RT Furnace Creek

Desert outpost offering visitor services, exhibits, and ranger programs amid one of the most extreme environments on Earth.

General Information

Hours:

Furnace Creek Visitor Center: Open daily, 8am to 5pm
Park grounds: Open 24 hours a day, year-round

Fees:

Private Vehicle (7-day pass): $30
Motorcycle (7-day pass): $25
Individual (on foot or bicycle, 7-day pass): $15
Annual Death Valley Pass: $55
America the Beautiful Pass: $80 (discounts available for seniors, military, disabled, and 4th graders)

Pet Policy:

Pets are allowed in developed areas such as roads, parking lots, and campgrounds, but not on trails or in buildings.
Must be leashed (max 6 feet) and never left unattended in vehicles.

Seasons:

Spring: Most popular, wildflowers bloom (March–April)
Summer: Extremely hot, limited activity
Autumn: Pleasant temperatures, fewer crowds (October–November)
Winter: Cool days, scenic views, least crowded (December–February)

Location:

Furnace Creek, Death Valley National Park, CA

Website:

nps.gov/deva

How to Get There

From Las Vegas (120 mi): Take NV-160 W to Pahrump, then Bell Vista Ave west to Death Valley Junction; turn right on CA-127 and left on CA-190 to reach the visitor center at Furnace Creek.

Overview

The Furnace Creek Visitor Center serves as the main hub for exploring Death Valley National Park, offering exhibits, ranger programs, and essential visitor services. Located 190 feet below sea level, it is one of the hottest inhabited places on Earth and holds the world record for the highest air temperature ever recorded—134°F in 1913. The center provides a gateway to the park’s dramatic landscapes, including salt flats, sand dunes, and colorful badlands, and is a vital stop for orientation, hydration, and safety information.

Historically, Furnace Creek was the site of Greenland Ranch, established in the 1880s by the Pacific Coast Borax Company. It later became a center for borax mining and the iconic 20-Mule Team wagons. Today, it is home to the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe and features a resort, golf course, and campground. Despite its extreme climate, Furnace Creek remains a vibrant oasis where visitors can experience the stark beauty and geological wonders of Death Valley.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for the Furnace Creek, California, which are released under the https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.