This list of highlights can be done in one day and is listed in order with your trip starting from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. Accessible by car or a short stroll. No hiking required.
From Las Vegas: Enter on CA-190 westbound from Death Valley Junction.
Begin at Dante's View, 20 Mule Team, Zabriskie Point, Devil's Golf Course, Badwater Basin, Artist's Drive, Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Harmony Borax Works, and then Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.
From Beatty, NV: Enter on NV-374 (Daylight Pass Road) heading southwest.
Begin at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Harmony Borax Works, Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Devil's Golf Course, Badwater Basin, Artist's Drive, Zabriskie Point, 20 Mule Team Canyon, and then Dante's View.
From Lone Pine, CA: Enter on CA-190 eastbound.
Begin at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Harmony Borax Works, Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Devil's Golf Course, Badwater Basin, Artist's Drive, Zabriskie Point, 20 Mule Team Canyon, and then Dante's View.
From Ridgecrest, CA: Enter on Panimint Valley Road north of Trona, CA.
Begin at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Harmony Borax Works, Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Devil's Golf Course, Badwater Basin, Artist's Drive, Zabriskie Point, 20 Mule Team Canyon, and then Dante's View.
Must See Highlights
stay safe in the heatPlan a Summer Visit
Bob Greenburg Furnace Creek Visitor Center Stop by the visitor center in Furnace Creek to learn about the park. See the 20 minute long film (8:30 am to 4:00 pm daily), explore the museum exhibits, and ask about seasonal ranger programs. ADA Accessible. Location: CA - 190 in Furnace Creek, CA. Large parking lot can accommodate buses and RV's. Bus unloading zone is located just past main breezeway near picnic tables.
NPS - Dan Kish Devil's Golf Course An immense area of rock salt eroded by wind and rain into jagged spires. So incredibly serrated that "only the devil could play golf on such rough links". Listen carefully and you'll hear sounds like tiny pops and pings. Bend your ear to the ground and the sound grows louder. The sound is literally billions of tiny salt crystals bursting apart as they expand and contract in the heat. Location: Badwater Road - 20 minutes (13mi / 21km) south of Furnace Creek. The unpaved access road is typically passable to sedans and mid sized RV's. Buses and large RV's over 30 ft not recommended.
NPS - Kurt Moses Badwater Basin The lowest point in North America is a surreal landscsape of vast salt flats. The basin sits 282 feet (86 m) below sea level where a temporary lake may form after heavy rainstorms. Avoid walking out on the flats during hot weather. The boardwalk is ADA accessible. Location: Badwater Road - 30 minutes (18mi / 29 km) south of Furnace Creek. Primitive restroom at parking lot. Large parking area can accommodate buses and large RV's. 
Alan Van Valkenburg Artist's Drive A scenic loop drive through multi-hued volcanic and sedimentary hills. Artist's Palette is especially photogenic in late afternoon light. The 9 mi (14 km) road is one-way and is only drivable with vehicles less than 25 feet in total length. Location: Badwater Road - 15 minutes (9.5mi / 15km) south of Furnace Creek. Primitive restroom located at Artist's Palette parking area. 
Mark Comon Zabriskie Point The most famous viewpoint in the park. Overlooking the golden colored badlands of the Furnace Creek formation, visitors can simply enjoy the view or elect to start the hike from the point around Badlands Loop. Connector trails lead to Golden Canyon, Gower Gulch, and Red Cathedral. The point is most popular at sunrise and sunset. ADA accessible. Location: CA-190 - 10 minutes (5mi / 8km) east of Furnace Creek. Paved road with parking large enough for buses and RV's. Primitive restroom avaiable at parking lot. 
Chuck Gallegos Twenty Mule Team Canyon Winding through otherwordly badlands, this 2.7 mi (4.3 km) one-way loop drive is unpaved but typically passable to a sedan depending on recent precipitation. Not recommended for vehicles over 25 ft in length. Great for bike rides or for hiking with dogs. Location: 15 minutes east (5.5 mi / 8.8 km) of Furnace Creek off of CA190. 
NPS - Dan Kish Dante's View At 5,475 ft (1,669 m), the most breathtaking viewpoint in the park. Facing west, the view of the Panamint Mountains towering over the lowest point (-282ft / 86m) in North America (Badwater Basin) offers one of the best sunrises in the park. The barely visible mountains on the far western horizon are the Sierra Nevadas, home to the highest point (14,505ft / 4,421m) in the contiguous United States - Mount Whitney, however the peak itself isn't quite visible. Location: 40 minutes (25mi / 40km) from Furnace Creek. From Furnace Creek, take CA-190 east to Furnace Creek Wash Rd, then turn right and follow the paved route up to the viewpoint. 25 ft length limit. No restroom at the viewpoint but a primitive restroom is along the road 1/4 mile below the view. 
NPS - Kurt Moses Harmony Borax Works Harmony Borax Works was the central feature in the opening of Death Valley and the subsequent popularity of the Furnace Creek area. The 1/4 mi (0.4 km) paved walking path leads you back in time as you explore the ruins of the plant and associated townsite, and how they played an important role in Death Valley history. ADA accessible. Location: A few minutes west of Furnace Creek (2 mi / 3.2 km) on CA-190. Large parking area can accommodate buses and large RV's. 
Mark Comon Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes The largest dune field in the park. This dune field includes three types of dunes: crescent, linear, and star shaped. Polygon-cracked clay of an ancient lakebed forms the floor. Mesquite trees have created large hummocks that provide stable habitats for wildlife. Location: CA-190 - 30 minutes (19mi / 31km) west of Furnace Creek. Paved road with parking large enough for buses and RV's. Primitive restrooms available in parking lot. Other Things to SeeStaying longer than a day? Death Valley National Park has 3.4 million acres (over 5,300 square miles / 8,500 kilometers) of desert and mountains, making it the largest national park in the contiguous United States. The possibilities for discovery are endless!
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Last updated: May 1, 2017