One Day in Death Valley National Park
Our alarm sounded at 4:30 AM and we jumped up. We’d barely gotten any sleep, but our excitement to watch the sunrise over the beautiful desert quickly woke us up. We car camped on a side road in Death Valley National Park so we weren’t too far from Zabrinskie Point.
After some early morning off-roading, we headed straight to the trailhead. We sat at the top of the point for what seemed like hours (we were definitely delusional from lack of sleep) and witnessed one of the most amazing sunrises as the golden light flared onto all the rock formations. It was worth the lack of sleep and we were ready to keep exploring the rest of the day.
Death Valley National Park is believe it or not, full of life. It’s the hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the contiguous United States but full of so much to explore - slot canyons, salt flats, sand dunes, mountains, wildflowers, and jaw-dropping desertscapes.
In this blog post I provide a one day itinerary for those of you who don’t have a lot of time to explore. It’s a must-see National Park and you can get a real taste for it in just a day!
WHERE IS IT LOCATED
Death Valley National Park is located in California east of the Sierra Mountains and directly next to the border of Nevada. It’s about a 4 hour drive from Los Angeles and a 7.5 hour drive from San Francisco. It’s a great weekend trip in the winter when you want to explore the outdoors but the mountains are covered in snow.
WHEN TO VISIT
Late fall to early spring. Death Valley is hot. Very, very hot. In late September, the mid-day temperatures were still over 100 degrees in a dry heat.
If you choose to visit when it’s this hot, I’d recommend exploring in the early morning and evening to avoid the worst of the heat. Make sure to drink a LOT of water whenever you go! There are water fill-up stations at all of the visitor centers. I filled up multiple times at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center.
It’s also important to note that cars will overheat in these extreme temperatures. Make sure to take precaution so your car doesn’t break down in the middle of no where!
WHAT ARE THE HOURS
Death Valley National Park is open for all hours of the day, however, I’d start as early as possible to avoid the heat! If you choose to visit during the summer months, plan to only explore in the morning and evening.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST
There are no actual entrance gates so entrance fees must be paid at the rangers stations or self-pay facilities around the park. The fee to enter the park is $35 per vehicle. You can also purchase the National Park Annual Pass for $80 which allows you access to all US National Parks for one year.
The park does not provide any public transportation so plan accordingly!
WHAT TO BRING
For any outdoor adventure, always start by packing your Ten Essentials.
Sun protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, sun shirt, etc)
Water and extra water
Electrolytes - so key to stay hydrated in the heat
Snacks - there aren’t many food options around the park so bring plenty of food
WHERE TO STAY
Primitive camping
There are many established campgrounds around Death Valley. The most conveniently located ones include: Furnace Creek (reservations required), Texas Spring (first come, first serve), and Sunset (first come, first serve). If all of these campgrounds are full, there are many others outside the main part of the park.
Dispersed camping
If you’d prefer dispersed camping to a campground, you can check with a ranger or iOverlander for more information. There are certain backcountry roads that allow dispersed camping but you will need a 4WD vehicle to access them. The park does have specific backcountry camping regulations that you must follow:
No campfires
You must camp at least 1 mile from any paved road or “day use only” dirt road
Only camp in only previously used areas to reduce impact
Hotels or Airbnb
If you prefer this over camping, there are many hotels inside the park (more expensive) and outside the park (less expensive). There are also many Airbnb options just outside the park.
ONE DAY ITINERARY
Map of Death Valley National Park. The blue dots mark my must-see spots if you only have one day to explore.
1. Watch sunrise at Zabrinskie Point
Sunrise at Zabrinskie Point cannot be missed. It’s a short 0.4 mile hike from the parking lot and gives a panoramic view of a landscape of eroding rock. When the sun rises, the golden light hits the rocks perfectly to show off its sharp ridges and dramatic colors.
Sunrise at Zabrinskie Point
2. Stop at Furnace Creek Visitor Center
The Furnace Creek Visitor Center is directly down the road from Zabrinskie Point. This is a great time to grab any maps or information you may need and fill up on water!!! This is SO important as you head into the worst heat of the day. This is also the only place in the park with (not so reliable) cell service if you need it.
3. Visit Badwater Basin Salt Flats
When you think of Death Valley, you probably think of the Instagram famous salt flats. Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America and a great place to visit. You can walk directly onto the flats and explore out to however far you want to go. Please note that the flats can get extremely hot so plan ahead – the hottest day recorded was 134 degrees!
4. Drive along Artist’s Drive and Artist’s Palette
After walking around in the heat, this scenic drive is the perfect air conditioned break. Artist’s drive is a one-way drive from south to north. Along the drive you’ll reach Artist’s Palette which is a colorful stretch of the Black Mountains. The beautiful rocks are red, pink, yellow, and green - you don’t want to miss this!
Artist’s Palette
5. Explore Mosaic Canyon
If you haven’t explored slot canyons yet, here is your chance. Death Valley is filled with slot canyon hikes but this was the most convenient. Mosaic Canyon is a 4-mile trail that’s somewhat shaded so a great option for mid-day exploring. You can go in as far as you’d like but my favorite part of the canyon was at the beginning!
Mosaic Canyon
6. Enjoy sunset at Mesquite Sand Dunes
There are multiple sand dunes within Death Valley but these are the easiest to access. You can park in the parking lot right next to them (fills up quick!) and walk out as far as you’d like to go. It can get extremely hot out on the sand so make sure to wear sun protection and bring shoes!!
Mesquite Sand Dunes
Have the best time on your day trip to Death Valley! If you have any questions or liked this post, please leave a comment below.