10 Things to Know Before Visiting Death Valley National Park
Visiting Death Valley is on many people’s bucket lists as it is the lowest, hottest, and driest place in the United States. A temperature of 134 degrees was recorded in Death Valley in 1936, and remains the world record. Because of this there are some things you should consider when planning your visit. I’ve rounded up 10 things to know before you visit Death Valley National Park.
Is it worth visiting Death Valley?
The first question you might ask yourself is if Death Valley National Park is even worth visiting. I am here to tell you absolutely, YES! Even after doing some research, I wasn’t completely sure what to expect when visiting Death Valley, but I was blown away. The diversity in landscapes and things to do makes this a unique park that is definitely worth your time!
When is the best time to visit Death Valley?
Another common question is when to visit this park. The spring is the most popular time to visit due to relatively pleasant temperatures and abundant wildflower blooms. The best time of year to visit Death Valley is between October and April. If you chose to visit in the summer, extreme caution should be taken due to the heat.
What is the closest airport?
The Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas is the closest airport to Death Valley. Las Vegas is approximately 2 hours from the park entrance. Other major airports include Los Angeles International Airport which is about 4 hours and San Diego International Airport which is about 5 hours from the park.
Things to know before visiting Death Valley
Below are 10 things everyone should know before visiting Death Valley.
1. The park is really big
This might seem obvious since it is the largest national park in the contiguous United States, but I didn’t truly appreciate how big the park was until we were there. The various sites in the park can be anywhere from a 45 minute drive up to 2.5 hours or more. For example, Stovepipe Wells to Badwater Basin or Panamint Springs takes 45 minutes each. There were some sites in the park we had to forgo visiting on our first trip because we simply didn’t have the time.
2. Plan your itinerary ahead of time
Due to the large size of the park, it is extremely important to plan your itinerary ahead of time. You will want to ensure you visit everything you want to see in one section of the park before driving to another area to avoid back tracking and unnecessary driving. You can use my two day Death Valley National Park itinerary to help you get started!
3. Stay in the park if at all possible
If you are visiting Death Valley for multiple days, I highly recommend staying in the park lodging or campsites. We stayed in Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel due to price and location. Other options include The Inn at Death Valley, The Ranch at Death Valley, and Panamint Springs Resort. Additionally, multiple campground are available in the park.
4. Bring plenty of food and water
There are restaurants at the various hotels as well as a general store in Stovepipe Wells and The Ranch, but your options are limited in the park. The restaurants are also on the more expensive side and may have limited options if you have dietary restrictions. We packed items to eat breakfast in our room and packed picnic lunches to have in the car. This gave us easy access to food after a hike. Additionally, we bought extra gallons of water to have in the car to refill our water supply whenever we needed.
5. Keep an eye on your gas tank
There are gas stations in Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, and Panamint Springs, but you don’t want to be hours from any of these locations with an empty gas tank. I recommend erring on the side of caution and filing up your tank earlier than you typically would. As I mentioned this park is really large and you can run out of fuel if you aren’t careful.
Another tip is if you are able, consider filling up at Stovepipe Wells. During our visit, we found gas to be $1 cheaper per gallon at Stovepipe Wells compared to Furnace Creek!
6. Don’t expect to have cell service
There is very minimal cell service in the park which is not unusual for a national park. The visitor center does have some cell reception as well as the lodges. We were also able to connect to the WiFi in our room. If you have a satellite device, bring it!
7. Download all park and trail maps ahead of time
Due to the lack of cell service you will want to download a park map as well as any trail maps before arriving at the park. This is another reason why planning your itinerary ahead of time is so beneficial. I used the All Trails+ so I could download the maps of all the trails we wanted to hike. I thought the $35 investment was worth it for this trip alone. They also often run deals for a discount so keep an eye out for that as well.
8. Be aware of heat exhaustion and know your limits
It can be easy to sometimes think we are invincible, but the realities of heat exhaustion in Death Valley are all too real. Plan your hikes for early morning and avoid strenuous hikes during the hottest times of the day. The temperatures can also vary in different areas of the park which is important to be aware of. Learn the signs of heat exhaustion, drink plenty of water, and consider bringing an electrolyte replacement.
9. Bring sunscreen and a hat
A couple simple ways to protect yourself from the heat are to wear a hat and bring plenty of sunscreen. While this is fairly basic advice, it is important not to forget these important items when packing!
10. Off road vehicles are needed in some areas
Be aware of the road conditions for the areas of the park you are planning to visit. There is plenty of the park to explore on paved roads where you don’t need a 4×4 or off road vehicle, but some of the remote areas of the park require high clearance, 4×4 vehicles with off road tires. If you want to explore the back country, plan accordingly with extra food, water, and rescue items in the car. I would also recommend checking out Farabee Jeep Rentals.
Summary of Things to Know when Visiting Death Valley
Death Valley is an amazing park, but you don’t want to show up unprepared and without a plan. I hope this post helps you feel a little more prepared to visit. Do you have any other planning tips you use when visiting National Parks? If so, let me know in the comments below!
