Badwater Basin
Walk out onto the salt flats at the lowest point in North America, 282 feet below sea level. The bright, patterned crust seems to go on forever.
- Go
- Early morning or late afternoon
- Best for
- The classic Death Valley moment
Death Valley, California
Salt flats, sand dunes and some of the darkest skies in the country, at their best in the cool months. Here’s how to see it well.
By the Global Escapes travel team · Updated
- Best time to go
- November to March
- Trip length
- 2 or 3 nights in the park
- From Atlanta
- About 4.5 hours nonstop to Las Vegas
- Las Vegas to Furnace Creek
- About 2 hours by car
- Weather
- December highs near 65°F, lows near 38°F
- Book by
- Four to six months ahead for winter weekends
Why winter is the season
Death Valley holds the record for the hottest air temperature ever measured, 134°F in 1913. In winter, though, it’s simply lovely: sunny, still and comfortable enough to explore all day.
From November through March, highs at Furnace Creek run from the mid-60s in midwinter to warmer days as spring arrives, nights are cool and crisp, and the light stays low and golden for hours. That’s when the hikes, drives and viewpoints are a pleasure rather than a test.
It’s also the season for the night sky. Death Valley is a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park, and on a moonless winter night the Milky Way stretches from one mountain range to the other. The park’s Dark Sky Festival, with scientists, ranger programs and telescope viewing, is set for February 5 to 7, 2027.
The places worth the drive
The park covers about 3.4 million acres, so it pays to choose a few highlights and time each one to the light.
Zabriskie Point
Golden, wrinkled badlands that shift through every shade of amber as the sun comes up. It’s a short walk from the parking area to the overlook.
- Go
- Sunrise
- Best for
- Photographers
Dante’s View
More than 5,000 feet above Badwater, with the whole valley spread out below and Telescope Peak, over 11,000 feet, across the way.
- Go
- Late afternoon
- Best for
- The big picture
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Rolling dunes near Stovepipe Wells, made for wandering with no trail at all. The ripples and long shadows are best at either end of the day.
- Go
- Sunrise or sunset
- Best for
- Families, photographers
Artists Drive
A one-way loop through hills streaked with pink, green and purple, with a stop at Artists Palette along the way.
- Go
- Mid to late afternoon
- Best for
- A scenic drive
Under the stars
Pull over well away from any lights, switch off the headlights and let your eyes adjust. Harmony Borax Works and Badwater are favorite spots.
- Go
- A moonless night
- Best for
- Everyone, really
Where to stay
There are only a handful of places to sleep inside the park, and the best ones fill up for winter weekends.
The Oasis at Death Valley, at Furnace Creek, is really two hotels in one. The Inn at Death Valley has welcomed guests since 1927, with a spring-fed pool, palm-shaded grounds and casitas, a restful base after a day in the desert.
Just down the road, The Ranch at Death Valley is the more casual, family-friendly side, next to the park visitor center, with its own spring-fed pool and a small town square. Golfers can play Furnace Creek Golf Course, 214 feet below sea level and billed as the lowest course in the world.
Staying in the park means you can be at Zabriskie Point for sunrise and back on the dunes for sunset without a long drive in between, and the stars are right outside your door.
A two-night shape
- Day 1Drive in from Las Vegas, sunset at Zabriskie Point
- Day 2Badwater early, Artists Drive, Dante’s View late in the day
- Night 2Stargazing at Harmony Borax Works
- Day 3Sunrise on the dunes, then on to your next stop
Making it part of a bigger trip
Death Valley pairs beautifully with other desert stops, and it’s easy to build a loop that feels like a real road trip.
Las Vegas is the easiest gateway, about two hours away, with plenty of nonstop flights from Atlanta. Many travelers begin or end with a night or two there, enjoying a show and a great dinner before trading the bright lights for the desert.
From there, the trip can roll on to Palm Springs for pool days and mid-century design, or east toward Zion and the Grand Canyon. We plan the drives so the long stretches fall on scenic roads and you always arrive before dark.
Good to know
The small things that make a desert winter feel easy.
Fill up, carry water
Services are few and far between, and there’s no cell service along most park roads. Top off the tank and keep plenty of water in the car.
Check the roads
Flash floods have closed roads in recent years, and Scotty’s Castle is still closed for flood recovery. We check conditions before you go.
Follow the light
Save the big viewpoints for sunrise and late afternoon, and spend midday by the pool or on a shady walk.
Plan around the moon
The darkest skies come in the days around a new moon. We look at the calendar when we set your dates.
Pack layers
Winter mornings can be close to freezing and afternoons warm. A fleece, a hat and sunglasses cover it all.
Pack a picnic
Places to eat are spread far apart. A packed lunch keeps your day flexible and lets you eat with a view.
Planning the whole trip?
Our American Southwest guide
Month-by-month timing, drive times and the places our travelers love most, from Sedona and the Grand Canyon to Palm Springs and Death Valley.
See the American Southwest guideLet’s plan your Death Valley escape
Tell us when you’re thinking of going and who’s coming along. An advisor will take it from there.