The largest national park in the lower 48 allows backcountry dispersed camping for free.
Death Valley is enormous — 3.4 million acres of basin, ranges, and dunes. The NPS allows dispersed camping on most dirt roads after the first two miles from any paved road, which opens up vast backcountry to people willing to drive in.
Why it's special
Free camping inside one of the most dramatic national parks in the world, with dark skies, salt flats, and ranges that hit 11,000 ft from a basin 282 ft below sea level.
Best time to go
October through April. Summer is genuinely deadly — 120°F+.
Getting there
Multiple entrances; CA-190 across the park is the main spine.
Know before you go
- Park entrance fee or America the Beautiful pass.
- Dispersed allowed on dirt roads 2+ miles past pavement, NOT on day-use roads (check map).
- No camping in wilderness areas; check the NPS dispersed map carefully.
- Carry 2+ gallons of water per person per day, minimum.
Pro tips from boondockers
- Saline Valley Road and Racetrack Road are classic dispersed corridors (high clearance).
- Cottonwood Canyon Road has nice tucked-away spots.
- Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells have fuel and water; both are expensive.
- Sunset at Zabriskie Point, sunrise at Mesquite Dunes.
Combine with
Alabama Hills, Mojave NP, Las Vegas.