0.0
National Park
ANACAPA ISLAND
Ventura, California
Federal campground in California.
Photos shown are stock images and may not represent the actual campground.
About Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping
Federal campground in California.
Nestled in one of America's most dramatic and otherworldly landscapes, Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping offers RV travelers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the raw majesty of Death Valley National Park. This remote camping destination places you at the heart of a geological wonder, where towering sand dunes, deeply carved canyons, and salt flats stretch across an otherworldly terrain that feels like stepping onto another planet.
The camping experience here is deliberately rustic and intimate with nature. Far from crowded tourist zones, this backcountry location allows you to wake up to some of the most stunning sunrises in the desert, where golden light illuminates ancient rock formations and casts long shadows across the valley floor. The night skies are absolutely spectacular, offering some of the darkest and clearest stargazing in the country, with the Milky Way stretching magnificently overhead in ways that city dwellers rarely experience.
Death Valley is a destination for travelers who crave authentic desert wilderness and geological education. The park encompasses 3.4 million acres of remarkable terrain, from the lowest point in North America at Badwater Basin, which sits 282 feet below sea level, to towering mountain peaks. The entire landscape tells a story spanning billions of years of Earth's history, visible in every layer of exposed rock and mineral formation.
Beyond the park boundaries, the greater Death Valley region offers adventurous travelers plenty to explore. The nearby towns of Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells provide essential services, supplies, and dining options. Many visitors venture to explore Zabriskie Point for iconic vistas, hike to natural springs, or drive scenic loop roads that reveal hidden canyons and colorful badlands formations.
This camping location attracts serious nature photographers, geology enthusiasts, hikers, and desert explorers who appreciate solitude and authentic wilderness experiences. Families with older children who enjoy outdoor adventure, stargazers seeking pristine night skies, and RV travelers seeking a truly transformative desert experience will find this backcountry location deeply rewarding. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures for exploring this remarkable corner of California.
The camping experience here is deliberately rustic and intimate with nature. Far from crowded tourist zones, this backcountry location allows you to wake up to some of the most stunning sunrises in the desert, where golden light illuminates ancient rock formations and casts long shadows across the valley floor. The night skies are absolutely spectacular, offering some of the darkest and clearest stargazing in the country, with the Milky Way stretching magnificently overhead in ways that city dwellers rarely experience.
Death Valley is a destination for travelers who crave authentic desert wilderness and geological education. The park encompasses 3.4 million acres of remarkable terrain, from the lowest point in North America at Badwater Basin, which sits 282 feet below sea level, to towering mountain peaks. The entire landscape tells a story spanning billions of years of Earth's history, visible in every layer of exposed rock and mineral formation.
Beyond the park boundaries, the greater Death Valley region offers adventurous travelers plenty to explore. The nearby towns of Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells provide essential services, supplies, and dining options. Many visitors venture to explore Zabriskie Point for iconic vistas, hike to natural springs, or drive scenic loop roads that reveal hidden canyons and colorful badlands formations.
This camping location attracts serious nature photographers, geology enthusiasts, hikers, and desert explorers who appreciate solitude and authentic wilderness experiences. Families with older children who enjoy outdoor adventure, stargazers seeking pristine night skies, and RV travelers seeking a truly transformative desert experience will find this backcountry location deeply rewarding. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures for exploring this remarkable corner of California.
4.6
Rating
10
Reviews
Park Details
Tips & Tricks
Book Early
Death Valley is popular during peak season. Reserve 2-4 weeks in advance for weekends and holidays.
Check-in Time
Most parks have check-in after 1:00 PM and check-out by 11:00 AM. Call ahead if you'll arrive late.
Local Weather
California weather can change quickly. Pack layers and check the forecast for Death Valley.
Explore the Area
Don't miss local attractions near Death Valley. Ask the camp host for hidden gems and trails.
Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping Reviews
Sign in to Review
G
Jarrod Dike
Mar 18, 2026
5.0
Google Review by Jarrod Dike
Very remote This is what Death Valley is all about Can't beat it
G
Chris Harney
Mar 18, 2026
2.0
Google Review by Chris Harney
BE FOREWARNED, the roads to this area are extreme, not in the rock crawling break an axle type of extreme, but ROUGH washboards that rattle teeth and will test the stamina of your shocks. The road between Ubehebe Crater and The Racetrack is straight up AWFUL!! Lippincott Pass Rd. and Hunter Mountain Pass are both high clearance 4WD only. Pick your poison carefully. There are NO amenities, and b... BE FOREWARNED, the roads to this area are extreme, not in the rock crawling break an axle type of extreme, but ROUGH washboards that rattle teeth and will test the stamina of your shocks. The road between Ubehebe Crater and The Racetrack is straight up AWFUL!! Lippincott Pass Rd. and Hunter Mountain Pass are both high clearance 4WD only. Pick your poison carefully. There are NO amenities, and be ready to pay out the nose for a tow if you need one. AAA isn't picking up the bill for this one. Hopefully (and if you are lucky enough to get to the dry camp area) a group of Bay Area hipster off road wannabes from Tacoma World don't post up right next to you and blast crappy music all night while they ogle each others "rock lights" and RTTs.
G
Chris Harney
Mar 18, 2026
2.0
Google Review by Chris Harney
BE FOREWARNED, the roads to this area are extreme, not in the rock crawling break an axle type of extreme, but ROUGH washboards that rattle teeth and will test the stamina of your shocks. The road between Ubehebe Crater and The Racetrack is straight up AWFUL!! Lippincott Pass Rd. and Hunter Mountain Pass are both high clearance 4WD only. Pick your poison carefully. There are NO amenities, and b... BE FOREWARNED, the roads to this area are extreme, not in the rock crawling break an axle type of extreme, but ROUGH washboards that rattle teeth and will test the stamina of your shocks. The road between Ubehebe Crater and The Racetrack is straight up AWFUL!! Lippincott Pass Rd. and Hunter Mountain Pass are both high clearance 4WD only. Pick your poison carefully. There are NO amenities, and be ready to pay out the nose for a tow if you need one. AAA isn't picking up the bill for this one. Hopefully (and if you are lucky enough to get to the dry camp area) a group of Bay Area hipster off road wannabes from Tacoma World don't post up right next to you and blast crappy music all night while they ogle each others "rock lights" and RTTs.
G
Sean Deering
Mar 18, 2026
5.0
Google Review by Sean Deering
Best off road camping adventure I have been on in a long time!
G
Sean Deering
Mar 18, 2026
5.0
Google Review by Sean Deering
Best off road camping adventure I have been on in a long time!
G
SCSB School
Mar 18, 2026
5.0
Google Review by SCSB School
Awesome!
G
SCSB School
Mar 18, 2026
5.0
Google Review by SCSB School
Awesome!
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