Routes at a glance
| From | How | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | Car | About 2 hours | Via Pahrump and Death Valley Junction to Furnace Creek |
| Las Vegas | Guided day tour | 10–12 hours return | The only regular tours to the park |
| Los Angeles | Car | 4.5–5 hours | Via Highway 14 and US-395, entering from the west |
| Palm Springs / Joshua Tree | Car | 4.5–5 hours | Through the Mojave via Baker and Shoshone |
| Yosemite (via Tioga Pass) | Car | 5.5–6 hours | Summer and early autumn only; down US-395 to Lone Pine |
| Lone Pine (US-395) | Car | About 2 hours | Over two mountain passes to Stovepipe Wells |
| Sequoia National Park | Car | About 6 hours | The Sierra has no road across; you must drive around |
Roads and fuel
The main routes — Highway 190 across the park and the Badwater Road — are paved and suitable for any car. Flash floods occasionally wash out sections, and repairs can take months, so check the National Park Service’s road-conditions page before you go. Many side roads are rough gravel that rental agreements often forbid.
Petrol is sold inside the park at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells and Panamint Springs at high prices. Fill up beforehand in Pahrump, Beatty, Lone Pine or Ridgecrest.
Entrance fees
There are no staffed entrance gates on most roads. Pay the vehicle fee at a visitor centre or one of the automated machines and display the receipt, or show your America the Beautiful pass. Mobile phones work only around Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells, if at all.
Getting around locally
- You need your own vehicle; there are no shuttles within the park.
- Furnace Creek is the hub: the main visitor centre, two hotels, a shop, fuel and campsites.
- Carry at least four litres (one gallon) of water per person per day, plus extra in the car.
- If your car breaks down, stay with it — it is far easier to spot than a person on foot.
- Navigation apps have sent drivers onto dangerous back roads here. Follow road signs and the park map.
