![las vegas to death valley](jpg/dvhero.jpg)
![death valley national park](png/new-dvr-logo.png)
Death Valley Rally
Las Vegas to Death Valley and Beyond
Route Distance
Up to 370 mi
Suggested Time
3 or 4 Days
Nothing is more extreme than a road trip from Las Vegas to Death Valley National Park—or rather, nothing has more extremes. We’re talking the lowest point in North America and nearly 12,000-foot Mt. Charleston. Rugged biker bars and elegant wineries. Sprawling sand dunes and ancient bristlecone pines. Ghost towns and… well, Las Vegas. These are just a few of the mesmerizing contrasts you’ll attempt to wrap your mind around on this classic Nevada road trip but a kaleidoscopic stone’s throw from one another along the very same route. So pack your sunscreen, sandals, gloves, and sweater, and come get extreme on the Death Valley Rally.
Highlights
- Discover Death Valley: the hottest, driest, and lowest place in North America
- Ponder the past in Rhyolite, one of the West’s best ghost towns
- Hike (or even snowshoe) among 5,000-year-old bristlecone pine forests
Las Vegas to Death Valley National Park
From One Extreme To Another and Back Again
With its stark terrain, tenacious wildlife, and thermometer-shattering climate, Death Valley National Park is the perfect centerpiece for a route marked by more extremes than any other. You’ll kick off this Las Vegas to Death Valley road trip at an oasis and legendary hiker’s paradise—mere minutes from the wild, bustling Strip—before cruising through friendly, small-town Nevada on to one of the hottest and driest places on Earth. After exploring its world-famous features, including the lowest point on the continent, the Death Valley Rally carries you back to civilization by way of a camera-hogging ghost town, the Lower 48’s largest national wildlife refuge, and 11,916-ft Mt. Charleston, Nevada’s fifth-tallest peak.
![Death Valley map](png/nv-map-dvr.png)
COMMUNITIES ON THIS TRIP
Glovebox Essentials
Prepare for Your Adventure
Get ready to come chase some horizons with this handy tool kit. Here, you’ll find all the Death Valley Rally road trip essentials, including downloadable directions, maps, and podcasts, and tunes to complement your upcoming adventure.
Download Route
Death Valley Rally Playlist
Woman Road Warrior: Road Tripping the #DeathValleyRally
It’s Rally Time
Death Valley Rally: Take It to the Extreme
As full of surprises as Nevada always is, few road trips cover as many contrasts as three days on the Death Valley Rally. From 279 feet below sea level to 12,000-foot mountains, beautiful wineries to badass biker bars, ghost towns to one of the country’s biggest metros, and plenty in between, get warmed up for the most extreme ride of your life.
Leg 1
Blast Off Beyond the Neon
You could shoot from Las Vegas to Death Valley in under three hours. But you’d miss Red Rock Canyon, biker bars and wineries, and all the #WeirdNevada wonderment along the way.
Leg 2
Death Valley National Park: Hot Damn
Straddling the Nevada-California border, discover Death Valley, the largest national park in the Lower 48, and the hottest, driest, and lowest of in the entire country.
Leg 3
Mining Towns & Millions of Acres of Wilderness
Loop back to Las Vegas by way of Rhyolite Ghost Town, legendary Sagebrush Saloons, the Lower 48’s largest wildlife refuge, and ancient Bristlecone-studded mountains.
![las vegas to parhump](jpg/dvr3-1024x956.jpg)
Leg 1
Las Vegas to Pahrump via Red Rock Canyon
Up to 130 miles
- Hike, bike or climb around Spring Mountain Ranch and Red Rock Canyon
- Savor Mexican food and ice-cold beers and at Mountain Springs Saloon
- Sample your way around Pahrump’s wineries and brand-new cidery/meadery
First stop: Spring Mountain Ranch State Park for lush, oasis-like scenery and tranquil walks. This gem lies within Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area—famously breathtaking, thanks to red-banded sandstone canyons, curious wildlife, and outdoor action galore. Break for biker bar beers on the way to Pahrump, home to all manner of amenities, two wineries and a meadery/cidery, and a lovably offbeat mom-and-pop coffin “shop.” Time it right and, before bedding down, you might catch a show at the historic and funky Amargosa Opera House.
Find plenty of pillows around Pahrump at a number of hotels and casino resorts. Park your rig at some swanky, amenity-packed RV resorts. Or get closer to Death Valley at funky, fun Longstreet Inn & Casino.
![Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Pahrump](jpg/holidayinnpahrump12-sm-300x169.jpg)
Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Pahrump
Pahrump
![Longstreet Inn & Casino | Resort & Hotel](jpg/longstreet-casino-300x169.jpg)
Longstreet Inn & Casino | Resort & Hotel
Amargosa Valley
![Saddle West Hotel and Casino](png/lass-id-original-1531153990-5b438e4636c2c-300x133.png)
Saddle West Hotel and Casino
Pahrump
![West Gate RV Park](png/business-placeholder.png)
West Gate RV Park
Pahrump
![Pahrump Nugget Hotel Casino](png/business-placeholder.png)
Pahrump Nugget Hotel Casino
Pahrump
![RV Ranch Resort](png/business-placeholder.png)
RV Ranch Resort
Pahrump
![Wine Ridge RV Resort & Cottages](png/business-placeholder.png)
Wine Ridge RV Resort & Cottages
Pahrump
![Lakeside Casino & RV Resort](png/business-placeholder.png)
Lakeside Casino & RV Resort
Pahrump
Hike around oasis-like Spring Mountain Ranch and splendorous Red Rock Canyon, discover the planet’s rarest fish at Ash Meadows, then crank up the #WeirdNevada vibes at Coffinwood and Amargosa Opera House.
![Amargosa Big Dune Recreation Area](png/business-placeholder.png)
Amargosa Big Dune Recreation Area
Amargosa Valley
![Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club](png/business-placeholder.png)
Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club
Pahrump
![Spring Mountain Ranch State Park](png/business-placeholder.png)
Spring Mountain Ranch State Park
Blue Diamond
![Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge](png/business-placeholder.png)
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Amargosa
![Amargosa Opera House](png/business-placeholder.png)
Amargosa Opera House
Death Valley
![Pahrump Valley Museum](png/business-placeholder.png)
Pahrump Valley Museum
Pahrump
![Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area](png/business-placeholder.png)
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Las Vegas
Cold beers and an out-back Mexican food shack await at Mountain Springs Saloon. Taste your way around Pahrump at three wineries and Stonewise Mead & Cellars. Then cool off at Seemore’s, the World’s Tallest Ice Cream Stand.
![Sanders Family Winery](png/business-placeholder.png)
Sanders Family Winery
Pahrump
![Mountain Springs Saloon](png/business-placeholder.png)
Mountain Springs Saloon
Las Vegas
![Seemoore’s Ice Cream](png/business-placeholder.png)
Seemoore’s Ice Cream
Pahrump
![Stonewise Mead & Cider](png/business-placeholder.png)
Stonewise Mead & Cider
Pahrump
![O Happy Bread French Bakery](png/business-placeholder.png)
O Happy Bread French Bakery
Pahrump
![Stateline Saloon](png/business-placeholder.png)
Stateline Saloon
Amargosa Valley
![Desert Cane Distillery](png/business-placeholder.png)
Desert Cane Distillery
Pahrump
Share plenty of hot air at the colorful Pahrump Balloon Festival, let out your inner Lucy-and-Ethel at Pahrump Valley Winery’s Stompapalooza, or have yourself a scary little “X-mess” during Christmas at Coffinwood.
![parhump to death valley](jpg/deathvalleyrally-1024x956.jpg)
Leg 2
Pahrump to Death Valley to Beatty NV
170+ mi
- Follow Artist’s Drive to breathtakingly technicolor Artist’s Palette
- Stand tall on the lowest point in North America at Badwater Basin (-282 ft)
- Gaze at distant 14,505-ft Mount Whitney from Dante’s View
Despite that ominous name, Death Valley National Park is a landscape alive with incredible beauty. Enter from Highway 190 and get the lay of the land from Dante’s View and gaze 5,760 feet down to Badwater Basin salt flats and, on clear days, out to Mt. Whitney—the highest and lowest points in the Lower 48. Hit Furnace Creek Visitor Center, then spend the day exploring landmarks like kaleidoscopic Artist’s Palette, sea level-defying Badwater Basin, Star Wars fan faves Golden Canyon and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and more, before bedding down in Beatty.
Give yourself some space at the funky, retro, alien-friendly Atomic Inn; hit up the pool at the Death Valley Inn & RV Park; or keep things classically cozy at the Exchange Club and Motel 6.
![Atomic Inn](jpg/atomicinn12_sm-300x169.jpg)
Atomic Inn
Beatty
![Motel 6 – Beatty & Death Valley](jpg/beatty16_sm-300x169.jpg)
Motel 6 – Beatty & Death Valley
Beatty
![Exchange Club Motel](jpg/beatty12_sm-300x169.jpg)
Exchange Club Motel
Beatty
![Death Valley Inn and RV Park](png/business-placeholder.png)
Death Valley Inn and RV Park
Beatty
It’s been a century since Death Valley hit Earth’s hottest verified temperature ever—134° F (56.7° C)—but it still routinely tops “hottest monthly temperature” charts. Summer visitors: protect your bodies and your vehicles.
![Death Valley National Park](png/business-placeholder.png)
Death Valley National Park
Furnace Creek
![Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge](png/business-placeholder.png)
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Amargosa
![Beatty Burros](png/business-placeholder.png)
Beatty Burros
Beatty
![Goldwell Open Air Museum](png/business-placeholder.png)
Goldwell Open Air Museum
Beatty
![Spicer Ranch](png/business-placeholder.png)
Spicer Ranch
Beatty
![Amargosa Opera House](png/business-placeholder.png)
Amargosa Opera House
Death Valley
In a town where burros happily roam the streets, Beatty’s human visitors (as well as the Beatty Cowboys) love pulling up stools at Happy Burro Chili & Beer, an old saloon serving, well, homemade chili and ice-cold beer.
![Happy Burro Chili & Beer](png/business-placeholder.png)
Happy Burro Chili & Beer
Beatty
![Gema’s Café](png/business-placeholder.png)
Gema’s Café
Beatty
![Smokin’ J’s Barbecue](png/business-placeholder.png)
Smokin’ J’s Barbecue
Beatty
![Death Valley Nut & Candy Co.](png/business-placeholder.png)
Death Valley Nut & Candy Co.
Beatty
![death valley to beatty nv](jpg/dvr4-1-1024x956.jpg)
Leg 3
Home Stretch: Beatty NV to Las Vegas
170+ mi
- Get ghosted at Rhyolite ghost town & Goldwell Open Air Museum
- Happily scarf chili, sip beer, and watch for wild burros at…Happy Burro Chili & Beer
- Spy desert bighorn sheep at 1.5 million-acre Desert National Wildlife Refuge
Dig into literally rich history at the Beatty Museum and Historical Society, then see it in person at Rhyolite, one of the West’s best-preserved (and most photographed) ghost towns. On your way out, stop at adjacent Goldwell Open Air Museum to wander an avant-garde array of other-wordly art installations. Grab lunch at rustically Wild Western Happy Burro Chili & Beer before exploring wildlife-packed Desert National Wildlife Refuge or mountainous Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. Then it’s back to the Strip to complete your trip!
Before blasting back to Vegas, escape to a 6,700′ mountain lodge for stargazing, drinks by the fire, and panoramic views at the Retreat on Charleston Peak. If that neon glow beckons, go retro in Downtown Las Vegas.
![El Cortez Hotel and Casino](jpg/lass-id-original-1519857106-5a972dd2a89da-300x192.jpg)
El Cortez Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas
![The Retreat on Charleston Peak](jpg/charlieresort4_sm-300x169.jpg)
The Retreat on Charleston Peak
Las Vegas
![Oasis at Gold Spike](jpg/oasispool-1-300x200.jpg)
Oasis at Gold Spike
Las Vegas
There’s a lot to see on the road from Beatty to Las Vegas. Take your pick of museums, a ghost town and unconventional sculpture park, or parks and wild lands packed with recreational activities and unique flora and fauna.
![Rhyolite Ghost Town](png/business-placeholder.png)
Rhyolite Ghost Town
Beatty
![Spring Mountains National Recreation Area](png/business-placeholder.png)
Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
Las Vegas
![Desert National Wildlife Refuge](png/business-placeholder.png)
Desert National Wildlife Refuge
Las Vegas
![Nevada National Security Site Tour](png/business-placeholder.png)
Nevada National Security Site Tour
Las Vegas
![Goldwell Open Air Museum](png/business-placeholder.png)
Goldwell Open Air Museum
Beatty
![Beatty Museum & Historical Society](png/business-placeholder.png)
Beatty Museum & Historical Society
Beatty
![Lee Canyon](png/business-placeholder.png)
Lee Canyon
Las Vegas
![Area 51 Alien Travel Center & Brothel](png/business-placeholder.png)
Area 51 Alien Travel Center & Brothel
Amargosa Valley
![Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument](png/business-placeholder.png)
Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument
North Las Vegas
![Beatty Cowboys](png/business-placeholder.png)
Beatty Cowboys
Beatty
Head back to Happy Burro for a chili burger breakfast, or cruise up to 6,700 feet for “elevated” eats, from butternut squash soup to tomahawk steaks, in the Canyon Restaurant & Tavern Bar at the Retreat on Charleston Peak.
![Happy Burro Chili & Beer](png/business-placeholder.png)
Happy Burro Chili & Beer
Beatty
![Area 51 Alien Travel Center & Brothel](png/business-placeholder.png)
Area 51 Alien Travel Center & Brothel
Amargosa Valley
Hitting the Road? Here’s the Map.
Our 10 Nevada Road Trips
Searching for road trip ideas? Look no further. Go ahead. Scroll around and click the road trip icons for the inside scoop on Nevada’s 10 best road trips, with detailed itineraries, maps, and tips for getting off the beaten track.
#DeathValleyRally
You’ll have an extremely awesome time sightseeing this scenic slice of Nevada life. And don’t forget to tag #DeathValleyRally so we (and everyone else) can see how you conquer this lively expedition.
![Be ready for muddy conditions on the trails if you plan to hike today. We were completely saturated from yesterday’s storms!](jpg/3428b810d0763ae6b056f359c6d8fd5fa973f14ddf178fb47ec5f32bf97b17ae-375.jpg)
![Lil 10 miler for #nationaltrailsday yesterday. Been trying to visit the Hidden Forest Cabin for a while and finally made my way out there! Great weather, great people, what more could you ask for 🤙🤘😎
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#hikenevada #optoutside #hiddenforest](jpg/6b42deecf5850b4e6f5cf87f5a1efa660ea65a6cbce8b9b4cdc95d3a137336f9-375.jpg)
![Death Valley NP. 💀🇺🇸
One of the best National Park in the West Coast!😍#deathvalley #deathvalleynp #dantesview #saltcreek #hot #hottest🔥 #unitestates #usa #arizona #utah #california #nevada #thanks #incredible_shot #incredible #route66 #travel #visitamerica #nofilter #photography #photooftheday #picoftheday](jpg/7978ba36ce57bdd4cf7df991fe2b70e38debf0246d04b3820fb1d8f244d9f49c-375.jpg)
![A life made from mud. 📷: jhorst87](jpg/c53e1414adab738ad0358011d26500a1e182934968f5c4b791aac63756892265-375.jpg)
![Still about a month away from being able to see the galactic core but now is a good time to start shooting because temps are still cool and now I am seeing more of the gas clouds. Stars will be tact sharp because of almost zero atmospheric distortion from heat. About 9pm last night, 51 deg, and a rain shower just passed through the area so it smelled nice. The mercury vapor street light added a nice green glow to the buildings. It was nice to hangout at an abandoned ghost town, by myself, in the dark……
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#nikon D810
#nikkor 14-24mm ƒ/2.8
25 sec ƒ/2.8
14mm
ISO 2500](jpg/284ec3280eaaff71dd57c1a89a14608de2f621cc90f49214043b07064eebcfce-375.jpg)
![Chasing sunrise in the Nevada desert with tylermcave and kyle_lamont this morning. It’s been a blast dragging this airstream_inc Basecamp on the “Death Drive” and exploring the diverse landscapes of southern Nevada with an ace team and a badass adventure rig.
#airstream
#goldenhour
#onassignment
#nevada](jpg/527bacc9133e5c92e5480db25054a146e0799e53e3e1d09809ab019e13665473-375.jpg)
![Beauty of the desert. 📷: ryandyar](jpg/c060ce8723ef3b53346be090e4463b7d537713160d39e496638bb4f03601599e-375.jpg)
![What a beautiful picture...must have been a really good photographer 😉
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#nationalparkgeek #nationalpark #findyourpark #mountains #outdoors #nature #westbysouthwest #nevada #keepitwild #lifeofadventure #beautifuldestinations #roamtheplanet #explore #dfmi #driftr #wanderlust #optoutside #naturephotography #canon #nevada_lovers_photos #hiking #travel #adventure #desert #deathvalley #canon](jpg/7b6983bf099cb9fb946c64819c3be50c54cb4c37d312465254f3939bc4a95eef-375.jpg)
![Another one of the mysterious moving rocks from Racetrack Playa in Death Valley National Park. Such a serene place and an awesome experience! #California #Nevada #Desert #beautiful #nature #nightshots #MovingRocks #lakebed #sony #alpha #a6300 #amazing #supermoon #racetrackplaya #tbt #stars](jpg/fd5ac06aac84087e63ba90630c658fa3511aca7ea866381f80f39556513ec507-375.jpg)
![Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park, USA - 2016 🇺🇸](jpg/9b057e63aa072067e9c787d4835a6b2ef93ed586f15876a091fb16f03c4356b6-375.jpg)
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Get our takes on must-experience attractions, excursions, restaurants, and lodging—as well as plenty of pro tips on visiting ghost towns, parks, historic sites, and far more—all curated by those who know this wild state by heart.