Is there free or dispersed camping near Death Valley National Park?

Yes, free and dispersed camping is abundantly available near Death Valley National Park. The Alabama Hills Recreation Area allows dispersed camping, but doesn't offer services. Harvest Hosts stays are the option when you want a level pad, water access, and shade you can count on.

Is Harvest Hosts worth it for a Death Valley trip?

With limited resources available in the park and much to explore, Harvest Hosts is well worth it for a Death Valley trip. Most RVers travel to the park from Las Vegas or up the 395, and both corridors offer good Harvest Host coverage. Plus, staying nearby allows you to explore everything else California and Nevada have to offer.

Death Valley National Park RV Camping

Along the eastern California-western border lies Death Valley National Park, one of the hottest parks you'll visit. Despite sizzling temperatures (1913 of 134 degrees Fahrenheit), more than 1.3 million people visit this national park annually. Must-see attractions include the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Dantes View, Zabriskie Point, and Mosaic Canyon. While much of Death Valley is arid , park elevations range from 86 feet below sea level at Badwater Basin to more than 11,000 feet at the summit of Telescope Peak. As you're RV camping in Death Valley National Park, you might see all manner of snakes, desert iguanas, scorpions, and black widow spiders. Furrier creatures include bobcats, foxes, mountain lions, mule deer, wild horses, and desert bighorn, not to mention the invasive burros that roam the park. Harvest Hosts has plenty of locations within an hour of the entrances where you can park your RV overnight at a working farm, brewery, or distillery.

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Death Valley National Park RV Camping Guide

When to Go

Death Valley National Park qualifies as an off-season park, meaning it's still open when most other national parks are closed or have limited services due to weather. Open year-round, the park is best experienced in the early morning versus mid-afternoon or even later in the day. Likewise, unless your travel plans dictate it, avoid visiting Death Valley from May through September, as fewer campgrounds are open and nightly temperatures remain in the triple digits. If you do visit in the summertime, hike the peaks for slightly cooler conditions. Most people visit between October and April to hike and explore; park campgrounds fill up quickly, especially on weekends.

Know Before You Go

Death Valley National Park doesn't require a timed-entry reservation. Although the park doesn't have designated entrances, you must stop at the nearest visitor center to pay the entrance fee.
Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, and Panamint Springs all sell gas in the park, but typically at a premium due to their remoteness. No public transportation supports traveling within the park.
Off-trail hiking is allowed in this hiking destination park. Popular paths include the Titus Canyon Narrows Trail, Artists Palette Trail, and Golden Canyon-Gower Gulch Loop Trail. Easy hikes include Harmony Borax Works, Natural Bridge, and Salt Creek, while Little Bridge Canyon and Panamint Dunes require a bit more stamina.
Enjoy the sunrise at several ranger-preferred spots, including Dantes View, Zabriskie Point, and Mesquite Sand Dunes. For the best sunset views, head to Badwater Basin, Father Crowley Vista Point, or Artists Drive.
Drive off Death Valley National Park's designated roads, and you could spend up to six months in jail or pay up to $5,000. Explore the park's 3.2 million acres responsibly.
Water isn't the only precious natural resource in Death Valley. Several successful mining operations extracted borate from the park's seemingly barren landscape. Harmony Borax Works was one of the earliest in the late 1800s, and the Billie Mine remained active until 2005.
Pets are allowed in most developed areas, excluding federal buildings and trails. If you bring your with you when RV camping, ensure it's leashed at all times.

Nearby Attractions

Death Valley National Park's sweltering temperatures certainly make a day along the California coastline seem like a dream, but Long Beach and Santa Barbara are several hours away. However, the glittering lights of Las Vegas are only a two-hour drive east over the Nevada border, along with the Goldwell Open Air Museum, a unique collection of artwork exposed to the elements. Drive through Vegas to Zion National Park, or head north of Death Valley on Highway 395 to explore Yosemite National Park. Further south lies Tecopa Hot Springs, and just east of the park sits the Amargosa River Natural Area. California gateway cities into Death Valley National Park include Trona, Lone Pine, and Olancha on the west side, and Shoshone and Death Valley Junction on the east side. Beatty, Nevada, is the closest gateway city along the eastern border.

Where to Camp

Inside the park. RV camping in Death Valley National Park is most popular in Furnace Creek Campground, one of the park's largest and also open year-round. RVs up to 100 feet are permitted, although these larger sites are often limited. This is the only site with full hookups, as all other campgrounds lack services. Sunset and Stovepipe Wells Campgrounds don't list RV restrictions, but Texas Springs and Mesquite Springs Campgrounds limit RVs to 35 feet. Wildrose Campground, which sits high in the Panamint Mountains via a steep access road, permits RVs up to 25 feet. Mahogany Flats and Thorndike Campgrounds aren't necessarily RV-friendly, and Emigrant Campground offers tent-only camping.

Tips on reserving a campsite. Reserve your campsite in Furnace Creek Campground up to six months in advance if you plan on visiting between the middle of October and the middle of April. Sunset, Stovepipe Wells, and Texas Springs Campgrounds close in late fall and reopen mid-April, so finding a spot might be harder during the late and early months of the year.

Camping outside the park with Harvest Hosts. It's worth spending a few days RV camping in Death Valley National Park, but many RVers prefer to stay in nearby towns to access full hookups (i.e., air conditioning). California attracts visitors year-round, so competition for close-by campgrounds can be stiff during tourist season. Harvest Hosts offers a less-competitive and often more-rewarding experience: no camping fees for parking on private property in exchange for patronizing a local brewery, attraction, distillery, or working farm.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can you sleep in your RV in Death Valley National Park?

Yes, you can sleep in your RV in Death Valley National Park, provided you're parked in a designated campsite. Open year-round, Furnace Creek Campground offers the most spots and full hookups. It also offers the largest spots for longer RVs. Length restrictions vary at the park's other campgrounds, which lack hookups.

Where can I camp in an RV near Death Valley National Park?

RV camping near Death Valley National Park isn't hard to find, especially with Las Vegas only two hours away. Alternatively, Harvest Hosts has many locations within reach. Check out this wild west town museum RV stop in Pearsonville, California, or relax at a southern desert hot springs campground retreat in Tecopa.

Do you need a reservation to enter Death Valley National Park?

You don't need a timed-entry reservation to enter Death Valley National Park. Simply pay the entrance fee at a visitor center and explore. Reservations are required for Furnace Creek Campground from October 15 to April 15, and available up to six months in advance. Other campgrounds are first-come, first-served.

What size RV fits in Death Valley National Park?

Furnace Creek Campground can accommodate RVs up to 100 feet long, but such campsites are limited. Several other campgrounds permit RVs up to 35 feet, while some restrict lengths to 25 feet. Verify RV length restrictions before reserving a campsite in Furnace Creek Campground or claiming any first-come, first-served sites in other campgrounds.