant in Death Valley.
After the short-lived gold rush, miners then focused on borax, which is a combination of Boron and various salts.
Back in prehistoric times when this region was covered in freshwater, borax was brought here by runoff from surrounding mountains and deposited on the lakebed.
Borax is most known for its use as a cleaning agent and laundry detergent, while it can also serve as a natural pesticide and rust remover.
Today, the best place to learn about the old borax mining operations is at an outdoor museum called Harmony Borax Works, situated in between Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells.
Central Furnace Creek is also home to the Borax Museum, which also features a collection of old trains and mining carts.
Yet another important, yet largely overlooked, Death Valley monument is Old Stovepipe Wells. In the early 20th century, a stovepipe was used to mark a well in the middle of the desert that was sometimes obscured by sand.
The well was the only natural water source in between Rhyolite and Skidoo, and you can now find it on the opposite side of the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, down a dirt road off the North Highway.
Yet another famous historical monument is the Wildrose Charcoal Kilns, built in 1877 to supply charcoal to the Modock Mines, located up in the Argus Range.
Without a doubt, visiting historical ruins is easily one of the top things to do in Death Valley, but this list only scratches the surface. In addition to various mines spread throughout the park, another popular attraction is the Cerro Gordo Ghost Town of YouTube fame.
Visit Ubehebe Crater
Another top thing to do in Death Valley is a visit to Ubehebe Crater, the region’s largest.
While located in a relatively remote section of the park about 90 minutes from Furnace Creek, the road is paved the entire way. As such, no special vehicle or equipment is needed to visit the colorful crater.
There are a few ways to experience Ubehebe Crater. If you’re very short on time or suffer from mobility issues, you could simply admire it from an overlook near the parking lot.
But you could also approach a visit to the crater as you would a hike. For example, it’s possible to descend all the way down the 777 ft-deep crater and stand at the bottom.
Coming back up, you could then walk around the entire crater rim, a trail that lasts about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) and is mostly flat. This allows you to enjoy the crater, which was formed as the result of a hydrovolcanic explosion, from all angles.
Just be forewarned – it can get extremely windy here! On that note, with Ubehebe Crater’s elevation and propensity for strong wind, it’s significantly cooler here than at Furnace Creek.
What not many people realize is that Ubehebe Crater has a little brother called Little Hebe Crater which can be accessed via another trail. While considerably smaller, you can also walk around the rim and down to the crater floor.
The walk back from Little Hebe Crater to the parking lot is also one of this excursion’s highlights. As Ubehebe Crater only takes a few hours to fully explore, you could also include other items from this list on your itinerary for the day.
Contemplate the Mysteries of Racetrack Playa
The most enigmatic place in Death Valley is also the most difficult to reach. Beginning from Ubehebe Crater, the 27-mile Racetrack Road is one of the park’s roughest, and only those with high-clearance 4x4s should attempt it.
Or, you could take a tour with Farabee’s Jeep Rentals and Tours. See our dedicated guide to Racetrack Playa for more details.
While getting to Racetrack Playa can either be expensive or risky, there’s no denying that it’s one of the top things to do in Death Valley for those who manage to make it.
Racetrack Playa is known for its sailing stones, which have baffled visitors for the past 100 years. They appear to be gliding across the flat, dried lakebed.
But despite the fact that many of them have left behind distinct trails, a full century went by before anyone saw them move.
Scientists and travelers alike have pondered the mystery of the stones’ movements for a century. But the scientific community now largely agrees that the mystery was finally solved in 2014.
It’s now believed that the sailing stones can only move when there’s a rare combination of certain conditions. For example, rain must fall on Racetrack Playa in winter, which then freezes in the night and melts under the sun the following day.
This will cause the large sheet of ice to break into numerous smaller ice sheets. And then with the right amount of wind, the ice sheets are able to push the stones across the wet playa surface.
With that said, there are still plenty of unanswered questions, such as trails of sailing stones that appear perfectly smooth and curvy. We’re also not entirely sure how the especially large rocks get pushed.
And scientists now believe that rocks aren’t even required to leave trails. It’s even believed that some trails are left by ice alone!
Whether or not you believe the mystery has been truly solved, the sailing stones are still fascinating to see in person. At the opposite end of Racetrack Playa, meanwhile, is a strange island of igneous rock called the Grandstand.
It can also be climbed for incredible views of the playa and the surrounding Cottonwood Mountains.
Go on a Hike
Many people associate National Parks with hiking, and in addition to Ubehebe Crater mentioned above, Death Valley has no shortage of unique hikes to offer.
What follows is merely a brief sample – and by no means an exhaustive list – of some of the top hikes in Death Valley.
Not far from the town of Stovepipe Wells is Mosaic Canyon, a 4-mile (6.4 km) out-and-back hike. Much of the canyon is comprised of colorful striped marble.
And it was largely formed by flash floods that were so strong that they polished the stone!
Visiting the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, also near Stovepipe Wells, is easily one of the top things to do in Death Valley. And while there may be no hiking trails or a clear ending point, exploring the dunes is very much a hike.
If you’ve never explored sand dunes before, walking up and down them is a lot more tiring than it looks!
While I have yet to visit, the Eureka Dunes are the largest in Death Valley, while other dune fields include the Ibex Dunes, Saline Valley Dunes and Panamint Dunes.
If there was a single hike that was most representative of Death Valley and its harsh and lifeless yet colorful terrain, it would have to be the Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop Hike.
You can begin it from either Golden Canyon (situated along Badwater Road) or Zabriskie Point, and the 3-4 hour hike takes you through the stunning Death Valley Badlands and their numerous stripes. You can also enjoy great views of the Red Cathedral formation.
At over three million acres, Death Valley has a lot more to it than the dry and hot desert. The park, in fact, is home to numerous mountain ranges. And the highest mountain of them all is Telescope Peak, which can be hiked in about seven hours roundtrip.
Only traversable in summer, the trailhead starts from behind the remote Mahogany Flat campground, a few hours away from Furnace Creek.
Throughout this incredible hike, you’ll be walking past pine trees and snow patches while admiring a clear view of Badwater Basin in the distance!
Additional hikes not mentioned here include Corkscrew Peak, Sidewinder Canyon, Wildrose Peak, Desolation Canyon, Darwin Falls and more.
When planning, be sure to take the season into consideration. Lower elevation hikes should only be reserved for the colder months or early in the morning during summer. High elevation hikes like Telescope Peak are covered in snow for much of the year, so summer would be ideal.
Additional Info
Though there are several different Death Valley guidebooks out there, most of them seem to have a specific focus, such as hiking or off-road driving. But if you’re looking for a well-rounded paperback guide that covers all the ways you can experience the park, the only such book out there is by Moon.
Moon Death Valley National Park: Hiking, Scenic Drives, Desert Springs & Hidden Oases is an excellent guide that I’ve used when planning multiple trips to the park. But as it’s written by a single author (Jenna Blough), the recommendations can be rather subjective.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but you should also be sure to supplement the book with helpful online guides written by a wide variety of authors.
At the time of writing, Death Valley costs $30 to enter (learn more here).
If you’re visiting from abroad, note that in contrast to many other countries, US parks typically charge per vehicle rather than per person. However, if you’re traveling by bicycle instead, they’ll charge you for an individual pass which costs $15, while those on motorcycles will be charged $25.
Considering how many National Parks and National Monuments there are to see in the Southwest alone, the best option for most will be to buy an ‘America the Beautiful’ Annual National Parks Pass.
These cost $80 for the year. In most cases, you’re already saving money by just visiting four National Parks/Monuments anywhere in the country within a full year.
What’s more, is that only one person in your vehicle needs to have the pass. Additionally, seniors can buy the pass for just $20. So if you have someone over 62 in your party, just have them get the annual pass and everyone else will be set.
As for where to get the pass, you can purchase it in person at most National Parks or Monuments. But you can also order it in advance online.
Only have a day in Death Valley but would rather not deal with all the driving and logistics yourself?
Fortunately, there are plenty of tour options from Las Vegas available, with this highly-rated tour taking visitors to most of the attractions along Badwater Road. And it even includes a stop at Rhyolite Ghost Town.
Figuring out where to stay for your Death Valley trip can be stressful and challenging. Given the park’s massive size, the most convenient base would be at one of the hotels within the park itself.
Unfortunately, however, all of the hotels and restaurants within Death Valley are owned by the Xanterra Corporation and they don’t come cheap. The different options include The Ranch, The Inn at Death Valley and The Oasis.
If you don’t have the budget to splurge on those hotels, you’re left with two options: stay in a city outside the park or camp. First, let’s explore the best bases outside of Death Valley, all of which are located in Nevada.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas isn’t ideal for those doing longer adventures in the park. But if you only have a day in Death Valley, it serves as a fine base. As mentioned above, it’s about two hours one-way between the city and the eastern pay station.
Tourists into gambling, nightlife and an all-around typical Las Vegas experience tend to stay on or near the Strip. This area is home to a myriad of hotels and casinos, many of which are household names, such as Mandalay Bay or Luxor.
Las Vegas, however, is a fast-growing city with new residential areas being built each year, and much of the greater metropolitan area feels surprisingly normal.
Some good choices outside of the strip area include Tahiti All-Suite Resort, South Point Hotel or Aloft Henderson, just to name a few.
Pahrump
The small city of Pahrump is arguably the best base for Death Valley. It’s right in between Las Vegas and the park, or an hour each way from either.
It has lots of shopping and restaurant options, while many of the local casinos also feature hotels. My only experience was at the Saddle West Hotel Casino. While the rooms were nothing special, they did have all of the essentials and were reasonably priced.
Beatty
Beatty, Nevada is another convenient base for Death Valley, being only 50 minutes from Furnace Creek. Compared to Pahrump, however, it’s harder to reach for those coming from afar.
All in all, Beatty is much more charming than Pahrump but it also has fewer shopping and dining options. I stayed once at the Exchange Club Motel, which was fine as far as motels go. It seems to be run by the same management as the nearby Death Valley Inn (not to be confused with The Inn at Death Valley inside the park).
If you’re still considering camping, read more below.
Death Valley is home to numerous campsites, with the most popular one being right in Furnace Creek near the Visitor Center. I spent a night there during a recent visit and it only cost $22 per night. But would I recommend it?
While the campsites themselves are cheap, consider the fact that the gas stations at Death Valley cost around double what they cost in Pahrump or Beatty.
Also keep in mind that the campsites lack showers. So if you’re hoping to shower after a long day, your only option will be to buy a pool pass from one of the Xanterra hotels which will grant you access to their showers. But at the time of writing, these passes go for a whopping $14 per person per day!
And if you want to eat at a restaurant within the park instead of cooking at your campsite, you’re going to spend more than double what you would at a restaurant in a nearby city.
Taking all of this into consideration, you may even end up spending more by camping at Death Valley compared with booking a cheap hotel in Pahrump.
Another issue to consider when camping is that it can sometimes get extremely windy without warning in the desert. And the ground is so hard at the lower elevation campsites that you can’t use your tent stakes.
If you have an RV, of course, some of the issues above can be averted. (If you don’t have your own, consider renting one on a site like Outdoorsy.)
Despite all of the issues, there’s still one major reason to camp at Death Valley: getting an early morning start for a hot low-elevation hike, such as the Golden Canyon/Gower Gulch loop hike.
In the end, the best way to enjoy a longer stay at Death Valley is to mix things up by camping and staying at hotels outside the park on alternate nights.