Desert camping in Amargosa Valley offers access to Death Valley National Park from elevations around 2,800 feet, providing temperatures 15-20 degrees cooler than the valley floor. The region features extensive concrete pads from abandoned mining operations that serve as level surfaces for vehicle camping. Moon dust terrain poses challenges for tent stakes and can accumulate in gear during high winds.
What to do
Star gazing sessions: At Death Valley: Dispersed Camping East Side of Park, night skies offer exceptional clarity. "You don't realize what real silence sounds like until you experience it! Definitely would recommend, cheap (free!), easily accessible in any vehicle, great view of the desert and night sky," notes Matthew.
Wildlife viewing: The Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge contains springs pumping 2,800 gallons per minute from underground aquifers. "Crystal Spring pumps out over 2800 gallons of water a minute from an underground warm aquifer. It is also cerulean blue due to the limestone breakdown in the water," explains Hayley K.
Ghost town exploration: Visit Rhyolite ghost town, located 4 miles west of Beatty. "Docked at the spacestation for a rendezvous with the rhyolite ghost town. This park is good for a brief stop over or jumping off point to the gateway to Death Valley as well," shares GoldDust D. from Space Station RV Park & Market.
What campers like
Free overnight parking: The Amargosa Valley Rest Area offers basic overnight accommodations without cost. "This is a good place to stop for the night. There are some trees and picnic areas, restrooms, drinking water, and trash bins," mentions Laura M.
Lower elevation camping: Positioned at higher elevations than Death Valley floor, temperatures can be significantly more comfortable. "The camp is 2,890 feet over Death Valley, offering lower temperatures at night, 15/20 degrees less than Furnace creek," reports Mario D. from DeathValley Camp.
Abundant camping options: Concrete pads from abandoned developments provide stable parking surfaces. "Basically this is an abandoned housing development, so it's super flat and easy to find and unoccupied space. Basically it's the pad where a house was going to be built," explains Matthew.
What you should know
Weather extremes: Temperature variations between seasons and day/night can be substantial. "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. In the middle of the night there was a sudden dust storm so we had to pack up the tent and equipment quickly," warns Stacy C. about Furnace Creek Campground.
Fuel planning: Gas prices vary dramatically between locations, with stations in more remote areas charging premium rates. "The main gas station in furnace creek had gas for $5.46 per gallon, however gas at the stovepipe wells was only $4.21," notes Deborah C.
Ground conditions: The desert surface ranges from hard-packed to loose sand. "Be careful if you tent camp off the pads. My tent got some holes from the tiny rocks, even with a good foot print. Some are just very pointy," advises Samantha M.
Tips for camping with families
Wildlife encounters: Local wildlife includes wild burros that frequent some campgrounds. "The local burros were friendly, and the moon was spectacular!" reports GoldDust D., while Sue B. adds "Burros frequent the campground at night."
Pool access: Some facilities offer day passes for swimming. "Here's the best deal, 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," shares Deborah C.
Dog-friendly campgrounds near Amargosa Valley: Most area campgrounds welcome pets, but facilities vary. "We stayed here for two nights, one night in the RV park and one night in the hotel," notes Lee N. about Longstreet Inn Casino & RV Resort, adding "They have a nice convenience store and a gas station that also has diesel."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Full hookup sites are limited but available at several locations. "Full hook ups for $35/night, 30 months from Death Valley-easy drive. It's basically a parking lot but we'll maintained, WiFi, a store and casino, showers and bathrooms," explains alan P.
Level parking surfaces: Many dispersed camping areas offer concrete pads that simplify RV leveling. "Large gravel parking area. I really like easy when on a long trip and only stopping for a night's sleep. I thought it was pretty quiet considering being a few hundred feet from hwy 95," reports Jeff L. about Amargosa Valley Rest Area.
Campground noise levels: RV generators and highway proximity can create background noise at some locations. "Right by the road so you do have road noise. Walking distance to the Happy Burro where we had a cold beer and chatted with some friendly locals," mentions Char P.
