Death Valley is one of the most intriguing national parks in the American Southwest, as well as the largest in the contiguous United States. Although it is located in California, the closest major city is Las Vegas, Nevada. It is no coincidence that most of the organized tours to visit this area depart from this city. However, if you are planning a road trip to California or an itinerary that includes several states, you might be wondering if it is possible to cover the distance between Los Angeles and Death Valley. Out of all the major cities in California, in fact, LA is the closest and the best connected. It’s worth dedicating an article to this route for a very simple reason. These two places are part of many routes that cross the Southwest, but they are many miles apart. So let’s see how to best organize your trip, and perhaps how to include some stops to see other natural attractions or special places.
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From Los Angeles to Death Valley: Driving Distance and the Best Route
Over 400 miles separate Los Angeles from Death Valley, and as you can imagine, there is not just one way to get to the park from the coastal city. There are two main routes:
- The first option (about 286 miles for a 4 hour and 15-minute trip), is to drive on CA-14 north to Cantil, where you will take Redrock Randsburg Rd to reach 395 and from there (taking a shortcut on Searles Station Cutoff), CA-178, and then CA-190 to Death Valley.
- The second option (about 298 miles for 4 hours and 30 minutes of travel), is to go on US-10 towards San Bernardino and then turn on US-15. Stay on US-15 until you get to Baker, where you will take CA-127, which will lead you to Death Valley Junction and then to CA-190 until the entrance of the park.
Consider that it is best to visit Death Valley early in the morning, especially in the summer, when the heat can be really unbearable in the middle of the day. Moreover, this is a park that requires you to spend a lot of time driving even to visit it, having to drive several miles through it. Therefore, it may be worth not visiting the park on the same day you drive from Los Angeles. My advice is to choose the first of the two routes mentioned above, not just because of the shorter duration, but also, and above all, because it gives you the possibility of making really interesting stops along the way. In this way, you can use the day not only to drive but also to enjoy some other beautiful places in California. You will stay overnight near Death Valley in order to visit it the next morning.
Los Angeles to Death Valley Itinerary: Best Places to Visit
If you leave Los Angeles in the morning and plan to spend the night near Death Valley, you can either visit a minor park, or make short stops in some unique places. The same is obviously true if you head in the opposite direction towards Los Angeles. If you are particularly attracted by the places I suggest below, you could also consider dedicating an extra day to them, and spend the night to break up the trip.
Vasquez Rocks
If you’re a fan of Star Trek, but even if you’ve never seen it, the landscape of the Vasquez Rocks will look familiar to you. This was one of the sets of the famous science fiction saga, but also of other Hollywood movies. Located just 40 minutes from the city, without needing to take long detours from your route, you can make a stop at this park where natural beauty goes hand in hand with curiosities and pop culture attractions, in this case, movie sets. In our article about Vasquez Rocks, you can find out why it’s worth stopping here and how to reach the park from Los Angeles. The detour from CA-14 to reach Vasquez Rocks is short and admission is free. So, even if you are undecided, ask yourself: Why not?
Red Rock Canyon State Park
Red Rock Canyon is a fairly common name, so be careful not to get confused! The most famous red rock canyon is Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon, but there are others scattered throughout the Southwest. On the other hand, we’re in a geographic area known for both red rocks and canyons. In any case, although it may be smaller and certainly not as famous as others, this canyon is worth visiting, especially if you are passing through. The fastest way to travel between Las Vegas and Death Valley is to get off of CA-14 at some point and get on Redrock Randsburg Rd.
Here, if you do not leave the main road at this point, after 5 minutes you will come across the Red Rock Canyon State Park (California) and you’ll find directions to its Visitor Center. The entrance fee is $6 per vehicle and you may decide, depending on the time you have available, to wear a pair of comfortable shoes and walk the trails of the park. A couple of hours are enough for a substantial visit to this park, which can easily be inserted in the itinerary between Los Angeles and Death Valley.
In our article about Red Rock Canyon State Park, you will find all the details to organize your visit, which can help you decide, when considering all the stops along the way, whether or not this one is for you.
Trona Pinnacles
Not far from the town of Ridgecrest, Trona Pinnacles, one of the hidden gems of California, rise from the desert terrain soaring into the sky, giving the area a sci-fi atmosphere. This small natural wonder is a stop to seriously consider along this itinerary because the detour is short and well worth it.
You’ll probably feel like you’re walking on an asteroid, and you won’t be the first to think so! Many science fiction movies have been filmed here because of the setting, which resembles a desert planet lost in space. The last part of the road is unpaved, but you can still drive on it without any issues by paying attention and going slowly. The directions to reach Trona Pinnacles from Ridgecrest, as well as details on these strange pinnacles made of tufa, can be found in our article about Trona Pinnacles.
Just before taking the detour to Trona Pinnacles, you will find Fish Rocks (GPS location), a series of rocks ready to take the bait! Please note: Trona Pinnacles can be reached on the way to Death Valley not just from Los Angeles, but also from San Diego, or other parts of Southern California!
Ballarat Ghost Town
If you’re a seasoned traveler along America’s most remote roads, you’ve certainly crossed a few ghost towns. If, on the other hand, you haven’t yet, you should know that there are numerous ghost towns that are also very different from each other. There are some very touristy ones, but also others so remote and creepy as to give rise to the suspicion of being seriously inhabited by ghosts.
About 50 miles north of Ridgecrest, you can take a small detour from the Death Valley itinerary and reach Ballarat. Despite the swirls of desert dust, creepy creaking sounds, and legends of a serial killer, this place is not entirely uninhabited. In fact, Rock Novak is the only inhabitant and performs the functions of mayor, doctor, judge, sheriff, priest, and… gravedigger, although one wonders how he could bury himself since he is the only mortal citizen among the many ghosts of Ballarat. To get there, just go north on CA-178. Half an hour past Pioneer Point, look for a small green sign on the right for Ballarat Rd.
Where to Stay between Los Angeles and Death Valley
The basic plan of this itinerary is to leave in the morning from Los Angeles, stop in one or more of the recommended stops, arrive in the evening near Death Valley, and visit the park the next morning. So my first suggestion is to look for a hotel near (or even inside!) Death Valley.
Our recommendations for accommodations near or in Death Valley
However, if you are considering an overnight stay along the way, to see more of the attractions along this route, my suggestion is to look for a hotel in Ridgecrest. It is located 45 minutes from the Trona Pinnacles, an hour from Ballarat, and an hour and twenty minutes from Red Rock Canyon. Ridgecrest is an ideal central location that is convenient for any of the proposed stops.
All accommodations in Ridgecrest
A third option is Mojave, located between Vasquez Rocks and Red Rock Canyon. I recommend it especially if you are planning to leave Los Angeles in the afternoon (it is an hour and a half drive away), and to see Vasquez Rocks that same afternoon, and then access Red Rock Canyon the following morning. Alternatively, if you are planning the itinerary in the reverse direction and looking for lodging after visiting Red Rock Canyon, this is also a good option.
