Death Valley is a remarkable and most astonishing landscape with more unique phenomena. This is the lowest, driest, and hottest national park in the United States. Death Valley National Park is laid in Eastern California and Nevada that is worth visiting for all natives and foreigners worldwide. This park’s beauty consists of huge sand dunes, rocks, and canyons, rare wildlife, peaks that create the Death Valley’s character. However, the surroundings of Death Valley invite you to engage in numerous outdoor activities like camping, hiking, backpacking, etc. Among these activities, camping takes a prominent place. This is a guide to camping in Death Valley National Park.
Through this guide, you will be able to know everything regarding camping in Death Valley National Park. This guide to camping in Death Valley National Park will navigate you through several sections.
- Best time for camping
- Death Valley Camping Rules and Regulations
- Campgrounds in Death Valley National Park
- Reservations and Permits
- Things to bring for camping
- What Are the Backcountry Roadside Camping Destinations?
- What Are the Backpacking Destinations in the Death Valley National Park?
Camping is not an easy task to fulfill because you have to pay your concentrate on several things. It is better to have pre preparations before camping. This guide will help you to make sure to keep your happiness during your camping. The commitment and the effort you put in during the journey will make your day incredible.
The best time for camping
What happens if it rains in Death Valley National Park when you go camping? Usually, it is said that the best time to visit Death Valley National Park is in Spring with the scent of flowers and a glimpse of the sun or in Autumn with fall colors.
But, what is the best time for camping in Death Valley? Though it is better to go on a journey to Death Valley National Park in Spring or Autumn; the best time for camping may differ. The best time for camping in Death Valley National Park is in the month of October. During this time, the weather in Death Valley is cool enough for camping in the daytime and the evening temperature is bearable. So, in that case, you can have a comfortable night. Due to the less wind during this time, campers pay more interest to camp here.
Death Valley Camping Rules and Regulations
Group Size Limits:
Designated Campgrounds:
The number of persons and vehicles for the campsite or campsite is most probably based on how the campground or campsite is posted. If the group or vehicle limit is not posted on the campground or campsite, it is usually limited to 2 vehicles or 4 motorcycles or one recreational vehicle and 8 people per designated campsite.
Non-Designated Campgrounds:
The number of persons in a group is limited to 12 and vehicles to 4. Groups size exceeding 12 persons should be split into small groups. If larger groups can get a permit from the superintendent they can request an exception to these limits.
Furnace Creek Campground:
In Furnace Creek Campground group reservation sites will allow persons between 9 and 40. The maximum number of vehicles that can be parked at each group site is 10. Reservations for these campsites are available during the busy times of the year.
Permitted areas
Designated camping is permitted only in campgrounds. These campgrounds are developed and designated with various amenities.
You can use backcountry cabins for overnight camping or for day use. But, there are some conditions that you must follow.
- Cabins should not be locked
- Cabins should be served on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Human waste must be packed out or disposed of at least 400 feet from a cabin.
- All cabin maintenance will be performed only with the written approval of the Superintendent.
- Backcountry cabins will not allow fires.
Camping in the backcountry or wilderness is permitted within one mile from the nearest paved road or developed area. Campers should camp at least 100 feet from a flowing stream, spring, or other natural bodies of open water, and areas that are closed to camping.
Prohibited Areas
Dirt roads like Titus Canyon Road, West Side Road, Wildrose Road, Skidoo Mine Road, Cottonwood Canyon Road, etc. are excluded from camping.
Within the mile of certain mining areas like Ubehebe Lead Mine, Leadfield Mines, Keane Wonder Mill, and Skidoo Mill.
The floor of the Death Valley from the Ashford Mill to the north end of the shifting sands of the Mesquite Sand Dunes.
The active and shifting sand areas of Eureka Dunes.
Food Storage
The superintendent will designate all the food, cooking equipment, garbage, and scented items that should store and sealed in a constructed solid, non-pliable material. This restriction is not applied to the food that is being consumed, transported, or prepared for consumption.
Fires
The lighting or maintenance of fires is generally prohibited. The followings are the permits allowed in the Death Valley National Park regarding fires.
- In park residents’ private yard areas.
- You have to use NPS-provided fire grills and grates. This equipment can be found in campgrounds, picnic areas, backcountry roadside campsites, or outside of roadside campgrounds.
- Natural gas or white gas-produced fires are permitted in designated campgrounds where the flow of gas can be controlled and discontinued.
- Debris burning on private lands within the park is only permitted on state-approved “Permitted Burn Days”.
Things to avoid:
- The construction of fire rings
- All firewood must be brought to the park. You are not allowed to gather, cut, or scavenge firewood in the park from any source.
- Debris burning on the public
- Glass in the fire pit
Campgrounds in Death Valley National Park
If you intend to have a safe camping journey, it is better to use one of the campgrounds in the Death Valley National Park. There are 12 developed campgrounds in the Death Valley National Park. ( of them are operated by the National park Service while the other 3 are owned and operated by private companies. These developed campgrounds will provide basic amenities such as restrooms, tables, and fire rings. Some of them own portable water.
If you intend to have a more adventurous and thrilling camping experience, you can camp along with simple sites that offer some solitude from other developed campgrounds.
Furnace Creek Campground
Number of Campsites: 136 (18 are full-hookup RV sites)
Location: At Furnace Creek, the main entry point for most visitors in the Death Valley.
Things to do:
Can explore Desolation Canyon
Drive Twenty Mule Team Canyon
Visit Harmony Borax Works
Reservations: Can be reserved ahead of time. The campsites are reservable from October 15th to April 15th. On other days, campsites are first-come, first-served.
Amenities: Flush toilets, potable water, RV dump station, post office, gas station, restaurants, laundry, and shower facilities.
Sunset Campground
Number of Campsites: 270 campsites
Location: At the east of Highway 190 in the Furnace Creek Area
Things to do:
Harmony Borax Works Self Guided Walk
Visit the Furnace Creek Visitor Center
Drive Twenty Mule Team Canyon
Reservations: All sites are available on the first-come, first-served basis
Amenities: Restrooms, portable water, etc.
Texas Springs Campground
Number of Campsites: 92 sites (26 are tent-only sites)
Location: At just up from the Sunset Campground in the Furnace Creek area of Death Valley National Park.
Things to do: Visit Texas Springs Trail
Reservations: All campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis
Amenities: Picnic tables, fire rings, potable water, flush toilets
Fiddler’s Campground
Number of Campsites: 35 full hook-up RV campsites
Location: At the Furnace Creek Area, the Oasis at Death Valley
Things to do: Furnace Creek Golf Course, Death Valley Visitor Center
Reservations: Open year-round
Amenities: Pool, hot showers, playground, sports courts, general store, picnic tables, restaurant
Stovepipe Wells Campground
Number of Campsites: 190 campsites (28 tent-only sites)
Location: Behind the privately run general store and across the road from the resort at Stovepipe Wells
Things to do: Can visit Mesquite Flats Sand Dune
Reservations: All sites are served upon a first-come, first-served basis and non-summer seasonal campgrounds in Death Valley are typically open from October to April. Closed in Summer
Amenities: Dishwashing stations, flush toilets, general store
Stovepipe Wells RV Park
Number of Campsites: 14 sites
Location: At Stovepipe Wells Village
Things to do: RV camping, Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel
Reservations: Online reservations
Amenities: Full hookup with pool and shower access, general store and restaurant on site
Mesquite Spring Campground
Number of Campsites: 40 campsites
Location: Located at 1,400 feet elevation near Scotty’s Castle and Grapevine Canyon.
Things to do: Ubehebe Crater
Reservations: All sites are served upon first come, first served and it is open year-round
Amenities: Flush toilets, RV dump station, Portable water
Emigrant Campground
Number of Campsites: 10 tent-only sites
Location: 40 minutes from Furnace Creek
Things to do: Stovepipe Wells General Store, Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel
Reservations: All campsites are served on a first-come, first-served basis
Amenities: Picnic tables, fire grates at each site, flush toilets
Panamint Springs RV Park
Number of Campsites: 54 Campsites (26 drying campsites, 22 tent sites, 8 full hookup sites)
Location: At the Western entrance to Death Valley
Things to do: Visit Father Crowley Vista Point
Reservations: All sites are served under first-come, first-served
Amenities: Fire grates at each site, picnic tables, showers, flush toilets
Wildrose Campground
Number of Campsites: 23 sites in the mountains
Location: Near the Charcoal Kilns on Wildrose Canyon Road
Things to do: Hiking Wildrose Peak
Reservations: Sites are served under first-come, first-served
Amenities: Picnic tables and fire grates, vault toilets (Seasonal)
Thorndike Campground
Number of Campsites: 6 sites but not for RVs and trailers
Location: In the mountains at 7,400 feet above sea level
Things to do: Visiting Wildrose Charcoal Kilns
Reservations: All campsites are served under first-come, first-served and it is closed for winter
Amenities: Picnic table, fire grates at each site, vault toilets
Mahogany Flat Campground
Number of Campsites: 10 sites in the mountains
Location: In a pine and juniper forest with sweeping views over Death Valley that sits at 8,200 above sea level
Things to do: Hiking in Telescope Peak Trailhead
Reservations: All sites are served under first-come, first-served but, closed for winter
Amenities: Picnic tables, fire grates at each site, vault toilets
Reservations and Permits
Only the Furnace Creek Campground accepts reservations of nine developed campgrounds operated by the National Park Service. The other 8 campgrounds are all available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The other 3 campgrounds, Stovepipe Wells RV Park, Fiddler’s Campground, and Panamint Springs Resort are run by private companies. These campgrounds accept reservations which can be made by contacting the campgrounds directly.
The campers who are interested in exploring the backcountry of Death Valley can obtain an optional Wilderness/Backcountry Use Permit.
Things to bring for camping
You have to make sure that you have suitable and enough gear before preparing yourselves for camping in Death Valley National Park. Here is some gear that may help you to arrange your packing.
- Tents
- Sleeping Bags
- Camp Chairs
- Camping Stove
- Portable Water Container
- Cooler
What Are the Backcountry Roadside Camping Destinations?
- Echo Canyon Road
- Hole in the Wall Road
- Cottonwood Canyon Road
- Racetrack Road
- Warm Springs Canyon Road
What Are the Backpacking Destinations in the Death Valley National Park?
- Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop
- Big Horn Gorge
- Hanaupah Canyon
- Fall Canyon
- Indian Pass
- Hungry Bill’s Ranch
- Owls head Mountains
- Panamint Dunes
- Telescope Peak
- Surprise Canyon
- Titanothere Canyon
So, after going through this content, you will get to know everything regarding camping in Death Valley National Park. Some topics that have been discussed here are not only related to the camping in Death Valley but also to other destinations that you intend to go to. So, hope you have all enjoyed the reading.
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