Furnace Creek Campground

You'll find a mix of pull-through and back-in sites designed for different camping styles. Tent-only drive-in sites cluster together away from RVs. Walk-in tent sites occupy a generator-free zone, so you camp quietly. A staffed kiosk operates seven days a week during peak season. The NPS provides drinking water at the campground. A dump station sits near the entrance for those with tanks to empty.

The campground sits below sea level in the Mojave Desert. Summer temperatures exceed 120 degrees. Winter brings occasional snow to the surrounding peaks. Reservations through Recreation.gov are essential from October 15 through April 15. That window covers the park's mild season and highest visitation. First-come, first-served sites exist but fill fast on weekends and holidays. Outside the reservation window, camping operates on first-come availability at other park campgrounds. The NPS allows 30 days total camping per year in Death Valley. Fires are permitted in designated rings during cooler months. Check the official NPS Death Valley website for seasonal fire restrictions before you go.

Death Valley has nine NPS campgrounds total. Three close during the brutal summer months. Six stay open year-round for winter and spring visitors. The park covers 3.4 million acres. You can day-hike to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America. Telescope Peak rises 11,000 feet nearby. Wildflower blooms arrive unpredictably after rare rainstorms, usually February through April. High-clearance and four-wheel-drive vehicles access remote backcountry areas.

The main gotcha is the reservation window. If you arrive between May and October, first-come camping at other park sites is your only option. Summer heat above 120 degrees makes overnight camping dangerous for unprepared travelers. Call ahead to confirm current conditions and availability.