How to Plan the Best One Day in Death Valley Itinerary
This one day in Death Valley itinerary includes the best viewpoints, hikes and scenic drives in the hottest national park in the USA.
Sand dunes, salt flats and colorful hills are all on the agenda for this Death Valley in one day itinerary. The national park on the border of Nevada and California covers over 3.4 million acres from the lowest point in North America to frosty mountain peaks.
It’s actually the biggest national park in the Lower 48 with hundreds of miles of roads (many unpaved), remote wilderness areas, and a wide variety of desert landscapes.
With so much ground to cover, you may be wondering what to see in Death Valley in one day and if that is even enough time. Luckily, with a good plan like this one day in Death Valley itinerary, you can squeeze in quite a bit of sightseeing between sunrise and sunset.
One very important thing to know about Death Valley is that the national park gets extremely hot in summer — we’re talking over 100 degrees for an average high between May and September. The record high in the Furnace Creek area is 134 in July.
Because of this, I recommend visiting Death Valley in fall, winter or early spring and this itinerary is based around a trip during those months. If you do come in summer, you’ll have to pick just one shorter hike to do in the early morning hours and stick to the drives and scenic viewpoints during the scorching hours.
Keep reading for my favorite Death Valley one day itinerary of activities and scroll to the bottom for tips on where to stay, what to pack and other practical advice for this national park.
Death Valley National Park Map
This Death Valley itinerary map includes places to visit with one day in Death Valley National Park plus ideas for how to spend any extra time.
One Day in Death Valley Itinerary
If you’re planning a one day Death Valley National Park itinerary, try to get an early start to maximize your time. It’s best to stick mostly to the paved roads in the Stovepipe Wells and Furnace Creek area for your first trip if you only have a day, as some destinations in the park down gravel roads take hours to reach.
Sunrise in Death Valley
If you’re up in time for sunrise, I recommend starting the day at either Zabriskie Point, Dante’s View or the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. At Zabriskie Point, the sun will rise behind you but the colorful sky in front makes a gorgeous backdrop for the golden rocky hills below.
At Dante’s View, you’ll get a panoramic vista of the horizon from more than 5,000 feet above the Badwater Basin. The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are a great choice in the warmer months because it will be too hot to hike out here later in the day. Keep reading for more on each of these locations.
Zabriskie Point
A favorite for sunrise and sunset, Zabriskie Point features a stunning view of rolling golden hills with a prominent peak jutting out from the landscape. It’s one of the most-photographed spots in the park and an early morning visit offers some of the best lighting.
From a large paved parking lot, you’ll walk uphill (short and steep) to the main view. There is a vault toilet in the parking lot and a trailhead that connects to the Golden Canyon hike I’ll expand on below. Zabriskie Point is off of State Route 190, less than 5 miles south of Furnace Creek.
Dante’s View
Perched 5,575 feet over Death Valley’s Badwater Basin, Dante’s View offers panoramic vistas of the salt flats and the snow-capped peaks beyond them. This is another perfect sunrise or sunset spot since the wide views will show off all the colors in the sky.
The main lookout is right by a paved parking lot, so you can visit here even in the summer heat. In the cooler seasons, though, you can walk beyond the overlook along a ridge to find your own special spot to capture the scene.
On a one day Death Valley itinerary, Dante’s View should be visited in conjunction with Zabriskie Point to save time since they’re both off of Route 190. To reach Dante’s View, you’ll turn onto Furnace Creek Wash Road, where the final quarter mile of the drive is up steep switchbacks and trailers are not allowed.
It takes about 30 minutes to get here from Zabriskie Point. A vault toilet is on a paved loop at the bottom of the steep section.
Hike in Golden Canyon, Gower Gulch and Badlands
One of the most popular and easily accessible hiking areas in Death Valley, the Golden Canyon, Gower Gulch and Badlands trails connect for loops of up to 7.8 miles.
From the Golden Canyon trailhead, the easiest option is an out-and-back hike ( up to 2 miles round trip) through the towering rock walls with a maze of slot canyons to the sides. You can add on a spur trail to the Red Cathedral (3 miles RT) that involves some rock scrambling toward the end as you get closer to the rusty-hued cliffs.
The Gower Gulch Loop (4.3 miles RT) clockwise goes through the Golden Canyon, up and around the Manly Beacon spire, and downhill through the narrows of Gower Gulch.
From the trailhead at Zabriskie Point, you can follow the Badlands Loop (2.7 miles RT) through a maze of colorful hills. The Badlands connect to the Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch route, so you can combine them for a strenuous circuit of 7.8 miles, including the walk up to Zabriskie Point and the spur trail to the Red Cathedral.
You can read more about the trails and save maps on the Death Valley National Park site. The Golden Canyon trailhead is on Badwater Road, about 2 miles south of the intersection with 190.
Artists Drive and Artists Palette
The 9-mile Artists Drive Scenic Loop is one of my favorite destinations for a one day Death Valley itinerary. The route features the breathtaking Artists Palette, where a rainbow of colors from volcanic deposits streak across the hills.
The best spot to see the blues, pinks, greens and oranges is about mid-way through the drive, where a turn to the right leads to a parking area for Artists Palette. From here, you can take in the scene from a viewpoint, or walk down a steep hill to explore the landscape up close. There aren’t any official trails, but wander to the right for a labyrinth of colorful hills.
Another good stop is less than 2 miles into the drive, where you can climb up a hill to the left of the parking area for sweeping views of black and golden hills with splashes of colors.
The one-way loop is off of Badwater Road, 8.5 miles from the junction with Route 190 in Furnace Creek. Since the road has narrow bends toward the end, vehicles over 25 feet are not allowed on the drive. Vault toilets are available at the Artists Palette parking lot.
Badwater Basin
One of the highlights of a one-day Death Valley itinerary, the Badwater Basin is the lowest spot in North America, at 282 feet below sea level, which is marked with a sign on a hill behind the parking lot.
About 200 square miles of salt flats fill the basin, creating a sweeping white landscape in the right conditions. The rise and evaporation of groundwater causes strange geometric salt shapes to form on the ground.
From the parking lot, plan to walk at least a mile out on the flat path to leave the crowds behind and get up close to some of the largest and strangest salt formations. Since you’re in a low valley, look up to see the Black Mountains and Panamint Range looming overhead in each direction.
Badwater Basin has a large paved parking lot and vault toilets 16.5 miles down Badwater Road. Furnace Creek is about 20 minutes north. With just 1 day in Death Valley, this is probably about as far south on Badwater Road you’ll want to go to have enough time for other activities.
Harmony Borax Works
If you have enough time during your Death Valley day trip, make a quick stop at the Harmony Borax Works, just 2 miles north of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center as you head toward your final destinations. The plant was operational in the 1880s and helped establish the Furnace Creek area.
Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the site displays adobe ruins, old mining equipment, and a double wagon like the ones pulled by 20-mule teams that would haul the borax through the Mojave Desert. You can walk an interpretive loop to learn more about the early history of the plant and park.
Devil’s Cornfield
Devil’s Cornfield is on the way to the last destination, so you can make a quick stop here if you have some extra time on your one day in Death Valley. The landscape is full of arrowweed plants that appear a bit like dried corn stalks popping up from the desert.
There is a parking pullout and educational sign for this right off of 190 about 4 miles east of the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, which you can see in the background.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Death Valley National Park has a few different sand dunes, but the Mesquite Flat Dunes are by far the easiest and most popular to visit. The tallest dune here is only 100 feet high, but there are lots of hills and ridges to explore.
With just one day in Death Valley, you’ll have to keep your visit to a short stroll across the hills close to the parking area. But with more time, you can sandboard and hike out to the tallest dune (2 miles round trip). This is a great spot to catch the sunset or even stay for stargazing after dark.
The dunes are along Route 190, 2 miles from the tiny village of Stovepipe Wells, where there is a hotel, campground, gas station, general store and saloon. A paved parking area by the dunes has a vault toilet.
Other Places to See in Death Valley
If you aren’t hiking or just find yourself with extra daylight hours to kill, these are a few more activities you could consider on your Death Valley one day itinerary. Most of these are along dirt and gravel roads, so drive at your own risk.
Twenty Mule Team Canyon Drive
Just 2.5 miles long, Twenty Mule Team Canyon Drive is an unpaved scenic route through golden, cream and brown hills. The landscape was featured in “Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi.” Stick this activity between a visit to Zabriskie Point and Dante’s View, since the road is off of Route 190 between the two.
The National Park Service says the gravel path is typically safe for most cars with a high clearance. I opted to skip it in my rental car since it’s one-way and I wouldn’t be able to turn around if the rocks got to be too much for my vehicle.
Devil’s Golf Course
A common stop on Badwater Road between Artists Drive and the Badwater Basin, Devil’s Golf Course has a landscape of jagged brown salt rocks.
It’s mostly just a quick stop and admire destination, but you have to drive about a mile down a rough gravel road to get there. If you’re in a high clearance vehicle and have time after the Badwater Basin, you could add this onto your one day Death Valley itinerary.
Natural Bridge
If you’re looking for a quick and easy hike for your Death Valley one day itinerary, the Natural Bridge trail is just 1 mile round trip. As the name implies, the path leads to an orange-hued natural rock bridge in a canyon.
Located between the Devil’s Golf Course and Badwater Basin on Badwater Road, the parking lot for Natural Bridge is 1.5 miles down a gravel road that the NPS says is typically fine for regular cars.
Ubehebe Crater
The Ubehebe Crater is one of the best things to do with 2 days in Death Valley National Park. The main volcanic crater is about 600 feet deep and there is a small neighboring crater called Little Hebe as well.
You can walk the entire rim of Ubehebe on a 1.5 mile loop that also passes Little Hebe. It’s a moderately difficult trail with exposed edges and loose terrain. The hardest section is a steep uphill climb at the beginning going counterclockwise from the parking area, but this leads to one of the best views across the crater. Without hiking, you can view the crater from the observation deck by the parking lot.
I wouldn’t recommend trying to squeeze Ubehebe into a one day Death Valley itinerary as it’s a long drive to get out there. The crater is down the paved Scott’s Castle Road, 56 miles from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and 46 miles from Stovepipe Wells.
There are no toilets at the observation area, but about 5 miles before Ubehebe, the Grapevine Ranger Station has a restroom on the side of the building.
Tips for Visiting Death Valley National Park
Use these vacation planning tips to figure out when to go, where to stay, and what to bring on a one day trip to Death Valley.
How to Get to Death Valley National Park
If you’re traveling by plane to Death Valley National Park, Las Vegas has the closest major airport. Las Vegas to Death Valley is about 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on your final destination. The drive in is easy but remote, on either on State Route 160 toward Pahrump, Nevada, or U.S. Route 95 toward Beatty, Nevada.
From the California side of the park, it’s about 4 to 5 hours from Los Angeles International Airport to Stovepipe Wells.
How Many Days at Death Valley National Park
If it’s your first visit to the park, you may be wondering how many days you need at Death Valley National Park. I recommend at least one day in Death Valley National Park to catch the highlights, or two or three days to hike longer trails or explore some of the more remote destinations.
While the park is a whooping 3.4 million acres, many areas are extremely remote with gravel roads that take a long time to drive. If you’re in a standard car without four wheel drive, I would spend just a day or two in the park as you’ll be able to see most of the sights along paved roads during that time.
If you’re passing through on a road trip and visiting Death Valley in a few hours, stick to the sights near Stovepipe Wells, Furnace Creek and along Badwater Road. With half a day, I would pop up to Zabriskie Point, drive to Artist’s Palette and visit the Badwater Basin.
Death Valley Day Trip
A Las Vegas to Death Valley day trip is a great way to get a quick overview of the park while visiting Sin City. Since the drive each way is a couple of hours, booking a group tour will allow you to sit back and enjoy the views and activities without having to navigate or keep a schedule. Below are a couple of options for a one day in Death Valley guided tour.
On this small-group Death Valley tour from Las Vegas, you’ll stop at Rhyolite ghost town near Beatty in addition to seeing the park highlights.
Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park
Furnace Creek in Death Valley holds the record as the hottest spot on earth, hitting a temperature of 134 degrees Fahrenheit in July of 1913. In summer, highs often top 120 and average above 100 from May through September.
These extreme hot and dry conditions make the summer months a challenging and even dangerous time to visit. You may be wondering, is Death Valley worth visiting in summer? If this is the only time you can come, you’ll need to stick to scenic drives, quick walks to overlooks like Zabriskie Point and Dante’s View, and short hikes in the early morning hours when temps might still be below 90. The National Park Service recommends not hiking after 10 a.m. in summer.
The best time to visit Death Valley National Park is in late fall through early spring. In November, the average high temp drops to 77 and by April it starts creeping back up toward 90. While weekends, holidays, and school breaks in winter and spring will be busy, this is a much easier time to visit weather-wise and you’ll be able to safely hike throughout the day. Just be sure to reserve your accommodations or campground well ahead of time during these months.
I visited in late January and early February and found the mid-week time to be far from crowded and the weather mild, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s.
You can read more about the record temps and average conditions at Death Valley here.
What to Pack for Death Valley National Park
Jacket | Layers are necessary for the cooler months. In spring and fall you may just need a light hiking jacket, but an insulated jacket comes in handy for winter.
Activewear | Comfortable outfits are perfect for sightseeing in Death Valley so you’re ready for a hike. Depending on the season, this might mean shorts or leggings plus a sports bra and top.
Daypack | Use this to hold your water and gear while you’re walking around in the park.
Water bottles | There are very few places to get water in Death Valley, so bring a big jug and a bottle to refill.
Sunscreen | With little shade in the park, sunscreen is a necessity even for winter visits.
SPF chapstick | Don’t forget lip protection for the dry, sunny conditions.
Sunglasses | Bring a durable polarized pair for the intense rays in the desert.
First aid kit | Some basic first aid supplies are handy, especially if you’re hiking. The park is very remote and in some situations you could be hours from help.
Death Valley map | Bring along a Death Valley trail map to help guide you on your hikes and a road map if you plan to follow any off-the-beaten path routes. Service in the park is almost nonexistent. A GPS unit can also come in handy if you’re exploring more remote trails.
Where to Stay Near Death Valley National Park
The remote region around Death Valley National Park is home to just a few very small towns with limited amenities and hotels. When you’re planning a Death Valley itinerary, reserve your accommodations as soon as possible to make sure a room is available.
Inside the park, there are a few Death Valley campgrounds. Only one can be reserved ahead and many are only open in fall through spring, so check over the details before you go.
There are a couple of tiny villages with hotels in Death Valley National Park — Stovepipe Wells near the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes has a hotel, restaurant and market, and Furnace Creek near Badwater Basin road has a luxury resort with a golf course, pool, and dining options. The pro of staying in the park is easy access to the most popular locations, but the con is a lack of amenities and higher prices on lodging and fuel.
On the south end of the park, Shoshone, California, is about an hour from Furnace Creek and 1.5 hours from Stovepipe Wells. It’s another small town with just a couple of places to stay and dine.
What To Do in Death Valley for One Day
The best things to do in Death Valley National Park include the lookouts at Zabriskie Point and Dante’s View, the hikes in the Golden Canyon area, Artist’s Drive and Artist’s Palette, the Badwater Basin, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and the Ubehebe Crater. More details on all of these destinations are included in the Death Valley itinerary above.
Tickets and Passes for Death Valley National Park
Tickets for Death Valley National Park are $30 per vehicle for 7 days and annual passes are $55. If you plan to visit a couple other national parks within a year, it often makes more sense to buy the America the Beautiful annual pass for $80, which gets you into more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Death Valley does not have the traditional gated entries that a lot of national parks have. Instead, you’ll need to purchase a pass at one of the self-service fee kiosks located in a few popular areas and entrances and display it in your vehicle.
