From Las Vegas to Death Valley: Best Ways to Get There
Death Valley National Park covers a huge area with much to see and do. Getting to Death Valley also involves getting around the park and seeing some of the landscape and attractions. This means you'll need transportation to and through the park, either by driving yourself or taking a tour.
There are multiple ways to cross the 70 miles of Nevada and California desert separating Las Vegas from Death Valley. It's a fairly easy drive on divided highways to get to the park, and the main roads through the park are usually in good shape. The route takes you across a desert environment and typically does not see snow, even in the winter.
In the summer, Death Valley sees deadly high temperatures. It's the location of the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth: 134 degrees Fahrenheit (56.7 degrees Celsius).
Guided tours include round-trip transportation from most of the major Vegas Strip resorts, a guide who narrates your journey, and admission to the park and attractions in Death Valley. Most tours include stops at other interesting places to visit, like the Rhyolite Ghost Town.
Driving Routes From Las Vegas to Death Valley
The drive from the Las Vegas Strip to the Furnace Creek Visitors Center in Death Valley National Park takes just over two hours. This is not the entrance point to the park, but it is the main service center and close to several of the key attractions. You can enter the park from several points, but the routes below are the best options from Las Vegas.
Entering the Park from the North via Beatty
Driving from Las Vegas to Beatty is straightforward. Just get on Interstate 11 North, which then changes numbers en route to Highway 95. From Las Vegas, it's just over an hour and a half to Beatty.
Beatty is the farthest main entrance to the park on the east side and is the ideal entry point on a circular route that encompasses the highlights of the park, starting in the north.
After you leave Beatty you'll climb significantly on scenic and twisty Highway 374. Along here be sure to keep an eye out for burros beside the highway. A must-see stop shortly after Beatty is the ghost town of Rhyolite, reached by a short paved road on your right. Historical ruins, along with some unusual artwork make for an interesting and unusual stop.
Head back to the highway and continue into the park. You can stop at the unmanned entry point to grab a park map and pay your fee. From this point, continue onwards towards Stovepipe Wells. Here, you'll have views of the giant sand dunes. If the weather permits, stop for a hike to the top of one for good views up and down the valley.
Backtrack to Highway 190 and head south at the split onto Badwater Road (Highway 178) to see other park highlights, including Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the United States, Natural Bridge, and the Devil's Golf Course.
From here, you can backtrack again to Highway 190 to hit Zabrinksi Point, Twenty Mule Team Canyon, and Dante's View on your way back to Las Vegas. Another option is to continue southwards on Highway 178 back to Pahrump, but this route is less scenic and longer.
Entering the Park Midway at Amargosa Valley via Highway 373 and Highway 190
Driving from Las Vegas to Death Valley via the Highway 373 turnoff at Amargosa Valley is easy and the route most visitors use. The total trip time to the Furnace Creek Visitors Center is just over two hours.
To start, find your way to Interstate 11 North, which then changes numbers en route to Highway 95. The drive time is roughly 75 minutes to your first turn. Take a left at Amargosa Valley and follow the road westward towards the park. The highway changes numbers at the California border and becomes Highway 127. Be sure to take the right-hand turn to Highway 190 at Death Valley Junction.
The views and excursions off Highway 190's descent into Death Valley are stunning, and Zabriskie Point, Twenty Mule Team Canyon, and a drive out to Dante's View are not to be missed. This route also takes you by the Furnace Creek Visitors Center where you can plan out your route.
If you plan it right and see the attractions to the south first then backtrack to hit the dunes at Stovepipe Wells last, you have the option of heading out of the park at the northern exit and hitting the Rhyolite Ghost Town on your way home via Beatty.
Entering the park via Parhrump and Highway 160
This route is ideal for those staying in the southern end of Las Vegas. Travel time is about 10 minutes longer than the route described above. The main difference is that you take Interstate 15 South from Las Vegas and then turn westward on Highway 160.
At Pahrump, you'll need to make sure to turn on Bell Vista Road and follow it to Death Valley Junction. From there take Highway 190 and enjoy all the sights along your way to Furnace Creek including Zabriskie Point and Dante's View.
Be sure to check the Death Valley National Park website for the most current updates on road conditions.
Car and RV Rentals from Las Vegas
Consider renting a car in Las Vegas for the drive to Death Valley. Major car rental companies like Budget, Hertz, and Avis have outposts at the Las Vegas airport (LAS). Keep in mind Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) has an offsite rent-a-car center located about 10 minutes from the terminal. Airline passengers can take a shuttle service (buses run every five minutes) that stops at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3.
You can also find car rental locations throughout the city and at several of the major resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. Enterprise Rent-A-Car offers a free pickup service for their non-airport locations. They will pick you up and take you to their office to rent and pick up your rental car. Sixt, which has a location at the LAS car rental center, offers a wider variety of luxury and sports cars from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi than the other rental car companies.
RV Rentals: If you rent an RV or camper van in Las Vegas, be sure to check the policy on driving to Death Valley. Many of these do not allow you to take the vehicle into the park at certain times of the year, if at all.
From Las Vegas to Death Valley by Guided Tour
Another way to see the highlights of the park is to take a day tour. This may not be comprehensive or offer the same flexibility as driving yourself but it's a good way to hit the highlights in one day.
The Death Valley Day Tour from Las Vegas provides guided transportation and admission to parks and attractions and provides pickup and drop-off at several major Strip resorts.
En route, you'll stop and visit Rhyolite Ghost Town. At Death Valley, you will visit the Furnace Creek Visitor Center where you can learn about America's largest national park. Afterward, you will explore the park with stops at Badwater Basin and Zabriskie Point. This tour is wheelchair accessible but involves a lot of walking.
For a more private, personalized experience, the Small-Group Death Valley National Park Day Trip from Las Vegas also gives you a round-trip adventure but with a small group. You get personal pickup and drop-off, as well as a chance to visit Dante's Peak, the highest point in Death Valley National Park and a great vantage point for viewing and for photos. You'll visit places in the park like Furnace Creek, Artist's Palette, Badwater Basin, and Zabriskie Point. This tour is not wheelchair accessible.
Both of these tours are led by English-speaking guides. A free app with the tour narration in French, German, Spanish, and Italian is available. Both tours last about 12 hours, with a very early morning (5:30am) pickup time, getting you back to Las Vegas around 6pm.
