zabriskie point death valley campgrounds — Death Valley Campgrounds

Death Valley Campgrounds Make for Some of the Best Camping in America

The Campgrounds in Death Valley are among the best in America – here’s everything you need to know for your next epic camping experience here.

I still remember my first visit to Death Valley. Along a road trip with friends we said “might as well drive through to see what it’s all about”. It was Summer and the extreme desert temperatures were something us East-Coasters had never experienced – I’m very glad I did.

Death Valley is an otherworldly place that seems like something out of a Star Wars movie set (it is). The landscapes here seem endless with stunning yellow, orange, and purple hues. And, surprisingly, there is abundant life in the last place you might expect.

If you are like me, and wrote Death Valley off or moved it to a lower spot on your list due to it’s morbid name or extreme reputation, trust me when I say it’s totally worth the visit.

Ready for the best campgrounds in Death Valley? Let’s get started!

About My Travels to Death Valley National Park

My brother Jim and I first visited Death Valley National Park back in 2013 along with some friends on a road trip from Atlanta to California. We stopped at the park for maybe an hour but I could tell immediately that my impressions of the park were totally off.

Since that trip, I have returned many, many times and even created an award-winning film (see below) on Death Valley. For the film, to capture the essence of the park we took two separate trips and spent a total of nearly 3 weeks in Death Valley.

The first trip was in the Winter and the second was in the Spring. We visited once with a 2WD car and once with a 4WD car (what a difference – more on that below).

death valley national park pattiz — Me with my wife in Death Valley National Park

Things to Know Before Going Camping in Death Valley National Park

Entrance Fees

$20 per vehicle OR if you plan to visit more National Parks within the next 12 months we suggest you go ahead and purchase the America the Beautiful Pass(which you can purchase here) which gets you into all National Parks, Forests, Monuments, and more including 2,000 sites for free after a one time $79 fee.

Sunscreen

Use it. Lots of it. Especially this one which we never leave the house without because it plays nice with our dear friend, earth 🙂

Cell Service

Cell Service is pretty much non-existent in Death Valley so download your maps and plan accordingly.

Gas

Fuel up before you enter the park (even if you’re at like 3/4 of a tank) because the park is massive (we’re talking the largest in the contiguous 48 states). You do not want to run out of gas in the desert.

Death Valley Guide Book

This is the guide book we found most helpful for visiting the park & this one for day hikes.

The Best Map

We like this map best for Death Valley.

Water

Drink it. Lots of it. Don’t forget it in the car.

Food options are limited in Death Valley

So, plan accordingly. There is a general store at Stovepipe Wells that is fairly well stocked. Panamint Springs also has a store as does Furnace Creek. There are a couple of restaurants but keep in mind they are located hours apart from each other.

Best Time to Visit Death Valley

Death Valley National Park is in the winter and early spring when temperatures are manageable and visitation is down. During Summer Death Valley is often the hottest place on earth.

Where to Stay in Death Valley National Park

Here’s our favorite place to stay in Death Valley National Park!

Death Valley National Park Camping Map

Official Death Valley National Park Map (courtesy NPS)

Camping & Campgrounds in Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park is home to 12 campgrounds and over 700 campsites offering a wide variety of camping options from campgrounds with over 200 sites to remote backcountry wilderness.

Campgrounds in Death Valley: 12

Campsites in Death Valley: 700+

Death Valley Backcountry Campsites: 200+

Death Valley Camping & Campgrounds

Top 5 Campgrounds in Death Valley National Park

1. Sunset Campground Death Valley

270 sites
Late Fall-Early Spring
Price: Standard $14
First-come, First-Serve
RVs Allowed

creosote bush sunrise death valley national park campsite california — Sunrise Near Sunset Campground Death Valley

Located in Furnace Creek, Sunset Campground doesn’t offer much to see but has plenty of space at affordable rates. This “campground” is a gravel lot separated by chalk lines. Sunset Campground is a pretty lousy spot for tent campers but perfect for trailers or RVs.

The campground is centrally located near Artist’s Palette, Golden Throne, Zabriskie Point, a convenience store, and more.

Photo of Sunset Campground

sunset campground death valley — Sunset Campground Death Valley

One thing to note is the campground is at sea level and temps can (and do) soar. Furnace Creek has the record for hottest recorded air temperature on the planet so if you need cool air to sleep this might not be the place for you in warmer months.

2. Stovepipe Wells Campground Death Valley

190 sites
Late Fall-Early Spring
Standard $14
First-come, First-Serve
RVs Allowed

Stovepipe Wells is the first stop for many park visitors. The campground here is a pretty basic featuring some fairly stripped down Death Valley campsites rocky, dirt plot with little to no privacy. Most sites feature a fire pit and picnic table.

What the campground lacks in natural amenities, the surrounding area more than compensates for. Restrooms are maintained well-enough, above average for a national park.

mesquite flat sand dunes sunrise stovepipe wells campground death valley national park california — Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Near Stovepipe Wells Campground

Photo of Stovepipe Wells Campground

stovepipe wells campground death valley — Stovepipe Wells Campground Death Valley

The campground is located near popular spots like Mesquite Flat Dunes, Devil’s Cornfield, and the most popular convenience store in Death Valley.

3. Furnace Creek Campground Death Valley

136 sites / 18 hookups
Year Round
Standard $22 / Hookups $36
Reservations Oct 15 – Apr15
RVs Allowed
Book Reservations: here

Furnace Creek Campground has some of Death Valley’s best campsites offers large sites, desert scenery, and is well-maintained. Most sites feature a fire pit and picnic table. What more do you need? Restrooms are maintained well-enough and have running water.

The location of the campground is tough to beat near Artist’s Palette, Golden Throne, Zabriskie Point and more.

water mud cracks furnace creek death valley national park california — Furnace Creek Campground | Death Valley Campsites

Photo of Furnace Creek Campground

furnace creek campground death valley — Furnace Creek Campground Campsite Death Valley

4. Texas Springs Campground Death Valley

92 sites
Late Fall-Early Spring
Standard $16
First-come, First-Serve

death valley national park california — Texas Spring Campground Death Valley

Texas Springs Campground features dirt plots, close quarters, and sweeping views. All the basics are here including fire pit, picnic table, and restrooms (hello, flush toilets). This campground is located across the street from Furnace Creek campground.

Texas Springs is located in the Furnace Creek section of the park near Golden Throne, Artist’s Palette, Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, and more.

5. Mesquite Spring Campground Death Valley

30 sites
Year Round
Standard $14
First-come, First-serve

sandstorm death valley national park california — Mesquite Spring Campground Death Valley

If you go to the parks for a more secluded experience (like us) Mesquite Spring is probably more your pace. The campground is located off Scotty’s Castle Road.

Mesquite Spring is a basic campground with far fewer sites than the bigger, more popular campgrounds like Stovepipe Wells or Furnace Creek. Each site at Mesquite Spring features a fire pit & picnic table.

Flush toilets are a plush feature here. Mesquite Spring Campground is located near Ubehebe Crater, Scotty’s Castle, on the northern side of the park. It makes for a god base camp if you’re trying to make it to Eureka Dunes or the Racetrack Playa.

Photo of Mesquite Spring Campground

mesquite spring campground death valley campsite — Mesquite Spring Campground Death Valley

Top 10 Death Valley Campgrounds

6. Wildrose Campground Death Valley

23 sites
Year Round
FREE
First-come, First-Serve

aguereberry point sunrise death valley national park — Aguereberry Point at Sunrise

If you’re taking a multi-day camping trip to Death Valley then Wildrose Campground deserves consideration. It’s location on a Western end of the park off Charcoal Kilns Road makes it a bit out of the way for most visitors, maybe that’s why it’s free?

As compared to most camp sites in the park, Wildrose sites feature vegetation and considerably more distance between neighbors along with fire pits & picnic tables.

Photo of Wildrose Campground

wildrose campground death valley campsite — Wildrose Campground Campsite Death Valley

Down the road from Wildrose Campground are the charcoal kilns, and the trailhead to Bennett & Telescope Peaks which offer some of the best views of the entire park. Depending on the time of year snow can be found on the trail.

7. Emigrant Campground Death Valley

10 sites (tent only)
Year Round
FREE
First-come, First-serve

death valley campsites — Sunrise Near Emigrant Campground | Death Valley Campsites

It’s easy to mistake Emigrant Campground as a rest stop from the road as it doesn’t look like much but the price is right. This free campground sits about 100ft off a main road and has no shade or natural barriers of any kind.

Each site comes with picnic table, fire pit, and very little distance from the next site over.

Photo of Emigrant Campground

emigrant campground death valley campsite — Emigrant Campground Death Valley

The campground technically doesn’t have it’s own bathroom but an actual rest stop with bathrooms is a two-minute walk away. It’s location adjacent to beginning of Emigrant Canyon road puts it in between Panamint Springs, Wildrose, and Stovepipe Wells.

8. Mahogany Flat Campground Death Valley

10 sites
Late Spring – Fall
FREE
First-come, First-Serve

charcoal kilns best things to do death valley national park — Mahogany Flat Campground Death Valley

Mahogany Flat Campground is a bit of an anomaly in Death Valley National Park. Whereas most campgrounds are located close to sea level, this campground sits at an elevation of 8200ft making it a much cooler spot.

From Badwater Basin to this campground one must climb a mile and a half in elevation. Situated amongst a grove of conifers camp sites are quite lovely coming with the standard fire pit & picnic table. Toilets are of the pit variety.

Photo of Mahogany Flat Campground

Mahogany Flat Campground death valley campsite — Mahogany Flat Campground Death Valley

This campground is located at the trailhead for Rogers Peak near the Charcoal Kilns and offers some incredible views of Death Valley.

NOTE: You will most likely need a high clearance vehicle to access this campground as the road can be quite rough.

9. Thorndike Campground Death Valley

6 sites
Late Spring – Fall
FREE
First-come, First-serve

aguereberry point death valley national park california — Thorndike Campground Death Valley

Thorndike Campground is very similar to its nearby neighbor, Mahogany Flat Campground, in that it is off the same road, sits at high elevation (7400ft), and is situated amongst a conifer grove.

Thorndike is much cooler than most Death Valley campgrounds so come prepared. Sites come with fire pit, picnic table, and some even a grill. Toilets are of the pit variety.

Photo of Thorndike Campground

thorndike campground death valley — Thorndike Campsite Death Valley

NOTE: you will most likely need a high clearance vehicle to access this campground as the road can be quite rough

List of Death Valley Campgrounds (Summary)

Sunset Campground
Stovepipe Wells Campground
Furnace Creek Campground
Texas Springs Campground
Mesquite Spring Campground
Wildrose Campground
Emigrant Campground
Mahogany Flat Campground
Thorndike Campground

Details About Death Valley National Park

Location: Furnace Creek, California

Established: October 31, 1994

Size: 3.37 million acres

Native Land: Timbisha Shoshone

Visitors: 1,678,660 (2018)

Entrance Fees: Free (or $80 for America the Beautiful Pass)

Getting to Death Valley Campsites – Directions & Location

There are a few popular ways to get to Death Valley.

Closest Airport: LAS – McCarran International Airport (distance – 106 miles from the Death Valley Junction Entrance)

The fastest way to get to Death Valley National Park is by plane, flying into Las Vegas’s McCarran International Airport. Flights into Las Vegas are usually inexpensive due to the amount of major airlines that fly into the city from all over the world.

Alternatively you *could* fly into Los Angeles (LAX) and drive east (3.5 hours).

Driving From Las Vegas to Death Valley

If you are driving from Las Vegas to Death Valley, getting to the park is a breeze. Just jump on highway 160 and take it to Pahrump. From there simply follow the signs the rest of the way.

The drive from Las Vegas to Death Valley is about 2 hours or so depending on where you’re first stop in the park is.

Traffic from Las Vegas to Death Valley isn’t too bad so long as you time your departure from the city right.

On the return trip from Death Valley to Las Vegas you could take an alternate route through Amargosa Valley or Beatty if you’re near Stovepipe Wells.

Driving Tips You Should Know in Death Valley When Camping

Lee Flat Joshua Tree Forest Death Valley — Lee Flat Joshua Tree Forest at Sunset | Death Valley

1. Be prepared for long drives

Don’t come into the park without a full tank of gas. Map out stops beforehand and calculate the mileage so that you don’t run out of gas inside the park. Death Valley is not a place you want to be stranded.

2. Bring emergency water & food just in case

Flat tires are common in Death Valley National Park and cell service is spotty at best. While most of the roads are traveled fairly regularly, some are not. This means it could be hours or even days before the next visitor drives down the road.

3. DO NOT Drive off of the roads

Much damage has been done to the park in the past few years by people driving off road. It takes an extremely long time for sensitive parts of the desert floor to return to a natural state once damaged. If you see someone doing this take down their license plate and report it to a ranger station.

4. Don’t speed

With wide open roads that stretch for miles and miles the tempation to speed may be great. Resist the urge. You never know when a coyote, hiker, or burro might decide to cross the road. Many of the roads have unexpected dips & sharp turns as well. Enjoy the scenery and take it easy!

5. Driving down dirt roads takes longer.

When calculating your drive times around the park make sure to give yourself a cushion when traversing dirt roads. Google maps doesn’t always do the best job of this and drive times can easily take twice

Death Valley Camping Photos

Photos of Death Valley from the production of our film.

natural bridge death valley national park

Nearby Attractions – Death Valley Campsites

Joshua Tree National Park
Zion National Park
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Grand Canyon Nationa Park

Summary | Leave us a Comment!

That’s a wrap folks! Hopefully you feel like you’ve got a good handle on your next trip to Death Valley National Park. Please leave me a comment below and let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Hope to see you on the trails sometime soon!

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