Death Valley National Park: Location, Extremes & Visitor Essentials

Death Valley National Park straddles the **California–Nevada border** in the **Mojave Desert**, ~120 mi (2 hr) west of Las Vegas, ~300 mi (5 hr) northeast of Los Angeles.

Coordinates & Access

• Visitor Center (Furnace Creek): 36.4559° N, 116.8667° W.
• Entrances: CA-190 (east from Death Valley Junction / west from Olancha), NV-374 (north from Beatty), CA-178 (west from Shoshone).
• Airports: LAS (Las Vegas, 2 hr), LAX (5 hr), BFL (Bakersfield, 2.5 hr), Lone Pine (O26, GA).

World Records Held Here

• Hottest Air Temperature Ever Recorded on Earth: **56.7°C (134°F)** – 10 July 1913, Furnace Creek Ranch (WMO certified).
• Lowest Point in North America: **Badwater Basin – 86 m (282 ft) below sea level.**
• Driest Place in North America: Avg **<50 mm (2 in) rain/yr**; some years zero.

Must-See Sites

• Zabriskie Point (sunrise badlands), Dante's View (1,669 m panorama), Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Artist's Palette (colored hills), Ubehebe Crater, Scotty's Castle (closed for flood repair – check NPS).

Survival Rules

1. Water: **4 L / person / day** minimum; carry more.
2. Vehicle: Full tank, spare tire, coolant, **no A/C off** (overheats).
3. Timing: Hike **only 5–10 AM / after 5 PM** Oct–Apr; **avoid summer hiking entirely**.
4. Communication: **No cell service** most areas; satellite messenger (Garmin inReach, Zoleo) essential.
5. Leave No Trace: Pack out everything; cryptobiotic soil crusts take decades to recover.

Best Seasons

• Nov–Mar: Pleasant days (15–25°C), cold nights; wildflower bloom (Feb–Apr) if wet winter.
• Apr–Oct: Extreme heat (40–54°C); only driving/short walks at dawn/dusk.

Death Valley is **beautiful, brutal, and unforgiving**—prepare like an expedition, not a day trip.