Death Valley National Park sits at 282 feet below sea level at its lowest point, with surrounding mountains that create extreme temperature variations between seasons. Campgrounds in the park experience winter temperatures between 30-70°F while summer temperatures regularly exceed 120°F with ground temperatures hot enough to fry eggs. Camping options range from developed sites with amenities to remote backcountry locations requiring self-sufficiency.
What to do
Sunrise hikes at Zabriskie Point: From Furnace Creek Campground, take a morning hike to see dramatic colors. "We choose the hike to zabriskie point for sunrise and sunset, the natural bridge (very rough road) and the 8.5 round trip hike to wild rose peak which was very challenging," reports Deborah C.
Golf course access: Stay at a campground with resort privileges and enjoy unique desert golfing. "We learned that the owner of the LA Kings hockey team has purchased the resort and has many improvements planned," notes a camper at Furnace Creek, where the golf course adjoins camping areas.
Stargazing sessions: The dark skies provide exceptional astronomy opportunities. "The sky at night is incredible! I've been to a lot of places but I have never experienced the Milky Way as incredible as it was in Death Valley! No light pollution really helps!" writes Hayley K. who camped at Furnace Creek.
Ghost town exploration: Visit Rhyolite near Beatty for preserved mining ruins. Space Station RV Park serves as "a good base for a rendezvous with the rhyolite ghost town" according to GoldDust D., who found it "convenient to Death Valley NP and the ghost town of Rhyolite."
What campers like
Swimming pool access: The spring-fed pool at some locations provides critical relief from heat. "For 10$ per person you get a pool and shower pass for all day! The pool is awesome, spring fed warm water. The showers have massive pressure with hot water," says Deborah C. about the facilities near Furnace Creek.
Concrete camping pads: Death Valley Dispersed Camping offers unique concrete slabs for setting up. "This spot has a ton of abandoned flat concrete pads, mostly level and mostly accessible," explains Laura M., adding "it's peaceful and quiet and a good resting spot."
Wild burro sightings: Multiple campers report burro encounters near Beatty. "The local burros were friendly, and the moon was spectacular!" writes one camper at Space Station RV Park, while another mentions, "Burros visited campground both nights we were there."
Walk-in tent sites: Some campgrounds offer premium walk-in options. "The walk in sites have a lot of sweet camping spots. Great views of the desert and mountains, space between sites, even some scrappy trees for decent shade," writes Adam J. about Furnace Creek's walk-in section.
What you should know
Extreme temperature management: Summer camping requires preparation for dangerous heat. "We decided to come here one year in early September last year and it was still pretty hot even at night. We were tent camping and it was difficulty to sleep due to the heat," warns Stacy C. from Furnace Creek.
Hard ground for tent stakes: Bring proper equipment for securing tents. "The ground is hard, so bring a mallet to stake your tent down. We got stuck in a sandstorm at night and ended up hanging out in the tent playing card games till it passed," advises Hayley K.
Wildlife precautions: Tuttle Creek Campground has reported rodent issues. "Beautiful campground... But we were invaded by deer mice. They got in our campervan. We killed more than 10 of them... There was a poster on the vault toilets warning about hantavirus in the area," reports Deb H.
Bathroom quality varies widely: "The bathrooms were falling apart and disgusting. The sites were hardly designated," reports Jack W. about Panamint Springs, while another camper at Furnace Creek notes "The bathrooms and water sources are great!"
Tips for camping with families
Pool access for children: Look for campgrounds with swimming facilities for heat relief. "The pool across the street was actually cold at night, even though the air temp was 90, so that was great," writes Garrett B. about Stovepipe Wells Village RV Park.
Pest awareness: Families should be prepared for desert wildlife encounters. "Sleeping off the ground or in a tent is a must as we catch lots of sidewinders and scorpions every year in the campsite," advises Brian K. who camped at Panamint Springs.
Night sky activities: Plan evening stargazing sessions for children. "We had a cute little kangaroo mouse in our site one year. Highly recommended for inspirational winter camping!" writes Ryan S. about his family trips to Furnace Creek, adding that "the stars at night are beyond belief in their sublime beauty."
Off-season planning: Consider visiting during cooler months with children. "We stayed recently when it was 116 during the day, but since the sites had electric, we gave it a shot," reports Garrett B., demonstrating the importance of hookups during extreme heat.
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup limitations: Some campgrounds have electrical issues. "The first two sites we tried had bad electrical setups. The breakers wouldn't lock in place, and kept flipping back to the tripped/open state," notes Garrett B. about Stovepipe Wells Village.
Elevation differences: Minietta Road dispersed camping offers cooler options for RVs. "In this place you are like lost on an uninhabited island, no phone signal, not a single tree," reports Henry C., while another camper adds it has "a TON of space" making it ideal for larger dog-friendly rigs.
Gas price planning: Fuel costs vary significantly between locations. "There is gas in the park, but you may a nice price for it! The main gas station in furnace creek had gas for $5.46 per gallon, however gas at the stovepipe wells was only $4.21," advises Deborah C.
Generator noise considerations: Dog-friendly campgrounds differ in generator policies. "There is no quiet time. Generators ran all night. The jeep rental company at the front of the lot started pressure washing jeeps at 5:15am," reports Cassie about Fiddlers' Campground, making it potentially stressful for pets.
