5-Day Las Vegas to Death Valley Road Trip
Aside from being one of the world’s premier destinations, Las Vegas also serves as a handy base camp for exploring southern Nevada’s natural and recreational attractions.
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Moon Death Valley National Park
Hiking, Scenic Drives, Desert Springs & Hidden Oases
Description
Trek across the salt flats, scale the towering rocks, and explore the marble canyons of this otherworldly landscape with Moon Death Valley National Park. Inside you’ll find:
- Flexible, strategic itineraries, ranging from one day in the park to a week-long trip, designed for day-hikers, road-trippers, outdoor adventurers, history buffs, and more
- The top experiences and unique ideas for exploring Death Valley: Hike through forested trails to sweeping canyon views, and discover abandoned mining camps, remote ghost towns, and hidden springs. Go four-wheeling in rugged backcountry, or cruise along Badwater Basin Road to check out iconic sights like the Devil’s Golf Course, Artist’s Drive, and Zabriskie Point. Admire surreal salt flats, ethereal rock formations, colorful mosaic stone, and sculpted sand dunes, and find the best vistas for that perfect sunset photo-op
- Practical tips for hiking, four-wheel driving, camping, and other recreation, plus information on the right gear to pack for the desert
- Detailed hike descriptions with mileage, elevation gains, difficulty ratings, and trailhead directions
- Honest advice from Death Valley expert Jenna Blough on when to go and where to stay, whether you’re pitching the tent, parking the RV, or bedding down at a hotel
- Up-to-date information on park fees, passes, and reservations, plus strategies for getting to Death Valley National Park
- Full-color photos and easy-to-use maps throughout
- Coverage of gateway towns and excursions beyond the park, including the John Muir Wilderness, the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, and the Trona Pinnacles
- Recommendations for families, seniors, international visitors, and travelers with disabilities
- Thorough background on Death Valley’s wildlife, terrain, culture, and history
With Moon’s practical tips and expert know-how, you can experience Death Valley your way.
Exploring more of the West? Try Moon California Road Trip, Moon Palm Springs & Joshua Tree or Moon Nevada.
For full coverage of America’s national parks, check out Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 59 National Parks.
About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can’t wait to share their favorite places with you.
For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.
Start Planning Your Visit
Best Death Valley Hikes
While there are few maintained trails, old mining roads, narrow canyons, and natural features offer spectacular opportunities for hiking in Death Valley. Here's where to go, how to get there, and the amazing views and landscapes you'll experience.
Death Valley Day Trip
This Death Valley day trip itinerary will guide you to the park's most iconic sights while giving you plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs and enjoy a back-road adventure.
Death Valley Campgrounds for Tents and RVs
Between the hidden springs, salt flats, and ghost towns, a whole desert is waiting to be explored. Plan your Death Valley camping trip at one of these campsites.
One-Week Best of Death Valley Itinerary
This detailed 7-day itinerary takes you to all the best of Death Valley, from its most popular sights, notable landscapes, hikes, and more. You’ll have options for hotels and camping along the way, and you will need a rental vehicle to make the drive to and through the valley.
Highway 395 Road Trip: Death Valley to Yosemite to Tahoe
California is ready-made for road-tripping. In only a few hours, you can drive from the lowest spot in the western hemisphere—Death Valley’s Badwater at minus 282 feet—to 10,000 feet in elevation near the Sierra’s crest. With saw-toothed granite peaks on one side and the arid desert on the other, US 395 is the highway that connects it all.