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Death Valley

California, United States · North America

About Death Valley

Death Valley is worth a stop: 1 hours from Pahrump, 38km from Death Valley National Park.

Death Valley is a town located in California, United States. With a population of 1,124, it is an important destination in North America.

On a road trip, Death Valley sits in United States, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Los Angeles time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Death Valley to your route.

About Death Valley

Death Valley (Panamint: Tümpisa [tɨmbiʃa]) is a desert valley in Eastern California, United States, in the northern Mojave Desert, bordering the Great Basin Desert. The World Meteorological Organization lists Death Valley as the site of the hottest surface temperature recorded on Earth. On the afternoon hours of July

Read more 10, 1913, the United States Weather Bureau recorded a temperature of 134 °F (56.7 °C) at Furnace Creek in Death Valley, which stands as the highest ambient air temperature ever recorded on the surface of the Earth. However, this reading and several others taken in that period are disputed by some modern experts due to observer issues and regional disparities in temperature values. The highest reliable temperature in Death Valley is 130 °F (54.4 °C) recorded at Furnace Creek on August 16, 2020 and July 9, 2021. This is still the highest reliable temperature recorded globally. Lying mostly in Inyo County, California, near the border of California and Nevada, in the Great Basin, east of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Death Valley constitutes much of Death Valley National Park and is the principal feature of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts Biosphere Reserve. It runs from north to south between the Amargosa Range on the east and the Panamint Range on the west. The Grapevine Mountains and the Owlshead Mountains form its northern and southern boundaries, respectively. It has an area of about 3,000 sq mi (7,800 km2). The highest point in Death Valley National Park is Telescope Peak, in the Panamint Range, which has an elevation of 11,043 feet (3,366 m). Death Valley is home to the Timbisha tribe of Native Americans, formerly known as the Panamint Shoshone. They have inhabited the valley for at least the past millennium. Their name for Death Valley is Tümpisa, meaning "rock paint". This refers to the presence of red ochre in the valley. The valley got the name Death Valley in the winter of 1849–1850 when a group of American pioneers were traveling through on their way to the California gold rush. The Death Valley 49ers got lost in the valley and feared that they would all perish there. They did eventually make their way out after suffering the loss of just one of the group.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Death Valley

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Death Valley?

Death Valley offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Death Valley?

Plan your road trip to Death Valley with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Death Valley as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Death Valley located?

Death Valley is located in California, United States, North America. The coordinates are 36.2396 latitude, -116.8113 longitude.

What is the population of Death Valley?

Death Valley has a population of approximately 1,124 people, making it a town in United States.

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Quick Information

Population
1,124
Continent
North America
Country
United States
Region
California
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
Coordinates
36.2396, -116.8113

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United States

Police
911
Ambulance
911
Fire
911
Driving side
right

AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.

Full driving guide for United States

Tags

North AmericaUnited StatesCaliforniaTown

Worth the detour from Death Valley

4 notable places within an hour's drive.

scenic viewpoint

Dante's View (Death Valley)

A 5,475-foot viewpoint looking straight down to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, with the Panamint Range beyond.

8 km · about 15 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Artists Drive & Artists Palette

A one-way nine-mile paved dip-and-swoop through Death Valley badlands, climaxing at Artists Palette, where volcanic minerals stain the hills pink, green and purple.

14 km · about 25 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Zabriskie Point, Death Valley

A striking viewpoint overlooking a surreal landscape of golden badlands and eroded mudstone in the hottest place on Earth.

20 km · about 25 min drive

national park

Death Valley National Park

The hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the US, with dramatic salt flats and colorful badlands.

38 km · about 45 min drive

Driving roads near Death Valley

  • Right hereDante's View (Death Valley)A 5,475-foot viewpoint looking straight down to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, with the Panamint Range beyond.
  • Right hereArtists Drive & Artists PaletteA one-way nine-mile paved dip-and-swoop through Death Valley badlands, climaxing at Artists Palette, where volcanic minerals stain the hills pink, green and purple.
  • 20 kmZabriskie Point, Death ValleyA striking viewpoint overlooking a surreal landscape of golden badlands and eroded mudstone in the hottest place on Earth.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Death Valley.

Pahrump

🇺🇸 United States

74 km awayPop. 36,441

Beatty

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Searles Valley

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Ridgecrest

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China Lake Acres

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109 km awayPop. 1,876

Fort Irwin

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109 km awayPop. 8,845

Inyokern

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112 km awayPop. 1,099

Sandy Valley

🇺🇸 United States

116 km awayPop. 2,051

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence