Contrary to what you may be picturing, Death Valley National Park is not a barren wasteland. You’ll find mountains, hiking, sand dunes, salt flats and more across the 3.3 million acres that make up Death Valley National Park. You won’t be able to see everything, even with a two day Death Valley itinerary, but you’ll still be able to cover most of the highlights.
This Death Valley itinerary assumes you’ll be starting and ending your trip in Las Vegas. While you don’t have to do this, it will include travel time so you can easily incorporate it into part of a larger trip. Or, if you have more time, consider starting in Las Vegas, visiting Death Valley, and heading south to Joshua Tree National Park. This is what I did on my 7 day road trip and it worked out really well.
Two Day Death Valley Itinerary
I’m going to start with a two day Death Valley itinerary since that’s what I did. I’ll cover a one day Death Valley itinerary later in this post.
Day 1
I’m starting the day off a little later than I normally would. This allows you time to get from Las Vegas to Death Valley National Park. The drive takes about two hours, but will of course vary a bit between where in Las Vegas you start. This itinerary assumes that you leave Las Vegas at 8:00 am.
10:00 – Dante’s View
The first stop of this Death Valley itinerary is at Dante’s View. There’s an amazing overlook, but it also offers a chance to get out and stretch your legs after the two hour drive from Las Vegas. Dante’s View is one of Death Valley’s highest points. You’ll actually find yourself looking down at Badwater Basin (the lowest point in the continental United States) from above. Keep this view in mind. Later today, we’ll visit Badwater Basin.
There’s a hiking path leading from Dante’s View. You can walk as little or as much of the trail as you want. In my experience, it was worth walking part of the trail, but the view didn’t change that dramatically. Perhaps if I had went even further it would have, but for the bit I walked there wasn’t a massive change.
While you can just stop, take a photo and leave, I’m giving you a little extra time here. Walk, stretch your legs, and enjoy the first view of the day. From Dante’s View, it’s about a 40 minute drive to your next destination.
11:15 – Twenty Mule Team Canyon Road
Twenty Mule Team Canyon Road is one of two scenic drives you’ll be doing today. This scenic drive is a lot of fun as you work your way down a one way road through the golden canyons. There’s a handful of places to pullover, so keep an eye out. There’s no one place I recommend more than the other, but just know that this was one of my favorite experiences at Death Valley National Park.
And before you get freaked out about driving the non paved road, our little Kia Forte rental (affectionately named Will), handled it just fine. Plus, my mom and I were at Death Valley less than a month after it reopened. The park had been closed for nearly two months because of hurricane damage. If we could handle it, you’re going to be fine.
11:45 – Zabriskie Point
Just up the road from Twenty Mule Team Canyon Road is Zabriskie Point, another overlook. The view here is so different from Dante’s View that it’s definitely worth a stop. You don’t need a long break here, but make sure to stop.
You will have a short walk from the parking lot the actual viewpoint. It’s a quarter mile round trip and is paved, but it is an uphill climb.
12:30 – Badwater Basin
From Zabriskie Point, you’ll head to Furnace Creek. There, you’ll make the turn down Badwater Road to Badwater Basin. In total, it’s about a 45 minute drive from Zabriskie Point to Badwater Basin, but Badwater Basin is the furthest we’ll drive today. From Badwater Basin, we’ll just be working our way back to Furnace Creek where you can then drive to your hotel.
Badwater Basin is the lowest point in the United States at 282 feet below sea level. Here, you’ll find that the temperature is drastically warmer here. Also, you’ll notice that you’ll be looking up at Zabriskie Point and Dante’s View, where you were earlier today. It’s a long way up.
Badwater Basin is a salt flat, but you’ll notice that my pictures don’t really look like that. I visited Death Valley in November 2023, just one month after the park reopened after some extensive damage from Hurricane Hilary. When I visited, Badwater Basin was still filled with water, making it a once in a lifetime visit for me.
1:00 – Devil’s Golf Course
Just up the road from Badwater Basin (back in the direction of Furnace Creek) is Devil’s Golf Course. This is more salt flats but with the way the crystals formed, it’s a bit more interesting than Badwater Basin (at least if Badwater Basin isn’t filled with water like it was during my visit). You can walk out on these unique flats, but be careful. The ground is uneven and some of these salt formations are very sharp.
1:30 – Artist’s Drive
As you work your way to Furnace Creek, you’ll pass Artist’s Drive. This is another scenic drive in Death Valley and it’s worth a stop. Yes, we already did Twenty Mule Team Canyon Road, but Artist’s Drive feels and looks different. I had a tough time choosing which drive I liked more (months later, I’m still not sure), so I suggest you do both and choose for yourself.
The big highlight of Artist’s Drive is the Artist’s Palette pullout. Here, you’ll find calcium deposits on the side of the mountains that look like splashes of paint. This is the only designated pullout here, but the entire drive is great. I even think the drive got better after we left Artist’s Palette.
2:00 – A Choice
At this point in the day, you need to make a decision about what you want to do. There are a few things you should consider. First, how tired are you? If you’re feeling wiped out from the longer driving day, I’d consider a lighter sightseeing choice. Second, how hot is it? Death Valley can get extremely hot and it’s really not a good idea to do anything super strenuous during the heat of the day. Third, how hungry are you? I skipped lunch on my Death Valley itinerary which was not my best decision ever.
Option 1: Mesquite Sand Dunes
For those who still want to sightsee but aren’t up for a long hike, consider a visit to Mesquite Sand Dunes.
Option 2: A Hike in Death Valley
If it’s not super hot, hit the trails. Trails to the Red Cathedral, Gower Gulch, and the Golden Canyon are all nearby Artist’s Drive. These trails range anywhere from 1 to 5 miles, depending on how much hiking you choose to do.
Option 3: Head to Stovepipe Wells and grab some lunch.
If the saloon is still not serving their normal menu and relying on the buffet, this may be a good choice. The lunch buffet is nearly $10 cheaper than the dinner buffet. And you’re in Death Valley, so food options are kind of limited, so I’d consider this option if you’re on a budget.
The Rest of the Evening
Spend the night at Stovepipe Wells. You can also stay at Furnace Creek, but I found the rooms to be a bit cheaper at Stovepipe Wells. The rooms were basic, but were fine for what we needed.
Depending on the time of year, you can find a place to watch sunset or even stargaze. While I skipped sunset, I visited in mid November. Sunset was at 4:45, so by 7:00, skies were dark and it was great for stargazing. As Death Valley has is a protected dark sky area, it’s worth trying to get a glimpse of a true dark sky while you’re out here. It can be a highlight of your Death Valley itinerary.
Day 2
Optional – Sunrise
It’s completely up to you if you want to get up early to watch the sunrise. You’re staying in the park, so you won’t have to drive far (although you could if you want to get to a great viewing location). The choice is yours.
8:00 – Breakfast
If you stayed at Stovepipe Wells, breakfast will likely first be available starting at 8:00. I recommend going right away so you can still have some time to explore the park.
8:30 – Where Do You Want to Hike?
I recommend spending some time hiking at Death Valley and its best to do it early in the day before it gets too hot. There’s two hikes that I’d recommend checking out.
The first hike is the one I did and it was a loop that encompassed Gower Gulch and the Golden Canyon. It’s located on Badwater Road and you would have actually passed the turn off for the trailhead yesterday. This loop is about four miles long, so plan on it taking about two hours. I found this to be a moderate hike with only one notable super steep section. While parts of the trail were well marked, we did miss a turn here and there. I think that had more to do with the recent hurricane washing away the well trafficked trail than anything else.
Another hike is Darwin Falls, which is located at the western edge of Death Valley National Park. At the time of writing, the trail to Darwin Falls doesn’t exist as it was washed away in a hurricane. However, as this trail was initially on my to do list, I’m including it here. Hopefully it will be open on your visit.
12:00 – On to Your Next Adventure
Hiking will likely take you most of the morning (once you factor in driving to the trailhead and actually completing your hike). By noon, it’s time to think about your next adventure. You can start working your way back toward Las Vegas (consider stopping at Red Rock Canyon National Preserve if you have some extra time) or head on to your next adventure. We headed toward Joshua Tree National Park and made it as far as Barstow, CA.
One Day Death Valley Itinerary
If you will be visiting Death Valley as a day trip from Las Vegas, I recommend getting an early start. With a two hour drive each way, you’re going to have a lot of driving on your Death Valley itinerary. But, that’s not to say that a visit to Death Valley isn’t possible.
Essentially, if you plan to visit Death Valley as a day trip from Las Vegas, follow my day 1 itinerary and ignore all of day 2. Just remember that when you’ve finished with your last activity, you’ll still have a two hour drive back to Las Vegas.
While it’s true that you might find yourself with a little extra time, I find this unlikely. But by all means, add in a short hike (I recommend hiking out to Red Cathedral or a short bit of the Golden Canyon Trail), but make sure to keep an eye on the time.
With More Time
With more time for your Death Valley itinerary, you have a few more possibilities. Hike to both Darwin Falls and the Gower Gulch/Golden Canyon Loop. You can also take a visit to the Ubehehe Crater as well. In order to do all three of these activities, plus the smaller viewpoints and scenic drives listed on day one, I’d recommend three full days at Death Valley National Park.
When to Visit Death Valley
Summers are not only hot, but dangerously hot. I’d caution against visiting Death Valley National Park in summer. Shoulder seasons can still be warm, but as you get into winter, you need to pay attention to the sun. There’s limited daylight hours.
I visited in mid November 2023. Temperatures varied dramatically over the day. Mornings, and places at higher elevations like Dante’s View, were cold. But we were at Badwater Basin at about 2:00 in the afternoon and it was definitely bordering on hot. Additionally, the sun set at 4:45 pm, so even though we stayed in the park, there were limited options of things to do in the evenings.
Where to Stay in Death Valley
If you’re visiting the park for more than one day, it makes sense to stay inside Death Valley National Park. There just really isn’t a lot of options around, so if you insist on staying outside the park, plan on adding a minimum of an hour of driving each way.
If you come from the east, Las Vegas is a two hour drive away, but the town of Pahrump is closer and still has several hotel options. From the west, you’d be looking at the town of Lone Pine.
Inside the park, you have Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells which offer lodging. In our experience, Furnace Creek was closer to most of the things we wanted to do, but it was more expensive. We stayed in Stovepipe Wells and just added a little bit of extra driving.
Final Thoughts
Death Valley National Park was more interesting than I expected. With two days for your Death Valley itinerary, you can see a lot, but you’ll still need to concede that you won’t see everything. Don’t let that discourage you, though. Head out and see as much of the interesting landscape as you can.
Continue Your Adventure
Death Valley: Learn all about the best things to do in Death Valley National Park.
Joshua Tree: Tour the highlights of Joshua Tree National Park.
Itineraries: I visited Death Valley as part of a 7 day road trip from Las Vegas that also included Joshua Tree. For another road trip from Las Vegas, check out this 10 Day Utah National Parks Itinerary.