Death Valley National Park is one of the most unique and beautiful national parks I have visited, and it should be on every bucket list! Death Valley has some of the hottest temperatures and the lowest point in North America, but it is so much more than that. It also has sand dunes, volcanic craters, colorful badlands, and other beautiful landscapes.

When I visited Death Valley National Park, I quickly fell in love with its breathtaking landscapes. I only had a day to explore the park, but I was able to explore the popular attractions and hike a few trails. As soon as I left, I knew I wanted to visit again to explore more.

I recommend spending at least 1-2 days in Death Valley National Park. One day allows you to see the most popular attractions, and two days give you enough time to explore the entire park. If you have the time, I recommend allocating two days in the park.

When you spend a night near the park, a few places make perfect base camps for your adventures. This guide has everything you need to know about the best towns near Death Valley National Park to stay in during your trip!

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The Best Towns Near Death Valley National Park

Furnace Creek

Furnace Creek is the closest and best town to stay near Death Valley! It is the closest town to the most popular attractions, providing easy access to the park. If you stay in Furnace Creek, you will have less driving time since the other towns near Death Valley are at least a 45-minute drive.

Furnace Creek only has a few accommodations and most are on the more expensive side, but if you want to be closest to the park, they will be the best options! Furnace Creek also has a few campgrounds for tent camping.

Because Furnace Creek has the closest accommodations to Death Valley National Park, they book up far in advance. I recommend booking your stays as early as you can to secure a room.

Best Places to Stay in Furnace Creek:

Stovepipe Wells

Stovepipe Wells is the second-closest town to Death Valley and is right next to Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. It sits in the northern section of the national park, offering a quiet alternative to Furnace Creek while still being close to the attractions.

Stovepipe Wells is a small town with only one campground, hotel, restaurant, and general store, but it is in a fantastic location within Death Valley. Because it is within Death Valley, the hotel tends to be on the more expensive side, but it is a good option if you want to be close to the park.

Best Places to Stay in Stovepipe Wells:

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Beatty

Beatty is the next best town near Death Valley, and it has accommodations, restaurants, and stores. It is a 45-minute drive to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, near many popular attractions in Death Valley.

Beatty has hotels for every budget and RV parks. Most people stay here because it is less expensive than staying within the park and has everything you need for your trip.

Beatty is also near other parts of Death Valley National Park, including Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and Ubehebe Crater. If you stay in Beatty, you have a shorter drive to these beautiful areas!

Best Places to Stay in Beatty:

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Pahrump

If you want to stay in a larger town near Death Valley, Pahrump is a perfect choice. It is just over an hour away from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, and it has everything you need for your trip, including accommodations for every budget, RV parks, restaurants, and stores.

Pahrump is on the eastern side of Death Valley, making it a longer drive to Badwater Basin but closer to Dante’s View and Zabriskie Point. It is also not too far from Las Vegas in case you want to explore other nearby areas or fly out of Harry Reid International Airport.

Best Places to Stay in Pahrump:

Death Valley Junction

Death Valley Junction looks like a ghost town because it does not have much, but it does have a hotel! Since it is only a 35-minute drive to Death Valley, it is a great place to stay if you do not mind having many amenities nearby. It is to the southwest of Death Valley, making it close to Dante’s View and Zabriskie Point.

The only hotel in Death Valley Junction is the Amargosa Opera House Hotel. It is pretty rustic, but it does the job if you are not looking for anything fancy. With its proximity to the park, it offers rooms at great prices.

Best Places to Stay in Death Valley Junction:

Amargosa Opera House Hotel

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Shoshone

Shoshone is another small town near Death Valley, and although the town does not have much, it has one hotel, one RV park, and one restaurant! If you do not mind staying in a small town, Shoshone is a good option. The accommodations tend to be less expensive than those in other nearby towns, too!

Best Places to Stay in Shoshone:

Las Vegas

If you would rather stay in a city near Death Valley, you are in luck! Las Vegas is just over two hours away, offering plenty of accommodations, restaurants, and other things to do.

I stayed in Las Vegas during my trip because I was visiting a few places nearby, including Death Valley. Of course, Las Vegas has many things to do in the city, but it is also near many beautiful outdoor areas, making it a great basecamp if you plan to visit multiple places nearby.

Although Las Vegas is two hours away, the drive does not feel long since it is incredibly scenic. I left early in the morning to drive to Death Valley and spent all day in the park before heading back. Since I was visiting other nearby places, Las Vegas was the perfect place to stay.

Best Places to Stay in Las Vegas:

If you are planning a trip to Death Valley, this guide is the perfect place to start planning! It has everything you need to know about the best towns near Death Valley.