Best Death Valley campground.

We always stay outside the park in Pahrump, NV at Lakeside RV Park.

Some of the landscape in Death Valley.




Lakeside RV Park.

Death Valley is huge, you will need many days to see the "best of the best". We took the kids there when we first got our TM, they loved it. Furnace Creek has some full hookup sites, but I'm pretty sure that they're booked up for most of January. Do you have a tow vehicle? A lot of the roads are very narrow and one-way. I was glad we had our 4x4 pickup. DD had her learning permit and got to drive around a bit! Awww, she's all grown up now, but she will never forget that trip.

When we stayed there you could pay a nominal fee at the Furnace Creek Ranch hotel and use their showers & the pool at night. It's hot-spring fed so even though the temps are low at night in January, the pool is wonderful. When we were there, I met a teacher from a charter school from Sacramento who took a group of teenagers on a field trip/class. He clued me in on some of the things to see/do there. The geology of the area is fascinating.

Scotty's Castle was cool, we didn't do the technology tour but I'd do it next time. Both of the kids liked it.

Furnace Creek has three and is on the south side of the park.
Stovepipe Wells has a campground with or without electric hookups. Dump station and water available. It is situated a bit more centrally in the park.
Mesquite Springs is up on the north end. No elec, but water and dump.
Of the three I like the looks of Mesquite Springs the best,
but Stovepipe Wells has great views of high, snow capped mountains (in the winter)
Furnace Creek is too busy for our tastes.
DV is a big park so it's best to split your time between the north and the south ends so you can explore some of the canyon drives, etc.

Great info so far and Thank You all. Crazy thing is I used to live an hour North of Fresno and have seen most of California but never made it to Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Death Valley. Last son at home is 16 and we really have to pick good interesting areas to get him excited enough to come along.

Pogoil.

X2 on Mesquite Springs.

If you don't need electricity, Sun Set campground at Furnace Creek has a fixed dump station and water. Last year it was $12 a night or $6 a night with a Golden Age Passport. New visitors center across the highway, where you can learn about all the attractions. Almost center of park. Less than an hours drive to most of the attractions.
We'll be there Jan 8-14 with the Bounder F Troop. Come join us or stop by and say hi. SOBs (some other brands) welcome.
Fuel, propane and food are available at Furnace Creek.
But as previously mentioned, Come into the park with all your needs, including full fuel and propane. You won't like the prices.

Richard
95 bounder/2003 PT Cruiser

Are you looking for full hookup sites? If so, you're very limited. Don't drink the water at Bad Water. Do visit Scotty's Castle. Be sure you're filled with fuel before you head into the valley as fuel stations are pretty rare. If you come in from the west off 395 in Ridgecrest there's petroglyphics which are worth seeing. Head into Death Valley through Trona, (look for the Borax mines) and the road will wind all the way through DV, bringing you to Furnace Creek and one of the few CGs with full hookups. None of the NPS cgs have hookus, but you can get water.. We like either Fiddlers CG at Furnace creek or Panamint...Leaving the park on the east side will take you to Pahrump Nevada and on to Las Vegas if you're so inclined.....enjoy....Dennis

Mesquite Springs NPS..... best place to stay hands down.

It's at the north end and a true desert camping experience.

Or Furnace Creek NPS parking lot campground.

Start with Furnace Creek.