Death Valley with Kids: What to Do and How to Plan Your Visit

By Jocelyn Pion · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Death Valley

Is Death Valley a good fit for families? The short answer is yes, as long as you choose the right season and plan carefully. Most drive-up sites work well for kids as young as 4 or 5, while a few short trails are a good fit from about age 8 to 10. In summer, don't go. From November through April, though, the valley offers an experience your kids won't forget.

Why Visit Death Valley with Kids

Death Valley's biggest advantage is how quickly it delivers dramatic scenery. You don't have to hike for two hours to see something extraordinary. Kids can stand in front of red sand dunes just a few dozen yards from the parking lot or look out over a white salt basin stretching as far as they can see, 282 feet below sea level. Even a 6-year-old can take in the variety of landscapes right away.

You'll explore most of the park by car, which is a real advantage when you're traveling with kids who tire easily. You can move from one site to the next without much physical effort, make flexible stops, and enjoy the drive itself as part of the experience. No one complains in the car when the scenery changes every 20 minutes.

Another advantage is the NPS (National Park Service) Junior Ranger program, which gives kids a concrete mission throughout the visit. We'll come back to it below.

Is Death Valley Good for Kids? What Age Is Best

The park has no official age restrictions, and children under 16 enter free. Still, a few practical realities matter.

For toddlers under 3, a visit is manageable if you stick to flat sites close to the parking lot. Badwater Basin and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are accessible with an all-terrain stroller on firm ground. Save the trails for later.

Kids ages 4 to 7 can handle most of the iconic sites: Zabriskie Point, where the overlook is just a short walk; Badwater Basin, with its flat walk across the salt; the dunes, which are perfect for kids; and Artists Drive, which you explore by car with the windows down. Short trails of less than 0.6 miles are worth considering if everyone is rested.

From about age 8 to 10, you can add a few easy hikes of 1.2 to 2.5 miles and plan a more structured day. Heat remains the main limiting factor, regardless of age.

When to Visit as a Family: The Best Season for Kids

With kids, the ideal window gets narrower: November through March. We cover all the nuances on our When to Visit page, but here's the family version.

Spring, from March through April, is the most appealing high season. Valley temperatures are pleasant, around 59 to 77°F, and you may see wildflowers if the winter rains have been good. The park is busier, so book your lodging several months ahead.

Winter, from December through January, brings cool days, around 50 to 64°F in the valley, and far fewer visitors. Nights are cold and can sometimes approach freezing. For families with young children, it's a solid option if you bring the right gear.

Avoid May through September with kids. Daytime temperatures on the valley floor regularly top 113°F. Even brief exposure to that kind of heat can quickly become dangerous for a child.

How Many Days to Plan for a Family Visit

Two full days is a comfortable minimum for seeing the main sites without rushing. Three days gives you time to add one or two easy trails and slow down a little.

Here's how we usually structure a family stay:

• Day 1: arrival, Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Zabriskie Point in the late afternoon for the best light, dinner in the park.
• Day 2: Badwater Basin in the morning, before 10 a.m. to avoid the heat even in winter; Artists Drive; Devils Golf Course; Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes before sunset.
• Day 3 (optional): Mosaic Canyon or Golden Canyon in the morning, then an easy return.

Our Itinerary and Duration page offers more detailed options, especially if you're combining Death Valley with other parks.

What to Do in Death Valley with Kids: Our Top Picks

Here are the sites we recommend first for families, selected for three reasons: accessibility, immediate visual impact, and a manageable amount of time.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. The sand dunes east of Stovepipe Wells. You can reach them on foot from the parking lot in less than 10 minutes, and some dunes rise to 98 feet. Kids love climbing and sliding down them. Plan to spend 30 minutes to an hour here.

Badwater Basin. The lowest point in North America, 282 feet below sea level. Its broad, flat expanse of white salt makes kids feel as if they've landed on another planet. The walk across the salt is gentle and easy. Go early in the morning.

Zabriskie Point. An overlook just steps from the parking lot, with no real effort required. Sunset over the ocher badlands is spectacular, and you can adjust the length of the visit to suit your group.

Artists Drive. An 8.7-mile loop you drive, with flexible stops in front of multicolored rock formations. No hiking required. Roll down the windows and let the kids choose the music.

Furnace Creek Visitor Center. A natural place to start. Pick up the Junior Ranger booklet, watch the park's introductory film, and let the rangers answer your kids' questions with remarkable patience.

Our Things to Do page covers every activity in the park, including lesser-known options.

Easy Family Hikes: Short, Little Elevation Gain, Stroller Options

Death Valley isn't a traditional hiking park, especially with kids. The family-friendly trails are short and not very technical.

Golden Canyon Trail (3.1 miles round-trip, moderate elevation gain). The canyon gradually opens up, with ocher and red walls that change color in the light. Kids feel as if they've stepped into a movie set. Recommended for kids 7 and older.

Natural Bridge Canyon (1.4 miles round-trip, flat). The trail follows a narrow canyon and ends at a natural rock bridge. There is little elevation gain and the ground is stable. Suitable for kids from about 5 or 6.

Mosaic Canyon (2.5 miles round-trip, with a few narrow sections). You walk between walls of marble polished by water. Kids love the feeling of moving through a natural hallway. Works for kids as young as 6 or 7.

For toddlers in strollers, the only options are the paved or concrete surfaces around Furnace Creek and the beginning of the road at Badwater. Hiking trails aren't suitable for a standard stroller.

Our Hikes page breaks down every trail, including exact distances, elevation gain, and conditions.

The Junior Ranger Program

One of the best things you can do on a family visit is pick up the Junior Ranger booklet as soon as you arrive at Furnace Creek Visitor Center.

Here's how it works: kids, usually ages 5 to 12, complete an activity booklet during the visit, although there is no strict age limit. They make nature observations, answer geology questions, and fill in maps. At the end of the trip, they meet with a ranger, recite the pledge, and receive an official NPS badge.

The effect is immediate. Kids have a goal, see the park differently, and ask questions. We've seen 6-year-olds explain to their parents why Badwater's salt forms polygons. The badge is free, and booklets usually cost $1 to $3, sometimes less.

Safety with Kids

Death Valley is the park where safety takes the most preparation. That's no reason to stay away. It is a reason to avoid improvising.

Heat. Even outside summer, daytime temperatures in the valley can top 86°F as early as April. With kids, plan outdoor activities before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. During the middle of the day, stay in the air-conditioned car or indoors. Never leave a child alone in a parked vehicle, not even for two minutes.

Water. Plan on 1 liter of water per person for each hour of outdoor activity, including children. Outside Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells, water supplies are few and far between. Always set out with more than you think you'll need.

Roads. Some secondary roads, such as the road to Ubehebe Crater or Racetrack Playa, require a 4WD vehicle and aren't a good fit for a family road trip in a standard rental car. Read our guide to getting around the park before leaving the paved roads.

Signs and leaving the trail. Stay on marked paths. Salt and dried mud areas, including the salt flats around Badwater Basin, can hide unstable surfaces. Hold young children's hands in unmarked areas.

Wildlife. Rattlesnakes live here, especially around rocky areas and in canyons. Look before you place a hand or foot. Scorpions are nocturnal, so shake out shoes left outside overnight. These simple precautions are enough.

Where to Stay with Kids: In the Park and Nearby

Staying in the park avoids long drives with tired kids and lets you enjoy sunrise and sunset.

In the park: The Ranch at Death Valley in Furnace Creek is the best fit for families, with spacious rooms, a natural spring-fed pool with year-round temperate water, a restaurant, and a general store. Prices are high, especially during high season, so book several months ahead.

Camping in the park: Furnace Creek Campground, with some reservable sites, and Stovepipe Wells Campground welcome families. Winter camping is pleasant and much cheaper than staying at the lodge. Bring warm gear for the nights.

Nearby: Beatty, Nevada, 40 minutes away, and Pahrump, Nevada, 1.5 hours away, offer more affordable motels and hotels. Las Vegas is about 2.5 hours away.

Our Where to Stay page and Hotels and Lodges guide cover the options, typical rates, and seasonal availability.

Meals and Breaks with Kids

Dining options in the park are limited and concentrated around Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells. With kids, plan ahead.

At The Ranch at Death Valley, the dining room is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu is broad enough to satisfy kids. The Visitor Center snack bar offers sandwiches and drinks for quick breaks.

At Stovepipe Wells, the hotel's restaurant offers a similar but simpler service. A small general store sells basic supplies.

Here's a practical tip: always keep a cooler with snacks, fruit, and cold water in the car. Sites are often far apart, and kids get hungry between stops.

Family Budget

Park entry costs $30 per vehicle and is valid for 7 days, regardless of the number of occupants. Children under 16 enter all U.S. national parks free.

If your road trip includes several parks, the America the Beautiful pass ($80 per year) covers admission to most U.S. national parks and federal recreation areas. It pays for itself after visiting two or three parks. Our Fees and Passes page explains entrance fees and passes.

Here are the main family expenses to expect:

• Lodging in the park: budget $200 to $400 per night at The Ranch at Death Valley, depending on the season.
• Camping in the park: $14 to $22 per night for a site.
• Meals in the park: $15 to $40 per person.
• Junior Ranger booklet: free to $3.

Adding Other Stops Around Death Valley with Kids

Death Valley fits naturally into a larger American Southwest road trip. The nearby parks best suited to families are Zion National Park in Utah, with accessible hikes and a river crossing, and Joshua Tree National Park in California, where kids can climb rocks and enjoy the otherworldly landscape.

Las Vegas, 2.5 hours from Furnace Creek, is a convenient base, with affordable hotels away from the Strip and direct flights from France. Plan to visit Death Valley at the beginning or end of your trip so you don't have to backtrack.

Our regional guides and road trips offer ideas for the major routes through the American West.

Death Valley with Kids: Is It Worth It?

Yes, with realistic preparation. It isn't the easiest park with very young children, but it is one of the most dramatic and memorable. The scenery is immediate, you can explore much of it from the car, and the Junior Ranger program gives kids an active role throughout the visit.

The one nonnegotiable is timing: come between November and March. Outside that window, heat can quickly turn the visit into an ordeal for kids and adults alike. Follow that simple rule and Death Valley becomes a detour your family will remember for years.

Frequently Asked Questions