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The Ultimate Guide to Where to Stay in Death Valley National Park
Apr
I still can’t believe a landscape like Death Valley exists in California. It’s foreboding, intimidating, and beautiful. As I planned my first trip to the driest, lowest, and hottest place on earth I wanted to make sure I chose the best place to stay that fit my budget, provided a break from the heat, and was centrally located to the best things to do in Death Valley. I set out researching where to stay in Death Valley and will share what I found with you in this post!
As a solo female traveler, where I stay is always my top priority when planning a trip. I like to read the reviews, particularly from women, to figure out how far my hotel is from what I want to do, and it gives me a place to put into my GPS. Plus, on this particular trip, I was driving solo from San Francisco and would be arriving in Death Valley well past midnight. So, while I planned to camp for the majority of my trip, I wanted to stay in a hotel the first night for convenience and safety purposes.
I didn’t want to be setting up a tent in a campsite past midnight after driving 8 hours. I knew I’d just want to crash in a bed.
I began my research, looking for affordable hotels in or near Death Valley as well as campsites in Death Valley. In this post, I’ll share with you where I ended up staying in Death Valley, why I chose them, as well as the other accommodation options that were contenders.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a tiny bit of income if you decide to make a purchase or booking. For more, check out my disclosure.
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Should You Stay Inside or Outside of Death Valley National Park?
The first thing you’ll need to decide when planning your trip is: Do you want to stay inside Death Valley or in a nearby town?
There are of course pros and cons to each. It’s significantly cheaper to stay outside of Death Valley when it comes to the price of the room and filling up gas. But you’ll have to drive into the park each day adding on extra miles and time to your journey. Staying in the park can be more expensive, but you’re right near the best things to do in Death Valley. Plus, if you need a midday nap or break from the heat you’re never too far from your room or tent.
I had limited time in Death Valley, only 3 days, and as it was my first time there I chose to stay in Death Valley National Park so that I could be close to the popular sites!
Death Valley Campgrounds vs Hotel?
The second question you must answer is: Do you want to stay at a Death Valley campsite or a hotel?
Pros of Camping in Death Valley
- The most budget-friendly option
- A great way to experience the dark night sky
- Can still be close to the top Death Valley attractions, like the Golden Canyon Trail, Artist’s Palette, and Badwater Basin.
- Can pay a small daily fee to use the pool and showers at Furnace Creek campgrounds
Pros of Staying in a Death Valley Hotel
- Air conditioning
- Pool
- Shower
- Possible complimentary breakfast
- A fridge in the room to keep snacks and water cold
- If visiting in the summer months, you’ll be able to get a break from the intense heat
I stayed in both during my recent trip to Death Valley. I stayed at Stovepipe Wells Hotel upon arrival and Sunset Campground the following two nights.
With those considerations in mind, let’s get into where to stay in Death Valley and where to stay nearby Death Valley. Starting with where to stay inside the park.
Map of Death Valley National Park
To better understand where to stay in Death Valley, it’s important to know the general layout of the park. First of all, Death Valley is a HUGE National Park. In fact, it’s the largest National Park in the United States spanning both California and Nevada. It’s over 130 miles long and 12 miles wide covering 3.4 million acres of unforgiving, dangerous, and mostly uninhabited landscape.
When deciding where to stay in Death Valley, it’s important to keep that in mind. There are places to see at the furthest northern and southern borders of the park, but the majority of things to do in Death Valley are centralized around Furnace Creek.
Furnace Creek also happens to be where the majority of hotels and campgrounds are in Death Valley. Plus one very expensive gas station and the Furnace Creek Visitor Center.
Places to Stay in Death Valley National Park
There are two types of accommodation available in Death Valley National Park: hotels and campsites. There are three hotels and several campgrounds to choose from.
Best Place to Stay in Death Valley: Hotels
Stovepipe Wells Hotel
Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel is located about 30 minutes from the center of Death Valley, Furnace Creek. Even though it’s on the “outskirts” of the park, it is 2 miles from the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, directly next to the road to Mosaic Canyon, and across the street from the General Store and the cheaper of two gas stations in the park.
I stayed here my first night because it was the cheapest option during my visit and because it was the first hotel I’d pass entering Death Valley. I arrived right around midnight and a very helpful man checked me in and mentioned that someone was at the counter all night in case I needed anything.
The room itself was simple but had everything I needed for the few hours I’d be sleeping. I will say that the bed only had one sheet on it, which I found strange. But in the closet was a heavy blanket which I had to use because the desert gets cold at night! I also had to crank the heat!
I was up early the next morning for my first Death Valley sunrise at the Mesquite sand dunes then I checked out to snag a campsite before the weekend crowds arrived. There is a restaurant and gift shop on site, which I didn’t have the opportunity to check out.
Check current prices and book here!
The Ranch at Death Valley
The Ranch at Death Valley is located in the heart of the park, in Furnace Creek. This hotel offers an outdoor pool, beautiful rooms, and nice grounds dotted by palm trees. The Ranch is right next to the only golf course in Death Valley National Park. The cost of this hotel is midrange. It’s a bit more expensive than Stovepipe Wells, but less than the Inn at Death Valley. Which is why I put it second… see what I did there?
Honestly, this hotel looks beautiful and I’d love to return to stay one day.
Check current prices and book here!
The Inn at Death Valley
If you’re looking to splurge on your accommodation in Death Valley, the Inn at Death Valley is for you. Perfectly located a 5-minute drive from Furnace Creek and Zabriskie Point, you’d return to a recently renovated room, a gorgeous outdoor swimming pool, and a drink while stargazing. Sounds pretty nice right?
Check current prices and book here!
Panamint Springs
Panamint Springs is technically located in Death Valley, although it is an hour drive from Furnace Creek. Panamint Springs would be a great place to stay if this is not your first trip to Death Valley and you’ve already ticked off the main things to do in Death Valley. Panamint Springs is located near Darwin Falls, Father Crowley Overlook, and Mosaic Canyon.
Panamint Springs Resort
Panamint Springs Resort is the accommodation option in Panamint Springs. It offers motel rooms, adorable cabins, as well as a private campground. Three is also a restaurant on-site, a general store, and a gas station!
Check current prices and book here
Best Places to Stay in Death Valley: Campgrounds
There are many campsites in Death Valley National Park to choose from. I will be sharing four of them. Here is a great resource for all of the Death Valley campsites.
Stovepipe Wells Campground Death Valley
Directly across the street from Stovepipe Wells hotel is the Stovepipe Wells Campground. This means it’s close to the Mesquite Sand Dunes!
There are 190 sites available with water and flush toilets. Stovepipe Wells campground is open from mid-Sept to mid May and is first come first serve. It costs $14/night.
Texas Springs Campground Death Valley
There are 115 sites at the Texas Spring Campground and I will say that this seemed to be the best camping in Death Valley. Each campsite has a small picnic table, some even have shade from small trees and bushes. I think this is one of the most popular campsites in Death Valley because RVs don’t fit well here. Even if they could they can’t use generators, so tent campers and van lifers like it!
Plus, it’s centrally located in Furnace Creek.
Texas Spring costs $16/night, does not take reservations, has water and flush toilets. It’s open from mid-October to mid-April.
Sunset Campground Death Valley
Sunset Campground is another first come first serve campground and it’s where I ended up staying for two nights. It’s right down the road from Texas Springs which means it’s also centrally located in Furnace Creek! There are 270 sites, water, and flush toilets! This Death Valley campground is more like a parking lot very popular amongst RVers as well as van lifers.
If you’re tent camping there are no tables at this campsite so bring your own or be prepared to use your trunk a lot!
I was initially turned off by it seemed like it was just and RV park. However, I felt perfectly safe camping here and even made a few RV friends. In fact, it’s the best sleep I’ve ever had camping.
This campsite is open from mid-October to mid-April.
Furnace Creek Campground Death Valley
Furnace Creek campground is open year-round, taking reservations from mid-October to mid-April. You definitely need to book this campground in advance because is 136 sites fill up fast! You can book it through recreation.gov.
The perks of this campground are that it has a pool and showers, in addition to flush toilets and water. This campground will cost $22/night.
If you’re an RV camper these are the only campgrounds in Death Valley with hookups.
Side Note: If you’re not staying at this campsite, you can pay $10 to use the showers and pool. I didn’t try it, but you may be interested in seeing if that option is available during your trip.
How First Come First Serve Works at Campsites in Death Valley
I didn’t know how first come first serve campsite reservations worked before I went camping in Death Valley, and maybe you don’t either. Here’s a quick lesson.
- Find an open campsite. How do you know it’s open? If there is no white paper with a sharpie number on it attached to the post. The number corresponds to the date the person is checking out. So if you arrive early in the day and see a paper with that date on it, but the campsite is empty, it could be safe to assume the people left early and it’s free.
- Pay at the kiosk. Once you find a campsite. Leave your car or something at the site to “claim” it. Then find the kiosk. You’ll input your campsite and how many nights you’re staying then pay with a credit card.
- Take the receipt. Write your campsite and license plate number where indicated on the blank lines.
- Attach the receipt to the post with the provided binder clip.
- A camp host will come around, check the receipt to find your checkout date, write that number in sharpie on the receipt, fold it up, and put it back on the post.
Well done! You’ve just secured your Death Valley campsite!
Where to Stay Near Death Valley
There are a few nearby towns with hotels near Death Valley that might be a good option for your trip.
Places to Stay Near Death Valley: Pahrump, Nevada
Pahrump is a small town located in Nevada, about a 1 hour and 15-minute drive from Furnace Creek. There are a handful of hotels, a grocery store, gas stations, and restaurants located here which is very convenient!
Below are two hotels that caught my attention that I would’ve felt comfortable booking had I not stayed in the park.
Holiday Inn Express
While I love a boutique hotel, sometimes going with a name brand is your best bet. That’s how I feel about the Holiday Inn Express, you know exactly what you’re going to get there. A clean room, free breakfast, WiFi, Gym, and a pool.
The reviews on the hotel are positive as well!
Check prices, reviews, and book here.
Best Western
Another solid option is the Best Western. I know, from the exterior photos it looks a little bit suspect, but the rooms have recently been remodeled and look awesome! This hotel looks clean, also has complimentary breakfast, WiFi, and 2 pools!
Check prices, reviews, and book here.
Places to Stay Near Death Valley: Beatty, Nevada
Beatty is also located in Nevada, but a bit closer to the park than Pahrump. From Beatty to Furnace Creek it’s about a 45-minute drive. There are also a few restaurants and gas stations in Beatty.
Motel 6
Ok, it feels weird to recommend a Motel 6. But this place looks kind of cool. It has recently remodeled guest rooms, is budget-friendly, and only 13 miles from the Death Valley entrance. Plus the reviews on it are great.
Check prices, reviews, and book here.
Places to Stay Near Death Valley: Ridgecrest, California
I drove through Ridgecrest to get to Death Valley and noticed it was a busy town with plenty of restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores. While it is over 2 hours from Furnace creek, there are two pros I see to staying in Ridgecrest.
- It’s budget friendly. There are way more hotel options here than there are in the other towns near Death Valley mentioned above. You’ll definitely find something that works for your Death Valley budget.
- California National Park Road Trip. If Death Valley is part of a larger California road trip, this could be a great place to stay. Ridgecrest is about 3.5 – 4 hours away from Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park.
There are 3 name-brand hotels located in Ridgecrest, California. All of them have great reviews and are located fairly close to each other. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them.
Airbnb Near Death Valley
There are Airbnb available in all of the towns mentioned above, however, I did not do extensive research into them. If renting an Airbnb is your preferred accommodation option, then check out what’s available during your trip here.
I know that booking accommodation can be the most stressful, and sometimes the most expensive, part of travel planning. Hopefully, you now have a good idea of where you can stay inside of and near Death Valley. Now, you just have to choose an option that fits your budget and travel style, but bottom line, I recommend staying within the park if possible!
It was really nice only being a short drive away from the most popular destinations in Death Valley!
Related Posts to Help You Plan Your Death Valley Itinerary
Short on time? Here’s how to see Death Valley in One Day
Tips for Hiking the Most Popular Trail in Death Valley: Golden Canyon Trail
How to See Zabriskie Point Sunrise without the Crowds
How to see Artist’s Drive & Palette in Death Valley
Other California National Parks to Add to your Bucket List
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