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1. Badwater Basin
One of the reasons to visit Death Valley is to see “how low can you go.” A quick stop at Badwater Basin will take you to the lowest point in North America — 282 feet below sea level!
What You Need to Know
A sign near the parking area and a small spring-fed pool of “bad water” mark this area that is the lowest point in North America. On the other side of the road, you can also see a sign nearly 300 feet above you that marks where sea level is on the cliffs.
No hiking is necessary here — many people just stop at the sign. I always encourage hiking whenever possible, so if you can, I definitely recommend taking a walk out on the salt flats. If you decide to hike, be advised that pets are not permitted beyond the parking area.
If you’re visiting during the heat of the summer, be aware that there is no drinking water and no shade at this stop. Don’t hike out onto the salt flats without careful preparation and the right safety precautions.
Getting Here
From Furnace Creek, drive about one mile southeast on Highway 190 until you see the signs pointing to Badwater. Turn right here — this is the Badwater Road. Drive south for 17 miles until you see the well-marked Badwater Basin Parking Area on your right.
2. Artists Drive
Ooh and aah at these spectacular painted hills as you drive along this rollercoaster-like road! Every dip and turn reveals a new and truly unique vista full of vibrant colors and beautiful views.
What You Need to Know
The Artists Drive is a scenic 9-mile one-way drive through some of the best colors in Death Valley. This road is quite narrow and curvy, so vehicles over 25 feet are not permitted to drive this route.
About halfway through the Artists Drive, you’ll find the turnoff to Artists Palette. Stop here and enjoy the stunning colors of rock (created by the oxidation of various metals). There are several great places to climb up the colorful hills and experience them up close.
Getting Here
From Furnace Creek, drive about one mile southeast on Highway 190 until you see the signs pointing to Badwater. Turn right here — this is the Badwater Road. Drive south for 8.5 miles until you see the turn-off for Artists Drive on your left. Turn here to enter the scenic drive.
3. Salt Creek Interpretive Trail
This trail is currently closed due to flooding that destroyed the boardwalks. It is expected to reopen Summer 2025.
Water is such a rarity in Death Valley that when you come across it, you will be astounded! Salt Creek flows through one of the hottest places in the world and supports an incredibly unusual endangered species. See if you can spot any wildlife as you enjoy a stroll along the creek!
What You Need to Know
The Death Valley pupfish is an endangered species that lives in Salt Creek. These amazing fish can withstand water temperatures as low as 32 degrees and as high as 116 degrees! They have adapted to live in water that is 4x the saltiness of the ocean.
You can often see these fish swimming in Salt Creek in the spring. They are only a few inches long, so you’ll have to look carefully!
The boardwalk around Salt Creek is a half-mile loop and is wheelchair accessible, but pets are not permitted on this trail. The trailhead is located on a dirt road, typically passable in a sedan.
Getting Here
From the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, drive northwest on Highway 190 for about 13 miles until you see the sign for Salt Creek. Turn left here and follow the dirt road for approximately 1 mile until you reach the parking area.
4. Zabriskie Point
This stunning Death Valley viewpoint offers the best of everything — spectacular mountains, unique badlands, and unforgettable rock formations. For an epic sunrise or sunset photo, head here!
What You Need to Know
A short walk up the hill from the parking area leads to the viewpoint. Pets are not permitted at this viewpoint.
Getting Here
From Furnace Creek, drive southeast on Highway 190 for about 5 miles until you see the parking area for Zabriskie Point on your right.
5. Harmony Borax Works Interpretive Trail
Throughout Death Valley, you can find the remains of a colorful human history. One of the best places to learn about the people who spent time here is at the Harmony Borax Works. Learn about this plant and townsite that helped develop the Furnace Creek area into what it is now.
What You Need to Know
A short walk around will help you catch a glimpse of what people went through to live and work in this unforgiving land. You can see the processing plant and a 20-mule team wagon up close!
Pets are not permitted on this trail.
Getting Here
Harmony Borax Works is located about one mile north of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center.
Click NEXT to see sights 6-10 (including the best viewpoint in the park!)
Hello! I love your itineraries and podcast! I am wondering if tarantulas are a common sight here at Death Valley. If so, how often do you see them? I have pretty severe arachnophobia.
I’ve been to Death Valley almost yearly for the past 5 years and have never seen one! But yes, many southwest parks do have tarantulas.
I just found your website. We are looking at flying into Las Vegas and planning a road trip to the near by NP. I would like for it to be round trip and not much back tracking.
Is there a good way to accomplish this?
Yes, you’ll find a good sample schedule out of Vegas in my Zion How Many Days article if you want to visit the nearby Utah parks and the Grand Canyon. Death Valley is also a great option from Vegas…we usually hit Death Valley, the Mojave Preserve, and Joshua Tree in the same trip if you want to go that direction instead!
We are planning a trip for late June or July and will be driving through this area. Considering we are traveling in the summer, is this a park you would recommend visiting? We usually try to visit parks like this in the winter, but thought we might stop since we are headed that way!
Your content is so helpful and fabulous!
You can stop, but I wouldn’t plan on spending much time there! It will easily be over 100 degrees by that point, but it’s kind of a fun experience for a few hours!
Hi! I always read your articles before heading to NPs and I greatly appreciate them they have helped my planing a lot. This time I only have one day at the park what would you recommend is a must see at this park?thank you!
I would focus on the Furnace Creek area — Badwater Basin, Dantes View, etc. Have fun!
Hi. We’re going to Death Valley for Thanksgiving Weekend. We are staying at Panamint Resorts in one of their tents. My first stop is at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. I’m pretty central to either taking the freeways 5/14/395/190 or 15/127/190. What can you recommend should be our first
Stop?
It really depends on where you coming from to get there…either route is fine in general. But most of the can’t-miss activities are over by Furnace Creek, so if it makes sense to approach the park from 15/127/190 and you have some time for sightseeing on your way to Panamint, that’s probably what I would do so that you can hit a good portion of the main activities on your way to your lodging. Have fun!
How long would it take to see all these must-see places?
2-3 days!
Used your guides for Arches and Canyonlands and they were very helpful! We’re going to Death Valley and are debating whether to stay at The Ranch or at Stovepipe Wells Inn. Would appreciate your recommendation.
If you have three or four days in the park, I’d split your time between the two. Death Valley is huge, so if you plan on spending any time in the north or west parts of the park, Stovepipe Wells is better for exploring some of those outlying areas. If you just have a day or two and plan on sticking to the main sights, Furnace Creek is more central to those!
This is such an informative article. Thanks so much for pulling this together.
Of course. Enjoy Death Valley!
We are driving to Death Valley early one morning and staying the night at Pahrump. In what order would you suggest seeing your listed things to see? Thank you
You’ll likely want to stay near Furnace Creek and Badwater Basin if you only have a day in the park. I’m currently working on an itinerary for Death Valley that will be released sometime this year :)
Do you feel this is a 1 or 2 day park? Planning on heading to Joshua Tree, Death Valley and sequoia national park in April. Have 8 days + 2 travel days. I am trying to figure out how much time to spend at each park (for reference – easy hikes only)
I’ll be heading to grand Teton, Yellowstone and glacier in late June and will be picking up your itineraries to start my planning. I can’t wait!
I personally visit this park every winter because I LOVE it, so I’d lean more toward two days. If you’re hoping to work your way through this list, I’d give yourself two days. But if there are only a few things on the list you’d like to do, you could definitely get by with just one day. If you have around eight days for those three parks, I’d probably recommend two in Death Valley, one or two in Joshua Tree, and around three in Sequoia {depending on the weather…it may be a little snowy :)}, plus driving time. Have a great trip!
Thanks for all the great tips. We are from Portland, Or. and are planning a trip next April/May to Death Valley, Great Basin and the Eastern Sierra’s. Were planning on least 2 days in DV and want to see the sights. I know 2 days isn’t enough, but we have other places to go. Heard it was 120 today, WHEW.
You’ll be able to see a lot in two days! It will probably be in the 90’s while you’re there…not quite as hot as it is right now :)
Great. Very informative.
Thanks
Thanks Tom!
This is definitely one of the more informative articles on visiting the park, with details on how to get to each spot. We’re going in a week so looking forward to it! Thanks for your great post.
Thanks Karen! Have a great time!
You should do a report on Great Basin National Park. I hear it’s great. I’ve never been there but I am this summer. Bonus: there’s not too many places where you can summit a 13,000 foot mountain (Wheeler Peak) on a relatively easy trail hike. You park at the 10,000 foot level and the trail gains 3,000 feet over 4 miles. Like Rocky, that’s one where you have to watch how your body reacts to the altitude, though.
I’ve been to Great Basin, but I need to go back before I write a post on it…..I still have more to do there!!
Thanks for this round-up! I’m hoping to head out there this fall and explore. It looks like a magical land.
Have fun!