Death Valley National Park is a must-visit for those visiting California. Death Valley is home to Badwater Basin which is the lowest point in North America at -282 ft, but also has peaks as high as 12,000 feet like Telescope Peak. With a wide range of places to see and hikes to do, there is something to do for all levels of visitors.
Trip date: Dec 20-21, 2018
Best Places to Visit in Death Valley National Park in the Winter for all levels
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A National Park Pass is required – purchase ahead online here
Is Death Valley in the Winter Worth Visiting?
Winter is the best time to visit the desert because of the weather. It’s much cooler temperatures during the day (low 70s in December) and the evenings were amazing temps for camping, around 55 degrees at night. I’ve been here once in the Spring and the morning weather was nice, but as soon as noon hit, it got really hot and the desert is super exposed.
What not to miss at Death Valley?
Badwater Basin is a must-see at Death Valley, especially if you are planning your trip right now (Nov 2023) for the next few weeks! Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America which can get scorching hot in the summertime. Temps start to heat up by early Spring, sometimes even late Winter. But what makes this truly unique to visit right now is that the salt flats are currently flooded so there is a temporary lake! This will not last for too long so plan a visit ASAP!
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5 Things to Do in Death Valley in One Weekend
In the winter, the days are shorter. In the summer, the days are still shorter simply because it gets too hot to be out exploring in the middle of the day when temps are in the 90s/ 100s. Therefore, you only have a certain amount of days to explore each day all year round – see my weekend itinerary below.
I went on a super quick trip to Death Valley National Park with my friend Kara. We drove out from Los Angeles on Dec 20 just before 6 am, drove 4:15 hours north on the 395 towards the desert, and left the park at 11 am the next day to be back in LA by mid/late afternoon.
Although our trip was on a Thurs & Fri, you can easily use this itinerary to plan your own quick weekend getaway packed with lots of mini adventures!
Keep reading the second half of this post for additional things to do in Death Valley if you want to customize your trip differently, or have more time!
We had no plans for our trip and no sleeping accommodations… we just wanted to be out in nature, so our first stop was the visitor center. Even if you know all the trails/ vistas you want to see during your trip, stopping by a visitor center is always a good idea to gather more information, current weather conditions, and camping options/ water sources. I usually know exactly where I want to be on my trips, but I always stop by the visitor centers when given the chance.
Badwater Basin
(11:30 am) We arrived at our first stop: Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America resting at 282 feet below sea level. It’s about a 15-min walk to the end where the paved-ish runway ends and you’re surrounded by 360 deg views of salt flats. It’s a very unique site to visit and we spent about an hour out here.
They say a temporary lake can possibly
Click here to read more about Lake Manly.
Artists Drive & Palette
(1:00 pm) We started our scenic drive through Artists Drive and about 8-10 mins in, you’ll see an obscure r
Zabriskie Point
(2:20 pm) I’ve always been curious to see Zabriskie Point and I wish we had time to do the Golden Canyon hike that leads here also, but we parked the car at the lot Zabriskie Point lot and walked less than 5 mins to see the view of brown-toned desert layers. This spot gets very crowded so we only stayed 10-15 mins before heading to our last spot for the day, but this spot was recommended to view the sunset.
Dante’s View
(3:10 pm) Dante’s View is another vista you can drive up to. It’s a nice aerial view of Badwater Basin sitting at 5475 ft but if you walk about 5 mins to the left of the parking lot along the trail, you’ll get to see a bit more of it as it opens up. It was very windy up here because you’re driving a tad bit higher, but the valley from below wasn’t windy, just chillier as the evening approached. This is also a good sunset spot.
For the remainder of the evening, we drove all the way back to Emigrant Campground which is the closest free campsite to Furnace Creek/ Visitor Center. It’s still about 40 mins away which was fine because it was near the entrance/exit to the park and by our last destination for the next morning before we head out the next day. This is a first come, first serve campground with 10 sites, open all year round, and we got lucky and snagged the last spot.
Enjoy the dark-sky location and book a stargazing tour in Death Valley!
The next morning, we stopped by Stovepipe Wells at the market for a snack and cell service so I can get some quick work done before continuing on our last adventure for this trip.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
(9 am, Fri) Stepping in virgin sand is really a special feeling – it’s the same feeling as when you are the first to step on fresh snow powder, and we were on a search for this experience at the nearby Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. The wind from the previous day wasn’t strong enough to “clean” the sand dunes from the thousands of footprints and we walked 30+ mins all the way out and still no fresh ridges. It’s still worth going to and we spent about 2 hours out here before beginning the journey home. It’s very exposed so start early or late – it’s also the best time for shadows from the dunes for photo ops.
The 5 things to do above will fit perfectly into a quick weekend trip to Death Valley National Park.
Keep reading below for more things to do and places to see in the park!
8 More Things to Do In Death Valley
Darwin Falls
Darwin Falls is a very short and easy 2 mile out and back hike on the outskirts of Death Valley National Park. Most tourists do not know about this gem but this waterfall hike in the desert is spring-fed and runs year-round!
Click here to read the Darwin Falls hike blog post.
Natural Bridge at Death Valley
The natural bridge in Death Valley is a unique geological formation to see in the park. It requires 1.5 miles of driving on a dirt road and a 1-mile hike to the bridge, one-way. The hike goes through a relatively flat canyon that was sculpted by water years ago which provides sufficient shade during the hike.
Oasis at Death Valley
There is a small area next to Furnace Creek campground and visitor center that is an oasis in the middle of the desert. While The Oasis at Death Valley is a hotel, that whole public area is accessible and green with shade, a general store, an ice cream shop, a museum, and more!
Ubehebe Crater
Star Gazing / Night Photography
Death Valley National Park is one of the best places to see the star in California. Death Valley actually has the highest level of dark skies from the International Dark-Sky Association.
Devils Golf Course
The Devil’s Golf Course resembles the salt flat but with larger chunks of salt on the floor. Wind and rain eroded the salt in this part of the park to create uneven, jagged formations of salt. If you listen closely, you can even hear the popping of the salt crystals bursting from the heat.
Hike Telescope Peak, Death Valley’s Tallest Point
If you are looking for something more strenuous to do, try this high-altitude hike to Telescope Peak. The peak is the highest point in Death Valley with an elevation of 11,046 ft. Winter is a great time to hike it but the road is closed lower and there will be snow on the mountain. Shoulder seasons are a great time to hike too.
Click here to read more about it in the Telescope Peak blog post.
Tecopa Hot Springs
While Tecopa Hot Springs is technically outside of Death Valley National Park, it’s close to Death Valley and about an hour away from Furnace Creek Visitor Center.
There are natural hot springs here but be warned there are spider mites in it. It’s a large pool but the water is warm at best, with some hot spots where the springs seep out. If you are looking for a hot and toasty hot spring to soak in, this wouldn’t be it. If you are seeking a warm soak, you will enjoy this if you don’t mind the spider mites.
Views heading home towards the 395
Best Places to Stay in Death Valley
- Budget-Friendly: Panamint Springs Resort – For those searching for a budget-friendly option, Panamint Springs is a bit of a drive but it’s still located inside the park, closer to the sand dunes, and conveniently on the way if you are coming from the 395 (basically if you are coming from California vs Nevada).
- Mid-Range: Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel – This hotel is right by the Mesquite Sand Dunes, making it a great choice for those looking to explore the area and break up the drive.
- Luxury: The Inn at Death Valley – For those searching for a more luxurious stay inside Death Valley National Park, this upscale hotel is just a 15-minute drive from Badwater Basin.
Looking for a more challenging adventure?
You might like this high-altitude hike to the tallest point in Death Valley: Telescope Peak
Thanks for reading 🙂
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below & let me know if you have any questions!
*Don’t forget to practice Leave No Trace*
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