Brandon's Guidebook
Visiting Death Valley National Park
We LOVE exploring DV and are happy to send advice if you reach out.
Furnace Creek is the park headquarters and about 45-minutes from Tarantula Ranch. You'll find some shops, fuel (very expensive), Jeep rentals, swimming, and other touristy stuff.
Furnace Creek
Furnace Creek is the park headquarters and about 45-minutes from Tarantula Ranch. You'll find some shops, fuel (very expensive), Jeep rentals, swimming, and other touristy stuff.
Badwater basin is a must visit for most guests. The best advice is to be there early and plan on walking out at least a mile so you can see more undisturbed salt formations and fewer visitors.
11 locals recommend
Badwater Basin
Badwater basin is a must visit for most guests. The best advice is to be there early and plan on walking out at least a mile so you can see more undisturbed salt formations and fewer visitors.
Brandon’s favorite hike in DV. Beautiful trail through rock canyon with lots of fun scrambling.
Mosaic Canyon Trail
Mosaic Canyon TrailBrandon’s favorite hike in DV. Beautiful trail through rock canyon with lots of fun scrambling.
Sunshine’s favorite short loop hike in DV. This hike will take you through the Red Cathedrals and give you some great photo opportunities.
Golden Canyon
Sunshine’s favorite short loop hike in DV. This hike will take you through the Red Cathedrals and give you some great photo opportunities.
If you have two or more days in the park, spend one of them driving Titus Canyon! Very scenic, one-way road that will accommodate most vehicles (gravel). Start the day by visiting the ghost town Ryolite.
Titus Canyon
If you have two or more days in the park, spend one of them driving Titus Canyon! Very scenic, one-way road that will accommodate most vehicles (gravel). Start the day by visiting the ghost town Ryolite.
Swing by Rhyolite on your way to Titus Canyon. Historic mining/ghost town in Nevada.
22 locals recommend
Rhyolite
Swing by Rhyolite on your way to Titus Canyon. Historic mining/ghost town in Nevada.
The Mesquite Dunes are near Stovepipe wells and a great spot to explore for a couple of hours.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
The Mesquite Dunes are near Stovepipe wells and a great spot to explore for a couple of hours.
Really cool natural phenomena! Long drive on washboard roads that can be really fun in a Jeep but very slow and tedious in any other vehicle.
The Racetrack
Really cool natural phenomena! Long drive on washboard roads that can be really fun in a Jeep but very slow and tedious in any other vehicle.
Amazing slot canyons to explore! Fun scrambling/climbing and great for families. There is a bit of a wash that you need to hike before getting to the slots but well worth it.
Sidewinder Canyon
Badwater RoadAmazing slot canyons to explore! Fun scrambling/climbing and great for families. There is a bit of a wash that you need to hike before getting to the slots but well worth it.
A must visit and easy pull-out on the way into the park. Great sunsets.
6 locals recommend
Zabriskie Point
California 190A must visit and easy pull-out on the way into the park. Great sunsets.
Renting a Jeep...a great way to see the park. Farabee's is a great small business a Jeep can help you access some off-the-beaten-path type spots.
Farabee's Jeep Rentals
California 190Renting a Jeep...a great way to see the park. Farabee's is a great small business a Jeep can help you access some off-the-beaten-path type spots.
It's a hard place to access but fun to explore. Also a frequent place to spot fighter jets.
Eureka Dunes
It's a hard place to access but fun to explore. Also a frequent place to spot fighter jets.
Tarantula Ranch Camping & Glamping
Tarantula Ranch offers Death Valley Tours
Food scene
We have 4 restaurants in Amargosa Valley. They are not known for their fine dining but 3 of them are small businesses with very nice owners who we like to support.
El Valle is our closest restaurant and has great staff and ownership. Please set your expectations at the right level for a restaurant in a small town.
El Valle
720 NV-373El Valle is our closest restaurant and has great staff and ownership. Please set your expectations at the right level for a restaurant in a small town.
Longstreet Casino is along the drive to Death Valley Junction and the park. It has fuel, cold drinks, and a restaurant. Remember, fuel up before entering the park!
Longstreet Inn Casino & RV Resort
8750 Nevada 373Longstreet Casino is along the drive to Death Valley Junction and the park. It has fuel, cold drinks, and a restaurant. Remember, fuel up before entering the park!
Food & Supplies
This market has essential supplies and is 8-miles from Tarantula Ranch. They do have a small restaurant but the hours are hit&miss so call before planning your meal here.
5-miles from our place, you can fuel up and get ice, cold drinks, etc. There is a second station across the highway that is a good choice too. Both gas stations also have small restaurants and some supplies (but limited).
Area 51 Alien Center
5388 US-955-miles from our place, you can fuel up and get ice, cold drinks, etc. There is a second station across the highway that is a good choice too. Both gas stations also have small restaurants and some supplies (but limited).
Martell's a a great local market about 15-minutes from your campsite. It is the best spot in town to get supplies (food, etc), and has propane and a restaurant. The restaurant is an adventure but please call ahead before arriving because they have desert hours.
Martell Market
1775 Amargosa Farm RoadMartell's a a great local market about 15-minutes from your campsite. It is the best spot in town to get supplies (food, etc), and has propane and a restaurant. The restaurant is an adventure but please call ahead before arriving because they have desert hours.
Adventure
A fun place to mountain bike about an hour away. The trail system leads into the Nevada Test Site and has great desert terrain.
Spicer Ranch
1 Boiling Pot RoadA fun place to mountain bike about an hour away. The trail system leads into the Nevada Test Site and has great desert terrain.
City advice
What to pack
Flashlight & Lantern
We have solar lighting around the campground but have decided to not use bright outdoor lighting to preserve the beauty of the night sky. It is helpful to bring flashlights and lanterns for your own sites (Glamping trailers have lights inside).
What to pack
Towel
We have an outdoor shower available by donation. We do not provide any towels but there is an assortment of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc.
What to pack
Layered Clothing
The desert temperature changes quickly as the sun rises and sets. Please be prepared for hot days and cold nights with layered clothing.
What to pack
Sun screen
This seems obvious but don’t forget it!
What to pack
Chapstick & lotion
If you’re not accustomed to the dry desert climate, bring along chapstick and lotion if visiting for more than a day.