Spending 2 days in Death Valley: The Ultimate Guide
Death Valley is definitely one of the most unique National Parks I’ve visited in the US, and it’s a perfect spot to spend 2 days exploring.
Not only is Death Valley the largest National Park in the United States outside of Alaska, but it’s also known as the hottest place on Earth and the lowest point in North America! But this unique park doesn’t just break world records, its landscape looks like another planet and is packed with colourful mountains, geometric salt flats, golden sand dunes and even a volcanic crater.
We visited Death Valley as part of our 2 week Southwest road trip and spent a couple of days visiting some of the park’s best and most beautiful locations. In my opinion, 2 days is the perfect amount of time to visit, as you can see most of the main attractions during this time.
In this guide, I’ll tell you how to reach Death Valley, the best places to visit and everything you need to know about managing the harsh conditions while you explore.
Note: Due to serious flood damage in late 2023, certain parts of Death Valley National Park remain closed while repairs take place. Check the National Park’s website for up to date information on road closures.
Death Valley 2 Day Itinerary At A Glance
Here are the key highlights of this 2-day itinerary, along with details on where to stay and when’s the best time to visit.
How To Reach Death Valley National Park
Even though Death Valley looks like another world, it’s not actually that difficult to reach. It lies on the California side of the California-Nevada border and is just a 2-hour drive from Las Vegas or a 4.5-hour drive from Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles
During our visit to Death Valley, we travelled from LA since that’s where we flew into and where we rented our camper from.
The journey typically takes about 4.5 hours and is around 280 miles. On the road from LA to Death Valley, you’ll pass through parts of the Mojave Desert where you’ll be able to spot thousands of Joshua Trees.
You’ll need to take Interstate 10 eastbound to pick up Interstate 15 Northbound, then switch to Highway 395 heading north. You’ll see some of the Mojave Desert landscape before arriving at Death Valley National Park.
From Las Vegas
If you’re travelling from Vegas, you’ll be pleased to know the drive time is a fair bit shorter and only takes between 2 and 2.5 hours.
There are a few routes but the best and fastest way from Vegas is via the NV-160 which takes you through Pahrump and is a pretty scenic drive.
Best Time To Visit Death Valley
Death Valley is known for its unforgiving and harsh conditions, so you’ll need to time your visit well to avoid the extreme heat. We visited in the first week of April, and by mid-morning temperatures were already hitting 100°F! I do think this was a bit above the usual April average but the heat was ridiculous!
I really don’t recommend travelling here in the summer months. Death Valley’s heat can be dangerous at the best of times, but this is especially true from late May to September. Not only that, but you wouldn’t be able to spend more than a few minutes outside of your car to see the sights, so the trip wouldn’t really be worth it.
Generally, the best months to visit are between December and March, when the days are much cooler and you can explore all the sights. If you visit between February, April, and sometimes even May, you might be lucky enough to witness one of Death Valley’s wildflower blooms!
Know Before You Go
Before your visit, you’ll need to check whether the roads to the sites you’ll be visiting will require a 4×4 or a high-clearance vehicle. The sites I’ve added to this 2-day trip through Death Valley won’t require either of these, as these roads are all paved or gravel.
If you plan to visit a few National Parks over the year, you’ll be better off buying an America the Beautiful Pass. This annual pass costs $80, which is much cheaper than paying $30 – $35 per park visit.
There are only a few gas stations in Death Valley, these are at Stovepipe Wells and Furnace Creek. Fill up your tank before entering the park and keep an eye on how much gas you have while driving around. The last thing you want to do is break down in the scorching heat!
Speaking of heat, the temperatures here are no joke! Try to do any hikes earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon as the temperatures soar during the day. Bring plenty of water everywhere you go and always have extra bottles in the car – it might seem excessive, but we were shocked at how much we were having to drink! You can fill your water bottles up at the Visitor Centre in Furnace Creek.
Some areas in the park have very little to no cell service, make sure you download offline maps to your phone or pick up a paper map from the visitor centre.
Map Of Death Valley
Day 1: Zabriskie Point, Golden Canyon, Ubehebe Crater & Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
The first day of your 2-day trip through Death Valley will take you to one of the best sunrise locations in the park: Zabriskie Point. Once you’ve watched the hills change colour as the sun rises, head over to the Golden Canyon hike, where you can see the Red Cathedral. At the hottest point in the day, stop for some lunch and drive over to Ubehebe Crater. The last stop of your day will be the golden hills of Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.
Zabriskie Point
Just a short 10-minute drive from Furnace Creek, Zabriskie Point is hands down one of the best locations to watch the sunrise in Death Valley. It’s super easy to reach the viewpoint and is just a 400m uphill walk from the car park. Arriving a little before sunrise means you’ll be able to secure a good spot to witness the badlands transform in the soft morning light.
Once you’ve watched the sunrise, the Badlands Loop is a great hike which also starts from Zabriskie Point. This relatively easy loop trail only takes around an hour to complete and takes you through the stunning rock formations. When you get to the trail junction, I recommend walking counter-clockwise as this is the easier direction.
Golden Canyon & Red Cathedral
When you’re ready to leave Zabriskie Point, hop back in the car and drive 10 minutes to the Golden Canyon Trailhead. This is where you’ll find a bunch of different hikes with varying lengths and difficulties.
When we visited, we did the Golden Canyon hike to the Red Cathedral. We would have liked to have walked further to pick up the Lower Gulch Loop, but the day we visited was too hot and we had to turn back after the Red Cathedral.
The hike to the Red Cathedral is about 3 miles round trip and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. If you decide to tackle the Lower Gulch Loop, that’ll add an extra mile to your journey. Bring plenty of water, wear a hat and sunscreen!
Ubehebe Crater
During the hottest part of the day, I suggest grabbing some lunch, either at Furnace Creek or Stovepipe Wells. Then, in the mid-afternoon, hop back in your car and enjoy the AC while making the hour’s drive to Ubehebe Crater!
Ubehebe Crater is massive! At 600 feet deep and half a mile wide, it was formed in a volcanic eruption around 2,100 years ago. While you can get a good view of Ubehebe from the parking area, walking around the crater rim gives an even better perspective.
The Ubehebe and Little Hebe Crater (yes, there’s a second crater!) trail takes around an hour to do. I’d recommend walking counter-clockwise, this way, you get the elevation gain done at the beginning of the walk.
Although you have the option to walk down into the crater itself, it’s worth considering that hiking back out can be quite challenging in the heat.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
The last stop on the first day of your 2-day Death Valley trip is at my favourite spot in the park, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes!
I recommend aiming to arrive here an hour or two before sunset. Some of the dunes can get pretty tall, and it’s much more enjoyable to climb them when it’s cooler in the evening than during the scorching daytime heat.
Find yourself a nice spot to sit and take in the sunset as it paints the mountains purple and the sand dunes glow in the fading light.
Day 2: Badwater Basin, Natural Bridge, Artist’s Drive, Twenty Mule Team Canyon & Dante’s Viewpoint
On day 2, start your morning in Death Valley by watching the sunrise from the lowest point in North America, Badwater Basin. Then, before the temperature climbs, take a hike out to Natural Bridge before stopping by Devil’s Golf Course. During the hottest part of the day, explore the vibrant hills of Artist’s Drive and the rugged badlands of Twenty Mule Team Canyon. Finish up your trip with stunning views from Dante’s viewpoint.
Badwater Basin
While it might not be the most popular spot for sunrise in Death Valley, I personally find Badwater Basin to be one of the most stunning locations. The sun rises from behind the mountains and slowly lights up the valley floor. What’s more, you’ll likely have it mostly to yourself!
Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America, sitting at 282 feet below sea level. It’s here that you’ll find the iconic salt flats! The area near the car park is quite muddy, so you’ll need to walk about 20 minutes to reach the brighter salt. It’s here that you’ll really be able to see the unique geometric shapes the salt has formed.
Remember to bring plenty of water with you! We stayed out on the salt flats for ages and didn’t have any water for the walk back, which was really silly in hindsight.
Natural Bridge
Just a short 5-minute drive from Badwater Basin, you’ll find the Natural Bridge Trailhead. This 2-mile out-and-back hike is a relatively easy trek through a rocky canyon which leads you to a natural arch towering between the canyon walls.
If you walk a few hundred meters past the bridge, you’ll also find the dry falls, which are pretty cool to see!
Devil’s Golf Course
Just a few minutes’ drive from the Natural Bridge Trailhead is Devil’s Golf Course, which has some unique views that are worth a quick stop.
Devil’s Golf Course is characterised by its rugged and sharp salt formations, creating an otherworldly landscape. Devil’s Golf Course earned its name from a remark someone once made that “only the devil could play golf on such a surface,” and this offhand comment stuck.
During your visit, you’ll have views across the golf course to the Amargosa Range in the distance, and if you listen carefully, you’ll hear popping sounds as the ground contracts under the intense heat.
Artists Drive
Once you’re ready to leave the barren landscape of Devil’s Golf Course, hop back in your car for a quick 3-minute drive to the start of Artist’s Drive.
As the name suggests, this one-way road will lead you through vibrant hills and offers plenty of places to stop and explore along the way. One of the most colourful stops is the rainbow mountains of Artist’s Palette, located about halfway along the route!
These mountains have been painted by nature, their colourful hues created by volcanic deposits that give them their bright green, blue, purple, and pink tones. I loved climbing through these hills and seeing the unique colours up close.
Due to the sharp twists and turns along this loop, vehicles longer than 25 feet won’t be able to navigate the road.
Twenty Mule Team Canyon
Twenty Mule Team Canyon is a scenic 2.7-mile drive near Zabriskie Point, named after the mule teams that once transported borax from the mines. You might recognise the area as this was a filming location for some of the Star Wars films!
This winding road passes through narrow canyons with towering walls, showing off the desert’s natural beauty. Along the way, you’ll see colourful rocks and rugged cliffs, perfect for exploring.
Dante’s Viewpoint
The last stop of your Death Valley 2-day itinerary will take you to a location that will give you sweeping views across the park, Dante’s Viewpoint. This was also used in the Star Wars films, and the viewpoint is the Mos Eisley overlook in A New Hope.
Perched on the edge of the Black Mountains, Dante’s Viewpoint sits 1,669m above Badwater Basin, giving you a bird’s-eye view of the expansive white salt flats below and beyond. While the drive up here includes some steep sections, trust me, the views are absolutely worth it!
Where To Stay In Death Valley
So you’re unfortunately not going to be spoiled for choice if you plan on staying within Death Valley National Park for your 2-day trip. Options are limited, and if you choose to stay in accommodation, you don’t get as much for your money.
Camping is a good option here if you don’t mind not having your creature comforts, and this can help keep costs down. Some of the campsites close at certain times of the year. Check the NPS website before you visit.
Furnace Creek
Furnace Creek is found right in the centre of Death Valley and is close to lots of the sights such as Badwater Basin, Dante’s View and Artists Drive.
Although accommodation is limited in the park, this is where you’ll find the most choice. There are a few campgrounds available, the main ones are Furnace Creek Campground, Sunset Campground and Texas Springs Campground. We stayed in the first two, and they were both great locations. None of these campsites have showers though.
There are also a couple of hotels in Furnace Creek, The Inn at Death Valley and The Ranch at Death Valley. These will be quite expensive for what you get, but they will mean you’ll have your creature comforts in the heat.
Stovepipe Wells
Found on the western side of Death Valley, Stovepipe Wells is close to Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and is slightly closer to Ubehebe Crater, but the other sites are about 45 minutes away.
You’re even more limited on where to stay here, with either Stovepipe Wells Campground or Stovepipe Wells Village to choose from.
Pahrump
Pahrump is about an hour outside of Death Valley, halfway between the park and Vegas and is a good location if you want to stay nearby
Booking to stay in Pahrump means you’ll have access to more amenities like restaurants, gas and supermarkets while not having to travel too far for a day of exploring.
Death Valley In 1 Day
If you’re short on time and don’t have 2 days to spend in Death Valley, you can still visit some of the park’s highlights on a day trip! If I were to spend one day here, I would visit the following locations.
Final Thoughts: Spending 2 days in Death Valley: The Ultimate Guide
This 2-day itinerary will take you to some of the best locations dotted around Death Valley National Park. Whether you want to catch the sunrise at Zabriskie Point, drive through the pastel hills of Artist’s Drive or watch the sunset over the golden sand dunes, this guide will take you to them all.
If you’re planning a road trip through the rest of California, then a side trip to Salvation Mountain and Joshua Tree National Park is a great addition to your itinerary!
