How To Visit Death Valley National Park: 2-day Itinerary

Imagine going to the desert and finding yourself looking out to snowy mountains in the distance. The perfect Death Valley National Park itinerary is all about experiencing these well-known dramatic landscapes and geological formations.

Known for being the driest and hottest place in North America, believe it or not – some people actually want to see how extreme it gets. Since Death Valley is pretty far from most cities in California, I totally understand that you’ll want to pack your itinerary with exciting activities.

To help you plan, I’ll be sharing some useful information and tips about Death Valley, and recommend the 2-day itinerary we used on our trip.

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About Death Valley

Death Valley National Park is a huge national park located in Eastern California. This desert wilderness boasts diverse ecosystems, ranging from salt flats and sand dunes to rugged mountains and colorful canyons.

You may have been attracted to Death Valley because of all the amazing photos, and I bet you’ll be even more impressed after learning about its geography and history.

Why you should visit

Visiting Death Valley is like stepping onto another planet. The stark beauty of its landscapes shaped by years of geological processes is truly mesmerizing. From the otherworldly Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, to the towering peaks of the Panamint Range, you’ll be stunned by the sights throughout the park.

Sunrise and sunsets here are magical because of how it can make you feel like you’re out of this world. It’s a landscape that’s so different from everywhere else in California. You’ll also be able to find lots of key attractions and things to do within a small area, making your trip out to Death Valley worthwhile.

How many days do you need

A well-planned 2-day itinerary is ideal, although you could definitely spend a whole week or more exploring all that Death Valley has to offer. In 2 days, you can include a hike or two if the weather is not too hot.

Camping in Death Valley is also a great way to maximise the time you have in the park as you won’t be driving as much.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Death Valley is during the cooler months, typically from November to March. Temperatures during the summer months can soar well above 100°F (37°C). This makes outdoor activities like hiking uncomfortable and potentially dangerous.

We visited in mid February and it was already feeling pretty hot in the afternoon as it was around 75 F (24 C). It’s like Death Valley forgot to “winter”.

Where to stay

There are 3 main towns within Death Valley National Park – Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, and Panamint Springs. The most convenient location tends to be Furnace Creek.

You can also choose to stay outside Death Valley depending on where your next destination is. Check out this detailed article about where to stay in and around Death Valley.

How to get here

From San Francisco: The most direct way is to drive southwards via I-5, then pass through Bakersfield and Ridgecrest. Highway 190 takes you directly into Death Valley via Stovepipe Wells and Furnace Creek.

We came from the Bay Area and decided to take it slow by going dispersed camping at Trona Pinnacles. Not only did we get to take a break from the long drive, we had an unforgettable experience driving on dirt roads as we explored the Mars-like terrain.

From Los Angeles: You can either enter from the north or south sides of Death Valley. The fastest way is likely through the north via Highway 190, similar to the San Francisco route. Alternatively you could also enter via Death Valley Junction through the south.

From Las Vegas: As a popular day trip, most people enter via Death Valley Junction. However, you can also make a slight detour through other towns like Beatty which likely have more dining options. Overall, Death Valley National Park is an easy addition to a bigger Grand Circle Road Trip that passes through Las Vegas.

Things to bring

Optional items

• Sandals for exploring the sand dunes and the temporary Badwater Basin lake
• Portable camping tables and other camping essentials
• Portable chargers, e.g. Jackery power station

If you’re thinking of getting some road trip gifts, check out this article for fun ideas.

Recommended 2-day itinerary for Death Valley

If you’re visiting Death Valley for the first time, there are a few key attractions I highly recommend. Let’s also make the most of our time by adding sunrise and sunset activities to our Death Valley itinerary.

You don’t need to have a high clearance car for this adventure as it will mostly be on paved roads. If you plan to explore beyond Furnace Creek on less maintained roads, consider bringing an all-wheel drive and high clearance vehicle.

The official website will also show you the different road conditions you should prepare for.

Day 1

On the first day, we will be exploring the Furnace Creek area which is where the Visitor Center is. Here, you can learn about the history about Death Valley, enjoy some WiFi, and get some cold water from the taps.

In this itinerary, we’ll be staying in Furnace Creek for both nights.

Entering Death Valley via Stovepipe Wells

If you’re coming from Los Angeles and San Francisco, you’re probably passing through Stovepipe Wells on the way to Furnace Creek via Highway 190. You’ll find a general store here that sells snacks, camp supplies, and ice. There’s also a gas station here if you need to refuel.

When we visited Death Valley, we actually made an overnight stop at Trona Pinnacles for our first car camping experience. You can check out my detailed guide here to see if this is something you’d want to try. From Trona Pinnacles, Stovepipe Wells was just about a 2-hour drive away.

Honestly, I did not expect the drive to have much of a view because I thought “how interesting can a desert be?” I was wrong because the landscape transformed as we drove through the mountain range.

The road between Panamint Spring and Stovepipe Wells goes on in a straight line and then through the mountains again, leaving me with anticipation of the epic reveal at the end of the drive.

Closer to Stovepipe Wells, the view opens up to vast salt flats, with random pools of mirror-like water from the previous storm. It was tempting to stop for photos but we knew this would be nothing compared to what we’ll see at Badwater Basin.

Secure a campsite

Let’s head to Furnace Creek and check out the Visitor Center. Remember to grab a brochure to learn about Death Valley.

There are a few accommodation options here within the park:

• The Inn at Death Valley
• The Ranch at Death Valley

If you don’t didn’t manage to get a reservation there and don’t want to drive in and out of the park, consider camping overnight. Here are the 3 campgrounds in Furnace Creek.

• Furnace Creek Campground (Reservation required, very popular)
• Texas Springs Campground (First come first served, quite popular)
• Sunset Campground (First come first served, less likely to be full)

We were planning to sleep in our car, which some tent-only sites at Furnace Creek Campground didn’t allow. Hence wanted to try for a spot at Texas Springs Campground. However, since we visited during a long weekend in February, they were all taken up by 11am and we had to grab a spot at Sunset Campground instead.

Sunset Campground was mostly just a big parking lot, so there’s no fire pit and the toilets are a walk away. It didn’t matter though, as we still got a great view. We left some cheaper items behind (firewood and portable basin) to hold our spot.

After paying for our campsite at an automated machine and putting up the ticket at our site, we proceeded with our day.

Artists Palette drive

Our first stop is Artists Palette that’s about 20 minutes away. It is actually a scenic driving route rather than a specific viewpoint.

You’ll be led through a one-way road that winds through the colorful hills. If you want to spend an extended time here, there are two areas where you can walk up to a more close up view.

Besides that, simply pull over along the side of the road and explore the area around you. I recommend bringing your lunch here and find some elevated part of the drive (probably the front to middle section) and taking it slow.

If you’re shocked that the rocks don’t look anywhere as vibrant as what you see in postcards, just know that nature is beautiful but it’s also realistic. The colors are actually because of various compounds in the volcanic rock, including various iron oxides and chlorites. Who said chemistry is boring?

Do note that there is a vehicle length restriction and anything over 25 feet will not be allowed to enter due to the tight turns inside the canyon.

Badwater Basin sunset

As you drive another 20 minutes south, you’ll come to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America. It is actually 282 ft (86 m) below sea level and you’ll see a label marking where sea level is on the rock face behind the parking lot. That really gives you a sense of scale while walking below it.

Normally, Badwater Basin is an expansive and dry salt flat marked by hexagonal patterns. However, a series of storms (including the damaging Hurricane Hillary in 2023) have resulted in Lake Manly filling up temporarily.

In fact, it got to be a couple of inches deep meaning that people can even kayak and go standup paddle boarding. Aside from this rare phenomenon, it’s usually just a big salt flat as Death Valley is the driest and hottest place in North America.

You can access Badwater Basin through the boardwalk where the main parking lot is, or just pull over somewhere to walk towards it. Don’t be fooled by the photos – the white specks are salt and not snow!

After enjoying the last light of the day, drive back about 20 minutes to Furnace Creek for the night.

Day 2

Rise and shine! It’s time to make the most of the cool morning by watching the sunrise.

Zabriskie point sunrise

Coming from Furnace Creek, Zabriskie Point is an easy 7 minute drive away. There is a small parking lot that fills up quickly, so many people end up having to park along the roadside. You’ll have to walk a short way up the paved road to get to the main viewpoint.

It’s a very popular sunrise spot so it’s better if you can get there around 45 minutes before sunrise to get a good spot. For more space, there’s a small trail you can take that brings you down to a better viewpoint. There are no barricades here so just be careful of the slopes.

From Zabriskie Point, you’ll also see the prominent Manly Beacon towering above you on the right side. I really enjoyed the view of the sunrise from here as the mountain range behind was covered in snow. It created an intriguing look with the harsh dry landscape contrasted against the cold snowy peaks. As the first light hits the mountains, you’ll be glad you showed up for sunrise.

If you want to go on a hike, there are various ways to explore this otherworldly terrain from Zabriskie Point. You can venture further down into these barren hills and winding canyons via Badlands Loop, Gower Gulch, or the Golden Canyon Trail.

It’s also possible to make it an out-and-back trail between the Golden Canyon Trailhead and Zabriskie Point, which also passes through the Badlands Loop. Do bring enough water when you’re on this hike though, as the day quickly gets hot after sunrise.

Mosaic Canyon hike

We went back to our campsite to have a quick breakfast at the back of our car. Our next activity is going to be a hike through Mosaic Canyon which is around Stovepipe Wells.

This hike is relatively easy and can be fun if you like scrambling over boulders. However, you don’t encounter the boulder jam that requires climbing over until about 1 mile into the hike.

There’s something interesting with every turn. For example you’ll notice how high the canyon walls are, feel the smoothness of the marble rocks, and also observe the colorful mosaic patterns cemented within boulders. Exploring this slot canyon really helps you to understand how the landscape has been transformed through flash flood erosion in the past.

It can get quite sunny here after the sun rises above the canyon walls in the afternoon, so sun protection is going to go a long way. You will also get dust on your clothes if you’re planning to go through the rock scrambling parts. Don’t bring or wear anything that you don’t want to get dirty.

Do note that there are no toilets here, so if you need you can head to the Stovepipe Wells general store to use their restrooms. Otherwise, find a secluded spot far away enough from people and cars, and make sure to pack out your toilet paper in a ziplock bag.

Mesquite Sand Dunes sunset

We had some time before sunset, so we picked a parking spot at Mesquite Sand Dunes and made ourselves a late lunch. This was also our attempt at securing parking before the sunset crowds came.

It’s times like this where a portable camping table and chairs would come in really handy. There were other people chilling near their cars during the heat of the day as well, so we were in good company.

As the day drew to a close, we ventured out to the Mesquite Sand Dunes, a surreal landscape of shifting sands and towering dunes. There were people climbing up and sliding down their sand boards. It was clear that even the adults had fun alongside the children.

The tallest dunes are about a mile walk away, which would probably take a longer time to get to than walking on normal ground. If you’re looking for an emptier spot, consider walking eastwards towards the smaller but less popular dunes. Despite the number of people we saw, it never felt crowded because of how vast the sand dunes are.

My favourite moment was when the golden hour cast long shadows on one side of the taller dunes. I was amazed by how perfectly shaped each of the sand dunes were. There were some taller mountains behind as well, which saw the final orange hues of the setting sun. The sky turned purplish pink as we walked back to the parking lot, and we turned around periodically to see the changing scenery.

We camped one more night before heading back home the next day. What a way to end the Death Valley adventure!

Additional tips for planning a Death Valley itinerary

• Make sure to bring an ample supply of water, as well as extra food and snacks.
• Fill up your gas tank before entering the park, as gas stations are limited and can be quite expensive.
• Dress in lightweight, breathable clothing, and take frequent breaks to rest and hydrate. It does get cold at night in winter, so bring warm clothes too.
• Don’t try to cram too much into a single day. With so much to see and do in Death Valley, be realistic about the time and energy required for each activity.