Start your day fresh and ready for an adventure. Collect your RV from Travellers Autobarn Las Vegas and get ready to discover the famous Death Valley! Turn your A/C to the max and head onto the highway. The valley is a long, narrow basin, 282 feet below sea level, yet it is walled by high, steep mountains. This is how the extreme weather occurs and how it got the name Death Valley. This itinerary will outline some of the many magnificent wonders you will come across in Death Valley.
Be prepared
Keep in mind it is called Death Valley for a reason. Temperatures here can easily soar past 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius), especially in summer where it is known to consistently reach over 110 degrees every day! Make sure you are very well prepared. This includes:
- Water: One of the most essential things. You will need to drink at least 4 liters per day to replace loss from sweat. Drink more if you are active.
- Avoid the heat: Do not hike in low elevations when temperatures are scorching.
- Vehicle awareness: Stick to the road rules and stay on sealed roads.
Zabriskie Point
Stop 1
Zabriskie Point calls for an early wake to catch the sun as it rises over the monstrous sand dunes. It’s easy to see why this is one of the most photographed spots in the National Park. Believe it or not, this used to be a lake a long time ago. The waves of water turned to waves of sand when the Lake dried up due to the ever-increasing temperatures in the valley.
Bad water Basin
Stop 2
Bad Water Basin is Death Valleys single most popular attraction. It is so unique as it is so vast and so low. This makes the surrounding mountain range look particularly tall. Have a wander, stretch your legs and be amazed as you look into the vast lands.
Devils Golf Course
Stop 3
Drive 15 minutes North from Bad water basin, and you’ll come across Devil’s Golf Course. Just like Bad Water Basin, this is the remains of what once was a great Lake. All that remains now are millions of grains of salt. The way the salt has been left behind, gives it the name, Devil’s Golf Course, as they look like gold balls splattered around!
Artists Palette
Stop 4
The Artists Drive in Death Valley National Park is stunning to say the least. The drive will take you through canyons and past mountains, majority of which are covered in loads of fascinating colors. Weaving your way around you will see the colors come through in the mountains. The colors are a product of the metals and elements found in the ground, producing everything from light blue to a deep purple!
Why leave so soon?
Stop 5
Keep in mind, you have only just scratched the surface to what lies in Death Valley National Park. This stretches for a massive 3 million acres and will take you at least 5 days to explore all the hiking opportunities, sightseeing and great selfie opportunities. The sunrises and sunsets you will see in Death Valley National Park are some of dreams, and how better to see them than in your cozy RV with a morning coffee?
Find other popular road trips across Las Vegas
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- Check Out Las Vegas to San Francisco Road Trip
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Get the best rates on campervan rentals across Las Vegas
A great adventure begins with a great deal on your campervan rental. You’ll find that a budget campervan rental in Las Vegas makes it easy to enjoy the journey without worrying about high costs. Lock in your rental now and start packing!
FAQs about Las Vegas to Death Valley road trip
The trip from Las Vegas to Death Valley is a short one, approximately 150 miles (241 km), which would take you between two and three hours to do by car if you drove straight to Death Valley. There are some fantastic areas around Death Valley; two to three hours isn’t enough to explore them all. We recommend taking a five-day road trip to the area so you can explore, hike, and relax at the stops along the way.
Plenty of epic places to pull over between Las Vegas and Death Valley, especially if you’re into wild landscapes. Red Rock Canyon is a great way to kick things off. It is just 25 minutes from the Strip and is perfect for a short hike or a scenic viewpoint. Seven Magic Mountains is another fun one, with its neon rock towers giving you a good photo opportunity before diving into the desert.
Once you hit Death Valley, make Zabriskie Point your first sunrise stop; it’s stunning! Bad Water Basin is next and easily one of the most surreal places you’ll ever walk across. Devils Golf Course is weird and wonderful, and Artist’s Palette is like nature’s paint job gone wild. And honestly, don’t rush. Death Valley is massive, and there’s much more to uncover if you have the time.
You can pick up your campervan hire from our facility in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, we don’t have a facility in Death Valley. Our drop-off facilities are in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Freedom camping is a lovely way to have an authentic experience of the surrounding area when en route to Death Valley. If you’re interested in freedom camping in the area, take a look at our guide to freedom camping sites in and around Nevada.
Spring and autumn, especially March to May or October to November, are the best times to drive from Las Vegas to Death Valley. The temperatures are much more manageable, and the landscapes are still incredible.
Yes, booking your campervan early for your Las Vegas to Death Valley trip is a smart choice! You could stumble upon a pre-season deal, and having your camper locked in means you can focus on packing for those wide-open desert views and starry nights.
No. Fortunately, there are no toll roads on the drive from Las Vegas to Death Valley. The entire trip is toll-free from start to finish.
Our Campervans
Seats 2-5
Tent Optional
Chairs Optional
Ice Box Optional
Ext. Table Opt.
Gas Cooker Opt.
