Death Valley National Park is located on the border of California and Nevada, though the majority of the park is situated within California, with only a small portion in Nevada. The distance from Las Vegas to Death Valley is approximately 2.5 hours drive, while from Los Angeles it takes about 5 hours.
Despite its desert terrain, Death Valley boasts diverse natural features including salt flats, sand dunes, canyons, and valleys, offering a variety of landscapes. Badwater, located in Death Valley, marks the lowest point in the USA at 86 meters below sea level.
The entrance fee to Death Valley National Park is $30 per vehicle, and tickets can be purchased at the Visitor Center. Visiting the Visitor Center is highly recommended, as expert staff can provide tips on recommended sites to visit and optimal times, which aids in trip planning.
Before arriving, we had heard about the famous moving rocks here and had intended to visit, albeit without detailed preparation. Fortunately, we inquired with the staff who informed us that reaching The Racetrack is quite challenging; it requires a proper off-road vehicle and a 3-day survival kit (food and other essentials) in case of getting stuck. Since park rangers do not patrol the entire area daily and assistance in the middle of the desert might take several days, we decided to skip this destination and focus on other attractions, as we were not quite prepared for such an adventure! ๐ We received a map from the staff marked with interesting locations and the best viewpoints, which proved helpful for our exploration.
Badwater
Badwater is essentially a salt flat formed from a highly saline desert lake. The name originates from the presence of this salty waterโhence “bad water.”
This was our first stop in Death Valley. Badwater is the driest, hottest, and lowest place in North America and the United States.
Imagine standing 86 meters below sea level, with the thermometer showing nearly 50ยฐC under the scorching June sun. It goes without saying that water and sunscreen are absolute travel essentials here! The car’s air conditioning and ample water supply were a real lifesaver, as it was not advisable to stay outside for long. The landscapes here were truly impressive; the dry, cracked, flat land stretched on endlessly. Exploring a salt flat was always something we wanted to do, and this place was unique and stunning.
Devil’s Golf Course
Devil’s Golf Course is an area formed by very sharp and serrated salt crystal formations. Just the thought of walking here barefoot would result in bleeding feet. Here you may also hear sounds as the salt crystals expand in the heat.
Artist’s Drive – Artists Palette
Artist’s Drive is a roughly 15-kilometer stretch of road that winds through the colorful rock formations of Artist’s Palette. It’s a really nice, narrow, winding road with beautiful, colorful rock formations that are quite distinct. Artist’s Palette has a short walking trail where you can get closer to the colorful rocks. However, in this heat, we were content to admire the scenery from the air-conditioned car! ๐
Zabriskie Point
Zabriskie Point offers beautiful views of soft, undulating rock formations that appear almost molten. Definitely worth a brief stop for the stunning scenery.
Devils Cornfield & Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Devil’s Cornfield and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are sandy desert landscapes, with the latter being considered dunes. It was enjoyable to stop here and admire the soft sand dunes, which provided a beautiful contrast amidst the otherwise rocky landscapes. We stopped here on our way out; by early evening, the temperature had started to drop enough to comfortably spend time outside.
The Racetrack
The Racetrack, previously mentioned as the location of the moving rocks, was initially on our list, but it requires better preparation. The easiest and safest way to visit is to book a guided tour, which typically lasts a full day.
Death Valley is definitely worth a visit as a natural park and makes for a good day trip from Las Vegas, also falling along the popular Los Angeles – Las Vegas – San Francisco route.
Also, consider exploring Yosemite National Park โ or various nature spots in Arizona โ
