Visiting Death Valley should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Death Valley is located in Southern California, bordering Nevada. It’s actually a detour if you’re heading to Las Vegas from Los Angeles. Instead of heading straight to Las Vegas on the 15 Hwy, make a slight detour to the Northwest at the town of Baker on Hwy 127 for an additional 2-hours. And you’ll start to encounter a drastic change in the landscape.
If you are flying in from a further away location, then the nearest Airport is the Las Vegas McCarren International Airport. You can gather supplies in Las Vegas, and the drive to Death Valley is only about 2-hours depending on the different routes you can take.
Visiting Death Valley is like stepping onto a different planet. Don’t let the heat or the name put you off. You can visit the park and its highlights in just 1-2 days. For a list of all the beautiful sites to visit around Death Valley National Park, stop by my post for the Top Death Valley Sites.
Death Valley Lodging & Accommodations
Finding lodging in Death Valley can be a bit tricky. There is very limited availability when it comes to hotels, motels or inns in this area. There really is only three “brick & mortar” hotels that are owned all by the same company, mostly located in the small town of Furnace Creek. And each hotel range in cost and amnetities, from very high to about medium-low. But they are WORTH IT! Do NOT stay out of the national park. The drive will be long, gas will be scarce and expensive and most of the off-site “hotels” look like they’re straight out of a murder film.
Food is also scarce except at these locations and they cost a pretty penny. Most people who visit Death Valley like to camp or road-trip their way through in an RV and bring their own meals. Below are a list of all the different types of Death Valley lodging.
The New Inn Casitas at Death Valley
The Oasis Inn of Death Valley is the main hub for accommodations and lodging in Death Valley. It’s the central owner of the NEW INN CASITAS, the OASIS INN AT DEATH VALLEY and THE RANCH INN. Oh, and technically the FIDDLER’S CAMPGROUND as well.
NEW INN CASITAS
“The Inn’s recent multi-million dollar restoration has brought new life and energy to the historic property. With 22 new casitas situated around famed gardens.
Each spacious Casita is over 500 square feet and comes with a complimentary golf cart for guests to use to get around the property (cars cannot get down to these rooms) as well as room options with either 1 King bed or 2 Queen beds. In addition to the main sleeping quarters, each Casita also has a living room with a sleeper sofa as well as a wet bar.”
It is on the higher end of cost and can range in hundreds of dollars per night depending on the season. It shares the same address as the OASIS INN AT DEATH VALLEY, located on the same property.
The Oasis Inn at Death Valley
The beautiful property of the Oasis Inn is simply put, an oasis. A mirage. Right smack in the middle of the desolate desert of Death Valley. With towering palm trees, perfectly landscaped golf courses, fully equipped swimming pool and comfortable rooms and suites. Plus fine dining, pool cafe and golf course diner.
Its central location in the small town of Furnace Creek puts you right in the middle of most of the famous Death Valley sites such as Badwater, Artist Palette and the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Most are all within 30-minute driving distance.
Prices range on the high-medium end per night.
The Ranch Lodging at Death Valley
The Ranch at Death Valley is where we stayed for two nights. We used our American Express Platinum points to cover the expense. And used our spending money on dining which costs a pretty penny in Death Valley.
The Ranch is located only 2-3 minutes down the road from The Oasis. Our deluxe suite was spacious and clean with a walk-out patio with seating. This property also housed a buffet restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A saloon-style restaurant for casual fine dining, and a general store similar to a convenience store / souvenir shop.
Pricing is reasonable, but still a bit high. We managed to score a deluxe room for $249 per night on a weekend at the end of January.
Camping in Death Valley
Fiddlers Campground at The Ranch
Conveniently located right across the street from The Ranch Inn, the Fiddler’s Campground gets the same amnetities as guests who are staying at The Ranch. If you’re an RV or camping enthusiast, this is quite convenient. With access to the restaurants, swimming pool, general store and Harmony Borax museum all located on the same property. For more details on the campground, visit the Oasis Inn website.
Stovepipe Wells Camping
The Stovepipe Wells Campground is located further up North. About 35-minutes away from Furnace Creek. But it is closer to the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.
“Whether you’re looking for a place to hookup your RV or a spot to pitch a tent or throw down a bedroll, you’ll find it here.”
It houses 14 RV sites and 190 Camping sites. Spots fill up quick so make sure you reserve them early!
Other Camping Sites
There are a few scattered campsites all around the Furnace Creek area, and centralized to many of the more Death Valley popular sites to visit.
Furnace Creek Campground
Sunset Campground
Texas Springs Campground
AirBNB Rentals
There are several AirBNB rentals that advertise themselves as being the Death Valley vicinity. In fact, we had booked one the city of Pahrump, NV the month before but had to cancel it due to weather and road closures. But once we rescheduled our trip and actually took the drive to the Death Valley National Park a month later, we realized Pahrump was way too far to be even remotely convenient. There are also AirBNB locations in Beatty, NV which is a bit closer. But honestly, I would not recommend going the AirBNB route when you’re visiting Death Valley. All the locations are just too spread out and not within a convenient driving distance of all the popular sites to see in Death Valley.
Visiting Death Valley is like stepping onto a different planet. Don’t let the heat or the name put you off. You can visit the park and its highlights in just 1-2 days. For a list of all the beautiful sites to visit around Death Valley National Park, stop by my post for the Top Death Valley Sites.
I agree about staying local. After visiting it’s hard to imagine driving in and out from farther away and adding hours to your daily drive from pahrump. Book early and stay closer. Bring your own food it you want to save on meals.
All the other places look a bit sketchy anyway when we drove by them! 😛
All these accommodations look beautiful and I’d love to stay at any of them! Also, I have an important question. How was wifi/reception in this area? haha
HAHA, the reception in the town of Furnace creek is 3G and a bit slow. But once you’re on the hotel’s wifi, it’s pretty good.
Death Valley is 100% on my bucket list! Planning a big American trip next year, saved for future use! 🙂
I live in the USA and I still wanna plan a big US trip! How fun for you! What’s on your agenda?
The oasis inn looks beautiful!
It was very very fancy!
The resorts in and around Death Valley look fabulous. I would love to stay in any of them!
They are worth it.
Usually, I am an Airbnb person but its deff good to know they are crazy far. I would have done the same as you and prefer to be closer! Super helpful, as Death Valley is high on my bucket list!