
There are nine campgrounds within the boundaries of Death Valley National Park. The campgrounds are not the most impressive in California. Several are just open gravel landscapes where one can setup a tent. Texas Spring Campground near Furnace Creek is centrally located and one of the nicer campgrounds, with bushes and short trees providing shade.
The campgrounds vary in size and amenities. The list below offers more information about each campground and the map at the bottom of this page displays their locations. Because of the extreme temperatures in Death Valley, many of the campground close during the summer months, leaving visitors to pick from the higher elevation campgrounds. For other lodging options, visit tripadvisor.com.
Campgrounds in Death Valley National Park
Wildrose Campground | 23 sites | open year round | no fee | potable water, picnic tables, fire pits, and pit toilets | elevation 4100 feet
Thorndike Campground | 6 sites | open March – November | no fee | picnic tables, fire pits, and pit toilets | elevation 7400 feet

Mahogany Flats Campground | 10 sites | open March – November | no fee | picnic tables, fire pits, and pit toilets | elevation 8200 feet
Sunset Campground | 270 sites | open October – April | $12 per night | potable water, flush toilets, and a dump station | elevation 196 feet below sea level
Texas Spring Campground | 92 sites | open October – April | $14 per night | potable water, picnic tables, fire pits, flush toilets, and a dump station | elevation sea level
Stovepipe Wells Campground | 190 sites | open October – April | $12 per night
potable water, some picnic tables, some fire pits, flush toilets, and a dump station | elevation sea level
Emigrant Campground | 10 tent only sites | open year round | no fee | potable water, picnic tables, and flush toilets | elevation 2100 feet
Mesquite Springs Campground | 30 sites | open year round | $12 per night | potable water, picnic tables, fire pits, flush toilets, and a dump station | elevation 1800 feet
Furnace Creek Campground | 136 sites | open year round | $18 per night | potable water, picnic tables, fire pits, flush toilets, and a dump station | elevation 196 feet below sea level
View California Desert Hikes in a larger map
Nearby Trails & Attractions
| Trail or Attraction | Description | Distance | Latitude, Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubehebe Crater A parking lot along the rim provides a great view of the crater, and there are also three trails to choose from. | 0 - 2 miles | 37.012327, -117.455034 | |
| Mosaic Canyon This out and back hike starts up a smooth marble slot canyon and exposes visitors to unique Death Valley geology. | 1 - 4 miles | 36.570411, -117.143455 | |
| Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes This hike explores the most visible (but not the largest) sand dunes in Death Valley | 1 - 3 miles | 36.618876, -117.1136 | |
| Grotto Canyon This out and back hike requires a bit of climbing and is a lesser-visited trail in Death Valley. | 2 - 4 miles | 36.583024, -117.104058 | |
| Salt Creek This easy out and back hike crosses a short boardwalk bordering a little creek. | 1 mile | 36.605937, -116.990891 | |
| Harmony Borax This short walk around the Harmony Borax plant offers a window into the mining past of Death Valley. | 0.25 miles | 36.479987, -116.873517 | |
| Golden Canyon – Gower Gulch Loop This loop visits some of the most stunning terrain in Death Valley. | 4 miles | 36.420525, -116.847839 | |
| Badlands Loop This loop offers a great immersion into the terrain beneath Zabriskie Point. | 2.5 miles | 36.419884, -116.812431 | |
| Zabriskie Point Zabriskie Point offers a stunning panorama of the badlands near Furnace Creek. | 0.25 miles | 36.419884, -116.812431 | |
| Twenty Mule Team Canyon This 2.8-mile one way road lets visitors experience a fine canyon right from the driver’s seat. | 0 miles | 36.406155, -116.793594 | |
| Artist’s Drive This 9-mile drive crosses a sloping mountainside composed of vibrant soil colored by rich metals. | 0 - 0.5 miles | 36.368588, -116.802878 | |
| Darwin Falls This out and back hike visits a refreshing year-round waterfall on the western side of Death Valley. | 2 miles | 36.320721, -117.523908 | |
| Wildrose Peak This out and back hike summits a 9,064-foot peak in the Panamint Mountain Range, which runs down the western side of Death Valley. | 8.4 miles 2,200 feet | 36.276135, -117.079504 | |
| Charcoal Kilns These conical constructions converted lumber to charcoal for area miners from 1879 to 1882. | 0 - 0.5 miles | 36.246617, -117.075984 | |
| Natural Bridge Canyon This is a great out and back hike for those interested in learning about the geological history of Death Valley. | 2 miles | 36.283208, -116.771135 | |
| Badwater Basin This is the lowest place in North America -- a required stop for first time visitors to Death Valley. | 0 - 1 miles | 36.230242, -116.767634 | |
| Dante’s View This towering overlook above Badwater Basin offers panoramic views of Death Valley. | 0 - 1 miles | 36.221239, -116.726232 | |
| Sidewinder Canyon This out and back hike visits narrow slot canyons full of pour-overs, carve outs, and dark passages that beg to be explored. | 4 - 7 miles | 36.065292, -116.745064 | |
| Ashford Mill These ruins, where gold was once processed for the Ashford Mine, provide an example of how tough life can be in this harsh desert. | 0.1 miles | 35.918925, -116.683303 |
More Desert Camping
| Mojave National Preserve There are a few campgrounds and endless roadside camping within the preserve. | |
| Joshua Tree National Park There are nine campgrounds with 500 total sites spread throughout the park to facilitate your visit. | |
| Anza-Borrego Desert State Park The biggest state park in California has four developed campgrounds, eight primitive campgrounds, and as much roadside camping as you could ever want. |

