Things to do in Death Valley National Park with kids

Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the continental United States at 3.4 million acres. It is also known as the hottest, driest and lowest of the national parks. Despite what the name implies, it is not a huge wasteland and there are many things to do in Death Valley National Park with kids (or without too).

The desert landscape and various geologic formations are unlike the other National Parks we’ve visited. It really is a wonder how living things have adapted to this harsh environment. We concentrated on the southern part of the park since we were only here for a day during both visits.

We recently revisited after an eight year gap and there were some changes. But, the park was just as wonderful and unique as we remembered it.

Getting to Death Valley National Park from Las Vegas

Death Valley National Park is an easy and great day trip from Las Vegas.  The scenic 120 mile drive through the desert took a little over two hours from our hotel and went through the town of Pahrump.

Surprisingly, this was actually a pretty big town with a Walmart and a few grocery stores to stock up before driving through the desert and the park.  It was a pretty easy drive on the highway where, at most times, we were the only car on the road for miles.

Unlike other parks, there was no actual entrance with a ranger kiosk to pay for the entrance fee. There was a self-service kiosk a couple of miles down the road from the park’s Welcome sign. Credit cards were accepted.

I’m not sure how the rangers actually enforced entrance fee payments. Maps can be obtained from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. There were also payment kiosks at the visitor’s center and at the Badwater Basin parking lot.

See the views at Zabriskie Point

This was one of the first attractions we saw along the drive to the heart of the park. We pulled into a big parking lot where restrooms were available here much to our relief.

It was a short  uphill climb to enjoy the views of the valley and the surrounding multi-colored canyons. The landscape here was amazing.

The stripes and layers on the rocks were a bit more evident here. These stripes used to be at the bottom of an ancient lake in the valley. This was recommended as a popular place for sunrise and sunset viewing and definitely not to be missed.

We were lucky enough to see the sunset at Zabrieskie Point during our recent visit. It was easy to see why this viewpoint was highly recommended for sunrises and sunsets.

The light shining on the area gave it a glowing look especially around the yellow rock formations. Don’t miss a stop here and try to time it for a sunset visit. There were plenty of spaces around the platform to see the panoramic views.

Play at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

This attraction has become the symbol of Death Valley. The sand dunes were visible from the road and as we turned into the parking lot.

We didn’t quite see the ripples on the undisturbed sand or how the sun played with the lighting on the sand because we got there in mid-morning. Stovepipe Wells Village with a store and restaurant was nearby.

It was spectacular and I almost felt like I was transported to a mini Sahara Desert. The sand dunes rise nearly 100 feet from Mesquite Flat. There were trails that led to the dunes that we followed and hiked to the first set of hills.

The sand was inviting and warm enough to take off our shoes.  There is always something refreshing about walking barefoot in sand even if it is in a desert. We did see some red ants on some areas so please be aware of them.

It offered a giant sand box for kids to play in. Not surprisingly, my kids really loved being here and didn’t want to leave. They enjoyed playing with all the sand and sliding down the little hills. This was definitely one of the highlights of their trip.

Walk at Badwater Basin

This was a must-see attraction and is the nation’s lowest elevation at 282 feet below sea level.  Please click on the picture to learn more on salt flat formations as they do a much better explanation than I ever could.

There was a wide path leading to the salt flats that we followed.  The polygon shape salt formations resembling giant honeycombs were truly unique things to see and stretched out for miles.

We kept walking until most of the salt crystal formations looked undisturbed.  We were here during the mid-afternoon where it was a comfortable mid-70 temperature with a slight breeze. It was truly amazing and it made for some incredible pictures.

With the sun shining, it was a little too bright with the light reflecting on the salt flats.  Yes, it really was salt. Let’s just say someone in our party did a little taste test.

From a distance, it looked like a blanket of snow with no end in sight. The landscape was so unique and marvelous. It was amusing to see all the visitors’ writings on the salt flats near the parking lot. It was the park’s version of salt graffiti.

Going back to the parking lot, we saw the actual sea level marker high up in the cliffs. It was pretty amazing to see how far below the sea level we actually were.

Revisiting Badwater Basin

We were curious to see the changes especially with Badwater Basin after over eight years and with the major weather changes. Our previous visit was in late May and this recent visit was during late November. My kids turned into teenagers too and are now taller than me.

As you can see, the salt flats were more filled in back then. It looked more like it was covered with snow awhile ago. As a contrast, it was easier to see the honeycomb shapes when they weren’t filled in.

The borders were actually hard and not as easy to break despite the many visitors walking around. It also rained a few days before so this may also explain that some areas had more dirt than usual.

Stop at Devils Golf Course 

The name alone invokes curiosity and makes you want to turn into the gravel road just to see what this attraction is. We didn’t notice this during our previous visit. So, we took the bumpy ride into a parking lot to see it and was worth a quick stop.

It definitely looked otherworldly with sharp, jagged spires covered with salt and minerals sticking out from the ground. This area was once covered by a lake and now salt and mineral layers remain after water evaporated.

It was a very interesting geologic landscape of crystallized salt spikes. There were no trails but some areas in between the spires for walk around.  

See the Natural Bridge

This was our only “off-road” adventure at the park.  The road to the parking lot was about 1.5 miles of gravel which was a recipe for a flat tire.  Unfortunately, we weren’t driving an SUV or a 4-wheel drive  but seeing that the compact cars came out intact we decided to go.

It was a very rocky, bumpy and slow drive and somewhat scary since I kept expecting to hear a popping sound from our tires.  Luckily, we made it safely to the parking area which offered beautiful views of the Badwater Basin’s saltwater flats and the surrounding valley.

There was another half mile or so of hiking on a gravel path which was fairly easy even for our kids. They kept themselves busy looking for lizards after we spotted one.

It  was pretty much the only animal we saw on land at the park since many desert animals are nocturnal. We found plenty of rock crevices and areas perfect for the kids to climb on.

The natural bridge was an arch that connected the canyons. We were expecting something a bit bigger and more impressive but it served its purpose. Our little hike stopped here even though there were more hiking trails beyond the bridge.

If you need an easy hike with breathtaking views of the basin, then go on this one. But, if you’re pressed for time, then skip it as the drive towards the parking lot alone could take awhile.

Explore Artist Drive/Palette

This nine mile drive along a one way, sometimes narrow, paved road was not to be missed and was well worth it. The Artist Drive was appropriately named and was on a turn-off a few miles from the Badwater Basin.

We drove through during the late afternoon and saw the multi-colored canyons along the way. Some areas of the road felt like we were on a roller coaster ride with its various dips.

The Artist Palette lookout and its surrounding landscape was quite remarkable. While many of the canyons we passed displayed various layers of colors, the hues of pink, red, yellow, purple, white and green were much more vivid here.

There were plenty of viewing points with parking areas to enjoy them up close. The varying layers of color on the rocks and canyons were results of various “mineral pigments” brought on by hot water. For example, iron salts gave the rocks its red, pink and yellow hues.

Death Valley National Park was such a vast land to explore we barely touched it. Now knowing the drive was fairly easy from Las Vegas, we would love to stay overnight to experience its beauty and atmosphere at night.

Tips for Visiting Death Valley National Park with kids

• Go between October and  May when the temperatures are not in the extreme 100s.
• Bring plenty of snacks and water since there were not that many provisions around other than the area by Furnace Creek Ranch.
• Gas up in Pahrump, Nevada or nearby towns outside of the park. We hardly saw stations in the park and the ones there were expensive.
• Dress in layers and bring clothing with hoods for unpredictable weather and temperature.
• Wear comfortable shoes. The walk from the parking lot to Badwater Basin is quite long.
• Join the Junior Rangers to keep the kids entertained between the long drives and to learn more about the park’s attractions. Go to the Furnace Creek Visitor’s Center to get the booklets.
• Bring sand toys for the kids to play with in the sand dunes.

The World Is A Book contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links or any of the product links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure Policy for more information.

Where to Stay in Death Valley

While visitors can see quite a bit during a day trip, there are many more things to see in this unique park. We’ve also been told that this is one of the best areas in the county for stargazing. There are some lodging options if you want to stay overnight. Click the hotel links for the latest prices!

• The Inn at Death Valley is open all year and looks like a luxurious resort and oasis in the middle of the park. We would love to stay here one of these days. It is located around the Furnace Creek area. It offers tennis courts, pools, saunas and exercise rooms among its amenities. 
• The Ranch at Death Valley is also open year round. It offers family-friendly rooms with patios or balconies plus a pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, fire pits and children’s playground. Guests can also do horseback rides and carriage tours. 
• Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel offers a western and rustic ambience where several rooms have views of the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. It is open all year and has restaurants, gift shop and general store nearby.
• Pahrump, Nevada (check for available hotels and latest prices) is a city located about an hour from the park’s entrance and has several chain hotels with many stores and restaurants. 

Related Post:

• Being Death Valley Junior Rangers

Pin it for later!