Skip to content
Park'd
Get the app
California · Nevada · Est. 1994

Death Valley National Park

Last verified $30 / vehicle

In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes. Yet, each extreme has a striking contrast. Towering peaks are frosted with winter snow. Rare rainstorms bring vast fields of wildflowers. Lush oases harbor tiny fish and refuge for wildlife and humans. Despite its morbid name, a great diversity of life thrives in Death Valley. — nps.gov

DEATH VALLEYCALIFORNIA · NEVADA36.49°N · 117.13°W
A natural rock arch spans a narrow desert canyon. The viewer stands in deep shade beneath the arch.
Photo: NPS

Death Valley National Park at a glance

States
California, Nevada
Established
October 31, 1994
Size
3,408,375 acres
2025 visits
1,320,134
Busiest-park rank
#24 of 63
Entrance
$30 / vehicle

Best time to visit

When is Death Valley quiet?

Death Valley is busiest in March and quietest in September. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, May is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.

In 2025 the park logged 1,320,134 recreation visits, the #24 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.

Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is Death Valley open right now? →

Average visits by month

2021–2025 · NPS IRMA
JFMAMJJASOND
Monthly recreation visits: Jan 93,132, Feb 118,305, Mar 161,109, Apr 141,152, May 106,362, Jun 73,735, Jul 82,523, Aug 75,918, Sep 61,474, Oct 88,753, Nov 109,121, Dec 115,548.

Quietest: SeptemberBusiest: March

Fees & passes

What it costs to visit Death Valley

Private vehicle$30
Motorcycle$25
Per person (on foot / bike)$15
Death Valley annual pass$55

From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026.

Visiting several parks this year? The pass calculator shows whether the America the Beautiful pass pays off.

Reservations · 2026

No park-wide reservation

The National Park Service lists no timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Death Valley National Park. Campgrounds, tours and backcountry permits may still need booking, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.

Every park that needs a reservation in 2026 →

Things to do

Things to do in Death Valley

The National Park Service lists 14 things to do in Death Valley National Park, from quick stops to full-day outings. The shortest come first.
All activities →
  • Drive Twenty Mule Team Canyon15-30 Minutes · Winter, Spring, Fall

    A short scenic drive along an unpaved road through colorful badlands.

    FeePets OK
  • Harmony Borax Works Self Guided Walk15-35 Minutes · Winter, Spring, Fall

    Harmony Borax Works was instrumental in drawing people to Death Valley in the late 1800s and in the subsequent popularity of the Furnace Creek area. The 1/4 mi (0.4 km) paved walking path at this site takes visitors…

    Fee
  • Visit the Furnace Creek Visitor Center15-120 Minutes

    Stop by the visitor center to speak with park rangers and pay park fees and purchase national park passes. View the exhibits about Death Valley's history and natural wonders. Watch the park film, which is 20 minutes in…

    Fee
  • Tour Artists Drive25-45 Minutes · All year

    Enjoy a scenic drive through a geologic rainbow! Artists Drive is a one-way, nine mile (14.5 km) drive which passes through eroded, colorful desert hills. Artists Palette (a viewpoint) has the most colorful scenery…

    FeePets OK
  • Explore Wildflowers in Death Valley1-3 Hours · Spring

    Learn about the different flowers you might be able to see in Death Valley during spring months.

  • Visit Badwater Basin1-2 Hours · Winter, Spring, Fall

    Badwater Basin is the lowest elevation in North America at - 282 feet (- 86 m) below sea level. A visit to this otherworldly salt flat will provide you with a unique experience and a landscape that appears to stretch on…

    Fee
  • Bird WatchingAll year

    Roadrunners and ravens and hummingbirds- oh my! With many resident and migratory species, bird watching opportunities abound in Death Valley.

    FeePets OK
  • Check Out Devils Golf CourseWinter, Spring, Fall

    An immense area of rock salt eroded by wind and rain into jagged spires. So incredibly serrated that "only the devil could play golf on such rough links." Listen carefully and you'll hear sounds like tiny pops and…

    Fee
Show all 14 things to do

From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.

By activity

The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.

Weather

Weather at Death Valley

SPRING is the most popular time to visit Death Valley. Warm and sunny days with the possibility of spring wildflowers is a big attraction. SUMMER starts early in Death Valley. By May the valley can be scorching hot. AUTUMN arrives in late October, with warm but pleasant temperatures and generally clear skies.

WINTER has cool days, chilly nights and rarely, rainstorms. With snow capping the high peaks and low angled winter light, this season is especially beautiful for exploring the valley.

From the National Park Service.

Getting there

Getting to Death Valley

There are multiple entrances to the park. Click below to learn the best ways to travel to Death Valley.

PO Box 579, Death Valley, CA, 92328 · Directions on nps.gov

Nearby

National parks near Death Valley

  1. Kings Canyon National Park81 mi~2 h drive (est.)
  2. Sequoia National Park86 mi~2 h drive (est.)
  3. Yosemite National Park163 mi~4 h drive (est.)
  4. Joshua Tree National Park192 mi~5 h drive (est.)
  5. Pinnacles National Park225 mi~5 h drive (est.)
  6. Great Basin National Park231 mi~6 h drive (est.)

Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.

Closest big cities: Las Vegas (106 mi) · Los Angeles (185 mi) · San Diego (253 mi)

Road trip

Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Kings Canyon & Sequoia

4 parks, about 300 miles between them (~7 h of driving, estimated).

Death Valley is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.

Photos of Death Valley National Park

Low, warm light skims across pale sand dunes.
Photo: NPS
In the foreground, a narrow stream curves through clumps of green grass and low shrubs.
Photo: NPS

FAQ

Death Valley, quickly

When is the best time to visit Death Valley National Park?
If you want fewer people, go in May, the quietest shoulder-season month. March is the busiest month on average, and September the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
How much does it cost to visit Death Valley National Park?
$30 / vehicle. An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park.
Do you need a reservation for Death Valley National Park in 2026?
The National Park Service lists no park-wide timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Death Valley National Park. Campgrounds, tours and some popular hikes may still need bookings, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
What are some things to do in Death Valley National Park?
The National Park Service lists 14 things to do in Death Valley National Park, including Drive Twenty Mule Team Canyon, Harmony Borax Works Self Guided Walk, Visit the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Tour Artists Drive, Explore Wildflowers in Death Valley. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
When did Death Valley National Park become a national park?
Death Valley National Park was established as a national park on October 31, 1994.
What is the closest national park to Death Valley?
Kings Canyon National Park, about 81 miles away in a straight line (roughly 2 hours' drive, estimated).

Sources · 3

  1. 1.Death Valley National Park — official site · National Park Service
  2. 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
  3. 3.Death Valley National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)

About this page

Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/deva.

Park'd · free on iPhone & Android

Been to Death Valley? Log it.

Park'd keeps your national parks map, trips, photos and stats in one place on iPhone and Android. Check off Death Valley, add the trip, and see how many of the 63 you've got left.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play