Overview
Death Valley is a national park of superlatives - lowest, hottest, driest, largest in the lower 48 - and its dramatic landscape encompasses everything from sand dunes to mountains.
Plan Around Overview
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.
Overview Details
Death Valley is a national park of superlatives - lowest, hottest, driest, largest in the lower 48 - and its dramatic landscape encompasses everything from sand dunes to mountains. With 3.3 million acres to explore, Death Valley can keep visitors busy indefinitely. It was established as a National Monument in 1933 and as a National Park in 1994. Badwater Basin, with an elevation of 282 feet below sea level is the second lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, after Laguna del Carbón in Argentina at 344 feet below sea level. Summer temperatures can soar to over 120 degrees on a regular basis - so don't forget your sunblock. The best time to visit the park is actually spring, before temperatures get to hot, and when there's a possibility of a spectacular wildflower bloom, if conditions are right. Campgrounds and lodging get quite busy during that time, so be sure to book ahead. Animal residents of the park include 37 reptile species, six kinds of amphibians, 58 species of mammals and 347 species of birds. Habitats range from sagebrush and sand dunes to canyons and mountains. Activities include backcountry camping, hiking and touring the famed Scotty's Castle.
Difficulty
Open
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
Learn About The Park
Nearby Parks Around Overview
Compare nearby parks around Overview when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Overview
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Overview while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Jessie Benton Fremont
An early advocate of the Park, without her work behind the scenes, Yosemite might not exist today.
0.0 mi away
ZERO LANDFILL IN THE PARKS:
THE YOSEMITE, GRAND TETON AND DENALI PROGRAM
0.0 mi away
30-Minute Helicopter Ride
Fly rim-to-rim in a half-hour.
0.0 mi away
50-Minute Airplane Tour
The ultimate Canyon airplane tour.
0.0 mi away
50-Minute Helicopter Tour
Offering aerial tours of the North and South Rims as well as the Grand Canyon's East Rim.
