Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping
Please be aware: These are primitive sites that do not offer water, electricity, toilet access, or any amenities. Most primitive roadside campsites require a high clearance vehicle, and 4-wheel drive is highly encouraged. Road conditions can change quickly. High clearance vehicles are defined as a SUV or truck with at least 15 inch tire rims AND at least 8 inches of ground clearance from the lowest point of the frame, body, or suspension. Despite its morbid name, a great diversity of life survives in Death Valley! In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes. Yet, each extreme has a striking contrast.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California · dark sky in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 46 |
| Host/management | 3 |
Site guide
37 sites in 5 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Cottonwood Canyon Road | Pull-through | Gravel | None | No / – | 12 / 3 | No | Basic | |
| C2 | Cottonwood Canyon Road | Pull-through | Gravel | None | No / – | 12 / 3 | No | Basic | |
| C3 | Cottonwood Canyon Road | Pull-through | 99 | Gravel | None | No / – | 12 / 4 | No | Basic |
| C4 | Cottonwood Canyon Road | Pull-through | 25 | Gravel | None | No / – | 12 / 1 | Yes | Basic |
| C5 | Cottonwood Canyon Road | Pull-through | Gravel | None | No / – | 12 / 2 | Yes | Basic | |
| C6 | Cottonwood Canyon Road | Pull-through | 47 | Gravel | None | No / – | 12 / 2 | Yes | Basic |
| C7 | Cottonwood Canyon Road | Pull-through | 70 | Gravel | None | No / – | 12 / 3 | Yes | Basic |
| C8 | Cottonwood Canyon Road | Pull-through | Gravel | None | No / – | 12 / 3 | Yes | Basic | |
| C9 | Cottonwood Canyon Road | Pull-through | Gravel | None | No / – | 12 / 3 | Yes | Basic | |
| C10 | Cottonwood Canyon Road | Pull-through | Gravel | None | No / – | 12 / 3 | Yes | Basic |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 22 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Backcountry Roadside Camping reservations are available on a 6-month rolling basis prior to planned start dates. Camping Use Fee: $10 per night |
| Dark sky | Inside Death Valley National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
- Backcountry Roadside Campsites: Primitive roadside camping with your vehicle in designated campsites along rugged backcountry dirt roads.
- These are primitive, roadside campsites which require extra trip planning. Please take the time to plan and carefully prepare your itinerary.
- Roadside campsites are intended for high clearance vehicles only. Trailers, RVs and passenger vehicles will not be able to access most of these campsites. High clearance vehicles are defined as a SUV or truck, with at least 15 inch tire rims, and at least 8 inches of ground clearance, as measured from the lowest point of the vehicle (frame, suspension, body, differential).
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Note: Do not exclusively rely on GPS navigation while travelling in Death Valley National Park. Travelers should always carry up-to-date road maps and be aware that there is no cell phone service along most park roads. Always travel prepared to self-rescue as help may be hours away. There is no specific street address for the park.
| Nearest town | Death Valley, California |
| Coordinates | 36.4617° N, 116.8666° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
- Changes/Modifications
- If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee.
- There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation.
- If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date.
- Cancellations
- Customers may cancel their reservation prior to day of arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 cancellation fee will be withheld from any refund due back the customer. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation (see below).
- Late Cancellations or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window
- A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will have a $10.00 cancellation fee withheld from their refund AND will forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.
- Review Rules and Reservation Policies for additional details about changes and cancellations.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 0.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Desert Outfitters ↗ | 0.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
What are the Two best Campgrounds in Death Valley for amenities and RVs. #camping #deathv
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Death Valley Wilderness.
- inDeath Valley Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 3,190,455 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Natural features
Death Valley National Park contains the largest wilderness in the contiguous United States (over 3,190,400 acres or roughly 93% of the entire National Park!). Nearly a thousand miles of paved and dirt roads intersect the wilderness, providing ready access to all but the most remote locations. Backcountry travel in Death Valley National Park can be challenging, but the opportunities for experiencing solitude, sweeping vistas, dark night skies, and awesome geology abound within the three million acres of designated wilderness in the park. There are few established trails in the park, but hikers can follow canyon bottoms, open desert washes, alluvial fans, and abandoned dirt roads to get around.
Recreation
There are over 3.4 million acres of Death Valley to explore. The popular main attractions are accessible by paved roads and more remote areas of the park will require high clearance, 4-wheel drive.
Guidebooks for Death Valley National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Hiking Western Death Valley National ParkMichel Digonnet and Michel J. F. Digonnet, 2023Find at Bookshop.org
- Explorer's Guide to Death Valley National ParkT. Scott Bryan and Betty Tucker Bryan, 2021Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping?
Sites at Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping?
Backcountry Roadside Camping reservations are available on a 6-month rolling basis prior to planned start dates. Camping Use Fee: $10 per night
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping?
Customers may cancel their reservation prior to day of arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 cancellation fee will be withheld from any refund due back the customer.
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping have?
49 sites, including 46 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping?
The longest site here provides 22 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping?
Yes, pets are allowed at Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping good for stargazing?
Yes. Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping sits inside Death Valley National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: DarkSky International
Is there cell service at Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping?
There are over 3.4 million acres of Death Valley to explore. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping?
Death Valley, California.
Source: Getting there