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Death Valley National ParkMesquite Flat Sand Dunes
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Death Valley National Park
Plan Your Visit
Furnace Creek Visitor Center & Museum
Start your visit to Death Valley at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center & Museum.
 

Death Valley National Park is open year round. Modern well-maintained and air-conditioned vehicles usually have little trouble with desert travel, but summer trips do require extra planning and extra care. Tempertures begin to moderate, dropping below the 100 degree mark, in mid October and the peak visitor season runs through the cool winter and spring months into the middle of April when temperatures again climb above 100. 

Visitor centers, contact stations, museums and wayside exhibits provide information on park resources and scenic highlights. The Death Valley Natural History Association sales outlets, located in the visitor centers and contact stations, have a full compliment of informational materials about the park. 

Ranger guided programs are conducted from the Fall through early Spring while temperatures are moderate and visitation and campground use is high. 

There are nine campgrounds with varying facilities and seasons. The low elevation campgrounds, with the exception of the Furnace Creek Campground, close during the long summer months because of the extreme heat. Several higher elevation campgrounds and camping areas in the mountains remain open year round.

Lodging, camper stores, restaurants, dump stations, fuel and auto services are available in Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells Village, Panamint Springs and in the towns adjacent to the park.

The Death Valley Visitor Guide (2.37 MB PDF File) is a good source of of information in one location.  It includes pages on Desert Survival, What To See, Walks & Hikes, Park Map, Research & Education, Natural Resources, Scotty's Castle, Planning Your Trip, and Visitor Services.

The Mesquite Dunes in Death Valley National Park  

Did You Know?
In 1929, no rain was recorded in Death Valley, California. From 1931 through 1934, a 40 month period, only 0.64 inches of rain fell.
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Last Updated: May 23, 2008 at 17:47 EST