Desert road trip · California

Death Valley from Las Vegas day trip

Death Valley from Las Vegas

A long, cool-season day from the Las Vegas Strip into Death Valley by way of Pahrump and Death Valley Junction: the view from Dante's View, the salt flats at Badwater Basin, lunch at Furnace Creek, the colored hills of Artists Drive, a short walk into Golden Canyon and sunset at Zabriskie Point before the drive home.

Time
12–13 hour day
Driving
About 6–7 hours of driving in all: roughly 2–2½ hours each way from the Strip, plus about 2 hours inside the park
Best time
November to March
Updated
$4 USD

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Rippled gray and tan badlands below the sunlit golden fin of Manly Beacon at Zabriskie Point, with blue mountains and wispy clouds beyond
Terrisa Meeks · CC BY 2.0. December 2015 photograph near sunset; resized and displayed with crop.
Suggested times, not bookings

Your day at a glance

  • 7:30 amPahrump: fuel, water and breakfast
  • 9:00 amDante's View
  • 11:00 amBadwater Basin
  • 12:15 pmFurnace Creek: visitor center and lunch
  • 1:45 pmArtists Drive and Artists Palette
  • 3:00 pmGolden Canyon
  • 4:00 pmZabriskie Point, then the drive home
Highlights

Worth the trip

  • Badwater Basin's salt flats from 5,575 feet up at Dante's View, then from the salt itself
  • Artists Palette's pink and green hills on a one-way afternoon loop
  • Sunset over the badlands at Zabriskie Point, on the way home

What’s in the guide

Detailed stop guidance, rules, practical pitfalls, a route map, Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps links and weather alternatives. Read it online any time, or keep it offline in the Greg’s Guides app for iPhone and iPad. See an example guide →

Plan for the conditions

Expected seasonal weather

From November to March, Furnace Creek averages highs of about 65–82°F and lows of about 38–55°F, with December and January the coolest. Dante's View, more than a mile higher, is much colder and windier and can see ice on winter mornings. The sun is strong and the air very dry even on a mild day. Rain is rare, but winter storms can bring flash floods, and spring brings wind and dust. October and April average about 90–93°F; from May to September highs average over 100°F and often pass 120°F. These are seasonal expectations, not a forecast for your travel date; check the NWS Las Vegas forecast before you go.

Admission and parking are separate. Check current conditions before departure.

A good day, in the bag.

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