The Perfect 3 Day Death Valley Itinerary 

Planning a visit to California and need a Death Valley itinerary? This guide covers the must-see sights, best hikes, and unforgettable desert landscapes inside Death Valley National Park. From massive sand dunes and salt flats to famous Star Wars filming locations and a rare wildflower super bloom, Death Valley is far more diverse than most expect.
After spending time researching in person during the 2026 super bloom, I have created an itinerary that will help you plan the perfect trip including the best viewpoints, hiking trails, camping spots, and tips for exploring the hottest place on Earth…safely!

Death Valley Itinerary: Day 1 Star Wars Driving Tour

Whether you are a Star Wars fan like us or not, these six stops, all accessible by your own personal vehicle, are stunning examples of the varied and fantastical landscapes that are found throughout this massive, sweltering park.
Don’t let the name deceive you, Death Valley has an abundance of life and is sure to rise to the top of your favorite National Parks list.

*Insider tip: Be sure to stop into the Furnace Creek visitor center and ask at the map desk for the Star Wars tour information. They have a hand out with descriptions of the scenes that were shot at each location*

Twenty Mule Team Canyon

Star Wars: Episode VI- Return of the Jedi: Jabba the Hutt’s Palace
After leaving the Furnace Creek visitor center head south along the main road and just past Zabriskie Point, there is a sign to turn down a one way road marked Twenty Mule Team Canyon. The road is gravel (totally manageable in our two wheel drive van) it is 2.5 miles long and winds between incredible stone “dunes”.
You are immediately transported to an alien planet. Tatooine (the desert planet of Star Wars) comes to life before your eyes. You will find yourself constantly looking for a Jim Henson creature to slip out from behind one of the stone monoliths, or to hear the sassy beeps of R2D2’s droid language echoing down the canyon.

Dante’s View

Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope: Mos Eisley Overlook
After exiting the one way street turn right and continue south towards Dante’s view. There will be a sign and turn off to the viewpoint, after exiting the main road it is a 13 mile drive to the parking area. The road is paved but very steep so mind your brakes and gearing, definitely don’t need to overheat your vehicle in one of the hottest places on earth.
From the viewpoint you can see the Bad Water Basin and in the spring of 2026 it actually had water in it. It created such an interesting view, the basin floor is crusted with salt and bright blue water reflects the sky in the pool. It almost looks like an arctic overlook, not the Mojave Desert! Water in the basin in spring is extremely rare, most times it is a crusted salt flat.
There are two paths to walk from the parking lot, so if you would like a different vantage point there are options, or you can see quite a lot right from the sidewalk.

Artists Palette

Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope: R2D2 Solo Trek + Jawas’ Sandcrawler
Once you baby your brakes back down to the main road, take a left and head back to the north until you will take another left on Badwater Road toward Golden Canyon, Desolation Canyon and Artists Palette. Artists Drive is a one way road on your left near mile marker eight.
If you have ever seen a photo from Death Valley before, it was likely from Artists Palette. A popular Instagram destination, many a go pro and tripod were spotted (no drones allowed in the park), and it’s easy to see why. Iron, manganese and mica mixed with volcanic ash deposits make a pastel paradise on the cliff face.
You can take a short walk down to snap the perfect selfie, or again, the view from the parking lot will not disappoint. For all the Star Wars fans, take a short jaunt down the wash where R2D2 made his solo trek. I swear I saw a Jawa…

Desolation Canyon

Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope: Tusken Raider Attack
Take a right out of Artists Drive and keep an eye out near mile marker four, for the entrance to Desolation Canyon. There is a small parking area set back off the road.
This location does require some walking, if you have the time and are visiting during the winter or spring and temps cooperate, I highly recommend the 3.5 mile round trip trek through the canyon and up onto the rim to take in some sweeping views as well.
At minimum a one mile round trip would showcase some of the amazing blue/teal rocks this canyon has to offer and give you a good feel for what the Tusken Raider attack scene might have felt like for Luke Skywalker!

Golden Canyon

Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope: Jawas watch R2D2
Exit to the right out of Desolation Canyon and you will likely see the line of cars in the parking lot at the next stop, Golden Canyon. One of the most popular hikes in the park, it can be tailored to your preference. If trying to catch all the Star Wars stops in one day, the quick walk from the parking area to the red cathedral is totally doable if you have hiking duds with you and aren’t easily distracted by side quests. To Red Cathedral and back in Golden Canyon is a 2 mile out and back hike.
We personally did the longer hike on a separate day when we could explore beyond the cathedral, through the badlands and down various off shoots and washes as we have a propensity to take the path less travelled.
The Golden Canyon, Red Cathedral and Badlands trek can be made into an extended loop of up to 8 miles. It is a popular spot for a reason, this hike quickly jumped to the top of our favorites for Death Valley.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope: Tatooine Dunes
The last stop on the official Star Wars tour are the iconic dunes that C3PO and R2D2 walked along after exiting their escape pod. The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are about 25 miles from Golden Canyon, like I mentioned, the park is huge. Be sure to have a cooler with snacks, at least two gallons of water per person and functioning air conditioning in your vehicle.
The sandy ridges that everyone’s favorite droids walked along can be viewed from the parking lot or you are welcome to walk out into the dunes as far as you wish. Another stunning/ otherworldly landscape contained within one of the most misunderstood parks.

As your first day in Death Valley comes to a close you will likely be hot, mind blown and exhausted. The sand dunes are very near to the small town of Stovepipe Wells located within the park. There is one hotel with a swimming pool and a restaurant where you can book a stay to refresh and get ready for day two!

Alternatively, there is a first come first served campground, Mesquite Spring, behind the general store that is $20/night if you are equipped to camp. This campground is open year round, situated at 1,800ft and has flush toilets, a dump station, fire pits and water with 40 sites available.

Death Valley Itinerary Day 2: Mosaic Canyon & Ubehebe Crater

Since Stovepipe Wells is basically in the middle of the park and you are already halfway there, it just makes sense to continue north on day two of your perfect Death Valley itinerary. You can enjoy a hike basically just outside your hotel door and then explore the furthest north reach of the park before heading back down towards Furnace Creek at the end of the day.

Mosaic Canyon

Begin day two with a short drive over to Mosaic Canyon, after your morning coffee and a hearty breakfast of course, because today is a hiking day. Head west, away from the general store and the first left will take you to the parking area for Mosaic Canyon. The full out and back is a four mile hike up a low grade wash. Some mild rock scrambling is required to reach the 25′ tall dry waterfall at the end.

The marble rocks are gorgeous and the walk is well worth the effort. Word to the wise, hike early in Death Valley before temps begin to soar, rest in the afternoon in the shade and venture out again as the sun begins to set and temps drop.
If sightseeing during the heat of the day be sure to limit trips outside of air conditioning to short bursts if visiting during the summer months.

You should be drinking at least a gallon of water a day and have twice that with you in your vehicle in case of emergency. When hiking in general, but especially in hot climates like Death Valley or Big Bend, it is imperative to also eat plenty of salty snacks and keep electrolytes in mind.
We like to carry these electrolyte tablets for a quick way to replenish our salt reserves when hiking or biking. These capsules also really help to reduce hiker hands, aka fat fingers you get from your hands swinging by your side all day while walking!

After hiking Mosaic, grab lunch in Stovepipe Wells or pack up your cooler and have some lunch along the drive out to Ubehebe Crater. It is about a 45 mile drive to the crater from Mosaic and I would highly suggest later afternoon or early evening to avoid the hottest part of the day. If you stayed at the hotel and got out to hike early, stop back before check out for a dip in the pool!

Ubehebe Crater

This enormous volcanic crater is practically a baby as it formed only 2,100 years ago. Talk about an alien landscape, this volcanic battlefield contains not one or two but multiple craters created by volcanic steam eruptions.

The largest crater is a 1/2 mile across and can be viewed from the parking area but hiking up and around in a loop of 1.5 miles is a fantastic way to view the smaller craters and the larger one from all sides.

When I hear the word “crater” I immediately think of the moon and this place did not disappoint in producing an extra terrestrial, lunar-like surface.
We were fortunate enough to be able to catch a super bloom in action and although the crater is at a higher altitude than the basin, we still saw carpets of tiny wildflowers that jutted out of the rocks as if they were materializing out of thin air along the rim of the volcanic giant.

After exploring around and down into the bottom of the crater, you should be ready for the drive back towards Furnace Creek. The hike down into the crater will be a breeze but don’t forget you have to climb back out!
For the second night in the park I would suggest a stay at The Ranch, a lovely hotel with restaurant in the centrally located Furnace Creek area of the park. There is also an ice cream parlor just around the corner that would make for a lovely treat after a full, hot day of hiking. Treat yourself not only to a good nights sleep, but to a tasty treat as well!

There are also two first come first served campgrounds near Furnace Creek called Texas Spring($20/night) and Sunset($18/night), both are open October-April. Additionally there is Furnace Creek campground which is the only by reservation campground in the park. You can reserve your spot through rec.gov and it is open year round.

Death Valley Itinerary Day 3: Zabriskie Point, Devils Golf Course, Natural Bridge, Bad Water Basin

On the last day of your perfect Death Valley Itinerary we are going to get in one more hike (and a half), several viewpoints and what is sure to be a full camera roll. Start out early to catch all the stops before the heat beats you.

Zabriskie Point

Likely the most popular viewpoint in the whole park, Zabriskie point is a fantastic stop. A short walk from the parking lot and you can view the golden hued badlands of this iconic park. Yet another strange and interesting landscape unfolds before you.

Unlike many other National Parks such as Arches, or the Grand Canyon, walking off trail is actually encouraged here and there are few marked trails if any in Death Valley. Most of the “hikes” we have gone over in this post are following along washes or single track “goat paths” with little to no signage.

Devil’s Golf Course

Prepare yourself for possibly the weirdest landscape yet, the Devil’s Golf course is a sea of alien formations. Upon first glance it looks like snow with dirty slush piled on top. You know, those nasty gray clumps you kick off your car in winter. Any midwesterners out there know exactly what I am talking about… but this is the hottest place on earth it’s certainly not snow… so what is it?

These crusty clumps are actually salt formations! They are so sharp and hard they have been known to puncture tires!

It is posted on the placard to walk carefully since a fall would be sure to cut you on the jagged salty spires. It’s called the Devil’s Golf Course because it is so rugged that “only the devil could play golf here”. This place is wild!

Natural Bridge

A short drive further down the road to the south is a turn off for Natural Bridge. Here you can take a short hike to the bridge (.5 miles so 1 mile round trip) or slightly further on only .3 miles more where you will reach another dry waterfall.

This short walk follows a dry wash that climbs up a slight grade. Walking in late afternoon as the sun starts to go down offers some relief in the shade which is quite lovely.

If feeling adventurous, the first of the “dry waterfalls” is a manageable climb even for the slightly uncoordinated like myself to scramble up.
The marble is polished to an extremely smooth surface so mind your hand holds and be sure to wear shoes with good grip. We both swear by Altra trail running shoes for all our hiking and scrambling needs.

Bad Water Basin

The Bad Water Basin is the lowest point in North America at 282 ft BELOW sea level. You can learn more about the minerals that make up the almost 200 square mile salt flat and how this strange dry lake got its name here.

There is a boardwalk that goes out to the edge of the salt flat and it is only a one mile round trip walk out and back. This is another great place to visit at sunset to capture beautiful lighting on yet another strange and interesting landscape.
This final stop wraps up the perfect Death Valley itinerary, delivering a jam packed schedule for you to see all the major highlights in the park, get your steps in and take some awesome photos.
Read on for some safety tips for exploring one of the hottest places on earth, get answers to some commonly asked questions about Death Valley and learn more about the super bloom.

Q & A: Death Valley National Park

Where is Death Valley Located?

Death Valley is located in California, about a 2 hour drive from Las Vegas which is the closest international airport (LAS).

How Big is Death Valley National Park?

As previously mentioned, Death Valley is huge, just how huge though? It is the largest National Park in the lower 48 and covers over 3.4 Million acres. Most of the park is in California but it does creep into Nevada a little as well.

How far is Death Valley from Joshua Tree and which is better?

From the Furnace Creek visitor center in Death Valley to the Cottonwood visitor center in Joshua Tree National Park it is a 5 hour and 25 minute drive.
As to which park is better, it’s hard to say since the two parks are so different and both have incredibly unique features. If you are able to do both I would highly recommend checking out my Joshua Tree Itinerary where there are 1,2, and 3 day options to choose from.
What is better than one National Park? two of course!

Has Anyone Died in Death Valley?

Death Valley is not named such due to a large number of people expiring there. There have been deaths in the park just as there have been in other National Parks (68 total between 2007-2024) but the leading cause is auto accidents which of course can happen anywhere. Read on to learn some tips on how to NOT become “un-alived” in this incredible National Park.

Tips For Exploring the Hottest Place on Earth

Safely exploring Death Valley National Park is really not too difficult. Pay attention to the weather, follow good hydration practices and plan ahead and you will have no problem. I’ve compiled some tips here based on some common questions to make it even easier to enjoy this fascinating place.

When to Visit Death Valley

Death Valley can reach temps up to 134° F (record high 1913) and regularly exceeds 120° F in the summer months. Keep in mind that it gets so hot in the basin that a helicopter cannot even fly in the area because the air is so hot and thin.
*Summer (June-August) temps range from 80°F at night to over 120°F during the day. No hiking after 10am is advised.
*Fall (September-November) temps range from 40°F at night to 106°F during the day, November highs are closer to 75°F during the day.
*Winter (December- February) temps range from 37°F to 72°F
*Spring (March-May) Highs around 80°F in March and climbing to nearly 100°F by May is common, nights somewhere near 40° to 50°F

I would recommend early spring as the best time to visit, before temps become intolerable and this is when the wildflowers begin to bloom.
Some people are drawn to the park because of the intense heat and they want to experience that in real life.
If that is your idea of fun, more power to you, but if visiting in summer please consider that it is not advisable to be away from air conditioning for more than 5 minutes at a time due to the very real threat of serious injury and severe dehydration. The effects of heat stroke and heat exhaustion sometimes are not apparent right away and can strike later or without warning signs.

Hiking Must Haves

Hiking in Death Valley is quite enjoyable if properly prepared, the following checklist will help you to ensure a great visit.
*Drink at least a gallon of water a day
*Remember to eat salty snacks and consider an electrolyte supplement while hiking
*Wear sun protection, hat, sun hoodie, sunscreen, sunglasses, bandana
*Know your limits, do not overdo it, the sun is intense, the canyon walls trap heat and hiking is even hotter than the estimated temps in some locations
*Keep a first aid kit with you in your day pack
*Always take more food and water than you think you will need
*Stay on top of the weather, it does rain in Death Valley and flash flooding can occur
*Snap a photo of the trail map and download a free app like Gaia before entering the park for offline maps so you don’t risk losing your way

What To Do if Your Car Breaks Down in Death Valley

Know your vehicle and consider it your safety pod. Follow all speed limits and signs indicating vehicle length for the road you are on. Be sure your vehicle is in good working order before entering the park. That being said a breakdown could still happen and the following tips are important if it does.
*Do not try to walk for help, put your hood up on your vehicle to signal distress and use the car’s shade, create shade by putting car mats over windows
*There aren’t a lot of options to fuel up in the park so always make sure you have a full tank whenever the opportunity presents itself
*Keep at least two gallons of water per person in the vehicle at all times
*Cell service is spotty at best in the park so do not rely on it
*National Park service does patrol the main roads and there is quite a bit of traffic so it is very likely help would be available shortly, but stay put until it arrives
*If venturing onto secondary roads be sure someone knows where you are going and when you should be back so that if deadlines are missed help can be sent
*Don’t try to drive two wheel drive vehicles down questionable roads, not smart

Super Bloom

Lastly let’s talk about the super bloom. We were lucky enough to be a mere 10 hours away when this once a decade phenomenon began to develop in the spring of 2026. We left as soon as we caught wind and were not disappointed by what we found.

What is a Super Bloom?

A super bloom in Death Valley is an extraordinary showing of wildflowers. Although wildflowers bloom every year in Death Valley, displays that warrant super bloom status happen about once a decade. Prior blooms that achieved “super” status took place in 1998, 2005, and 2016. All photos containing wildflowers in this post are from the 2026 super bloom.

For a super bloom to occur, the conditions need to be perfect. Higher than normal rainfall and temps that are neither too low nor too high for the delicate blooms to emerge are key. Lastly no heavy wind storms can rage, if it is too windy the delicate sprouts can be destroyed before they have a chance to shine.

In addition to the breathtaking swaths of purple, pink and gold, if you look closely you will see thousands of caterpillars. These chubby little crawlers feast on the abundance of wildflowers and transform into the white-line sphinx moth. It was astounding to see how prevalent they were in the park.

Side note: they are nearly impossible to spot while driving and fatalities cannot be avoided so plan to make a stop at a carwash after leaving since their extremely green diet makes a morbid Jackson Pollock out of your cars exterior.

Carpets of yellow and purple cover the extensive wilderness. One could spend hours stopped on the side of the road watching them sway in the breeze. Please note, picking wildflowers is not allowed. It is important not to disrupt the delicate balance of the ecosystem by removing any of the seeds that could produce the next blooms.

The Wrap Up

Hopefully you found what you were looking for in this Death Valley itinerary and maybe something more. As we continue to visit “new to us” National Parks it becomes increasingly difficult to pick a favorite. I stand by the parks though and can honestly say I haven’t been to a “bad” one yet and don’t expect to.
I hope that you are able to make the trip and now feel better prepared for Death Valley. It is an amazing place where life and beauty thrive in one of the harshest climates in the world.