One thing is certain: When visiting Death Valley — the biggest national park in the lower 48 states — you’ll cover significant distances. But if you opt for one of the four places to stay inside Death Valley, you make it much easier for yourself to take in the sights — think sleeping within a 30-minute drive of most spots on your itinerary.
Dig into this guide to find all you need to know on where to stay when visiting Death Valley. We cover all the places to stay within the park as well as the best options outside the park.
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Lodging in Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park encompasses 3.4 million scorching acres. While distances can be long, it’s surprisingly easy to navigate. Along California Highway 190, Death Valley’s main road, there are three outposts where visitors can sleep and refuel amid those iconic salt flats, rolling dunes and rugged mountains.
Furnace Creek, the epicenter, is where you find the visitor center and where the planet’s hottest temperature ever, 134°F (57°C), has been recorded. This is the most strategic place to stay for many of Death Valley’s best sights, such as Zabriskie Point, Dante’s View and — North America’s lowest point — Badwater Basin.
Stovepipe Wells is an easy 25-mile, 30-minute drive northwest of Furnace Creek. In this area, the 100-foot-tall Mesquite Flat Dunes allow for laughter-evoking rolling and sledding (a family favorite).
Panamint Springs, on the park’s western end, may feel too far away from the park highlights. From Panamint Springs, it’s a 55-mile, 1-hour-plus drive along a scenic but twisty, attention-demanding road to Furnace Creek.
Hotels in Death Valley National Park
The Ranch at Death Valley
Step into the lively palm-dotted community constituting the epicenter of Furnace Creek. There’s the western-themed Last Kind Words Saloon, a store with groceries and souvenirs, an ice-cream parlor, the world’s lowest golf course, a spring-fed pool popular with families and much more.
The Inn at Death Valley
In Furnace Creek, The Inn at Death Valley, once a hotspot for Hollywood celebrities, radiates glamour. Savor fancy meals and exceptional views at The Inn Dining Room and be wowed by the stone wall-framed swimming pool — spring fed, of course.
Stovepipe Wells Village
Check in at Stovepipe Wells Village for a basic but clean place to sleep. Choose from spacious deluxe suites, standard rooms and historic quarters built in 1925. After a day exploring the hottest place on Earth, enjoy casual American cuisine and cool down in the Stovepipe pool.
Panamint Springs Resort
In the middle of nowhere, this spartan motel-style resort, complete with a restaurant, appears like an oasis. It brims with old-time charm — not a surprise, considering Agnes Cody, Buffalo Bill’s cousin, was the first owner.
Lodging near Death Valley National Park
Death Valley forms the hottest, driest and lowest national park in the United States — not exactly favorable conditions for cities to grow. However, these small, gritty towns provide additional Death Valley accommodation.
All distances and times are to Furnace Creek Visitor Center.
East of the park
- Beatty, NV: 44 mi (71 km) / 1 h
- Amargosa Valley: 54 mi (87 km) / 1 h
- Pahrump, NV: 85 mi (137 km) / 1 h 30 min
- Shoshone, CA: 58 mi (93 km) / 1 h
West of the park:
- Lone Pine, CA: 105 mi (169 km) / 2 h
- Ridgecrest, CA: 122 mi (196 km) / 2 h 30 min
Best hotels near Death Valley
Exchange Club Motel
Stretch your bucks by staying at the simple but clean Exchange Club Motel in Beatty’s heart. A yummy bonus: Smokin’ J’s Barbecue is next door.
Death Valley Inn & RV Park
Just need a place to crash? This Beatty combo of affordable, low-key motel rooms and RV spots does the job.
Longstreet Inn
In Amargosa Valley, Longstreet Inn is part of an entertainment complex with dining, gambling and, on select nights, live music.
Historic Dow Hotel
Feel the history as you check into Historic Dow Hotel, dating back to 1923 and Hollywood’s Golden Age. Keep your car parked as you browse the nearby eateries and shops in downtown Lone Pine — don’t miss Alabama Hills Cafe & Bakery across the street.
Campgrounds in Death Valley
Prefer to rough it? There are numerous campgrounds available in Death Valley National Park, including in Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells. See all campground options.
You might wonder…
Yes, you certainly can bed down inside Death Valley. There’re four lodging facilities — The Ranch at Death Valley, The Inn at Death Valley, Stovepipe Wells Village and Panamint Springs Resort — plus multiple campgrounds.
Several towns lie in the arid landscape surrounding Death Valley. Among these, Beatty, NV, offers the best access to Furnace Creek Visitor Center, just a 44-mile (71 km) hour-long drive away.
Ideally, you have at least two days to spend in Death Valley. This allows you to tick off the most famous spots, take some hikes to get away from the crowds and maybe even explore some of the backcountry.
Keep planning your Death Valley trip
- Discover what to do in Death Valley
- Hit the open road with our epic LA to DV itinerary
