A Las Vegas-Death Valley tour is one of the best day trips you can take from Las Vegas. This park is just 2 hours from Sin City, so it’s the closest national park to Las Vegas.
Death Valley is one of the most unique places on earth, an area full of salt pans, dunes, and impressive lookout points. It’s also a hot and arid desert that experiences extreme temperatures, so taking safety precautions is crucial. Don’t worry; if you stick to the main attractions and prepare yourself, you’ll successfully make your way through the park.
The Best Tour to Death Valley from Las Vegas
It’s possible to visit Death Valley from Las Vegas on your own (we did it during our West Coast Road Trip), but if it’s your first time and you want to see all the highlights, I suggest taking a tour. There are only a few options, and they all leave from Sin City. To help you out, I’m recommending the best day trip from Las Vegas to Death Valley.
Death Valley full-day tour, the best Death Valley day trip from Las Vegas
Enjoy the perfect day trip to Death Valley from Las Vegas on this full-day tour. It includes round-trip transportation on a private bus, making the 2-hour journey to the park easy and comfortable. Once you arrive, you’ll stand before notable sights in Death Valley, like Dante’s View, Devil’s Golf Course, and Mule Team Canyon.
The tour includes a scenic drive to see the Artist’s Palette, where you can capture incredible photos of the colorful terrain. You’ll also witness the breathtaking view from Zabriskie Point and travel to the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, Badwater Basin.
Death Valley full-day tour, the best Death Valley day trip from Las Vegas
Your group will stop for a picnic lunch at Furnace Creek, where you can rehydrate and check out the Visitor’s Center. This small-group tour allows no more than 14 people, so it maximizes your time and includes more locations. Plus, a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide will keep you educated and excited at every turn as you learn about the desert flora and fauna.
- Highlights: Badwater, Artist’s Palette, Dante’s View, Zabriskie Point, Devil’s Golf Course, Furnace Creek, Mule Team Canyon
- Duration: 1 day
- Price: $239+
- Description: This full-day tour to Death Valley from Las Vegas includes hotel pick-up/drop-off and park admission. Go to the most iconic areas of Death Valley, enjoy a picnic lunch in the park, and spot wildlife in the harsh desert.
Departure & return of this day trip to Death Valley from Las Vegas
This Las Vegas tour to Death Valley departs at 8 am and returns to the city around 6 pm.
Itinerary of this Death Valley tour from Las Vegas
Your tour to Death Valley from Las Vegas begins around 8 am with hotel pick-up from several Vegas hotels. You’ll board a comfortable tour bus and ride through the Mojave Desert to Death Valley National Park in California.
Once your group is in the park, you’ll visit Dante’s View, a 5,500-ft lookout point with beautiful views of Badwater Basin and Devil’s Golf Course, the two attractions that you’ll go to next.
Badwater Basin is one of the most well-known places in Death Valley. The 200-square mile salt flat is the largest in the world, and Badwater is the lowest point in the country, at 282 ft below sea level. From there, you’ll go to Devil’s Golf Course, an expansive salt pan with jagged halite salt crystals. The large chunks of salt were left behind after Lake Manly evaporated, and the name ‘Devil’s Golf Course’ comes from the chaotic landscape it creates.
Badwater Basin, part of the itinerary of this Death Valley tour from Las Vegas
The next part of the tour is a scenic drive through Artist’s Palette, an area of the Black Mountains where the rock faces range in color from pink, red, and purple, to yellow, green, and gray. The colors are caused by oxidized iron, mica, and manganese, and create one of the most incredible attractions in the park.
Next, your group will stop at Furnace Creek for a picnic lunch and some free time to explore the Visitor Center. There, you can learn more about the surrounding Furnace Creek area. The fertile desert oasis is home to the highest recorded temperature on earth (134.1° F). The Visitor Center has exhibits, weather forecasts, educational presentations, and other convenient facilities.
After the lunch break, your group will continue the tour by visiting Zabriskie Point. Its recognizable yellow and brown landscape comes from broken-down sediment from Furnace Creek Lake.
Zabriskie point, part of the itinerary of this Death Valley tour from Las Vegas
Finally, you’ll go to nearby Twenty Mule Team Canyon, which also has distinct yellow and brown hills. The caves and old mine shafts were left behind after the prospecting period of the 1880s.
From there, you’ll board the tour bus and make your way back to the Vegas Strip, returning to the city around 6 pm.
Death Valley tour from Las Vegas price
This day trip to Death Valley from Las Vegas costs $239 per person.
What’s included on this excursion to Death Valley National Park from Las Vegas
For $239/person, you’ll get round-trip transportation from Las Vegas to Death Valley, national park admission, lunch, snacks, water, and expert tour guides. Hotel pick-up/drop-off is also included.
Las Vegas – Death Valley tour reviews
Our experience in Death Valley was amazing! We visited in August, and while it was hot, it wasn’t unbearable. Just be sure to bring plenty of water!
We decided to go through the park on our own, and I would recommend spending two days here to see all the highlights. However, if you’re short on time this 1-day Death Valley tour from Las Vegas is the best option.
We loved the views from Zabriskie Point and Dante’s View, as well as the colorful trek through the Artist’s Palette. Another must-see is Badwater Basin, although it’s one of the hottest parts of the park.
Las Vegas – Death Valley tour reviews
One of the most curious things we saw was Devil’s Golf Course, and it was lots of fun seeing it close-up as well as from above at Dante’s View. And, of course, we kept an eye out for desert critters like tortoises, wild rabbits, and coyotes.
Since we spent some more time here, we were able to see a few other attractions like the Mesquite Flat, the most famous dunes in the park. We wrote a guide on where to stay in Death Valley, in case you are planning to rent a car in Las Vegas and spend some more time in the park too.
If not, don’t worry, even during a short visit you can see some of the most incredible things in this national park. Again, a one-day Death Valley tour from Las Vegas is better than not visiting at all.
Death Valley – Las Vegas map
You can see all the attractions you’ll visit on this Death Valley – Las Vegas tour on the map below.
FAQ – Tour to Death Valley from Las Vegas
For anyone unsure about taking a day trip to Death Valley from Las Vegas, I’ve answered some common questions you might have.
Do the day trips from Las Vegas include the entrance fee to Death Valley?
Admission to Death Valley National Park costs $15 per individual and $30 per vehicle. If you take a Las Vegas tour to Death Valley, park admission is included in the trip price.
When is the best time to tour Death Valley from Las Vegas?
Death Valley is hot and arid year-round, especially during the summer. The best time to tour Death Valley from Las Vegas is from late fall to early spring. Between March and April, you can see the desert flora come to life, and the temperatures aren’t terrible, so it’s one of the best times to visit.
How far is Death Valley from Las Vegas?
Death Valley is about 126 miles northwest of Las Vegas. It takes about 2 hours to get there.
How to get to Death Valley from Las Vegas?
You can take the scenic route on NV-160 through Pahrump and Death Valley Junction. An alternative is taking US-95 through Indian Springs and Amargosa Valley.
What should I bring on a Death Valley tour from Las Vegas?
Whether you’re touring Death Valley from Las Vegas or visiting on your own, you must be prepared:
- Water (at least 1 gallon/person per day)
- Food/snacks
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Light layers of clothing
- Hiking shoes or boots
- First aid kit
- Backpack
- Sunglasses
- Smartphone/charger (your phone won’t work in most areas of the park)
- Camera
How much does a Death Valley tour from Las Vegas cost?
There aren’t many Death Valley tours from Vegas, and the one I recommend is the cheapest ($240).
Can I visit Death Valley without a tour guide?
You can visit Death Valley on your own, but you’ll have to be very careful and plan accordingly. Running out of gas/supplies or getting lost is easier than you think. That’s why I recommend booking a Death Valley trip from Las Vegas.
Now you know how to get to Death Valley from Las Vegas and all the things to see here. If you do want to see all that this place has to offer, I highly recommend doing the Death Valley day tour from Las Vegas. Also, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have a question; I’ll be happy to help. Have a safe trip!
