Groceries - Death Valley

Thanks to everyone about the advice: groceries, CA camping and steep grades. Great info to know. We'll plan on bringing in everything we need.

Another thing you might want to know about is the very steep road grades going down into Death valley. And there 2 lane roads. We drove down into the valley in October of last year in a car. Hope you've got good brakes.

darsben wrote:
Pahrump has a Walmart and other stores

Really? Last time I was there about 10 years ago the biggest attraction was the national prostitution museum and some ugly casinos. Sounds like the place has improved greatly.

Anything you buy in Death Valley is going to be outrageously expensive. Much better that you buy whatever you are going to need before you get there, or plan to make a trip to Pahrump or Beatty. While there is a gas station in Furnace Creek, when I was last there, gas was priced close to twice what it was in Pahrump.

Hi' I know you didn't ask for this but I thought it might be helpful.

My wife and I were looking for campgrounds between San Diego and San Simeon. We had no criteria other than on or near the beach. Some we had never been to or had not been to with camping in mind and others we knew about but never visited.

In San Diego we stayed at Campland on the Bay, a big family oriented campground. The grandkids love it and it is a great place for visiting the attractions in San Diego. It is not near the ocean but it does have a beach and water sports. This is the first destination campground we have stayed at so we have nothing to compare it with. We consider destination campgrounds as one that folks go to and spend their vacation as opposed to one that they go to for specific attractions. Campland is destination whereas Yellowstone is usually a short stay, see the basin, old faithful, you get the idea.

After the DGKs went home we drove up to Doheny State Park. It is on the beach and has a beautiful view but no waves. A breakwater was built to protect the bay and it destroyed one of the best surf breaks in So. Cal. Off season this is a very laid back place, there are fire rings but the Greenies are out to rid the whole state from burning wood anywhere. There are hookups and maximum size is 40’. The park is at the entrance to the town of Dana Point and there is a shopping center across the hwy from the park with an overpass for access. A short drive into town provides everything you would need to have a happy stay. In the marina there are several sportfishing boats available.

Just North of Dana Point is Bolsa Chica, SP. They have hookups and 40’ spaces are available, but it is back in only. It is not directly on the beach but adjacent to the beach. There aren’t any fences but there is a pedestrian/bicycle/skateboard paved lane between you and the sand. It is an urban campground.

Dockweiller SP is unusual because it is a State Park run by a county. You can look it up on line under LA County or just Dockweiller SP and you will be directed to LA County. It is on the beach and my tire guy spends most of the summer there in his DP. He loves it due to the close proximity to his shop. It has hook ups, showers et al. On the beach great view but it is under the takeoff path of LAX. That doesn’t bother us but some folks want silence and you don’t get that in an urban campground. It is freeway close to all of LA and Orange County.

Emma K. Wood, and McGrath SP’s are primative campgrounds in Ventura County. They are in town and can be very crowded on weekends. On planted and leveled dunes with direct access to the sand but I don’t remember any great views from the campsites.

Rincon St Beach is nearby in Santa Barbara County but no camping.

Rincon Parkway, North of LA in Santa Barbara County. Is a county park and is Old Hwy 1. You park head to toe, next to the rip-wrap but you do have access and views. Porta-potties no hookups.

El Capitan is developed but no hookups. There are showers and restrooms. We have stayed in the group site and a slight view from the site and great views maybe 50 yards away. Walkways to the beach but don’t know about direct access down lower. Upper sites are HOT and DRY. Can be very dusty. Nice location but we only go for Family Camping with grandsons scout troop.

Refugio SP is a premium park, which means it costs a lot more. Off season starts Nov 30. Longer stays allowed and lower prices. It’s developed but no hookups.

Gaviota SP, nice area but small spaces, 25’ trailer max. Developed but no hookups.


I have a jpeg of the sign with all the info about Rincon Pkwy if you are interested. PM me and I will post it in your thread about Groceries.

X3 to buying food before you go down into Death Valley. I don't recall seeing any store up by Scotty's Castle. There might be milk and bread stuff at Stovepipe Wells, and Furnace Creek will have that kind of stuff, but it will be expensive..

Pahrump has a Walmart and other stores

No groceries in the valley, except for a few, very few, highly priced items at the Furnace Creek General Store. Real grocery stores are located in Beatty or Pahrump, both to the east of the valley. Buy ahead and bring what you need with you.

There is a very limited amount at the store at Furnace Creek. I would stock up for the week in Pahrump which is between Vegas and DV.