Death Valley National Park camping includes both front country and backcountry camping. Camping in Death Valley offers the opportunity to enjoy this dark sky park and see thousands of stars each night. You can enjoy all of the best of the park while camping.
Death Valley Camping Guide
There are multiple campgrounds in Death Valley to choose from each with its own unique features. Furnace Creek Campground offers a small number of RV sites with hookups available by reservation.
There are also free campgrounds that have pit toilets and are centrally located to different things to do in Death Valley.
One thing about camping in Death Valley is you always need to be prepared for the weather. Summers are HOT HOT HOT! While winters can be the perfect temperature or downright chilly.
Check out our complete guide to Death Valley National Park.
Death Valley National Park Entrance Fee
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $30.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $25.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $15.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $55.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$0.00 for Education/Academic Group
$35.00-$75.00 for vehicles with 1-6 seats commercial sedan, $25 per vehicle plus $10.00 per person
$75.00 for commercial van with 7-15 seats
$100.00 for commercial van with 16-25 seats
$200.00 for commercial motorcoach with 26+ seats
$15.00 per person for non-commercial group (16+ persons) ex. scout groups, church groups, etc.
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the free entrance days the National Park Service offers for US citizens and residents.
Death Valley Camping Reservations
Reservations for the Furnace Creek Campground are available for the camping season of October 15 to April 15 by calling 1-877-444-6777 or visiting recreation.gov.
Reservations must be made at least 4 days in advance, but can be made up to 6 months in advance.
All unreserved walk-in sites are open first come/first served for a period of 1 night up to 4 nights depending on the next incoming reservation. These opportunities are available in person at the kiosk only.
All other National Park campgrounds are first to come/first served year-round (no reservations), however, the National Park Service reserves the right to reserve sites for management needs for all campgrounds.
Death Valley RV Camping
Furnace Creek Campground has only 18 sites with full hookups. These are 30/50 amp hookups and water/sewer.
There are multiple dump stations located within the Furnace Creek area.
RV hookup sites are also available at the concession-run Stovepipe Wells RV Park and the privately owned Panamint Springs Resort.
Furnace Creek Campground
Location: Near Furnace Creek Visitor Center
Number of sites: 136
Cost per night: $22.00/night for a standard tent camping campsite. Full Hookup Sites $36.00/Night (half-price with Lifetime Pass) plus $12 Utility Fee (not discounted)
Reservations?: Yes, reservations are taken from October 15 to April 15.
Campground amenities: fire pits, picnic tables, flush toilets, camp hosts available in the campground.
GPS Coordinates: 36.4632° N, 116.8689° W
RVs allowed?: Yes, the campground has a dump station.
Please remember the total length is the vehicle plus trailer or RV plus tow vehicle. Only one RV unit is allowed per site.
If you choose a site that does not fit your total length, the National Park Service reserves the right to cancel your reservation upon arrival.
Generator Hours: 7 am to 7 pm
Check out our full article on Furnace Creek Campground
Sunset at Furnace Creek Campground
Location: near the Ranch at Death Valley
Number of sites: 230
Cost per night: $14, $7 with lifetime pass
Reservations?: No, First come, first served
Campground amenities: camp store, seasonal dump station, potable water,
Car and tent camping is permitted however each site DOES NOT offer a firegrate or picnic table.
Campfires are not allowed in Sunset except at a few designated public areas within the campground.
GPS Coordinates:
RVs allowed?: Yes, max length is 60 feet.
Texas Spring at Furnace Creek Campground
Location: Located in the hills above Furnace Creek.
Number of sites: 92
Cost per night: $16 or $8 with lifetime pass
Reservations?: No, First come, first served campground
Campground amenities: Each site has a firegrate and picnic table.
GPS Coordinates:
RVs allowed?: Yes, RV maximum length is 35 feet.
Generator Hours: Generators are prohibited in Texas Springs Campground, except from April 16 to May 15 in the upper loop from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Stovepipe Wells Campground
Location: Adjacent to the Stovepipe Wells general store, ranger station, and a privately operated RV park.
Number of sites: 190
Cost per night: $14 or $7
Reservations?: No, First come, first served campground
Campground amenities: seasonal dump station, potable water, close to a store, seasonal flush toilets.
Only the 28 tent-only sites with fire grates.
GPS Coordinates:
RVs allowed?: Yes, Maximum Length 30 feet.
Mesquite Spring Campground
Location: Located 2 miles off of Scotty's Castle Road below Grapevine Canyon.
Number of sites: 40
Cost per night: $14/$7
Reservations?: No, First come / first served campground
Campground amenities: Each site has a fire grate and picnic table.
GPS Coordinates:
RVs allowed?: Yes, There are no hookups in this campground.
Emigrant Campground
Location: Located next to CA 190 at 2100' feet in elevation. Southwest of Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station
Number of sites: 10 tent-only sites
Cost per night: Free
Reservations?: No, First come / first served
Campground amenities: potable water, picnic table
Fires and charcoal grills are prohibited.
GPS Coordinates:
RVs allowed?: No
Generator Hours: None
Wild Rose Campground
Location:
Number of sites: 23
Cost per night: Free
Reservations?: No, First come / first served campground
Campground Amenities: vault toilet, picnic table
Fires are permitted in NPS-provided pits only. Charcoal grills are prohibited. Gas burning stoves are permitted. ***Fires are typically prohibited between June 15 and September 15 or during periods of high fire danger.
GPS Coordinates:
RVs allowed?: Yes,
Generator Hours: Generators allowed 7 am - 7 pm.
Check out our full article on Wildrose Campground
Thorndike Campground
Location: Accessible to high clearance vehicles (no longer than 25'), and 4x4 may be necessary.
Number of sites: 6
Cost per night: Free
Reservations?: No, First come / first served
Campground amenities: picnic table, vault toilets
There is no water at this campground.
GPS Coordinates: 36.236893
RVs allowed?: No
Generator Hours: No
Mahogany Flat Campground
Location: Located near the Telescope Peak trailhead. Dirt road access requires high-clearance vehicles, often 4x4 required.
Number of sites: 9
Cost per night: Free
Reservations?: No, First come / first served
Campground amenities: vault toilets,
This campground does not have water!
GPS Coordinates: Latitude 36° 13' 48.0000" N Longitude 117° 4' 6.1572" W
RVs allowed?: Yes, the maximum length is 25 feet.
Winding roads lead to this primitive campground. High clearance is required, 4x4 may be necessary. Low-hanging tree branches may be present.
Death Valley Backcountry Camping
Free voluntary permits for backcountry camping may be obtained online, or in person at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center or Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station during business hours.
Backcountry camping is allowed along dirt roads at least one mile away from any paved road or "day use only" dirt road.
Download the Backcountry & Wilderness Access Map
Camping is NOT allowed on the valley floor from Ashford Mill in the south to 2 miles north of Stovepipe Wells, on the Eureka Dunes, or in Greenwater Canyon.
Backcountry Camping is NOT allowed on the following Day Use Only dirt roads:
- Titus Canyon Road
- Mosaic Canyon Road
- West Side Road
- Wildrose Road
- Skidoo Road
- Aguereberry Point Road
- Cottonwood Canyon Road (first 8 miles only)
- Grotto Canyon Road
- Racetrack Road (from Teakettle Junction to Homestake Dry Camp)
- Natural Bridge Canyon
- Desolation Canyon
- Pinion Mesa Road
- Big Pine Road (22 miles inside of Death Valley National Park)
Camping is NOT allowed at the following historic mining areas:
- Keane Wonder Mine
- Lost Burro Mine
- Ubehebe Lead Mine
- Skidoo Mill
- One mile from all standing mining structures. Generally camping should be avoided in mining districts for personal and resource safety.
Death Valley Camping Regulations
Campsites are limited to no more than eight people and two vehicles or one recreational vehicle plus a secondary vehicle per site.
Fires are prohibited in the summer months (June 15-September 15) or other periods of high fire danger at Mahogany Flat, Thorndike, and Wildrose Campgrounds.
Furnace Creek Campground has a limit of 14 days per calendar year.
The rest of Death Valley National Park has a 30-day per calendar year camping limit.
There is a maximum limit of 4 pets per campsite and pets must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times.
Lodging Options in Death Valley Naytional Park
National Park Lodges often sell out months in advance; below is a list of hotels/lodges near the park.
⭐️ 4.2 of 5 Stars - The Inn at Death Valley - Click here for Rates and Availability.
This historic AAA Four Diamond resort has been the crown jewel of Death Valley since 1927, recently undergoing a $200 million restoration to bring Old Hollywood elegance back to the desert. The 66 refreshed rooms and 22 new private casitas sit among spring-fed pools at a constant 87 degrees, date palm gardens, and natural bubbling springs right inside Death Valley National Park. After exploring Badwater Basin or the dunes, unwind at the Tranquility Spa, enjoy farm-to-table dining at The Inn Dining Room, or sip craft cocktails poolside under some of the darkest skies in the country.
⭐️ 4.0 of 5 Stars - The Ranch at Death Valley - Click here for Rates and Availability.
The Ranch at Death Valley is the family-friendly heartbeat of the park, sitting right next to the National Park Service Visitor Center with 276 newly renovated rooms featuring classic mid-century style and patios or balconies overlooking the Furnace Creek Golf Course (the lowest elevation course in North America). This former working ranch offers three on-site restaurants, the must-see Last Kind Words Saloon, an ice cream and coffee bar, plus a spring-fed pool at a constant 87 degrees. After exploring Zabriskie Point or Badwater Basin, enjoy horseback rides from the stables, rent a Jeep for backcountry exploring, or relax in the town square surrounded by towering date palms.
⭐️ 4.1 of 5 Stars - Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel - Click here for Rates and Availability.
Stovepipe Wells Village has been serving Death Valley travelers for over 100 years, sitting in the heart of the park with 83 rooms offering sweeping views of the iconic Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes just steps away. This historic stopover features a refreshing outdoor pool, the Toll Road Restaurant and Badwater Saloon serving seasonal fare and all-American favorites, plus a General Store and gift shop for grab-and-go needs. After exploring nearby Mosaic Canyon or watching sunrise over the dunes, cool off in the pool or enjoy a cold drink at the saloon while the desert sunset paints the mountains.
⭐️ 4.1 of 5 Stars - Panamint Springs Resort - Click here for Rates and Availability.
Panamint Springs Resort is a small, rustic western-style retreat located 10 miles inside Death Valley National Park's western edge, offering 24 motel rooms plus tent cabins and full RV hookups with stunning views of the 11,000-foot Panamint Mountains. This privately owned oasis sits about 32 miles west of Stovepipe Wells and provides a quieter alternative to the larger park lodges, featuring an on-site restaurant serving excellent burgers and craft brews, plus a well-stocked general store and gas station. After exploring nearby Darwin Falls or Father Crowley Vista Point, relax on the terrace with views of distant sand dunes or grab a cold beer and watch the desert sunset.
Click this link or the map below for a full list of lodging options available near the park.
Death Valley Tours
Death Valley Semi-private Day tour from Las Vegas
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 11-12 hours | 🚌Check Rates and Availability
This full-day tour includes either a buffet breakfast or an a la carte lunch and bottled water as you travel via comfortable coach to the park stopping at highlights like the Rhyolite Ghost Town and the most famous Area 51 Alien Center.
You then enter Death Valley with stops at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Burned Wagons, point, Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Badwater Basin, Artists Palette, Zabriske Point, and Dante's View (when open) before heading back to Las Vegas.
Death Valley Sunset and Starry Night Tour from Las Vegas
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 11-13 hours | 🚌Check Rates and Availability
Discover Death Valley by night and day on the 12 hour tour roundtrip from Las Vegas, Nevada!
This tour allows you to discover several areas of the park by day including Dante's View (When Open), Badwater Basin, Artists Palette, Zabriske Point and then enjoy the night sky after sunset before heading back to Las Vegas.
Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Death Valley National Park
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 8-16 hours | 🔊Check Rates and Availability
Download this self-guided audio tour and you will discover more on your Death Valley National Park Road Trip. Hear fascinating behind the scenes stories, local tips, and directions play automatically, all based on your location.
You will be guided to all of the park's famous highlights as well as the lesser known gems including the lowest point in North America that sits 200 feet below sea level, the parks most photographed vista, and a narrow one way road that zig zags between mounds of multicolored rock.
Additional National Park Articles
Camping Tips from a Park Ranger
Manzanar National Historic Site
Devils Postpile National Monument
How Many National Parks are there?
Check out all of the California National Parks and neighboring National Parks in Oregon, Nevada National Parks, and Utah National Parks.
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