Auto Touring
On and off road, Death Valley offers some of the greatest and most-varied auto touring opportunities of any national park.
Plan Around Auto Touring
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Auto Touring Details
On and off road, Death Valley offers some of the greatest and most-varied auto touring opportunities of any national park -- to the properly equipped and well-prepared. Most of the popular scenic spots in the park can be reached via California Highway 190, Badwater Road, Scotty's Castle Road, and the paved roads to Dante's View and Wildrose. As the Park Service notes, many Death Valley roads are narrow and twisting, dating to the 1930s when cars were much slower. Keep you speed under control to avoid rollovers and other accidents. Paved roads represent only a portion of the 785 miles of roadways in the park. The rest are unpaved, access the backcountry, but require high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicles. If you are planning to drive these roads, be sure you have a vehicle in good repair with all necessary tools and replacement parts, some knowledge of driving on rough dirt, gravel and 4-wheel drive roads, and plenty of water and supplies on hand, especially in the summer months. Finally, don't drown in the hottest, driest place on Earth: never attempt to cross a flash flood if one covers the road you are on.
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Nearby Parks Around Auto Touring
Compare nearby parks around Auto Touring when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Auto Touring
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Auto Touring while the map context is still fresh.
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50-Minute Helicopter Tour
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