Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Death Valley National Park

Perfect base camp for exploring Death Valley National Park. It's located a quarter mile from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center where you can check in to pay the park fee and ask the rangers any questions. They always post the current weather and encourage visitors to stay safe in the heat. It's about 20 minutes from main attractions in the park including the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Zabriskie Point and Badwater Basin Salt Flats.

Campground Pros: Nice bathrooms and large sinks for dishes (also with potable water), Sizable camping spots, great location

Campground Cons: Very little shade, plan to bring a canopy if you are tent camping, no showers

Overall a great campground - just make sure you're visiting when the weather is decent. Super hot temps can ruin the experience pretty quick - and fill your tank before you drive into the park!

The Stovepipe Wells Campground/RV Park's strength is its location. It's in the middle of Death Valley National Park so you can more easily reach the more remote highlights compared to the Furnace Creek area.  However, if you want to be in the middle of the activity, head to Furnace Creek.  

The RV area of Stovepipe Wells is just an open field with hook-ups spaced with just enough room for a rig to fit in between. Thus, you are right on top of your neighbors, which is weird since there's so much wide open space here.  I think if you didn't need hook ups or had a tent you might be able to spread out more than we did.

While we were there in December 2019, the wifi was non-existent and the power was very intermittent.  In fact, we went two days with no power at all, which was really unfortunate since we paid for the hook up.  Also, restrooms are quite a walk away from the hook up area, so if you are counting on using the bathrooms, be prepared to walk a bit to either the gas station or across the street to the hotel lobby area.  

We were promised a refund for the days we didn't receive the services we paid for but they never followed through and the employees seemed powerless to do anything to help.  Kind of a let down. When we return to Death Valley, we'll probably stay closer to Furnace Creek.

This is the same basic campgrounds you get through this entire Death valley National park... 

The thing this park is missing is  SHADE for starters... please be aware of how hot it is here and that the sun has no mercy so please pack a pop-up, hat, etc....

anything to keep you shaded from the elements.

Besides that, they do have nice picnic tables at each spot and you can fit two smaller tents at each spot if needed so you are sharing the cost with some buddies... which is always good.

trash cans available and recycle areas for your propane tanks... 

which this entire park has and I love seeing that.

Mother nature needs all the help she can get.

Not much privacy for campers or RVers... Its a parking spot with lines showing your area.. NOT MUCH ELSE

Nice handwashing stations.. BRING YOUR OWN SOAP

Bathrooms could be a little cleaner but you have flushing toilets and water to wash your hands. Bring your own soap they do not provide.

They have potable water

Stunning views

But like I said basic and shadeless...

Perfect for a bunch of friends driving out for sure it does have pros and your right by all the action.

cheers.

Our four-day visit to Death Valley National Park happened to line up with their rare Superbloom, so we had to beat the crowds to get a campsite. Unfortunately, this landed us in Sunset Campground, one of the NPS’s worst campgrounds, in one of the most beautiful parks.

Sunset Campground -- much more of a parking lot than a campground -- is everything we don’t want in a campground: sites are cramped, scenery is nonexistent, and there was nothing to stop the insane wind from destroying our tent that had lasted us every day of our six-month trip thus far.

We don’t blame Death Valley - we loved this park! Home to the lowest, driest, hottest place in the country, Death Valley is surprisingly full of life and gorgeous scenery. We loved hiking, chasing the wildflowers, watching the sunsets each night, following the scenic drives, and lounging on the porch of the fancy Furnace Creek Inn.

For two nights, we suffered through Sunset Campground, but for our third and fourth night, we purchased a backcountry permit, which allowed us to park and camp along the park’s dirt roads, at least one mile from any paved roads. These were the nights we’ll remember fondly throughout our time in Death Valley. Take our advice and skip right over Sunset Campground.

You can read much more about our four days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Death Valley)