Death Valley Rally

Las Vegas to Death Valley and Beyond

Route Distance

Up to 370 mi

Suggested Time

3 or 4 Days

Nothing is more extreme than a road trip from Las Vegas to Death Valley National Park—or rather, nothing has more extremes. We’re talking the lowest point in North America and nearly 12,000-foot Mt. Charleston. Rugged biker bars and elegant wineries. Sprawling sand dunes and ancient bristlecone pines. Ghost towns and… well, Las Vegas. These are just a few of the mesmerizing contrasts you’ll attempt to wrap your mind around on this classic Nevada road trip but a kaleidoscopic stone’s throw from one another along the very same route. So pack your sunscreen, sandals, gloves, and sweater, and come get extreme on the Death Valley Rally.

Discover Death Valley: the hottest, driest, and lowest place in North America
Ponder the past in Rhyolite, one of the West’s best ghost towns
Hike (or even snowshoe) among 5,000-year-old bristlecone pine forests

Las Vegas to Death Valley National Park

From One Extreme To Another and Back Again

With its stark terrain, tenacious wildlife, and thermometer-shattering climate, Death Valley National Park is the perfect centerpiece for a route marked by more extremes than any other. You’ll kick off this Las Vegas to Death Valley road trip at an oasis and legendary hiker’s paradise—mere minutes from the wild, bustling Strip—before cruising through friendly, small-town Nevada on to one of the hottest and driest places on Earth. After exploring its world-famous features, including the lowest point on the continent, the Death Valley Rally carries you back to civilization by way of a camera-hogging ghost town, the Lower 48’s largest national wildlife refuge, and 11,916-ft Mt. Charleston, Nevada’s fifth-tallest peak.

COMMUNITIES ON THIS TRIP

Pahrump, Amargosa Valley, Beatty, North Las Vegas

Glovebox Essentials

Prepare for Your Adventure

Get ready to come chase some horizons with this handy tool kit. Here, you’ll find all the Death Valley Rally road trip essentials, including downloadable directions, maps, and podcasts, and tunes to complement your upcoming adventure.

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Death Valley Rally Playlist

Woman Road Warrior: Road Tripping the #DeathValleyRally

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It’s Rally Time

Death Valley Rally: Take It to the Extreme

As full of surprises as Nevada always is, few road trips cover as many contrasts as three days on the Death Valley Rally. From 279 feet below sea level to 12,000-foot mountains, beautiful wineries to badass biker bars, ghost towns to one of the country’s biggest metros, and plenty in between, get warmed up for the most extreme ride of your life.

Leg 1

Blast Off Beyond the Neon

You could shoot from Las Vegas to Death Valley in under three hours. But you’d miss Red Rock Canyon, biker bars and wineries, and all the #WeirdNevada wonderment along the way.

Leg 2

Death Valley National Park: Hot Damn

Straddling the Nevada-California border, discover Death Valley, the largest national park in the Lower 48, and the hottest, driest, and lowest of in the entire country.

Leg 3

Mining Towns & Millions of Acres of Wilderness

Loop back to Las Vegas by way of Rhyolite Ghost Town, legendary Sagebrush Saloons, the Lower 48’s largest wildlife refuge, and ancient Bristlecone-studded mountains.

Leg 1

Las Vegas to Pahrump via Red Rock Canyon

Up to 130 miles

Hike, bike or climb around Spring Mountain Ranch and Red Rock Canyon
Savor Mexican food and ice-cold beers and at Mountain Springs Saloon
Sample your way around Pahrump’s wineries and brand-new cidery/meadery

First stop: Spring Mountain Ranch State Park for lush, oasis-like scenery and tranquil walks. This gem lies within Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area—famously breathtaking, thanks to red-banded sandstone canyons, curious wildlife, and outdoor action galore. Break for biker bar beers on the way to Pahrump, home to all manner of amenities, two wineries and a meadery/cidery, and a lovably offbeat mom-and-pop coffin “shop.” Time it right and, before bedding down, you might catch a show at the historic and funky Amargosa Opera House.

Hike around oasis-like Spring Mountain Ranch and splendorous Red Rock Canyon, discover the planet’s rarest fish at Ash Meadows, then crank up the #WeirdNevada vibes at Coffinwood and Amargosa Opera House.

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Cold beers and an out-back Mexican food shack await at Mountain Springs Saloon. Taste your way around Pahrump at three wineries and Stonewise Mead & Cellars. Then cool off at Seemore’s, the World’s Tallest Ice Cream Stand.

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Leg 2

Pahrump to Death Valley to Beatty NV

170+ mi

Follow Artist’s Drive to breathtakingly technicolor Artist’s Palette
Stand tall on the lowest point in North America at Badwater Basin (-282 ft)
Gaze at distant 14,505-ft Mount Whitney from Dante’s View

Despite that ominous name, Death Valley National Park is a landscape alive with incredible beauty. Enter from Highway 190 and get the lay of the land from Dante’s View and gaze 5,760 feet down to Badwater Basin salt flats and, on clear days, out to Mt. Whitney—the highest and lowest points in the Lower 48. Hit Furnace Creek Visitor Center, then spend the day exploring landmarks like kaleidoscopic Artist’s Palette, sea level-defying Badwater Basin, Star Wars fan faves Golden Canyon and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and more, before bedding down in Beatty.

Give yourself some space at the funky, retro, alien-friendly Atomic Inn; hit up the pool at the Death Valley Inn & RV Park; or keep things classically cozy at the Exchange Club and Motel 6.

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It’s been a century since Death Valley hit Earth’s hottest verified temperature ever—134° F (56.7° C)—but it still routinely tops “hottest monthly temperature” charts. Summer visitors: protect your bodies and your vehicles.

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In a town where burros happily roam the streets, Beatty’s human visitors (as well as the Beatty Cowboys) love pulling up stools at Happy Burro Chili & Beer, an old saloon serving, well, homemade chili and ice-cold beer.

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Leg 3

Home Stretch: Beatty NV to Las Vegas

170+ mi

Get ghosted at Rhyolite ghost town & Goldwell Open Air Museum
Happily scarf chili, sip beer, and watch for wild burros at…Happy Burro Chili & Beer
Spy desert bighorn sheep at 1.5 million-acre Desert National Wildlife Refuge

Dig into literally rich history at the Beatty Museum and Historical Society, then see it in person at Rhyolite, one of the West’s best-preserved (and most photographed) ghost towns. On your way out, stop at adjacent Goldwell Open Air Museum to wander an avant-garde array of other-wordly art installations. Grab lunch at rustically Wild Western Happy Burro Chili & Beer before exploring wildlife-packed Desert National Wildlife Refuge or mountainous Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. Then it’s back to the Strip to complete your trip!

Before blasting back to Vegas, escape to a 6,700′ mountain lodge for stargazing, drinks by the fire, and panoramic views at the Retreat on Charleston Peak. If that neon glow beckons, go retro in Downtown Las Vegas.

Head back to Happy Burro for a chili burger breakfast, or cruise up to 6,700 feet for “elevated” eats, from butternut squash soup to tomahawk steaks, in the Canyon Restaurant & Tavern Bar at the Retreat on Charleston Peak.

Hitting the Road? Here’s the Map.

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#DeathValleyRally

You’ll have an extremely awesome time sightseeing this scenic slice of Nevada life. And don’t forget to tag #DeathValleyRally so we (and everyone else) can see how you conquer this lively expedition.