Death Valley in One Day: Avoid These 6 Mistakes in 2024
Death Valley National Park, with its otherwordly landscapes and extreme heat, looks like it’s from another planet, and photos hardly capture its awe. You must experience its unique beauty firsthand.
The great news? You can explore Death Valley in just one day! Brace yourself for an early start and a lot of driving, but it’s worth it to hit all the top spots.
Since moving to California in 2016, Death Valley shot to the top of my bucket list. My husband and I finally embarked on our road trip there, and it was even more breathtaking than we imagined.
We learned some hard-earned lessons along the way, and I’m here to share them. Avoid these six mistakes to make the most of your one-day adventure in Death Valley.
Prefer video? Check out the 8 MUST See Spots in Death Valley National Park
Is One Day In Death Valley Enough
One day in Death Valley is enough time to see all of the highlights of the national park. However, as the largest national park in the United States outside of Alaska, you are going to need to have an itinerary in advance before your visit.
Follow my itinerary below and you will be able to experience all of Death Valley’s famous sights in one day. You will also find helpful tips and advice throughout the post to ensure that you have an epic trip to Death Valley National Park.
Map of Must See Attractions in Death Valley
Help simplify your one-day in Death Valley National Park itinerary and plan your driving route in advance. Since you have limited time, you need to be on top of your game and have a clear direction of where you are going.
1. Zabriskie Point
2. Dante’s View
3. Furnace Creek
4. Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
5. Ubehebe Crater *not listed on map, roads are closed
6. Artist Drive
7. Devil’s Golf Course
8. Badwater Basin
🛑 Don’t Make This Mistake When Visiting Death Valley
Before entering Death Valley National Park, download a map as cell service is scarce. Visitor centers offer maps, but it’s easy to get lost. Quick tip: In emergencies, you can find limited cell reception near hotels in Furnace Creek and Stovepipe. Without this, you’re out of luck!
Death Valley One Day Itinerary
Stop 1: Zabriskie Point at Sunrise
🚗 To get to Zabriskie Point: From Furnace Creek Visitor Center, drive southeast on Highway 109 for 4 miles. Turn right into the parking lot for Zabriskie Point.
⏰ Time Spent: 1 hour for sunrise. If not going at sunrise 15 to 20 minutes
First up for your Death Valley 1 day itinerary is Zabriskie Point. At Zabriskie Point, you will experience stunning panoramic views of the badlands.
It is a short and paved uphill walk to the vista point. The golden rugged rock formations make for a jaw-dropping landscape. One of the best ways to see Zabriskie Point is at sunrise.
The golden and chocolate brown hues of the mountain range look incredible in the morning sunlight. My favorite part was, that while the sun was getting ready to rise, the moon on the opposite side was slowly setting at the same time.
🛑 Don’t Make This Mistake When Visiting Zabriskie Point at Sunrise
We arrived way too early for sunrise! The hike from the parking lot to the viewpoint is short, under 10 minutes. However, be mindful that the sun is rising over a mountain range.
So even if it’s already up elsewhere in the park, it takes an extra half-hour to appear over the mountains. Patience is key for the perfect sunrise photo.
Tips Visiting Zabriskie Point at Sunrise:
- Wear layers: it was very chilly in the morning.
- Check your weather app the night before to get sunrise time.
- If you go during high season, consider doing the Golden Canyon Hike to avoid the crowds.
- Pack a headlight or flashlight to navigate the trail.
Stop 2: Dante’s View
🚗 Zabriskie Point to Dante’s View: 30-minute drive
⏰ Time spent: 20 minutes
At Dante’s View, you will be overlooking Death Valley onto Badwater Basin and Panamint Valley. There is a steep and winding road to get to the parking lot. The moment you step foot out of your car, there are spectacular views.
It is truly breathtaking and one of my favorite locations we visited in Death Valley. If you have time, you can do a short but steep hike to get even higher views of Dante’s View.
Stop 3: Furnace Creek
🚗 Dante’s View to Furnace Creek : 30-minute drive
A pit stop at Furnace Creek at The Oasis Death Valley is a great opportunity to grab a bite to eat. This is where we stopped on our day trip to Death Valley to quickly refuel before our busy day of exploring.
- Date Grove Diner: At the Ranch Inn, all you can eat. Opens at 6 am for breakfast, lunch & dinner
- The Inn Restaurant: At the Inn Death Valley. Opens at 7:30 am. Only open for breakfast and lunch
Stop 4: Mesquite Sand Dunes
🚗 Furnace Creek to Mesquite Sand Dunes: 25-minute drive
⏰ Time spent: 1 to 1.5 hours
These vast, rippled sand hills are reminiscent of the Sahara. It’s best to visit before the afternoon heat or around sunset. While there’s a larger, popular dune that’s a bit of a hike, you might not have time for it in a single day, and it’s often crowded.
Instead, do what we did and save time by heading towards a closer, more secluded spot on the dunes, which should be about a 20-minute hike.
Tips Visiting the Mesquite Sand Dunes:
- The sand dunes are impressive. However, I did expect them to be bigger. The tallest dune is about 100 ft.
- Wear appropriate footwear and pack an extra clean pair of socks for after the dunes.
- Some people brought sleds to surf down the dunes. I would leave those at home. Sandboarding is prohibited in a lot of the areas on the dunes.
🛑 Don’t Make This Mistake When Visiting Death Valley
We greatly underestimated how much water we needed. Staying hydrated is crucial during your day in Death Valley, where the combination of road tripping and the dry climate can quickly lead to dehydration.
Pack double the amount of water you initially planned, and bring coolers. There are enough bathrooms around the park, so don’t worry about frequent bathroom breaks.
Stop 5: Ubehebe Crater
🚗 Mesquite Sand Dunes to Ubehebe Crater: 1 hour drive
⏰ Time spent: 15 to 30 minutes
Imporant travel note: the road to Ubehebe Crater is closed from flood damage. Plans to reopen in February 2024.
If short on time during your Death Valley trip, consider skipping Ubehebe Crater. It’s an hour’s drive from other key sites and adds considerable travel time to an already packed day, however, It can be done!
Ubehebe Crater, just steps from the parking lot, is a 600 ft volcanic crater formed around 2,000 years ago. Although there’s a trail along its rim, you can skip it to save time and still appreciate the crater.
Optional Stop: Lunch
On your way back, consider a lunch break at Stovepipe Wells Village or Furnace Creek, with Furnace Creek being a more time-efficient option since it’s on your route.
🛑 Don’t Make This Mistake When Visiting Ubehebe Crater
Without using our GPS, we missed the turn you take toward Ubehebe Crater. Keep your eyes peeled for Scotty’s Castle Road, do not continue on 190 because it will take you in the wrong direction.
Stop 6: Artist Drive & Artist Palette
🚗 Ubehebe Crater to Artist Drive: 1 hour and 40 minute drive
⏰ Time spent: 1 hour
Where you can find the best rollercoaster roads!! Artist Drive is a 9-mile one-way winding drive through multi-hued mountains. The scenic loop has a couple of stops along the way where you can get out of your car and explore. One must-visit stop is to view Artist Palette.
Artist Palette
Artist Palette is a way to see Rainbow Mountain without hiking at an elevation of 16,000 ft in Peru. To get to Artist Palette, it is a short and steep hike.
Splatted across the mountains are the subtle hues of green, blue, purple, and yellow. The rainbow colors are from a mix of rich minerals and elements found in the soil that have oxidized and produced these colorful mountains.
🛑 Don’t Make This Mistake at Death Valley
There are only three gas stations in Death Valley National Park. And you guessed it. They are very pricey, even for California. Be aware of your gas tank at all times. If you need to get a tow in Death Valley, it is extremely expensive and will put a damper on your plans for the day.
We cut it close and did not realize how low our tank was and had to drive about an hour (there and back) out of the way to get gas.
Another tip would be to make sure you fill up your tank before entering the park, whether you need to or not. You will start your day off with a full tank and spend less on gas.
Stop 7: Devils Golf Course
🚗 Artist Drive to Devils Golf Course: 15 minute drive
⏰ Time spent: 15 to 20 minutes
The perfect stop before Badwater Basin. Once you get out of the car, there is a large field of jagged crystallized salt formations.
The Devil’s Golf Course gets its unique name after a 1934 National Park guidebook stated, “Only the devil could play golf” on its surface. You are allowed to walk on Devil’s Golf Course, but watch your footing because you could easily trip and fall onto the sharp salt slabs.
Badwater Basin
🚗 Devils Golf Course to Badwater Basin: 15 minute drive
⏰ Time spent: 1.5 hours
Save the best location for last, Badwater Basin is a must-add to your Death Valley day trip. Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level.
From the parking lot, you can see the start of the salt flats. Don’t be fooled! The salt flats that you want to see are a 30-minute walk away. The farther you walk out, the salt flats begin to transform into their unique honeycomb and geometric shapes.
The salt flats are enormous, so it was easy to find a spot all to yourself with no one else in your photos.
The best time to visit Badwater Basin is right before sunset to experience the sky light up in beautiful colors of blue, yellow, and pink.
🛑 Don’t Make This Mistake Before Visiting Badwater Basin
Arrive at Badwater Basin at least 30 minutes before sunset to fully experience the hexagonal salt flats. I learned the hard way by only allowing 15 minutes, which led to a rushed, sweaty sprint to catch the sunset – not ideal for photos!
Tips to Visiting Badwater Basin:
- If you are traveling alone, bring a tripod to take photos! That is what I ended up having to do, and it worked out great!
- Badwater Basin gets extremely hot, especially in the summer. Bring lots of water, and sunscreen, and try to visit in the morning or at sunset.
Other Top Things To Do in Death Valley
- Natural Bridge (1-mile hike)
- Charcoal Kins: Beehive-shaped structures built in 1876
- Keane Wonder Mine: A historic gold mine
- The Racetrack: A dry lakebed, difficult to visit, you will need a car with 4×4 and high clearance
- Golden Canyon Trail: A popular hike through the golden badlands
- Titus Canyon: A 27-mile drive through Death Valley, where you can see colorful rock formations, rugged mountains, and narrow canyons.
Where is Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park, situated in the Mojave Desert, spans across southern California and Nevada.
It’s most accessible from major cities like Las Vegas and Los Angeles, with Las Vegas being a 2-hour drive away, making it a popular choice for day trips. Los Angeles is about a 4-hour drive. For those coming from northern California, like from San Francisco, it’s an 8.5-hour journey.
The most convenient way to get to Death Valley is by car, and if you’re flying in, the nearest airport for car rentals is McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.
🚗 If you plan on renting a car to visit Death Valley National Park:
✅ Avoid the hassle and book your car rental ahead of time for the lowest rate by clicking here!
Death Valley National Park Entrance Fees
There are two main entrances to Death Valley National Park: Death Valley Junction & Panamint Springs. Choosing which entrance depends on what direction you are coming from.
Death Valley Entrance Fee
The Death Valley entrance fee is $30 per vehicle for a 7-day period from the date of purchase. This permit allows all persons traveling with the permit holder in one single private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van) to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during those 7 days.
To purchase your entrance fee, you can do this by:
- Purchasing your pass online
- In person payment at park entrance and vistor centers
- Pay at one of the many 24/7 kiosks around the park
Death Valley Annual Pass
The annual pass is $55.00 and provides free entrance to Death Valley for 12 months from the date of purchase
America the Beautiful Annual Pass
$80 yearly pass covering entrance and standard amenity fees for national parks and other federal fee areas for 12 months from the time of purchase. America the Beautiful Annual Pass easily pays for itself if you plan on visiting two or more national parks in a year.
Driving Through Death Valley National Park
It is an epic drive through Death Valley National Park! There are some things you should know before you make that drive.
Death Valley National Park is over 3 million acres of land and nearly 1,000 miles of paved and dirt roads. Before your road trip, make sure your car is well maintained. Get your oil changed, check your tire pressure, and make sure you have a spare tire available just in case of a flat.
If you are visiting in the summer months, check that your car’s cooling system and tires are prepared for the scorching summer heat.
There is limited to no cell service in the park, download your maps before your trip to make sure you do not get lost. Also, always have plenty of extra water in the car to stay hydrated in Death Valley’s heat.
What is Death Valley Known For
If you are a newbie to visiting national parks, like I was, you may be curious what is all the hype about Death Valley.
Besides the unique and stunning landscapes, Death Valley is known for being the hottest location on earth and the driest place in North America! It also has the lowest elevation, at -282 below elevation.
When is the Best Time to Travel to Death Valley
The best months to visit Death Valley are between mid-October to mid-May. Summers see extreme temperatures, often above 120°F.
Spring is the most popular time of year to visit because of the warm days and beautiful wildflowers that grow in the valley. This is when we visited, but we did have difficulities booking a hotel and had to stay in a nearby city.
For fewer crowds and milder weather, consider visiting in winter, when accommodations are more affordable and conditions are perfect for hiking and camping.
Where to Stay in Death Valley
If you are road tripping to Death Valley, you have a few options for lodging. Either inside the national park or you can stay in one of the nearby cities.
If you are only spending one day in Death Valley, I suggest staying in one of the towns outside of the national park for cheaper hotel rates.
Lodging Inside of Death Valley National Park
The Oasis at Death Valley: Located in Furnace Creek
The Oasis has two hotels in Death Valley, which are The Inn and The Ranch. During high season, I suggest booking here as soon as possible, because their accommodations will book up months in advance.
The Inn at Death Valley
The Four-Diamond Inn at Death Valley is your luxury option for lodging. This hotel is an oasis in the middle of the desert. They like to pamper their guests with amenities like a sauna, spa treatments, tennis courts, a gym, a swimming pool, and multiple restaurants.
🏩 Find the best rates at The Inn at Death Valley here
The Ranch at Death Valley
The Ranch at Death Valley is a family-friendly accommodation within the National Park. It is your moderately priced option for a stay in Death Valley. At the Ranch, you can find a playground for kids, fire pits, horseback riding, a swimming pool, restaurants, basketball, and volleyball courts.
🏩 Find the best rates at The Ranch at Death Valley here
The Panamint Springs Resort
Why Stay Here: The budget-friendly option of accommodations in Death Valley National Park. Panamint Springs offers lodging in one of their cabin-style motel rooms or you can book your stay at their campsite and RV site. They also have a restaurant on-site and the facility is dog friendly.
🏩 Find the best rates at Panamint Springs Resort here
Camping in Death Valley
There are RV hookups and campgrounds in various areas of the national park. In some of the locations, you will need to make a reservation during the high season. The campgrounds in Death Valley are dog friendly.
To find out more about camping in Death Valley National Park, you can visit their website here.
Neighboring Cities Outside of Death Valley
I would decide on what town you want to stay in outside of the national park by the direction you are planning on going to next on your road trip.
We stayed in Beatty, NV, located at the northwest entrance of Death Valley and is also referred to as the “Gateway to Death Valley.” There is a lot to do and see in Beatty, Nevada, including a ghost town.
It is a small town with a few restaurants to grab a bite after a long day in Death Valley. You can also find other touristy shops and destinations in the area to explore.
Pahrump/Death Valley Junction: You will pass through Death Valley Junction if you drive in from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Panamint: Those traveling from Los Angeles will enter the park at Panamint Springs.
What to Pack for Your One Day in Death Valley
- Hiking or comfortable shoes for walking trails
- Thermoregulating hiking socks: are perfect for hot days and cool nights.
- Sweat-wicking shirts: a must when hiking or exploring Death Valley
- Lightweight hiking pants or leggings
- Long sleeve pullover 1/4 zip: Layers are important with the temperature fluctuations.
- Sunglasses/Sunscreen/Sun hat
- Cooler to keep your fluids and food extra cold. We like this one for road trips. It doesn’t take up a lot of space and its quality is comparable to yeti, but not as expensive.
- Water—at least one gallon per person per day
- Hydration backpack or waterjug
- Food and snacks
- Day pack
- Spare tire
- Jumper cables: In case of an emergency. It is extremely expensive to get a tow from the national park
- Headlamp or flashlight: for sunrise of stargazing
- Pocketknife
- Download Gaia or ALLTrails for hiking maps
Pros and Cons of Visiting Death Valley in One Day
Death Valley Pros:
- Death Valley offers a unique, otherworldly experience, rivaling landscapes in Bolivia or the Middle East.
- It’s dog-friendly, with some restrictions, making it possible to explore with your dog.
- The park has a good selection of bars and restaurants, and many areas feel uncrowded.
Death Valley Cons:
- It’s not easily accessible, requiring a flight to Las Vegas and a 2-hour drive for those outside California or Nevada.
- Best visited in specific months to avoid extreme heat.
- Navigation depends heavily on maps, so pre-downloading them is essential for saving time.
In Conclusion: Can You See Death Valley in One Day?
Death Valley in one day is feasible and rewarding, but requires careful planning to avoid common pitfalls. I hope this guide will help you in planning your Death Valley itinerary!
