If you have two days in Death Valley National Park, you have enough time to see many of the park’s best-known landscapes, fit in a couple of hikes, and spend some time exploring beyond the viewpoints.
My partner and I spent two days in Death Valley as part of a trip to Las Vegas. We stayed at Furnace Creek, which ended up being a really convenient base because of its central location within the park.
Something I underestimated before visiting Death Valley was just how big it is. The park covers more than 3 million acres, and you can easily spend a lot of your day driving if you don’t plan your stops geographically.
That’s why I’ve organized this 2-day Death Valley itinerary around two different areas of the park.
On day one, you’ll explore around Furnace Creek and along Badwater Road. Day two takes you toward Stovepipe Wells for Mosaic Canyon and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.
One important note before getting into the itinerary: I recommend following this itinerary between November and March if you plan to do all of the hikes.
The National Park Service considers November through March the best season for hiking in Death Valley. Low-elevation hiking can be dangerous when temperatures rise, including during spring and fall.
We visited in early May, and even then, the heat had a major impact on what we could comfortably do. I would plan my trip for earlier in the year if I was doing it again.
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- 2-Day Death Valley Itinerary at a Glance
- Day 1: Golden Canyon, Zabriskie Point, Artist’s Drive and Badwater Basin
- Day 2: Harmony Borax Works, Mosaic Canyon and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
- Is 2 Days Enough for Death Valley National Park?
- Can You Follow This Death Valley Itinerary in Summer?
- A Few Things To Know Before Following This Itinerary
- Would I Spend 2 Days in Death Valley Again?
Scenes from our 2 days spent in Death Valley National Park.
2-Day Death Valley Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1:
Golden Canyon ? Zabriskie Point ? Artist’s Drive and Artist’s Palette ? Devil’s Golf Course ? Badwater Basin
Day 2:
Elevation Sea Level Sign ? Harmony Borax Works ? Mosaic Canyon ? Stovepipe Wells ? Salt Creek Boardwalk ? Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
It’s about a 2-hour drive from Las Vegas to Death Valley National Park. I recommend staying around Furnace Creek for this itinerary.
We stayed at The Ranch at Death Valley (I recommend it!) and found the location especially useful because we could return to our room and the pool during the hottest part of the afternoon.
You’ll notice this itinerary doesn’t try to cram every possible Death Valley attraction into two days. Driving distances here tend to be longer than you expect (at least that was my experience).
I think it’s better to give yourself more time to actually walk around at each stop, rather than try to jam as much as you can into every day.
* Are you looking for details about when to visit, where to stay, driving, entrance fees, food, gas, safety, and more? Read my complete Death Valley National Park travel guide to plan your trip.
Important: Death Valley has experienced significant flood damage in recent years and road conditions can change quickly. Check the National Park Service’s current road conditions before starting each day. As of August 2026, several roads remain closed or damaged.
Day 1: Golden Canyon, Zabriskie Point, Artist’s Drive and Badwater Basin
On day one, you’ll stay relatively close to Furnace Creek before heading south along Badwater Road.
If you’re visiting during the cooler hiking season, start early in the morning anyway. You’ll have cooler temperatures for your hike and more time to work with for the rest of the day.
1. Hike Golden Canyon
Start your first morning in Death Valley at Golden Canyon, about 2 miles south of CA-190 along Badwater Road. There’s a paved parking lot at the trailhead, along with a vault toilet.
There are several ways to hike Golden Canyon, so this is one stop where it helps to know what you want to do before setting off.
The shorter option is an out-and-back hike into Golden Canyon. You can continue toward Red Cathedral if you want a longer hike. The National Park Service lists possible routes here ranging from 2 to 7.8 miles, with hiking times of approximately 1.5 to 4.5 hours.
For this itinerary, I wouldn’t do the full 7.8-mile route unless hiking is one of your main priorities for your trip to Death Valley. You have quite a bit more to see today.
But, if you would like to do the full hike, either start early in the morning, or skip some of the other stops I have planned for day one of this itinerary.
What I liked about hiking in this part of Death Valley was getting down into the landscape we had been seeing from the road. Golden Canyon takes you through the badlands rather than only looking across them from a viewpoint.
There is very little protection from the sun, though. We visited in early May, and hiking was already challenging because of the heat.
The National Park Service advises against hiking Golden Canyon after 10:00 a.m. during summer. More broadly, it recommends saving low-elevation hikes for the cooler months.
Bring plenty of water with you, even during winter. NPS recommends carrying at least 2 litres of water for a short winter day hike and substantially more in warmer conditions.
Allow: 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on the route you choose.
2. Drive to Zabriskie Point
After your hike, drive to Zabriskie Point.
Zabriskie Point overlooks the badlands around Furnace Creek and is one of the easiest places in Death Valley to get a higher perspective over this part of the park.
From the parking lot, there’s a paved ¼-mile, or 400-metre, uphill path to the viewpoint. The National Park Service estimates the drive from Furnace Creek Visitor Center at about 15 minutes.
From the top, you can see Manly Beacon rising from the badlands, with Death Valley’s salt flats and the Panamint Mountains farther in the distance.
We went to Zabriskie Point at around 9:00 a.m. The sun was already fairly high, but I still loved this stop because you can see how dramatically the geology changes across a relatively small area.
You’ll often see Zabriskie Point recommended for sunrise. I wouldn’t worry if sunrise doesn’t work with your schedule, especially since I think getting your hike done during the coolest part of the morning is more important.
There are trails into the badlands from Zabriskie Point, but I would skip those on this itinerary since you’ve already hiked Golden Canyon.
Allow: 30 to 60 minutes.
Take a Break Around Furnace Creek
At this point, I’d head back toward Furnace Creek for lunch and a break.
Death Valley is one of those places where I think it’s important to resist the urge to fill every hour. Especially when the temperatures are climbing!
We found that the best way to plan our days in Death Valley was to be up early to do a few things in the morning, and then head about to our hotel, The Ranch at Death Valley, for the midday hours, so that we could enjoy the AC and go for a swim when the sun was hottest.
3. Drive Artist’s Drive
Later in the afternoon, head south from Furnace Creek along Badwater Road to Artist’s Drive.
Artist’s Drive is a 9-mile paved, one-way road through the foothills of the Black Mountains. The road is narrow and winding, and vehicles longer than 25 feet are prohibited.
The main stop along the drive is Artist’s Palette.
The colours you see in the rock here come from different minerals and volcanic deposits. Rather than simply driving the loop, I recommend pulling into the parking area at Artist’s Palette and walking around for a bit.
This was one of the places where I really noticed the geological variety of Death Valley. You see a lot of beige and brown when you first start driving through the park, and then suddenly you’re looking at rock with shades of pink, green and yellow.
The road itself is also fun to drive. It curves through the hills and has quite a few dips, which my partner and I thought were really fun. It felt like we were on a rollercoaster! We actually ended up driving the full loop twice, because it was such a nice drive.
As of August 2026, Artist’s Drive is open after reopening in December 2025 following flood damage. Because flooding has repeatedly affected roads throughout Death Valley, I would still check current conditions before your trip.
Allow: 45 minutes to 1 hour.
4. Stop at Devil’s Golf Course
After Artist’s Drive, continue south along Badwater Road and make a quick detour to Devil’s Golf Course before heading to Badwater Basin.
Devil’s Golf Course is a large salt pan covered in jagged formations created by repeated cycles of flooding and evaporation. Wind and rain continue to shape the salt into the rough formations you see today.
To reach it, you’ll turn off Badwater Road onto a short unpaved road. Conditions can vary, so check the current NPS road conditions before driving it.
There isn’t a hiking trail here. Once you park, you can get out and walk around the edge of the salt formations. Be careful where you step and avoid climbing on them.
The salt is extremely sharp, and looking at it, I could tell that one fall could probably cause a painful injury.
One thing that’s very cool about this stop is that if you listen closely, you might hear the salt making popping or cracking sounds! These sounds happen as the formations expand and contract with changes in temperature.
I think Devil’s Golf Course makes sense to visit right before Badwater Basin because you get to see two very different versions of Death Valley’s salt landscape within a short drive of each other. It’s also a quick stop, so you don’t need to dedicate a big portion of your afternoon to it.
Allow: 20 to 30 minutes.
5. Watch Sunset at Badwater Basin
Finish your first day at Badwater Basin. From Devil’s Golf Course, return to Badwater Road and continue south for about 10 miles until you reach the Badwater Basin parking area.
Badwater Basin sits 282 feet, or 86 metres, below sea level, making it the lowest point in North America. The salt flats cover nearly 200 square miles.
Badwater Basin is exposed, with essentially no shade, which is why I wanted to put it as an end-of-day activity. With the sun setting, it’s much more comfortable to be out with no shade from the sun’s rays.
When you arrive, look across the road at the mountainside. There’s a marker showing where sea level is, which gives you some perspective on how far below sea level you’re standing.
You can then take the boardwalk down toward the salt flat.
One thing worth knowing is that the salt polygons people associate with Badwater Basin aren’t actually right beside the parking lot. The National Park Service says you generally need to walk about ¼ mile, or 400 metres, onto the salt flat to reach them.
When we visited, we walked farther out into the basin before sunset. I’d give yourself enough time to do the same rather than arriving right as the sun is going down.
I also recommend bringing water with you even though you’re only going for a relatively short walk. We found ourselves surprisingly thirsty while walking across the salt!
Plan to arrive about 45 minutes to an hour before sunset. If you stay until after the sun goes down, bring a flashlight or headlamp for the walk back to the parking lot.
Allow: 1 to 2 hours.
Afterward, head back to Furnace Creek for dinner and some sleep. You’ll want another early start tomorrow!
Day 2: Harmony Borax Works, Mosaic Canyon and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Day two of this Death Valley itinerary moves north and west from Furnace Creek toward Stovepipe Wells.
This was one of my favourite parts of our trip because Mosaic Canyon and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes feel completely different from what you see along Badwater Road.
1. Elevation Sea Level Sign
You’ll start your day with a quick stop for an iconic photo! The Elevation Sea Level sign is exactly what it sounds like: A sign that displays the elevation level in the park.
There are actually several of these signs throughout Death Valley, but this particular one has a shoulder where you can safely pull off the road and stop to take a photo with it.
This Elevation Sea Level Sign is in Furnace Creek, right where Badwater Road intersects with California State Route 190. You can also find it by searching “Elevation Sea Level Sign” in Google Maps.
2. Visit Harmony Borax Works
Next, head to Harmony Borax Works, just one mile west of Furnace Creek on CA-190.
This is a relatively quick stop, but I think it’s worth including because Death Valley has a lot of human history that can easily get overshadowed by the geology.
Borax was found near Furnace Creek Ranch in 1881. William T. Coleman built the Harmony plant shortly afterward, and production began in late 1883 or early 1884.
At its peak, around 40 workers produced approximately three tons of borax per day. Evidence indicates that much of the workforce was Chinese.
The site is also connected to Death Valley’s famous 20-mule teams, which transported borax about 165 miles from Death Valley to the railroad at Mojave.
Today, there’s a short self-guided loop through the site. You can see remaining structures, equipment and a 20-mule team wagon while reading interpretive panels about the people who worked here and how the borax was processed.
The loop is only about 0.4 miles and takes roughly 30 minutes. I’d keep this stop short because the main activity of the morning is Mosaic Canyon.
Allow: 30 minutes.
3. Hike Mosaic Canyon
From Harmony Borax Works, continue west along CA-190 toward Stovepipe Wells to Mosaic Canyon. This was my favourite hike we did in Death Valley.
The trailhead is reached via a 2.3-mile unpaved road near Stovepipe Wells. NPS says this road is typically passable with a sedan, although conditions can change after storms.
The full Mosaic Canyon route is about 4 miles, or 6.4 kilometres, round trip. NPS currently rates it moderate and suggests allowing 2.5 to 3 hours. There is about 1,200 feet of elevation gain if you complete the full route.
The first section is what I remember most. Very quickly, you enter narrow canyon walls that have been polished smooth by debris carried through the canyon during flash floods.
You’ll also see the rock that gives Mosaic Canyon its name! Mosaic breccia forms when fragments of older rock become naturally cemented together.
As you continue farther into the canyon, the hike becomes more difficult.
There are sections that require scrambling, and many hikers turn around at a boulder jam about 1.3 miles into the canyon. The full route eventually ends at an impassable 25-foot dryfall.
If you don’t want to spend three hours hiking, I still think Mosaic Canyon is worth visiting. You can always walk through the initial narrows and then turn around.
That flexibility is part of why I like this hike for a two-day itinerary. You can adjust how far you go depending on the temperature and how you’re feeling that morning.
Because Mosaic Canyon is susceptible to flash flooding, do not enter the canyon when rain is forecast. The National Park Service also advises against hiking here after 10:00 a.m. during summer, because of the heat.
Allow: 1 to 3 hours.
Stop in Stovepipe Wells
After Mosaic Canyon, drive into Stovepipe Wells for lunch or take a break if you brought your own food.
I’d leave some flexibility in the afternoon rather than immediately adding another long hike. If you did the full Mosaic Canyon route, you’ve already spent several hours walking.
I recommend doing what we did, and heading back to your hotel or campsite for a midday break, before heading out for your final stop of the day.
4. Walk the Salt Creek Boardwalk
After taking a midday break, head to Salt Creek before your final stop at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.
Salt Creek is especially interesting because it’s home to the Salt Creek pupfish, a small fish found nowhere else in the world! These fish have adapted to survive in the warm and extremely salty water of Death Valley.
The easiest way to see this habitat is along the Salt Creek Interpretive Trail, a short boardwalk that follows the creek. The boardwalk reopened in June 2026 after being closed for more than three years due to damage from flooding.
The amount of water you’ll see depends on when you visit. Water generally reaches the boardwalk between November and May. From February through April, Salt Creek pupfish are usually most active because this is their spawning season.
If you’re visiting during those months, keep an eye on the shallow water as you walk. The pupfish are tiny, so you may need to stop for a minute to spot them.
As you watch for the pupfish, remember to practice responsible wildlife tourism. Avoid stepping on them, and don’t touch or feed them.
This is an easy stop to fit into a two-day Death Valley itinerary because the boardwalk is short and it’s on the way toward Stovepipe Wells.
I also think it’s worth visiting because so much of Death Valley gets framed around its extreme heat and geology. And it’s literally called “death” valley because it’s so difficult for anything to survive in the park’s climate.
But at Salt Creek, you have a chance to learn about a very cool animal that has adapted to live in these conditions!
Allow: 30 to 45 minutes.
5. Finish Your Day at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
From Salt Creek, head west along CA-190 toward Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, where you’ll finish your second day in Death Valley.
I’d plan to get to these sand dunes late in the late aftrnoon and then stay through sunset.
Unlike most hikes in Death Valley, there isn’t an official trail through the dunes. You can choose your own route across the sand.
If you want to reach the tallest dune, NPS lists the hike as about 2 miles, or 3.2 kilometres, round trip. It generally takes around 1.5 hours and involves about 185 feet of elevation gain. Walking through deep sand makes it more tiring than those numbers might suggest.
You also don’t have to hike all the way to the tallest dune.
We wandered into the dunes without trying to follow a particular route, and that’s how I’d approach this stop again. Give yourself time to walk around and turn back when you’ve had enough.
Mesquite Flat is named for the mesquite trees that grow throughout the dune field. The trees are adapted to being repeatedly buried and exposed as the sand shifts. Their bean pods are also a traditional food of the Timbisha Shoshone.
The dunes are habitat, too. Kangaroo rats and sidewinder rattlesnakes are among the animals that live here, so pay attention to where you’re walking and avoid disturbing burrows.
Sunrise and sunset are good times to visit because the lower light makes the shapes and ripples of the dunes easier to see. They’re also much more comfortable times to be walking across exposed sand.
And don’t underestimate how hard it can be to walk on sand dunes! Your feet sink into the loose sand with every step, which makes walking much more tiring than covering the same distance on a regular trail.
Even a relatively short walk can take longer and use more energy than you expect. I was surprised by how tired I was from walking what seemed like a short distance across the dunes!
Once the sun goes down, you can stay a little longer if conditions are clear. Death Valley has very little light pollution, and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is one of the areas NPS recommends for viewing the night sky.
Allow: 1.5 to 2 hours.
Is 2 Days Enough for Death Valley National Park?
I think two days is a good amount of time for a first trip to Death Valley.
You won’t see the entire park. Given its size, I don’t think trying to do that should be the goal anyway. Two days gives you enough time to explore several different areas without spending your entire trip in the car.
This itinerary also gives you some flexibility. If you’re not interested in hiking, Golden Canyon and Mosaic Canyon can be shortened or skipped. If hiking is a priority, you can spend longer on either trail and cut one of the shorter stops.
If I were planning our trip again, I’d also visit between November and March rather than early May. We were able to hike during our trip, but the heat was already intense enough that it dictated our schedule.
Can You Follow This Death Valley Itinerary in Summer?
I would not follow the hiking portions of this itinerary as written during summer.
Death Valley regularly experiences temperatures above 120°F, or 49°C, during summer. The National Park Service advises against hiking at lower elevations during this time and recommends that summer visitors stay on paved roads and close to an air-conditioned vehicle.
If you visit in summer, I would turn this into a mostly driving-based itinerary and limit outdoor stops to very short walks early in the morning or around sunset, following current NPS guidance.
Golden Canyon, Mosaic Canyon and hiking into Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are better saved for cooler weather.
A Few Things To Know Before Following This Itinerary
Death Valley definitely needs more preparation than many national parks I’ve visited, mainly because of the heat, distances and limited cell service.
Part of being a responsible tourist here is taking that preparation seriously.
Carry more water than you think you’ll need. NPS recommends at least one gallon, or 4 litres, per person per day during hot conditions. There’s limited to no cell service across much of the park, so download your maps before you arrive.
Weather matters here beyond temperature, so it’s important to check the forecast every morning before heading out. Flash floods can happen quickly, particularly in canyons and washes. Never enter places like Mosaic Canyon when rain is falling or rain is in the forecast.
And check road conditions every morning. Flooding has repeatedly damaged Death Valley’s roads in recent years, and closures can completely change what you can reasonably fit into a day.
One other piece of context I think is important when visiting: Death Valley is the ancestral and current homeland of the Timbisha Shoshone.
The Timbisha Shoshone have lived in this region since time immemorial, and the Tribe continues to have a land base within Death Valley National Park near Furnace Creek.
Knowing that changed the way I thought about Death Valley. It’s easy to arrive and focus almost entirely on geology, mining history and the park’s extreme climate. Those aren’t the full story of this place.
The incredible landscapes of Death Valley
Would I Spend 2 Days in Death Valley Again?
Yes! What I loved most about Death Valley was how much the landscape changed as we drove around the park.
Within two days we walked through narrow canyons, crossed salt flats, saw the badlands from above and ended our trip walking through sand dunes.
Two days felt like enough time to get a good introduction to the park without making every day feel like a race between stops. Staying in Furnace Creek helped with that, and organizing the itinerary geographically cut down on unnecessary driving.
If you’re planning a longer trip, you could easily add another day. But for a first visit, I think this two-day route gives you a good mix of hiking, geology and history while leaving enough time to slow down when the heat or distances require it.
The only thing I’d change if I did it again? I think I would visit during the cooler months (between November and March). I would have liked to do more hiking in the park, and that’s much more doable when it isn’t so hot.
Are you looking for details about when to visit Death Valley, where to stay, driving, entrance fees, food, gas, safety, and more? Read my complete Death Valley National Park travel guide to plan your trip.
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