Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping

0.15

83 reviews

There is no specific street address for the park.

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens Death Valley National Park site

Get Directions

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens Death Valley National Park site

Get Directions

Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Reservation-related change and cancellation fees apply: $10 change fee for switching dates entirely outside the original reservation; no change fee...

Standard Site Fee$0.00

Hookup Site Fee$0.00

Premium Site Fee$0.00

Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00

Group Site Fee$0.00

Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00

Total Campsite Fees$0.00

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free with account · Checks every 2 minutes

167,000+ sites monitored · Email, SMS, or in-app notifications

Share this campground

Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

(760) 786-3200

What Campers Say

0.15

Mixed Reviews

Based on 83 reviews

Read all reviews

Best Time to Camp at Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping

Death Valley doesn't do anything halfway. Summer brings some of the most punishing heat on the planet, with the basin floor baking under relentless sun and sustained drought conditions that have earned this place its formidable reputation. Yet the park transforms with the seasons: winter dusts the surrounding peaks with snow, creating a surreal contrast against the desert floor hundreds of feet below sea level. When rare rainstorms grace this parched landscape, the valley floor erupts in unexpected carpets of wildflowers—a fleeting spectacle that draws visitors from around the world. Come prepared for extremes, because desert weather here is as unpredictable as it is dramatic.

Spring (Mar-May)

Wildflowers bloom, mild temperatures, fewer crowds. Great for hiking and photography.

Best

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm days. Most facilities open. Reserve ahead.

Fall (Sep-Nov)

Beautiful fall colors, cooler temps, quieter campgrounds. Ideal for peaceful trips.

Winter (Dec-Feb)

Off-season, limited services. Check for closures before visiting.

Planning Tips

About Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping

Venture into one of Earth's most extreme landscapes with Death Valley's backcountry roadside camping, where designated primitive sites place you in the heart of remote desert wilderness. These off-grid locations demand true self-sufficiency and a capable vehicle—think high-clearance SUV or truck with serious ground clearance, ideally with 4-wheel drive—but reward adventurous spirits with unparalleled solitude beneath impossibly dark skies.

Designated primitive roadside campsites intended to provide a remote backcountry vehicle-camping experience; sites are remote and require self-sufficiency.

Historical SignificanceDeath Valley's dramatic topography tells a story millions of years in the making. Through powerful geologic forces—stretching, faulting, and volcanic activity—this basin has gradually sunk to become the lowest point in North America, dropping to 282 feet below sea level at Badwater Basin. Situated within the vast Mojave Desert, this landscape represents one of the most geologically active and visually striking regions on the continent, where the earth's restless forces remain written across every ridge, playa, and canyon.

Weather and SeasonsDeath Valley doesn't do anything halfway. Summer brings some of the most punishing heat on the planet, with the basin floor baking under relentless sun and sustained drought conditions that have earned this place its formidable reputation. Yet the park transforms with the seasons: winter dusts the surrounding peaks with snow, creating a surreal contrast against the desert floor hundreds of feet below sea level. When rare rainstorms grace this parched landscape, the valley floor erupts in unexpected carpets of wildflowers—a fleeting spectacle that draws visitors from around the world. Come prepared for extremes, because desert weather here is as unpredictable as it is dramatic.

ElevationDeath Valley plunges to 282 feet below sea level, claiming the distinction as the lowest elevation in North America—a geographic extreme that shapes everything from the crushing summer heat to the unique ecosystems clinging to life in this sunken basin.

Natural Features and SceneryImagine a landscape of superlatives: a below-sea-level basin cradled by mountains that touch the winter sky with snow, where summer temperatures shatter records and drought is the default. Death Valley sprawls across more than 3.1 million acres, with 93% designated as wilderness—an expanse so vast and untouched that solitude comes easily and night skies blaze with stars undimmed by civilization. After rare desert rains, the valley floor transforms into an impressionist painting of wildflowers, while year-round, the park showcases nature's artistic range: spring-fed oases tucked into rocky canyons, badlands striped in impossible colors, sand dunes that sing in the wind, and vast salt playas that shimmer like frozen lakes. This is the Mojave Desert at its most raw and magnificent, where every canyon, dune, and geological formation tells a story of extremes.

Geological RegionLocated in the heart of the Mojave Desert, Death Valley occupies a unique position as North America's lowest point—a below-sea-level basin created by millions of years of tectonic stretching and faulting that continues to shape this dramatic landscape today.

Campsite details

Total Campsitesnull campsites

Recommended CampsitesSites require high-clearance vehicles (SUV or truck with ≥15-inch rims and ≥8 inches ground clearance); 4-wheel drive is highly encouraged. Campers should be self-sufficient with water, food, navigation (maps), and emergency planning; do not rely solely on GPS. Trailers, RVs, and passenger cars will likely be unable to access most sites.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are not allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive are allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Site layoutPrimitive roadside campsites located along rugged backcountry dirt roads where you camp with your vehicle in designated pullouts.

Reservation PlatformsRecreation.gov (online) and the reservation call center; see Recreation.gov rules and reservation policies

Cancellation PolicyCustomers may cancel prior to arrival online or via the call center; a $10 cancellation fee will be withheld from refunds. Cancellations made the day before or on the day of arrival will have $10 withheld and will forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed total paid). One-night reservation cancellations forfeit the entire amount paid.

Activities you can enjoy

Backcountry roadside camping provides opportunities for self-reliant exploration of Death Valley's wilderness, including hiking and wildlife observation; many popular park attractions are accessible by paved roads while more remote areas require high-clearance vehicles.

Hiking

There are few established trails; hikers can follow canyon bottoms, desert washes, alluvial fans, and abandoned dirt roads to navigate the landscape.

Wildlife viewing

Park contains diverse ecosystems and oases that provide habitat and viewing opportunities for wildlife; the backcountry offers solitude and dark night skies for observation.

Campground rules

Pets are not allowed

Hazards

General hazardsNo water, toilets, or services at sites; remote locations where help may be hours away. Extreme heat, rapidly changing road conditions, limited or no cell service, and rough dirt roads requiring high-clearance (and often 4-wheel-drive) vehicles.

Weather at Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping

°F

Dec 11

Thursday

Foggy

Precipitation: 0%

Humidity: 76%

Wind: 4 mph

Foggy

Weather History

Weather data powered by Open-Meteo

Detailed 7-Day Forecast

Reveal forecast

Good to know

HostThis location is unstaffed. For general information contact the park main office at (760) 786-3200.

Campground Map

There is no specific street address for the park.

Driving directionsDo not exclusively rely on GPS; carry up-to-date road maps and be aware there is no cell phone service along most park roads. Furnace Creek Visitor Center coordinates: 36.46171, -116.86682. Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station coordinates: 36.608048, -117.144504. Paved entrances: East Side via CA-190 from Death Valley Junction, CA; SR-374 from Beatty, NV; CA-178 from Shoshone, CA. West Side via CA-190 from Olancha, CA (SR-136 from Lone Pine, CA); SR-178 (Panamint Valley Rd) from Trona, CA. Cottonwood–Marble Canyon Rd: from CA-190 enter Stovepipe Wells Campground and turn left on Cottonwood Marble Road (sign for the airport); check conditions prior to travel.

Accessible from multiple paved entrances (CA-190, SR-374, CA-178, SR-178, SR-136). Most designated roadside campsites require high-clearance vehicles; road conditions can change quickly.

Nearby places

Death Valley Junction, CA

Beatty, NV

Shoshone, CA

Olancha, CA

Lone Pine, CA

Trona, CA