Exploring Death Valley National Park, one of the largest parks in the U.S., can be an overwhelming task, especially if you have only one day to spare. This one-day itinerary is designed to help you navigate through the park’s most stunning attractions efficiently.
Whether you’re gazing at the sunrise from a famous overlook or walking through vast salt flats, this itinerary will help you experience the best of Death Valley in a short time.
- Zabriskie Point
- Ubehebe Crater
- Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
- Devil’s Cornfield
- Salt Creek Interpretive Trail
- Badwater Basin
- National Bridge Trail
- Devil’s Golf Course
- Artists Palette
- Dante’s View
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What Can You Do In Death Valley For One Day?
There is a lot to see in Death Valley. You can spend a week here, and still not see everything. If you’re only going to visit for one day then your priority should be the best things to do for one day in Death Valley, so you make the most out of your time there.
The easy way to make your day in Death Valley memorable is to have a solid plan of where and when you should go.
Need help planning a road trip? Are you overwhelmed by the thought of trip planning? It can take 10-12 hours to plan just one day! We can create a road trip itinerary so you can enjoy your trip without the stress.
Death Valley Day Trip Itinerary
This itinerary will give you a detailed list of the 10 best spots in order of viewing so that you get the most out of your trip during one day in Death Valley.
Stop #1: Zabriskie Point
There are many places to see Death Valley at sunrise, but Zabriskie Point is arguably the most iconic.
It’s located on CA-190 and is one of the most photographed spots in the park. Seeing Zabriskie Point during sunrise is one of the best things to do in Death Valley.
That’s not surprising when you see the golden colors on the badlands. The elevated overlook provides a panoramic view of the Golden Canyon badlands, which have been carved by the erosive forces of water, wind, and extreme temperature changes.
You can also see Manly Beacon, a prominent rock formation that stands guard over the point. Past the badlands, you can see the salt flats spread across the valley floor. Look up to see the Panamint Mountains above the salt flats.
The hike to Zabriskie Point is an easy 0.4-mile hike with a moderate elevation gain of 49 feet along a well-maintained trail. The trail begins at the parking lot and heads straight up to Zabriskie Point.
The ascent is gradual, and it only takes about 5-10 minutes to reach the top. Allow 15 minutes to an hour at Zabriskie Point. You can also carefully hike down on the badlands or hike to the Golden Canyon trail on Badwater Road.
Stop #2: Ubehebe Crater
Ever seen a volcanic crater about 600 feet deep? Check out the Ubehebe Crater, a dormant crater that has a 0.5-mile diameter. This attraction is out of the way, about 1 hour and 15 minutes (61 miles) one way.
But we recommend checking it out, especially if you’ve never seen a volcanic crater before. As the sun comes out, you’ll see yellow and orange hues on the crater. You’ll also see smaller craters like Little Hebe surrounding the Ubehebe Crater.
So how did these craters form? 2,100 years ago, they were created when hot magma touched groundwater. This created steam that produced pressure and led to an explosion.
You can see and photograph the Ubehebe Crater from up top at the parking lot but if you want to immerse yourself in this attraction, you can hike around and down the crater. It’s a 1.5-mile moderate-to-difficult hike around the crater rim.
If you plan to hike down, be careful and note that it’s far easier to hike down than up. Allow 10-15 minutes if you plan to see it from the top or 1-2 hours if you plan to hike down or around the Ubehebe Crater.
Directions: From Zabriskie Point, drive on CA-190 West to Scotty’s Castle Road and then turn on Ubehebe Crater Road.
Stop #3: Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
There are 6 sand dunes in this park (Mesquite, Eureka, Hidden, Saline Valley Dunes, Panamint Valley, and Ibex Sand Dune) but Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are the most popular and easily accessible.
It’s called Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes for its Mesquite trees growing on the sand dunes. The dunes rise as high as 100 feet and cover a huge area. Plus sandboarding is permitted at the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and Saline Valley Dunes.
It’s a great sunrise or sunset location but it’s also beautiful to photograph during the day. While it’s not allowed to go off-roading on the sand dunes, you can hike on the sand dunes.
To hike to the tallest dune, there isn’t an official trail but you can spot the tallest one there. It’s a moderate 2-mile hike with an elevation gain of 185 feet.
It can take up to 2 hours to hike up this dune. If you’re just exploring some of the dunes, allow 15-20 minutes.
Directions: From Ubehebe Crater, drive back on Ubehebe Crater Road to Scotty’s Castle Road, and then CA-190 West and take a right after 5.3 miles.
Stop #4: Devil’s Cornfield
The Devil’s Cornfield is a roadside stop and has its so-called name for its strange-looking features and dried corn bundled across the field.
Compared to the other attractions, it is less popular but interesting to look at and if you walk further into the field, you’ll see taller bundles as high as 6 feet!
These cornfields are actually filled with Arrowweed plants that have survived the hottest and driest temperatures at Death Valley.
The reason it looks that way is that the roots grow outward to protect the plant’s growth. Allow just a few minutes to observe these corn bundles or up to 30 minutes to walk further into the cornfield.
Directions: From the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, it’s 3.9 miles on CA-190 East and you’ll see it on the right.
Stop #5: Salt Creek Interpretive Trail
Did you ever think you can see water in the driest place in North America? Yes, you can see water in Salt Creek during the winter season. This oasis allows certain types of plants and animals to thrive in this California desert environment.
You’ll see blue-ish jumpy fish named pupfish in the Salt Creek and pickleweed plants growing near the creek’s edges. As the name says, the water is super salty, far more than sea water.
But both the pupfish and pickleweed plants have adapted to this salty environment and continue to survive here.
The Salt Creek Interpretive Trail is an easy 0.5-mile hike on a leveled boardwalk with display signs through the trail. Allow 30 minutes to an hour to explore this attraction.
Directions: From the Devil’s Cornfield, continue on CA-190 East for 5.5 miles and turn right at the gates to the unpaved Salt Creek Road for the trail.
Stop #6: Badwater Basin
One of the popular attractions here is Badwater Basin and you can’t leave Death Valley National Park without seeing it! Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America, at 282 feet below sea level!
Don’t believe that you’re 282 feet below sea level? Turn around at the parking lot and you’ll see a sign on the Black Mountains that says so. Past the parking lot, you’ll see 200+ miles of salt flats made of salt, borax, calcite and gypsum.
These salt deposits are naturally shaped as polygons. At the entrance of the attraction, you’ll see a pool of salty water that’s home to pickleweed, snails and other native life that survive around it.
Past the boardwalk near the parking lot, you can hike a few miles onto the salt flats. While you can see the salt flats from the boardwalk or parking lot, the farther you hike, the more formed the salt flats are.
It’s an easy hike but watch out for the raised up salt – I almost tripped a few times! Allow an hour to explore this attraction. After you’re done looking down on the salt flats, look up to the Telescope Peak that sits 11,049 feet high on the Panamint mountains.
Directions: From the Salt Creek Trail, continue on CA-190 East for around 15 miles and turn right on to Badwater Road for 16 more miles for Badwater Basin.
Stop #7: National Bridge
Hike to the Natural Bridge to see an arch that’s 35 feet high and 35 feet thick. This arch is made up of mountain sediment, rock and gravel. It’s a moderate 1-mile hike with an elevation gain of 86 feet.
There isn’t a paved trail but rather lots of gravel to walk on. Plus it’s uphill but the hike is short so it isn’t too challenging.
You can also hike past the Natural Bridge to see other interesting features in Death Valley including a dried up waterfall and hanging canyons. Allow 1 hour to hike to and from the Natural Bridge.
Directions: From Badwater Basin, drive back on Badwater Road and turn right on Natural Bridge Road to its parking lot. The Natural Bridge Road is an unpaved and very bumpy road and will take a while to drive through but is possible.
Stop #8: Devil’s Golf Course
The Devil’s Golf Course is another expansive area of salt formations but far different that the ones you saw at Badwater Basin. Once a lake but due to wind and water erosion, the rock salt formed into ragged spires.
If it’s quiet, you might hear the salt crystals popping as it expands in the heat. You can see these formations at the parking lot but we recommend walking out on this rugged golf course. You might see others posing with golf clubs here!
Directions: From Natural Bridge Road, head out onto Badwater Road and after 2 miles, turn left on to Salt Pool Road. Salt Pool Road is also a dirt unpaved road made of gravel so drive carefully while entering and exiting Devil’s Golf Course.
Stop #9: Artist’s Palette
Who knew that oxidation can look this beautiful! Once you start the 9-mile Artists Drive, you’ll first start seeing pale yellow hills but then you start to see colors of blue, green and pink on some parts of the landscape.
These colors were formed due to volcanic deposits that are rich in iron oxides and chlorite. At the Artist’s Palette, you’ll see pastel-colored hills due to oxidation and weather conditions throughout time. But throughout Artist’s Drive, you’ll see more colorful rock formations naturally sculpted due to water erosion.
Allow 1 hour to drive through Artists drive, explore Artist’s Palette and other vistas at roadside turnouts. A heads up, the Artists Drive is curvy with some steep inclines and declines.
Note: The Artists Drive is a one-way road so it’s best to do it on your way out of Badwater Road or you’ll have to do some extra driving.
Directions: From Devil’s Golf Course on Salt Pool Road, drive back on Badwater Road for a few miles until you see the Artists Drive on the right.
Stop #10: Dante’s View
Every national park has its own high viewpoint and Death Valley’s is Dante’s View. Dante’s View provides landscape views of the Death Valley basin including the salt flats below and the Panamint Range above.
This viewpoint stands at 5,575 feet high and the perfect spot for sunset. It does get crowded during sunset but Dante’s View has lots of space to walk around or hike up the hills. Dante’s View can be at least 10-15 degrees lower than the other attractions.
Be prepared with your jackets and hats. Since this is your last stop at Death Valley, you can spend as much time and even stay until dark to see the moon’s reflections on the salt flats!
If you’re a Star Wars fan, then this place might be familiar to you! This was used as a filming location for a 1977’s Star Wars film.
Directions: Head out of Artists Drive to Badwater Road and onto CA-190 East for 10+ miles. Then take a right on to Furnace Creek Wash Road for 7.5 miles until you hit Dantes View Road. Dantes View Road is curvy and steep towards the top.
Planning your trip to Death Valley? Save with the Annual National Parks Pass. We visited 4+ parks for only $80 last year, saving $53! Here are the best tours, hotels, and car rentals:
📸 Best Tours In Death Valley:
- Pro Photography Tour In Death Valley (customized for you)
- 4 Day Death Valley, Yosemite, San Francisco Tour (June through September)
- Death Valley Explorer Tour (access remote areas while comfy)
- Wine Tasting, Sightseeing, Stargazing Tour (with photography)
- Death Valley Stargazing Tour from Las Vegas (park admission included!)
😴 Best Hotels In Death Valley:
- Panamint Springs Motel & Tents (💲) (we stayed here – compact but cheap)
- The Ranch At Death Valley (💲💲) (close to the visitor center)
- The Inn at Death Valley (💲💲💲) (4-star hotel)
🚘 Best Car Rental: DiscoverCars (save up to 70%)
Map of Death Valley
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Death Valley National Park Known For?
The Death Valley National Park is a place of superlatives — the hottest, the driest and lowest point in North America.
The hottest temperature ever recorded on earth was at Death Valley National Park in 1913. The temperature reached a hot 134 Fahrenheit.
Despite that, a surprising number of plants and animals call it home. The Death Valley National Park is home to many animals, such as desert tortoises, coyotes, bighorn sheep, jackrabbits, kangaroo rats, and roadrunners.
Death Valley is also an amazing place for hiking, camping, and photography. This national park protects a variety of unique environments, from snow-covered mountains and brown canyons to palm trees and salt formations.
The dramatic landscape of Death Valley National Park was shaped over millions of years by geological forces. The results are colorful rock formations, volcanic craters, sand dunes, rugged mountains, and salt flats.
With some areas of the park even below sea level, the park has a rich history. Death Valley also has many ghost towns and locations where gold was once discovered!
How Do You Get To Death Valley?
There are 3 highway routes to take to enter Death Valley National Park. If you’re traveling from the Bay Area, you’ll be entering via CA-190 East. If you’re driving from South California, you can enter via CA-190 West or CA-190 East.
If you’re driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, this is a great stop for a break along the way via CA-190 West. If you’re driving from Reno, Carson City, or northeastern California, you can enter via CA-190 East.
Day Trip To Death Valley From Vegas
Vegas is packed with man-made attractions but if you’re looking for a family-friendly getaway, then drive to Death Valley National Park. The park is ideal for families and has so much to offer from all the amazing things to see and do.
It takes a little over 2 hours and 124 miles one way. Once you’re in the park, check out this itinerary below before heading back to Vegas:
- Zabriskie Point
- Devil’s Golf Course
- Badwater Basin
- Artist Drive
- Dante’s View
Interested in touring with a company that has extensive knowledge about Death Valley National Park? Check out these top two options:
This Death Valley Day Trip from Las Vegas takes you to all the main attractions plus Rhyolite, one of California’s ghost towns.
This Death Valley National Park tour from Las Vegas shows you the beauty of the park during the day and the beauty of the sky full of stars.
Day Trip To Death Valley From Los Angeles
If you’re in Los Angeles and are looking for something to do for a day trip, then Death Valley is the place for you.
It takes about 4.5 hours (257 miles one-way) to get there from Los Angeles. It may sound like a long drive but the park’s attractions are worth it! Here’s the itinerary to do if you’re traveling to Death Valley from Los Angeles:
- Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
- Devil’s Cornfield
- Badwater Basin
- Artist Drive
- Dante’s View
What’s The Best Time To Visit Death Valley National Park?
Death Valley National Park is known as one of the hottest and driest places in North America so you want to take full advantage of everything the place has to offer while avoiding deadly heat exposure and dehydration.
Visiting Death Valley National Park can be wonderful if you know the best time to visit. It’s best to visit during the winter season. You can also visit in late fall or early spring and experience great weather as well.
Spring brings its colorful wildflowers from Desert Dandelion to Desert Mariposa. We visited in December and the weather was sunny but chilly. It was really cold and windy on Dante’s View. Winter temperatures in Death Valley can be between the 30s and 60s Fahrenheit.
The summer months of June through August are usually very hot and dry in Death Valley. The temperatures can reach over 120 degrees Fahrenheit, so it is not recommended for families with children or anyone who plans to be out in the heat for long periods of time.
What Should I Pack For A Death Valley Day Trip?
Visiting one of the biggest National Parks with extreme temperatures means you have to be prepared for anything. In the summer, Death Valley’s high temperatures can be deadly.
But even in winter, it’s a place where visitors should prepare carefully. The key to a successful day trip is packing the right stuff, especially in a place as harsh and diverse as Death Valley. Here’s what you need to bring:
Water: Make sure to bring plenty of water for each person on your trip. The park service recommends at least one gallon per person per day. If you’re hiking, take extra. If you’re planning any strenuous activity, take even more. Pack this reusable water bottle too.
Food: Pack lunch or snacks for your trip. It may be tempting to stop along the way, but keep in mind that a day trip to Death Valley is a packed day.
Sunhat: If you haven’t been to the desert before, you may not realize how intense the sun can be. A hat with a brim all the way around it — not just a baseball cap style hat — will keep the sun off your face, ears, neck, and shoulders, which are especially vulnerable to sunburns.
Sunscreen: Even on mildly warm days (the 70s or 80s), slather on sunscreen before heading outdoors and reapply every couple of hours. Make sure your sunscreen is at least SPF 15 and has both UVA and UVB protection.
Sunglasses: The sun can damage your eyes as well as your skin, so don’t forget your sunglasses either. The desert is hot and this will help prevent heat exhaustion while exploring the park.
Pack your camera gear: I tend to bring my DSLR camera, a 16-50mm lens, and a 55-210mm lens. The 16-50mm lens is great for capturing vast landscapes, but the 55-210mm lens comes in handy for zooming in on distant objects like mountains or rock formations.
Hiking Shoes: Bring comfortable hiking shoes with good traction for hiking or walking around the park’s trails. It can get slippery on some of the rocks.
Death Valley National Park Map: Cell phone service can be limited in the park so grab a map at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center.
When days are hot and dry, it’s best to have a few cold drinks in your car. Make sure to pack your small cooler in your car.
Can You See Death Valley In 1 Day?
At a park as expansive as Death Valley, can you see it all in one day? You can definitely see all the main attractions in Death Valley National Park in one day!
But which is better: An intense full day in Death Valley National Park or the lower stress 2-3 days trip? It’s a hard decision to make and that depends on you and what type of trip you’ll enjoy. Maybe you don’t have time for an extended stay, or maybe you only have one day to explore this amazing landscape.
You don’t need to spend the night at Stovepipe Wells or Furnace Creek to see all the main attractions in Death Valley National Park. It is possible to drive through the whole park in one day if you leave early enough. Also following the order of this itinerary helps!
How Many Days Should You Spend In Death Valley?
You can see it all in one day but it can be a long and tiresome day. If you can, spend 2-3 days to explore the park’s main attractions and more.
Things To Know Before Your Trip To Death Valley
Got questions about the entrance fee, safety, or anything else? Here are some things you need to know before visiting Death Valley National Park:
Death Valley Entrance Fee
Just like other US National Parks, the 7-day entrance fee is $30 per vehicle. If you’re riding on a motorcycle, it’s $25 for the week or $15 if you’re walking or biking into the park.
But if you purchase the $80 America the Beautiful Annual Pass (National Parks Pass), you can enter all U.S. National Parks without paying the entrance fees.
Death Valley National Park is huge and if you love just visiting this park multiple times, you can get the $55 Death Valley Annual Pass.
Another option is to enter the Death Valley National Park for free on Free Entrance Days. There are 5 days every year when you can enter any U.S. National Parks for free:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Monday of January)
- First Day of National Park Week (Mid-April)
- The Great American Outdoors Act – Anniversary (August 4)
- National Public Lands Day (4th Saturday of September)
- Veterans Day (November 11)
Safety
Enter and exit Death Valley with these safety tips:
- Do not hike when it is extremely hot and avoid hiking on summer afternoons.
- Stay on designated trails and roads and watch out for desert animals.
- Make sure you’re drinking lots of water (at least a gallon of water a day).
- While pets are not allowed on trails and park buildings, do not leave your pet in the car.
Drones
Drones or any other aircraft that’s operating on National Parks’ land or water is not allowed unless it was approved by the Superintendent.
Where To Stay In Death Valley
It’s best to stay in the park because you’re going to be really tired post-trip. Or if you have a long drive before you start the day.
We recommend these 3 options that offer good amenities and are located inside the park and close to its attractions:
Budget-Friendly Option: Panamint Springs Motel & Tents (We stayed here! Cabin-feel and small but decent for a night’s sleep)
Mid-Priced Option: The Ranch At Death Valley (Close to the visitor center with a lot of features including a golf course, tennis courts, kids’ playground, and a pool)
Lux Option: The Inn at Death Valley (Gorgeous 4-star hotel with everything you need!)
If you’re looking for the most affordable option, campgrounds are great, especially if you want to feel the most connected with the Death Valley landscape.
Final Thoughts: Death Valley Day Trip
We hope this itinerary helps you plan for your next trip to Death Valley! It’s designed to hit the main highlights of Death Valley in the most efficient way possible.
Each section of my trip takes you to another beautiful spot in the valley. It’s full of attractions and activities, not to mention incredible photo opportunities and this itinerary will help you experience as much as possible during your Death Valley day trip.
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