Can you camp overnight in Death Valley?

Death Valley National Park has several campgrounds with varying fees. The cost for camping in developed campgrounds ranges from $14 to $36 per night, depending on the campground and amenities offered. Some campgrounds are free, such as Emigrant and Wildrose, but they offer limited facilities.



Yes, you can camp overnight in Death Valley National Park, and the options range from developed campgrounds to remote backcountry sites. The park features nine primary campgrounds, such as Furnace Creek, Sunset, and Stovepipe Wells. Furnace Creek is the most popular, offering amenities like water and flush toilets, and it requires reservations through Recreation.gov during the peak season from mid-October through mid-April. For those seeking a more rugged experience, dispersed "backcountry" camping is permitted in certain areas, provided you are at least one mile away from any paved road or developed area. Because Death Valley is one of the harshest environments on Earth, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 120°F (49°C), overnight camping is most popular during the cooler winter months. Always check for seasonal closures and obtain any necessary permits for backcountry travel to ensure a safe stay in this vast desert landscape.

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Nighttime traffic is almost always light, and you can see vehicles from a long way. The main driving hazard is excessive speed. Some roads have curves that sneak up on you, and in the daytime, the awesome scenery can be very distracting. Single-vehicle accidents are the #1 cause of visitor deaths in Death Valley.

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The valley is low in elevation and sits between two high mountain ranges. As the image shows, few plants grow in the valley, so the rocks and soil absorb the summer heat. That heat radiates back to the atmosphere at night, but doesn't get past the steep mountains.

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The clear, dry air and sparse plant cover allow sunlight to heat the desert surface. Heat radiates back from the rocks and soil, then becomes trapped in the valley's depths. Summer nights provide little relief as overnight lows may only dip into the 85°F to 95°F (30°C to 35°C) range.

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While Death Valley National Park is the largest national park outside of Alaska, you can cover a lot of ground in 1 day. From epic driving views to landscapes that look other-worldly, from sand dunes to salt flats, Death Valley is a must-visit in California.

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Because transporting goods to Death Valley is both difficult and dangerous, gas prices are commonly higher than other places in Southern California and across the country. So as gas prices began to increase across the country, so did the already high prices in Death Valley.

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We wouldn't recommend this park as the kind you show and wing it without a plan. The reason being is that phone service is very limited within Death Valley and WiFi isn't easy to come by. It's best to have a general idea of where you are going and where you plan to stay BEFORE you arrive at the park.

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