Camping near Death Valley National Park

Nice campground $10 half price with senior pass. No water or dump.

Great views all directions... Most sites are very close to level. Packed dirt roads around campsites in good condition. Picnic tables have pole to hang lantern. Good spacing between most sites. Dump station closed until May. Clean pit toilets in weather protected buildings. $10 / night... $5 / night with Senior Pass.

Stayed here my first night at DVNP. There was a high wind event happening and most of the spots with tree coverage. It’s all FCFS right now so that was to be expected. All the sites were level and paved with dirt areas and picnic tables. The ground was too hard for me to get my tent stakes in so I didn’t put up my tent because of the wind. The bathrooms were clean and many of them around the park. Some RV hook up spots. This is a popular campground apparently and because it’s FF there was LOTS of traffic well into the night with people hoping to find any spot. Because of this constant traffic I wouldn’t stay here if you’re looking for peace and quiet and some star gazing. It’s a great spot for central location to the surrounding park though. And one of the few places in the park with decent cell service, at least for Verizon.

I will definitely stay here again next time I’m at DVNP. There are tons of available spots. It got a little busy Saturday night but everyone still had plenty of space between each other. There is absolutely no shade, which is bad when it’s hot. But it was great for me to test out my Starlink and Jackery, which both performed great. Make sure you’re self contained and bring everything with. Including your camera. Sunrise, sunsets and Milky Way were amazing

Got here really late during first/ second week of April. Wasn’t too busy and got a spot with no issues. It had a concrete slab to park and was convenient and easy. Weather was great too. Proximity to the park makes it even better. No service.

Just a couple miles from the Alabama Hills. $10 a night BLM campground. Vault toilets. Both water and dump station are closed 80+ sites and all have great views. But no shade.

First come first serve, good for our beers and tents. Running water for toilets and sinks. No showers. Great views in upper loop. Here the first week in April and we’re in the 70s and a low 80s. Good dry camping for 20 bucks a nightcan fill up fast. Get your spot early afternoon.

This place was great!  It wasn't until I'd settled down from setting up camp that I realized I could hear the white noise of the creek.  It was terrific.  The site I had (see picture) was a little close to the road (50 ft?) which was the lamest part about it (well, that and the human doody and toilet paper I saw on a walk), but people from the road could only see parts of the campsite.  It was private, stunning country.  Parts of this place are like being on another planet.

There was some well hidden garbage in the bushes, but the space is big and flat.  We had 2 cars, 2 tents, and a big mat we laid out to minimize tracking dirt.  The sun was very strong, so bring a tarp so you can create some shade.

We walked a lot on the main road, but also on some trails.  Night was dark (not great for stargazing, though) and there were wee creatures stirring in the bushes. 

Things to see: beautiful flowers (including these funky low plants that remind me of the martians from Hare-Way to the Stars), incredible rock formations, hey look, the Eastern Sierras including Mt.  Whitney!  Town is maybe 12 minutes away, and the people there were extremely nice.  Visit the Movie Museum (it was about ~hour's worth of pretty interesting.)  2.25 hours north was the Japanese internment camp, Manzanar.  My ignorant ass thought I'd be bored after 45 minutes, but after 2.5 hours, we were still exploring it.  It's solemn, and incredibly educational.  I can't recommend it enough.

Back to the campsite:  go here.  There seemed to be plenty of campsites and all the ones we saw looked great.  Although some probably required a lift; my stock WRX couIdn't get to a really good one due to same sandy ruts, so, do with that information what you will. 

I would absolutely stay here again.

Stayed at the pads for a week or so. They are a 300ft elevation and stay much cooler than the “downstairs” of Death Valley. It’s about a 20 minute drive into the park proper with several notable spots along the route to the Inn and the Ranch. Level spots with some gravel and lots of room. Big rig friendly for sure! NOTE: this area is an abandoned mining town so there are small pipes and some drop offs on a few slabs. Arriving at night is not a good idea. There is a wide open area in the turn off I would recommend hoofing it to scope your spot then move your rig in if you’re over 25ft. Coyotes frequently stop by so be on the lookout for that and smart with your trash, small animals and kiddos.

Because we had site 112, and it was March not July, and we could launch our canoe without any muss or fuss, and there were only a few other campers, I give this park 4 stars.  If we were here in July, well...we wouldn't stay here in July...period.  I can only imagine the crowds here after May 1.  This is a small lake and they limit the number of motorboats to 25, which is about 20 too many in my estimation.  Also, there is mandatory vessel inspection for mussels, and a $10 a day launch fee after May 1.  

So, timing is everything.  We had the lake to ourselves and we could launch our canoe directly from campsite #112.  The water is muddy, and much of the bank is not accessible from the water due to reeds, but the scenery looking at Mt Lone Pine, and Mt Whitney across the Alabama Hills is beautiful!

There was no check-in in March.  Reservations are online, and they will have your name on the post at the site when you arrive.  However, after May 1, you must have any vessel you are bringing with you inspected prior to entering the campground.

Each site will have a picnic table and fire ring and there are several water spigots throughout the campground where you can top off your tank.  However, most of the spigots do not have a nipple to screw on a water hose.  There are a couple that do.  There are also vault toilets and trash dumpsters throughout the campground.

The main downside to this campground regarding amenities is the lack of a dump site.  However, Boulder Creek RV Park just south on 395 will let you use their dump site for $25.   

The staff are very approachable and friendly and a couple of the maintenance guys even left us some cut firewood as they were thinning out the salt cedar trees.

The only demerits I give this campground in the offseason is the loud hwy noise from 395, which is inherent, and the small bits of trash that have become components of the sand.  Trash like broken glass, bottle caps, crushed aluminum cans, cigarette butts, dental floss applicators, etc.  Small stuff everywhere.  We spent an afternoon sifting through the sand, picking up trash around our campground, but it was really too big of a job for just 2 people.  Inyo County should organize a community clean up day where an army of volunteers with rakes can really go through the sand to pick up all of the debris.

Plenty of room, first come first serve. Self pay kiosk accepts credit cards. No hook-ups , but flush toilets and water cleanup counter. The ranch at Death Valley across the street if you care to go for dinner. Also ice cream and gift shop and small grocery section. Visit the museum on the property also.”

Near to the highway so noise in the background but not overbearing. Pretty pond location with ducks and coots.

Camp there all the time. Very remote. Can easily be the only person there as it just opened. 100's of acres we camped on top of the old gold mill over looking the entire operation and was fabulous waking up to the view on top of the mountain. Has a well and pump shoots hot water. Reason why I'm gonna do a hot thermal spring oasis. That will put Bonnie Claire on the map. Type in Bonnie Claire gunfights and train wrecks on YouTube. A great documentary. Shows how they processed 20 million each.

Big gravel lot with spaces, not much space between as I could hear the neighbor snoring all night. No generators allowed. Got there about 2 and there were just a few spots left, by 4 pm it was completely full. Beautiful views though

Sites H6 H5 and H3 are best. You can reserve through recreation dot gov. Roads are cleaned up from the 2022 storm but not like before. Terrain is not recognizable from older satellite images. Beautiful night sky.

After another day spent exploring the park, we were looking for a great spot to set us up for two last stops before leaving the park the following morning. We were going into Sunset but the ranger directed us to Texas Springs-no generators and less expensive for the win. We had a great view of the stars and Milky Way-getting great photos while enjoying the warm evening.