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National Park No. CA · NV No nonresident surcharge

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley is the largest national park in the contiguous US, 3.4 million acres of basin-and-range desert anchored by Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America at 282 ft below sea level. It also holds the world's hottest reliably recorded air temperature (134°F at Furna…

I-15Nearest Interstate
2States
4FAQ
1Active Alerts
01 Park overview

Death Valley is the largest national park in the contiguous US, 3.4 million acres of basin-and-range desert anchored by Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America at 282 ft below sea level. It also holds the world's hottest reliably recorded air temperature (134°F at Furnace Creek, July 10, 1913) and one of the most extreme vertical reliefs in the country, with Telescope Peak rising 11,049 ft directly above Badwater. The park spans the California-Nevada line; from I-15 the standard access is Exit 246 in Baker, CA ("the gateway to Death Valley") then 110 mi north on CA-127 and CA-190 through Shoshone to Furnace Creek. From Las Vegas, US-95 north to NV-373 / Death Valley Junction is a similar distance. Designated a national monument in 1933 and a national park in 1994.

  • Largest national park in the contiguous US (3.4 million acres)
  • Lowest point in North America: Badwater Basin, 282 ft below sea level
  • World record high temperature: 134°F (Furnace Creek, July 10, 1913)
  • Designated an International Dark Sky Park (Gold Tier, 2013)
  • Telescope Peak (11,049 ft) rises 11,330 ft above Badwater, among the steepest reliefs in the US
02 Photos
Morning light rakes across the rippled Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, with the Panamint and Grapevine ranges rising in the distance.
Morning light rakes across the rippled Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, with the Panamint and Grapevine ranges rising in the distance. Tuxyso / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
03 Don't miss
  • Badwater Basin salt flats
  • Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes at sunrise
  • Zabriskie Point at sunset
  • Artists Drive scenic loop
  • Dante's View overlook (5,476 ft above Badwater)
04 Getting there & truck/RV access
Route from interstate

From I-15

Exit 246 (Baker, CA)

110 mi north on CA-127 and CA-190 to Furnace Creek

Big rigs & RVs

Truck access

CA-127 and CA-190 from I-15 are paved and unrestricted; large rigs reach Furnace Creek without difficulty. Inside the park, all paved roads accommodate full-size RVs and trailers, but secondary unpaved roads (Titus Canyon, Echo Canyon, Racetrack Valley Road) require high clearance and are off-limits to commercial vehicles.

Parking: Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, and Panamint Springs all have large RV-capable lots. Truck stops at Baker (I-15) and Pahrump, NV are the closest commercial fuel outside the park; in-park gas at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells is among the most expensive in the country.

Restrictions: Titus Canyon Road, Racetrack Valley Road, and Saline Valley Road are gravel and prohibited to RVs and trailers. Dante's View Road has a 25 ft length restriction near the summit switchback.

05 Seasonality & road closures

Best months: November through March, daytime highs in the 60s-70s, manageable temperatures even in the basin.

Closures: No seasonal road closures on the main paved network. After heavy rain (rare but consequential), unpaved roads and even paved CA-190 segments can be flood-damaged and closed for weeks.

Notes: Summer (June to September) routinely sees 115°F+ daytime highs; carry one gallon of water per person per day, never hike midday, and watch for vehicle overheating on long climbs.

06 Entrance fees (2026)
PassPrice
Private vehicle (7-day) $30
Motorcycle (7-day) $25
Individual / walk-in (7-day, age 16+) $15
Park-specific annual pass $55 (Death Valley Annual Pass)
America the Beautiful (annual, all NPS sites) $80 U.S. residents · $250 non-residents

2026 nonresident fee — does not apply here

The $100 NPS nonresident surcharge applies at 11 specifically named parks. Death Valley National Park is not on that list, so non-U.S. residents pay the same standard entrance fees as U.S. residents.

Fee-free days available for U.S. residents only beginning January 1, 2026.

Note: Cashless park, credit/debit only at entrance kiosks. No staffed entrance station; pay-by-app or self-service.

Official NPS fee page →

07 Current alerts (1)

Active National Weather Service alerts and FEMA disaster declarations affecting Death Valley National Park's state(s). Updated every 15 minutes.

EXTREME HEAT WARNING

Extreme Heat Warning issued June 12 at 12:18PM PDT until June 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Sacramento CA

Western Shasta County Foothills Between 1000-3000 ft; South-Central Shasta County Including Redding Metro; Sierra Nevada of Tehama-Butte-Plumas Counties Between 1000-3000 ft; Western Tehama County Foo

08 FAQ
How do I get to Death Valley from I-15?
Take I-15 Exit 246 in Baker, CA, then 110 miles north on CA-127 and CA-190 through Shoshone to Furnace Creek. The route is fully paved and unrestricted. From Las Vegas, NV, US-95 north to NV-373 is a similar distance.
When is it too hot to visit Death Valley?
June through September routinely sees daytime highs of 115 to 125°F at Furnace Creek. Most visitors avoid summer entirely; those who do visit limit activity to dawn and dusk. November to March is the practical visiting window.
Does the $100 nonresident fee apply at Death Valley?
No. Death Valley is not on the 2026 NPS nonresident-surcharge list. The standard $30 vehicle fee applies to all visitors.
Can I drive an RV on Titus Canyon Road or to the Racetrack?
No. Both are unpaved, narrow, and prohibited to RVs and trailers. Titus Canyon is also one-way. The Racetrack requires high-clearance 4WD and a spare tire, rentals from Furnace Creek are common.

Death Valley National Park on the live map

See real-time weather alerts, wildfires, and road incidents around the park before you head out.

Open Live Map