Camping below sea level in Death Valley National Park

Here’s what I knew about Death Valley before going:

1.  A select group of crazy people attempt to run 135 miles thru Death Valley to Mt. Whitney every summer in a race called the Badwater 135.  I know this because I love to read about them.

2.  There are rocks that mysteriously move across the flat desert floor on their own accord and no one is certain how.

So why did we go to Death Valley?  I love the desert, I love 80 degree winter days and it was in the path of our Eastern Sierra trajectory.

death valley camping

death valley camping

We typically avoid National Parks due to their strict dog rules but decided to check this one out nonetheless.  We arrived around noon to the first-come, first served Texas Spring campground where we found a nice end spot.  (End spots are our favorite and what we always look for.  They offer so much more spaciousness than being parked with rigs on both sides of you.)

We paid $16/night for a dirt pad and a picnic table.  No hookups, no showers.  For the next two days we would ride out a wind advisory with steady gusts reaching 50mph.  It was 90 degrees the day we arrived.  I didn’t expect the weather to be anything better in a place called Death Valley.

death valley camping

With the high winds and strict dog rules, we decided the bulk of our entertainment in Death Valley would be scenic drives.  Three days in a row we set out at about 3pm for a few hours of driving.  Each day paid off with dramatic light and incredible views of this remote national park.  Since we didn’t have any expectations of this destination, we were easily impressed.

The first day we drove Badwater Road and enjoyed it’s various sights starting with Badwater Basin.  At 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin is the lowest place in the country and the second lowest place in the Western Hemisphere.

death valley camping
death valley camping

Badwater Basin as seen from the Natural Bridge parking area:
death valley camping

The walk to Natural Bridge:
death valley camping
death valley camping

The moody weather made for some beautiful light:

death valley camping
death valley camping
death valley camping

This is Artist’s Palette, a scenic stop off of Artist’s Drive.  See the little tourist?  I love how people offer such a great sense of scale in landscapes like this one.

death valley camping
death valley camping

On our second day we opted for a backcountry drive.  Initially we thought we would head to “The Racetrack” to check out the mysterious moving rocks but instead decided for a less popular attraction.  We decided on the 27 mile long Titus Canyon Road.  It took us 3 hours to complete and was absolutely gorgeous.  The best part, we didn’t see a single person.
death valley camping

Mark letting some air out of the tires for the bumpy road ahead.
death valley camping
death valley camping
death valley camping
death valley camping

The ghost town of Leadfield.  What was once a “mining boom town founded on wild and distorted advertising.”
death valley camping
death valley camping
death valley camping

We enjoyed every bit of this drive but the highlight was weaving our way thru Titus Canyon.
death valley camping
death valley camping
death valley camping
death valley camping

We planned our drive so that we could hopefully enjoy the golden sunset light on our way thru.  It worked out perfectly.
death valley camping
death valley camping
death valley camping
death valley camping

Fun fact: We rarely stop for photos.  If we stopped every time I wanted to take a photo, we’d never get anywhere.  Most of the photos in this post are taken while driving by me hanging my hand out the window.
death valley camping

Not this one of course : )
death valley camping
death valley camping
death valley camping

As we exited the canyon we saw that the wind had yet to subside.  We couldn’t have chosen a better activity for the day as we were protected from the wind for most of our drive.
death valley camping

I had hopes of getting out for a short hike on our last day but the wind was relentless and we had no desire to be out in it.  Instead, we decided to check out the restaurant options within the park, only to learn that they leave very little to be desired.  On a whim, we turned on some music and drove an hour across the vast, uninhabited desert back to Pahrump, NV where we found a great dive bar, perfect for a burger and beer.  Between the jukebox playing all the right tunes and the old time cowboys at the bar, it felt like a perfectly authentic evening in the Nevada desert.  We didn’t leave town before grabbing a few groceries and filling up on $2.74/gal diesel.  (Death Valley was charging $5.00/gal)

We left Death Valley at a crossroads.  Our hope was to continue North, up Highway 395 where we would finally experience the much-anticipated Eastern Sierras.  However, it was looking as though we were too early in the year to begin the climb in elevation.  Lows were still below freezing and not showing any signs of improving.  This didn’t leave us eager to continue with our plan.  But where would we go instead?  We were still figuring that one out : )

12 Comments

Leave a Reply to John M TullyCancel reply

  • hi, my wife and I have been to death valley a few times and also did the titus canyon drive. the question I have is what psi do you drop your tires down to and do you have an onboard compressor to fill them back up?
    we have always stayed at Stovepipe wells village. they have a great pub there with good eats.

    • It sounds like next time we’ll have to check out Stovepipe Wells village!

      Our normal tire pressure is around 70-80 psi and Mark dropped them down to somewhere arond 20-30 psi for that drive. We have a CO2 tank onboard as well as an air compressor.

  • Well M u have done it again. The pics were fantastic and once again I felt that Genie and I were there with you. This place is on my bucket list for sure and I would like to know the answer to Scotts question as well. Keep on trucking…. Best Jim & Genie, ME

    • Thanks Jim! We definitely recommend a trip to Death Valley if you’re at all interested. A truly beautiful and remote landscape. Regarding our tire pressure, Mark dropped them down to somewhere around 20-30 psi for that drive.

    • Thanks! Yeah that wind was intense. It kind of added to the ambiance of the place though. Such a neat and remote park.

  • Went to Death Valley on an REI hike back in 2007. Loved it. Very photogenic area. Truly wanted to be there for the super bloom flower show a few years ago. But spring is planning season at work and I couldn’t get the time off. Not next year…I’m leaving work April 20th. Brock the dog and I are on the road shortly afterwards. Hope to meet you some day and say thanks in person for a very inspirational blog. Keep up the good work! Safe Travels!

  • The one and only time we went to Death Valley, we got flooded out. No kidding. It was the same weekend that the huge tsunami hit southern Thailand. All the roads out we’re closed except one, which went to Nevada. We live in SoCal, of course. We do plan to go back there, now that we have a truck camper. We will try to avoid any flash floods!

    • I can’t imagine what that place would be like in those conditions! Here’s hoping you have better luck next time, it’s a beautiful park!

By michele

About

Hi!  We’re Mark & Michele, a couple of modern-day nomads perfecting the art of slow, perpetual travel.  Our tiny home on wheels and slow-paced travel style allows us maximum freedom at minimal expense.  This blog is where we share our travels as well as our insights in to this lifestyle that we absolutely love.  Thanks so much for being here.

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