Considering a visit to Death Valley National Park and wondering where to stay in Death Valley? If you plan to spend two or more days exploring the park, you have many options for where to stay.
Death Valley National Park is a spectacular desert national park in Southern California. It is the largest national park in the contiguous United States, and known for its majestic landscapes and dramatic geological features.
There are many exciting things to do in Death Valley, from hiking to stargazing and scenic drives to sightseeing.
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While you can visit Death Valley National Park for the day from Las Vegas or Los Angeles, or spend a day in the park as part of a California road trip, you can also easily spend several days here, exploring the park at leisure.
Sunrises and sunsets in Death Valley National Park can be gorgeous, and if you spend one or more nights here, you can join a ranger-led astronomy program, do some early-in-the-day hiking, or do some stargazing or night photography on your own.
An opportunity to spend a few days exploring Death Valley National Park is not to be missed!
Where to stay when visiting Death Valley National Park
Inside Death Valley National Park
You can stay inside the park. There are hotels inside Death Valley National Park, as well as a number of campgrounds. Convenience is a big reason for choosing to stay inside the park.
There are three hotels inside Death Valley National Park: The Inn at Death Valley and the Ranch at Death Valley, both at Furnace Creek, and the Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel in Stovepipe Wells, near Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.
Furnace Creek is very central to most major sights in Death Valley National Park, and it’s where the Visitor Center is located.
Stovepipe Wells Village is also along CA Highway 190, on the way to Furnace Creek if you are coming via Panamint Springs in California.
East of Death Valley National Park: Pahrump, Amargosa and Beatty
Death Valley National Park lies along the border between California and Nevada. East of Death Valley National Park, the three Nevada towns of Pahrump, Amargosa, and Beatty are closest to the park.
Pahrump is a popular option for folks that visit Death Valley National Park from Las Vegas.
If you come to the park from California but plan to visit Vegas after, you may wish to consider staying in Pahrump for the shortest drive time to Vegas after your time in Death Valley.
Pahrump is about 30 miles from Death Valley Junction, where you can catch CA 190, the main road that runs through Death Valley National Park. Pahrump is a good-sized town, so you will have no problems finding lodging, dining, and gas here.
Amargosa Valley is a hamlet, located about 24 miles from Death Valley Junction. Since it’s a small place, options are limited, but you will find some lodging, dining, and gas here.
Beatty is located to the northeast, about 40 miles from Furnace Creek Visitor Center. You will find lodging, dining, and gas here. Beatty is a pit stop on the route between Vegas and Reno.
If you choose an AirBnB or vacation rental option in Pahrump or Beatty, you will find grocery stores for supplies.
Gas will most likely be cheaper at any of these places when compared to prices inside Death Valley National Park, so if you do decide to stay in one of these towns, fill up there rather than in the park.
South of Death Valley National Park
To the south of the park, you will find the towns of Shoshone and Tecopa, both in California. Tecopa is a little under 37 miles from Death Valley Junction and a larger place than Shoshone, which is about 10 miles closer.
Both towns offer dining options, stores for groceries and supplies, and gas.
west of Death Valley National Park
The town of Ridgecrest in California is about a 2-hour drive from Furnace Creek Visitor Center. While it is a longer drive into the heart of the park, Ridgecrest is a good-sized town. Ridgecrest offers several lodging options, plus dining, stores for supplies, and gas.
Closer to the park (about an hour drive to Furnace Creek Visitor Center) is Panamint Springs, which features a resort, with dining and gas.
Lone Pine, along the Highway 395 corridor, is another great place to spend the night, if you do not mind a slightly longer drive into the park. The nearby Alabama Hills are worth exploring and the drive up Whitney Portal Road is spectacular.
Our Experience
We’ve visited Death Valley National Park twice. The first time we spent several days in the park, and the second time we did a quick day trip from Las Vegas.
We stayed at the Ranch in Death Valley on our first visit, and found it both comfortable and convenient. The Inn at Death Valley was closed for renovation at the time, and we want to go back to Death Valley and stay at the Inn…it looks beautiful!
We passed by Pahrump on our way to Death Valley from Vegas and back, and we think it is a great option for visitors wanting to stay outside the park.
Staying Inside Death Valley National Park
Staying inside the park maximizes your sightseeing time, and if you plan to spend just one night, in our opinion, staying inside the park is the way to go.
Even if you plan to stay a few nights, you may still want to consider staying inside the park, just because it is so convenient.
You can take a break in the middle of the day. Retrieving something you forgot is easily done (we’ve once or twice committed the heinous sin of leaving our camera bag behind!).
A room or campsite inside Death Valley gives you a convenient base for getting out again in the late evening, or at night.
The Inn at Death Valley: Upscale Historic Option
The Inn at Death Valley is a historic resort located in the heart of the park that has hosted Hollywood celebrities on desert vacations.
Extensively renovated in 2018, the property offers rooms in the main building as well as standalone casitas. Casitas come with golf carts to get around the property.
Rooms and casitas are spacious and feature elegant furnishings, with beds rated super comfortable.
The onsite dining is also well reviewed. The Dining Room offers fine dining with views (breakfast and dinner), and the Pool Café offers a casual menu.
The beautiful outdoor pool is fed by a hot spring and while the temperature varies, it is a comfortable temperature for deep relaxation.
There are palm gardens to stroll through, and a beautiful terrace to take in sunset or to stargaze. The 18-hole Furnace Creek Golf Course is the lowest elevation golf course in the world!
The Ranch at Death Valley: Comfort and Convenience
The Ranch at Death Valley is also located in Furnace Creek. It has been recently renovated as well. With palm trees, it feels like an oasis in the desert!
Rooms are spacious and comfortably furnished, and some rooms have patios or balconies, perfect for peeping out at the night sky.
The Ranch at Death Valley also offers standalone cottages with either a king bed or two queens.
The outdoor spring-fed pool is heated to a comfortable temperature, and misters keep outdoor seating areas cool when temperatures are high.
The Ranch is undoubtedly one of the most convenient places to stay in Death Valley!
The Last Kind Words Saloon is a beautiful bar and restaurant with an Old West feel. An American menu is offered, with vegan options.
The 1849 Buffet in the Town Square at The Ranch offers a buffet with rotating choices.
The Ice Cream Parlor has a casual to go menu, and serves ice cream (and coffee) through much of the day!
The Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel is a West-themed hotel located by Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.
Rooms are spacious and comfortable. Some rooms have views of the sand dunes or surrounding mountains, and others face into the inner courtyard.
There is a heated outdoor pool on the property, and the onsite Toll Road Restaurant is well reviewed.
Badwater Saloon is the bar and casual eatery on site. There is a general store at the site, for supplies.
Camping inside Death Valley National Park
The National Park Service maintains several campgrounds in Death Valley National Park.
The most popular campground location is Furnace Creek, which is central to many major sights in the park. But there are some campgrounds in other parts of the park as well, including at Stovepipe Wells Village.
Most campgrounds are open from fall through spring, but there are a few that are open year round.
Furnace Creek Campground takes reservations and we recommend you book a spot well ahead of your visit. Other campgrounds are first come, first served.
Furnace Creek Campground offers RV hookups, as do Stovepipe Wells Resort and Panamint Springs Resort (the latter two are not run by the National Park Service).
If you would like to rent an RV for your trip to Death Valley, check out Outdoorsy or Escape Campervans!
For amenities at various campgrounds and other information on camping in Death Valley National Park, visit the park website.
Places to stay east of Death Valley National Park (in Nevada)
Pahrump
The Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Pahrump is located 25 miles from Death Valley Junction. The hotel offers spacious rooms and suites, comfortably furnished. Located right off the main street, the hotel is close to dining and stores. Breakfast is included. Book a stay here!
Prefer a vacation rental? This spacious home close to Death Valley offers three bedrooms and 2 baths. There is an enclosed backyard and views of the mountains abound. Restaurants and shops are just 5 minutes away. Book a stay here!
This beautiful home is convenient for Death Valley and offers 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. The property is set on 2.5 acres and the master features a jacuzzi. There are two smaller units available if you are a couple or a solo traveler.
“The house was clean, spacious, well equipped, comfortable, and quiet. It truly exceeded our expectations. It was close enough to Death Valley to allow us to enjoy all that the National Park had to offer. A great choice!” — Eric
This spacious house is 2.4 miles from the town of Pahrump and features 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, perfect for a family or group. The home offers a heated spa and full-sized pool in the backyard. Book a stay here!
This stone cabin features two bedrooms and 2 baths. There is a fenced seasonal pool, as well as a full kitchen and laundry. The home is a 45-minute drive from Death Valley National Park. Book a stay here!
This spacious pool house is just under 1,400 square feet and features two bedrooms and one bath. The property offers a private pool and hot tub, with lots of outdoor space. Book a stay here!
Beatty
Atomic Inn is located 19 miles from the Hell’s Gate entrance to Death Valley National Park. Rooms are spacious and have a sitting area. Each room includes a mini refrigerator and microwave. Book a stay here!
El Portal Motel offers a seasonal outdoor pool, free wifi, and free parking. Rooms come with a microwave and a small refrigerator. It is located about 8 miles from the park entrance. Book a stay here!
This comfortable home is located conveniently for visiting Death Valley national Park. It is a spacious 2-bedroom duplex with a fully-stocked kitchen, wifi, and a Smart TV. You’ll find a couple of restaurants in town, but pick up groceries at a larger town before you arrive.
“This property was great for exploring Death Valley. It was really comfy, clean and well equipped. We couldn’t fault the property. We were already aware that we needed to take supplies with us as there isn’t a supermarket close by but the kitchen has everything you could need to knock up some meals. The drive to the property either through Death Valley or from the east is amazing. Thoroughly recommend.” — Jackie
Places to Stay South of Death Valley National Park
Tecopa
Villa Anita offers pet-friendly accommodation in Tecopa. Villa Anita is an evolving art installation studio, and much of the structures are built from repurposed materials. Units are spacious and the beds rated highly comfortable. Book a stay here!
This spacious home is the perfect hot springs getaway and features 2 bedrooms and 2 baths and is just 10 miles from the southeast entrance to Death Valley National Park. Book a stay here!
This hot springs retreat offers one bedroom and one bath, perfect for a couple or a single traveler. The home is just 10 miles from the park entrance and is elegantly appointed. Book a stay here!
Places to stay west of Death Valley National Park
Ridgecrest
Hampton Inn & Suites in Ridgecrest features spacious rooms with comfortable beds. The property has an indoor swimming pool and is located close to dining and shopping. Book a stay here!
This modern condo is comfortably furnished and offers 2 bedrooms and 1.5 baths. It’s well located for visiting Death Valley National Park, and is convenient to restaurants and a grocery store. Book a stay here!
Panamint Springs
Panamint Springs Resort is a small resort located in Panamint Valley, about 10 miles into Death Valley National Park. The setting is beautiful, with great views of distant sand dunes and the Panamint Mountains. The resort offers different types of accommodation, including a miner’s cabin.
There is a restaurant (with outdoor seating) and bar onsite, as well as gas and a general store.
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