If you’re heading to Death Valley National Park for one day and wondering what to do, keep reading! I share the best one-day itinerary for Death Valley! The National Park is 2 hours and 15 minutes away from Las Vegas, and 4 hours and 25 minutes away from Los Angeles. I completed this day trip from Las Vegas. We woke up early, started from the east entrance, and worked our way west. The places are listed in order for the best-optimized route from Las Vegas. The sites are farther apart than expected, so manage your time at each location!
Must Know for Death Valley National Park
- Entrance Fee: $30/vehicle
- Gas: Fill up your tank before entering the park. If you need gas, head to the visitor center or Stovepipe Wells Village.
- Map or Download Offline Map: Pick up a map at the visitor center or download offline maps because there is little to no service!
- Water and Food: Your day will be super busy, so pack your lunch and bring lots of water!
- Ideal Visit Length: 1-2 Days
- Best Time To Visit Death Valley: October-April. I highly recommend avoiding summertime as it will be dangerously hot. The average temperature will be above 100°! We visited during November and the weather was perfect.
Dante’s View
Dante’s View is a great first stop at Death Valley. This viewpoint offers spectacular panoramic views overlooking the valley and Badwater Basins! This is a spot you can’t miss.
Fun Fact: Dante’s View was a filming location for Star Wars!
Zabriskie Point
This spectacular view is only a 2-minute walk from the parking lot. Zabriskie Point is a highly photographed location for good reasons. Just look at that view! This is a popular spot for sunrise/sunset because the lighting hits the rolling badlands perfectly. In my opinion, there is no bad time to visit Zabriskie Point.
Badwater Basin
Badwater Basin is the most popular thing to see at Death Valley. The basin is 282 ft below sea level. Look on the hill by the parking lot to find the “Sea Level” sign and get an idea of how far below you are. This is the lowest point in North America! You will have a short walk into the basin to reach the large open area of hexagon-shaped salt flats. Be aware that your shoes may be covered in salt by the time you finish. Also, there is zero shade in the basin and the sun can be extreme, so bring a hat or sunglasses.
Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge is a quick 15-minute hike that leads to an incredible bridge between canyons. It is an uphill hike to reach the bridge, so thankfully, it is all downhill on your way back. You can keep hiking past the Natural Bridge to the “Dry Waterfall” and even do a few more miles. I would turn around at the bridge and head back to make sure you have enough time for the last few stops. Heading back to the parking lot, the views looking down to the valley are pretty remarkable!
Artists Palette
This is such a unique location! Artists Drive is a 9-mile (one-way) road that has two viewpoints. The second viewpoint is for the Artists Palette where you see those beautiful colored mountains. You get a wonderful view just off the parking lot, but if you have time, walk up closer to the rocks to get a more in-depth view of these magnificent colored rocks!
The last few miles of the Artists Drive Road were my favorite drive through Death Valley. There are many dips and sharp turns with colorful rocks on both sides. It was like a rollercoaster and racetrack. We were trying to keep our eyes on the road because it was so twisty and narrow, but the colorful rocks towering on both sides of us were distracting. So, drive slowly and enjoy the stunning views!!
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are not the only sand dunes in Death Valley, but it the most popular because it is easily accessible. If you want to reach the higher sand dunes with fewer footprints, you will have to walk about 30-60 minutes. Arrive here at least 30-60 minutes before sunrise/sunset for the perfect lighting for photos! We thought we timed it perfectly so we would be there by sunset, but since the mountains are so high, we missed the sunset by 10 minutes.
Death Valley National Park is a great day trip from Las Vegas or Los Angeles that offers amazing landscapes. Explore the hottest, driest, and lowest point in North America! I hope you get the chance to visit this amazing park and use my Death Valley National Park one-day itinerary! Be sure to check the park’s website for alerts and closures before you head there. If you are in Las Vegas and looking for another day trip, then check out my Valley Of Fire State Park blog post here.