Death Valley National Park — Visitor Info

← Back to National Parks

Death Valley National Park spans the California-Nevada border and protects the hottest, driest, and lowest point in North America — Badwater Basin, at 282 feet below sea level. It's also one of the largest national parks in the lower 48. Here's what to know before you go.

Page content last verified: July 2026

Check current conditions before you go: Flood damage has closed some roads for extended periods (Scotty's Castle has been closed since 2015 with no confirmed reopening date), and summer temperatures are extreme and dangerous. Always check the official Death Valley Alerts & Conditions page first.
Quick Facts
Location
Eastern California / Nevada border, Mojave Desert
Entrance Fee
$30/vehicle (7 days)
Reservation Needed to Enter?
No
Permit Needed For
Some backcountry roadside camping areas (paid); most backcountry camping is permit-free
Lodging
Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, and Panamint Springs (in-park); Death Valley Junction and Beatty nearby
Managed By
National Park Service

Visitor Centers

Two staffed locations serve the park — tap one for official hours & facility info.

Furnace Creek Visitor Center
The park's main visitor center, open year-round on CA-190 in the Furnace Creek area. Exhibits, maps, backcountry permits, and ranger information.
Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station
Smaller contact and fee-collection station at Stovepipe Wells Village, with a bookstore and backcountry permit drop box.

Hours vary seasonally — confirm current hours on the official NPS basic information page before you go.

Entrance Fees & Passes

The entrance fee is $30 per vehicle (motorcycle $25, per person on foot/bike $15 — required for anyone 16+ entering without a vehicle), valid for 7 days. A Death Valley Annual Pass is $55. This park does not accept cash anywhere — not at entrance stations, campgrounds, or fee kiosks — so bring a credit or debit card. Passes can be bought online in advance or at Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station, and several self-pay kiosks around the park. No vehicle reservation is required to enter.

Every Kid Outdoors — Free 4th Grade Pass

4th graders (and their families) can visit free with an Every Kid Outdoors pass, available at everykidoutdoors.gov. Present it (digital or printed) at the entrance station or visitor center.

Scotty's Castle Closure

Scotty's Castle and the surrounding Bonnie Claire/Grapevine area have been closed since 2015 due to major flood damage, and remain closed with no confirmed reopening date — access is not permitted even on foot. Check the current conditions page for the latest status before planning a visit to that part of the park.

Extreme Heat & Safety

Death Valley regularly sees summer highs above 120°F (49°C). Low-elevation hiking is not recommended between May and October. Carry more water than you think you need — at least a gallon per person per day in hot months — and check road conditions before driving unpaved routes, since many require high-clearance or 4WD vehicles.

Permits & Reservations

You do not need a permit or reservation to enter the park or day-hike. Backcountry camping permit rules vary by location:

Reservation-Required Backcountry Roadside Camping

Camping at designated 4x4 roadside sites in Echo Canyon, Hole in the Wall, and Cottonwood Canyon/Marble Canyon, and roadside camping in Greenwater Valley, requires a paid reservation made online up to 6 months in advance ($10/night). Backpacking the Cottonwood-Marble Loop also requires an online permit ($10/permit).

All Other Backcountry Camping

Free permits are recommended (not mandatory) for other roadside camping, backcountry cabins, backpacking, and canyoneering. Roadside camping is otherwise allowed at least one mile down unpaved roads from any paved road or day-use-only dirt road, except in areas specifically closed (including the Eureka Dunes, Greenwater Canyon, and several named day-use-only roads).

Campgrounds & RV Options

Death Valley has nine NPS campgrounds spanning sea level to over 8,000 feet, plus concession-run and private RV parks with hookups. Reservations are only accepted at Furnace Creek; all others are first-come, first-served.

Furnace Creek Campground
Open year-round; the only campground with RV hookup sites (limited number) and the only one accepting reservations, for the Oct 15–Apr 15 season. First-come, first-served the rest of the year. Reserve via Recreation.gov.
Sunset Campground
Large, sunny, RV-friendly overflow campground near Furnace Creek. No tables, hookups, or fire pits. Closed in summer; first-come, first-served.
Texas Springs Campground
Near Furnace Creek, tents and small RVs. Closed in summer; first-come, first-served.
Stovepipe Wells Campground
Sea level, near Stovepipe Wells Village. Closed in summer; first-come, first-served. The adjacent, separately-run Stovepipe Wells RV Park offers RV hookups.
Mesquite Spring Campground
Open year-round, near the park's north end (~1,800 ft elevation). First-come, first-served.
Wildrose Campground
Open year-round at ~4,100 ft; no water. Free, first-come, first-served.
Thorndike & Mahogany Flat Campgrounds
Primitive, high-elevation (7,400 ft and 8,200 ft) sites open spring through November, weather permitting. Free; accessible to high-clearance vehicles up to 25 ft (4WD may be needed for Mahogany Flat).
Eureka Dunes, Saline Valley & Homestake Primitive Campgrounds
Remote, free, high-clearance/4WD-access primitive campgrounds in the park's backcountry. No services — come fully self-sufficient and check current road status first.

Emigrant Campground (tents only, free) is closed indefinitely for water system repairs as of this writing. Fees, hookup availability, and seasonal openings change — confirm current details before you go: NPS Developed Campgrounds.

Good to Know

  • Cashless park-wide: bring a credit or debit card — cash isn't accepted anywhere, including campgrounds.
  • Fuel up when you can: gas is available in-park at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, and Panamint Springs, generally at a premium — don't let your tank get low between stops.
  • Cell service is very limited outside of Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells.
  • No off-road driving: stick to designated roads — the desert surface is fragile and slow to recover from damage.
  • Distances are large: this is one of the biggest national parks in the lower 48 — plan extra driving time between sights.

More National Parks

See our other National Park visitor guides, or browse the full National Parks guide.

Fees, campground availability, and road conditions change from year to year. This page is a starting point for trip planning — always confirm current details on the official Death Valley National Park site before you go.

Sources: NPS – Entrance Fees · NPS – Basic Information · NPS – Camping · NPS – Backcountry Camping · NPS – Alerts & Conditions