Looking for an adventure where you can explore Death Valley National Park and then fall asleep in your tent? The Dyrt helps you find campsites near Death Valley National Park with tent camping. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
First come / first served tent only campground with no additional fee. Located next to CA 190 at 2100' feet in elevation. Emigrant campground overlooks the Cottonwood Mountains which is a part of the Panamint Range. This is a small campground with 10 sites southwest of Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station. A building with flush toilets is 270 feet down a dirt trail just outside of the campground.
Extremely remote campsite at 3,785ft of elevation, accessible only by high-clearance vehicles with all-terrain tires. Access from Saline Valley Road requires navigating Lippincott Pass and should only be attempted by experienced 4-wheel drivers. There are no approved toilet facilities at this location and no water available. Pack in all that you need, pack out all that you bring.
First come / first served primitive campground with no additional fee located in a Pinyon Pine and Juniper forest at 8,200' elevation. Great views down into Death Valley. Located near the Telescope Peak trailhead. Dirt road access requires high-clearance vehicles, often 4x4 required.
First come / first served primitive, forested campground with no additional fee located at 7,400' elevation. Accessible to high clearance vehicles (no longer than 25'), and 4x4 may be necessary.
Breakfast Canyon is in the Valleys category for Inyo County in the state of California. Breakfast Canyon is displayed on the Furnace Creek USGS quad topo map. Anyone who is interested in visiting Breakfast Canyon can print the free topographic map and street map using the link above. The latitude and longitude coordinates of Breakfast Canyon are 36.4399486, -116.8500524 and the approximate elevation is -30 feet (-9 meters) above sea level. If you have visited Breakfast Canyon before, please tell us about it with a comment below.
Interested in backcountry (dispersed) camping? It is a great opportunity to explore the park's rugged Wilderness. Check out the information on this page (https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/backcamp.htm) to learn where camping is allowed, what regulations apply, and how to obtain a free permit.
Backcountry/Wilderness Permits Free voluntary permits for backcountry camping may be obtained online, or in person at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center or Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station during business hours. Solo hikers may want to provide additional information about plans and emergency contacts.
Where is backcountry roadside camping allowed? Along dirt roads at least one mile away from any paved road or "day use only" dirt road. Camp only in previously disturbed areas and park your vehicle immediately adjacent to the roadway to minimize impact. The wilderness boundary is 50 feet from the center of most dirt roads. Download the Backcountry & Wilderness Access Map to take with you.
Located in the Horseshoe Meadow Recreation Area this trailhead campground has 18 walk-in sites suitable for backpackers and hikers to use the night before they are going to hike into Golden Trout Wilderness via the Cottonwood Pass trail. Please self-register at Horseshoe Meadows Campground when you arrive. Sites include food storage boxes, tent pads, and tables, fire grates, piped water, and toilet facilities. One night stay limit. Horseshoe Meadow Area Campgrounds Guide (pdf)
Horseshoe Meadow is a vast 10,000 foot high meadow, surrounded by lodgepole pine forest. Getting there is an adventure in itself; the road to Horseshoe Meadow climbs over 6,000 feet, as it winds its way up from Lone Pine. Three campgrounds are located in the Horseshoe Meadow Area. Trails from Horseshoe Meadow provide access to the Golden Trout Wilderness and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. The road to Horseshoe Meadow is closed from approximately November to May due to snow.
$6 / night
Guide
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.
Guide
After spending the day exploring we found this gem of a spot. Even had fresh water available to fill up our tanks.
Ranger
There wasn’t much to this camp site…it was basically a gravel parking lot. Tent only spaces along the rear of the campground. The best part about it is that it’s cheap…only $9 with an Access Pass and in early December it was almost empty. Stayed one night and walked to the gift shop store for snacks and stickers.
Ranger
We planned on staying here in our little Toyota Motorhome but when we arrived, we saw a “Tent Only” sign. The camp looked very clean and there were restrooms available.
RangerThis campground was quiet and clean and centrally located in the park. No hookups, but there is a dump station with potable water available near the entrance.
The spaces are REALLY close together but when we were there the park was mostly empty…maybe a dozen other campers in the whole park. Tent camping only on the lower loop…upper loop had MANY large, pull through spaces. Our camper is small, so the space felt big though. Picnic tables and fire pits at each site. Self serve pay stations, discount for Access Pass holders, I will definitely stay here again if I come through Death Valley again.
Guide
We pulled off on the closest part to the road which was quiet all night really. There were other parts further up.
ScoutPulled in late, well after dark and after a long and somewhat harrowing drive in from the north. Read on the NPS website that of the three area campgrounds (all within a mile and very easy access), Furnace Creek is most popular (so we cruised past it), Texas Springs most scenic with mountain views (true), and Sunset rarely fills (because it’s a big gravel parking lot).
Our stay was mid-week in October, so even rolling in after 9pm, there were only a few sites occupied. It’s a little tricky to find the loops, as the only signage is “slow,” with no numbered directionals, but so wide open it quickly makes sense. We found a spot right in the middle of the lower loop, no one around us, easy bathroom access. Electronic self pay station back at the entrance was a breeze. Realized after the fact there was also a kiosk by the lower bathroom, so we wouldn’t have had to go to the entrance.
No power or water (expected), but the bathrooms were clean and I liked the dishwashing sink setup - outdoors with three taps and one big trough basin, several stations throughout the campground.
Arrived after dark, so waking up to a desert mountain sunrise was a treat. StarLink worked perfectly under unobstructed sky for morning virtual meeting. Bonus points to NPS for their sense of humor in decorating the phone booth - and for having a phone booth. Dumpster, recycling, and propane drop all on the way out, super convenient.
Only downside? It’s SO quiet that with low occupancy and desert acoustics, you can hear a tent zipper from 50 yards away. I imagine in busier season you might be all up in each other’s stuff.
Traveler
This location is right off the highway, which made it convenient for a quick stop. There was mild highway noise, but it wasn’t too bothersome, just a hum in the background. Occasionally, we’d hear burros in the distance, which added some character to the place. We stayed in a tent, and despite being close to the road, it was still a great spot to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Overall, a solid choice for a brief stay.
Guide
We stayed recently when it was 116 during the day, but since the sites had electric, we gave it a shot. 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. No problem, since we were the only people there - we just notified management and moved sites. They have water/sewer too, but you'll want to filter the water because of the taste. The pool across the street was actually cold at night, even though the air temp was 90, so that was great.
The "saloon" was being renovated and had a limited menu... I'll just say that we wished we had just grabbed some pre-packaged sandwiches from the general store instead.
Not a bad stop for staying in the park, with easy access to supplies, if neeeded.
Traveler
It's a huge campground, a whole section was closed off when we were there. It's worth driving around to find the best vacant spot, as there are a few trees giving much needed shade. There are flush toilets, and running water. It's nice and close to the visitor centre, and to zabriskie point. It was quiet enough in Sept on a weekday, but I wouldn't fancy going there when it's busy.
Traveler
2nd time at this spot and loved it! Rolled in after midnight and no one else was around.
Scout
Beautiful views!
Guideno one else was there when we arrived later in the evening though we only camped for one night at the end of summer. no one else ever showed up either. just a few cars drove by every now and then. we were exhausted so we just opened a couple windows to the car rather than set up our tent. toilets were within walking distance/next to the parking lot but closed due to bees. port-a-potties were available instead. at night, the stars were absolutely beautiful. it was pretty hot but by opening the car windows and using some battery powered fans, we managed!
Traveler
This park is in the middle of nowhere but a fabulous view of the Sierra Nevada's. I had a problem when I pulled into my site getting shore power from the electrical hook up. But I went to the office and I was moved immediately to a better site with a good hook up! Quiet, clean and well landscaped for the desert surroundings
TravelerThis is just an extraordinary place, Death Valley. Takes you out of yourself and your sense of human history completely.
The motels and campsites were always subpar. They act, to this day, like only hardened stoic geologists would want to visit. This campsite is actually better than the so called “motels’ available. It’s not a great place, but BRING ALL your creature comforts and you’ll be thrilled to be in the middle of the all the hiking and road trip thrills.
I am writing this in fall of 2024. That means you should book Xmas 2025. Or else, really stay somewhere else entirely and expect a drive.
And yes, when you have the winter blues in January, this is just an incredible visit.
Ranger
Camped here before hiking Mount Whitney the following day. Think we got one of the only sites with a “tree,” but the grounds were well maintained and area was quite. Enjoyed camping here.
Guide
I pulled in here looking for a campsite on my way up to mammoth. I was able to find a pretty dope spot surrounded by rocks, and nowhere near any other campers. I was legit, alone.
Great place to pull off and sit on a rock to watch the sun set over the mountains. Shade was minimal, but if you hide between the rocks like they do in that scene on the fire planet in Riddick you’ll be alright til it cools off.
Legend
We stayed one night in Cabin #17. Because we visited off-season, we were one of only three cars parked in the cabin/camping area. The beds were comfortable and the air-conditioner kept the cabin cool while we slept. There were a LOT of bugs that got inside the cabin, which was somewhat unavoidable every time we openned the door.
The night we stayed was a new moon, so the dark sky views were INCREDIBLE. We saw the milky way with our bare eyes sitting on the porch of our cabin.
We arrived around 10pm at night, so the check-in desk was already closed. Fortunately, I had received the email with the late check-in instructions, and finding our cabin assignment was easy. I do wish getting some information in advance had been easier. I tried to call the front desk on our drive to the park, but no one answered. It wasn't entirely clear what amenities/facilties were open. For example, the website said breakfast available in one place, but in another place it said the only open was getting a breakfast burritio in their gas station. So we didn't know if we should pack extra food.
It did turn out that the restaraunt was still open, despite being off-season. It was pricey (totally fair, you're in the middle of a desert) but delicious, and friendly service. The staffer in the general store/gas station was also really friendly and gave great advice for which parts of the park to visit, and how to drive responsibily in the summer heat.
Finally, I think it goes without saying, but coming in July will be HOT. Plan to do activities like hiking early in the morning, and find some place by noon to stay in the air conditioning until evening.
ScoutExploring Alabama Hills on Movie Flat Road is like stepping onto a film set straight out of a Western movie. This iconic location in California has been the backdrop for countless films, thanks to its stunning rock formations and dramatic landscapes. If you're planning a visit, make sure to check out Castle app for an interactive and personalized travel guide that enhances your experience with custom itineraries and insights tailored to your interests. Whether you're a film buff or an outdoor enthusiast, the combination of real-world exploration and digital tools can make your adventure in the Alabama Hills truly unforgettable.
Scout
Last minute decision to camp near Lone Pine. The site has a machine that takes cards now - super convenient. The breeze helped cool the temperature quickly, and the creek sounds great! Mostly quiet tonight, maybe a third full.
Guide
It’s confusing to find the campsite. No signs directing you where to go. You have to drive behind the sites and pull through. Sites are small and you’re basically packed together. power and water are on the right instead of left. Bathroom ok, shower curtain looks dirty.
Traveler
As described in the previous review, this place is quiet and has a lovely view of wild birds and donkeys. It was also easy to access from the highway but the noise never bothered us.
ScoutA lovely site, both scenic and peaceful. Was very quiet when we stayed. The small lake was ideal for a bit of casual kayaking and nature watching - mostly birds and dragonflies. Charming and spacious, the informality of the site was a refreshing change. Owing to it being quiet, we spent most of our time there in one of the riverside overlooks that provided seating, a table & a grill (as well as being a vantage point for watching nature and launching the kayaks.
The only slight negative was that it was the only one of 10 we used on this trip that offered full hook-ups but no WiFi (5G service was adequate though). Would also benefit with the addition of more than just the single shower/toilet unit (which contrary to another review was of more than adequate size)
Guide
This place was pretty easy to find, right off Hogback road. There are a couple of sites here, we picked the first one. After an hour or so two vans showed up and parked on the other side of the creek. This site is so close to the road, we could see them make the turn off Hogback road. No trees, just bushes. It's okay. Pretty basic. Great views of the backside of Mount Whitney.
RangerNice, out of the way campsite. 81 sites on Tuttle Creek. Clean restrooms. No showers or drinking water. Near Lone Pine, just off Whitney Portal Road, adjacent to Alabama Hills, so lots of exploring opportunities! Great dark skies for stargazing and photography.
TravelerRight off the road, headlights beam the first camp ground so you are going to want to drive further up.
Guide
This spot was an absolute gem nestled in some amazingly beautiful rock formations. The spot was right off the main road and didn't take much effort to get to. Easily accessed with a Subaru Crosstrek and Honda CRV.
The rocks provided great cover from the wind and there were 2 marked camping spots with fire rings that could both accommodate multiple vehicles.
Great campsite.
Tent camping near Death Valley National Park offers a unique opportunity to experience stunning desert landscapes and starry nights. With a variety of campgrounds to choose from, adventurers can find the perfect spot to set up their tents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Death Valley National Park?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Death Valley National Park is Emigrant Campground — Death Valley National Park with a 4.3-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Death Valley National Park?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Death Valley National Park, with real photos and reviews from campers.
