Death Valley by Month: Weather, What’s Open & When to Go (2026)
Death Valley National Park · every month
Pick a month. Stand in it.
Average temperatures from NOAA's Stovepipe Wells station, daylight from the sun's math, fees and reservation dates from the park's own pages. Choose a month and the page changes to what Death Valley is actually like then.
average highaverage lowprecipitationsnowhours across the top = daylight
Stovepipe Wells 1 Sw, Ca Us, 80 ft (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, station USW00053139). Tap a column or pick a month below.
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Showing all twelve months. Pick one and the page becomes that month.
Last updated September 3, 2026 How we research
Death Valley does not have a winter problem. It has a summer problem. From October to May the valley floor is a hiking park with highs in the 60s to 80s, and from June to September it is a place you drive through at dawn, because NOAA's average July high at Stovepipe Wells is 115 degrees and the nights only fall to 90. The whole year is a swing between those two parks, and the dial below moves through it month by month.
Below the chart, every month has the same five answers: what the weather feels like, how much daylight you get, what is open, how busy it is, and what to do. Elevation matters as much as the calendar here: Badwater Basin sits 282 feet below sea level and Telescope Peak tops out at 11,049 feet, so the same day can be lethal on the salt flats and merely strenuous on a summit trail. The fees, dates and campground rules come from the park's published pages and were last checked in July 2026.
Does it snow?
Not on the valley floor, as a rule. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for Stovepipe Wells carry no measurable snow in any month, and the park's own pages say nights at Furnace Creek rarely drop below freezing even in December and January. Snow is a high-elevation story: Telescope Peak and the Panamint Range may be frosted after winter storms, higher passes can see winter snow, and snow can linger on the Telescope Peak summit trail into early summer. The park rarely closes entirely.
Death Valley National Park in January
January: mild days, cold nights, the darkest skies
Highs in the mid-60s, nights in the low 40s, and barely a quarter inch of rain. It is easy walking weather on the valley floor, and after a storm the Panamints wear snow above a landscape that never sees it.
- 65° / 42°avg high / low
- 9.9 hdaylight, 7:59 am to 5:54 pm
- 0.2 inprecipitation
What’s open
- The park is open daily all year; a private vehicle pass is $30 for 7 days, the America the Beautiful annual pass is $80.
- Furnace Creek Campground requires reservations October 15 through April 15 via Recreation.gov.
- The Inn at Furnace Creek is in its October to May season; The Ranch and Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel are open year-round.
- Artists Drive, Twenty Mule Team Canyon and Titus Canyon are typically open October through May.
How busy
Low. Winter crowds are lower than spring but higher than summer.
Best for
- stargazing
- easy hiking
- clear skies
What to do
- Badwater Basin and Artists Drive on a 65-degree afternoon: the park's classic stops in their best weather.
- Stargaze. Death Valley is one of the darkest night skies in the Southwest, and January is one of its clearest months.
- Golden Canyon from the trailhead: a low-elevation walk that is only sane in winter and spring.
Pack
- Warm layers for a 20-degree drop after sunset
- A headlamp: dark before 6
- Sunscreen and a hat even in January
Death Valley National Park in February
February: the first wildflowers and the first crowds
Highs around 70 and the wettest month on the NOAA chart, which in Death Valley means a little over half an inch. Low-elevation blooms begin in mid-February, and the parking lots start filling with them.
- 71° / 49°avg high / low
- 10.8 hdaylight, 7:37 am to 6:27 pm
- 0.6 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Furnace Creek Campground is on reservations (October 15 through April 15) via Recreation.gov; book well ahead.
- Entrance is $30 per private vehicle for 7 days; $25 per motorcycle; $15 on foot or bicycle.
- All major scenic drives are open, including Artists Drive, Twenty Mule Team Canyon and Titus Canyon.
- The Inn at Furnace Creek, The Ranch and Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel are all open.
How busy
Peak. February and March are the park's busiest window.
Best for
- wildflowers
- mild hiking
What to do
- Look for the first low-elevation wildflowers from mid-month; the peak runs through mid-March.
- Golden Canyon early: parking fills by mid-morning at the popular trailheads in peak season.
- The Harmony Borax Works self-guided walk, a flat history stop that suits a 70-degree day.
Pack
- A light rain shell for the one wet month
- Layers for cool 49-degree mornings
- An early alarm for parking
Death Valley National Park in March
March: peak bloom, peak crowds, near-perfect hiking weather
Highs near 80 and lows in the upper 50s, with almost twelve hours of daylight. Low-elevation wildflowers peak through mid-March and the park is at its busiest, with parking full by mid-morning at Zabriskie Point, Golden Canyon and along Badwater Road.
- 79° / 57°avg high / low
- 11.9 hdaylight, 8:01 am to 7:54 pm
- 0.2 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Furnace Creek Campground remains on reservations through April 15; expect it to be full.
- Entrance is $30 per private vehicle; the park is open daily.
- All paved roads and the main scenic drives are open.
- Lodging at The Inn, The Ranch and Stovepipe Wells fills fast; the park's advice is to book by September for October through April travel.
How busy
Peak. Arrive early for parking at the popular trailheads.
Best for
- wildflowers
- hiking
- the full itinerary
What to do
- Walk Golden Canyon stop by stop while the temperatures still allow a midday hike.
- Artists Drive in the afternoon, when the light hits the mineral-streaked hills.
- Chase the low-elevation bloom before it moves uphill in April.
Pack
- Plenty of water: the park's baseline is a gallon per person per day
- Sun protection and sturdy boots
- Patience for the parking lots
Death Valley National Park in April
April: the last comfortable hiking month
Highs climb toward 90 by the end of the month and the valley floor starts to feel like the desert it is. The bloom moves uphill: mid-elevation displays between 3,000 and 5,000 feet peak from early April to early May.
- 88° / 64°avg high / low
- 13.1 hdaylight, 7:15 am to 8:21 pm
- 0.1 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Furnace Creek Campground switches from reservations to first-come, first-served on April 16; tent sites are $12 per night April through October, RV hook-ups $30 year-round.
- The Inn at Furnace Creek is open through May; The Ranch and Stovepipe Wells stay open all year.
- Lower Wildrose Road (Trona-Wildrose Road) reopened June 2, 2026 after nearly three years of flood damage; it is limited to vehicles under 25 feet and reaches the park's high-elevation areas.
- Scenic drives are typically open through May; check the Furnace Creek Ranger Station (760-786-3200) before unpaved roads.
How busy
Moderate, easing from the February and March peak.
Best for
- mid-elevation wildflowers
- last hiking window
- camping without a reservation
What to do
- Hike early. Day hikes are still reasonable in April if you start at sunrise and finish before the afternoon.
- Mid-elevation wildflowers between 3,000 and 5,000 feet.
- Camp at Emigrant while the nights are still in the 60s.
Pack
- A gallon of water per person per day, more on strenuous trails
- A wide-brimmed hat and SPF 50+
- A cooler in the car
Death Valley National Park in May
May: highs near 100 and the park turns nocturnal
NOAA's average high is 98, the lows are in the 70s, and daylight stretches past 14 hours. The valley floor is done for hiking by mid-morning; the day now belongs to dawn, dusk and the mountains.
- 98° / 73°avg high / low
- 14.1 hdaylight, 6:42 am to 8:46 pm
- 0.1 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Furnace Creek Campground is first-come, first-served, $12 per night for tents and $30 for RV hook-ups.
- The Inn at Furnace Creek's season ends after May; The Ranch and Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel remain open.
- Gas is available 24/7 at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells; Panamint Springs pumps run 7 am to 9:30 pm.
- Scenic drives like Artists Drive and Titus Canyon are typically open through May; some close or turn rough in summer heat.
How busy
Moderate. The last month before the summer emptying.
Best for
- dawn and dusk
- long days
- the high country
What to do
- Sunrise on the salt flats, then be somewhere air-conditioned by 10.
- Head up: high-elevation trails above 5,000 feet stay cooler, and Telescope Peak may still hold snow.
- Night walks and stargazing, when the floor finally drops into the 70s.
Pack
- Electrolytes alongside the water
- Light, loose, light-colored clothing
- A full tank before any remote road
Death Valley National Park in June
June: 109 degrees, and the heat season begins
The NOAA high reaches 109 and the lows only 83, so there is no relief after dark. Day hiking is unsafe at low elevations, soft asphalt buckles and heat shimmer cuts visibility. Most visitors skip June through August entirely.
- 109° / 83°avg high / low
- 14.6 hdaylight, 6:29 am to 9:07 pm
- 0.0 inprecipitation
What’s open
- The park stays open daily; entrance is $30 per private vehicle.
- Furnace Creek Campground is first-come, first-served at $12 a night; The Ranch and Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel operate year-round.
- Gas 24/7 at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells, 7 am to 9:30 pm at Panamint Springs; keep the tank full.
- Most dirt roads become impassable in summer heat; check with the Furnace Creek Ranger Station before driving anything unpaved.
How busy
Very low. The park empties as the heat arrives.
Best for
- solitude
- high-elevation hiking
- longest days
What to do
- Telescope Peak, where snow may linger into early summer and the elevation buys cooler air.
- Drive-only touring at dawn and dusk; stay in the vehicle at midday.
- Night skies: the few visitors who come in summer come for the dark.
Pack
- A minimum of a gallon of water per person per day
- An air-conditioned vehicle you trust
- Salty snacks and electrolyte powder
Death Valley National Park in July
July: the hottest month on the hottest floor on Earth
An average high of 115 and an average low of 90 at Stovepipe Wells. Furnace Creek holds the world record, 134 degrees on July 10, 1913. The park is open, but casual visiting is not possible between mid-morning and evening.
- 115° / 90°avg high / low
- 14.4 hdaylight, 6:41 am to 9:07 pm
- 0.2 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Open daily, $30 per private vehicle; the heat, not the gate, is the limit.
- Furnace Creek Campground first-come, first-served; The Ranch and Stovepipe Wells lodging open.
- Gas 24/7 at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells; Panamint Springs 7 am to 9:30 pm.
- Remote dirt roads are mostly off the table; paved main roads remain passable.
How busy
Very low. Near-solitude at every overlook.
Best for
- seeing the extreme
- night skies
- empty roads
What to do
- Quick vehicle stops at Dante's View and Zabriskie Point before 9 a.m., then done.
- Wildrose Peak or Telescope Peak, starting at dawn, for hikers accustomed to heat.
- Stay after dark: the sky is the one thing July does well.
Pack
- Water measured in gallons, not bottles
- A mylar emergency blanket and first-aid kit
- A charged phone, and no expectation of coverage
Death Valley National Park in August
August: the emptiest month, and the harshest
Average highs of 113 and lows of 87, with daily swings of 30 degrees. Rain averages an eighth of an inch, but late-summer thunderstorms can send flash floods through narrow canyons and washes; Titus Canyon Road has a history of closing for exactly that.
- 113° / 87°avg high / low
- 13.6 hdaylight, 7:05 am to 8:41 pm
- 0.1 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Furnace Creek Campground (136 sites) is first-come, first-served: $12 a night for tents, $30 for RV hook-ups.
- The Ranch at Furnace Creek, with 275 cabins and lodge rooms, is open year-round; Beatty, 43 miles northeast via CA-374, is the cooler gateway base.
- Entrance is $30 per private vehicle; there is no wait at the entrance station.
- Check road status at Furnace Creek before any remote drive; flash floods can close canyon roads without warning.
How busy
The emptiest month of the year. Badwater and Zabriskie lots rarely fill.
Best for
- solitude
- summit hikes
- seeing the extreme
What to do
- Telescope Peak Trail: 14 miles and 3,000 feet of gain from Mahogany Flat, the one place in the park where August is merely strenuous.
- Wildrose Peak Trail: 8.4 miles and 2,200 feet from the Charcoal Kilns, the gentler high-elevation option.
- Badwater's quarter-mile boardwalk and the 9-mile Artists Drive loop, only before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
Pack
- 3 or more liters per person on any trail, 1 to 2 even for short walks
- SPF 50+, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses
- A sleeping bag rated to 50 degrees for high-elevation camping
Death Valley National Park in September
September: still over 100, still empty, and the month to book
NOAA's average high is 105 with lows near 80, and September ties June as the driest month. The valley floor is still a dawn-and-dusk park, but the nights are lengthening and the reservation clock for winter starts now.
- 104° / 79°avg high / low
- 12.5 hdaylight, 7:29 am to 7:57 pm
- 0.0 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Furnace Creek Campground stays first-come, first-served through October 14; reservations resume October 15.
- The park's advice: reserve campgrounds and lodging by September for October through April travel.
- Entrance $30 per private vehicle; gas 24/7 at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells.
- The Ranch and Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel open; The Inn at Furnace Creek reopens in October.
How busy
Very low. The heat keeps the park quiet until October.
Best for
- booking the winter trip
- stargazing
- quiet
What to do
- Book October through April now, while the good months are still available.
- Night: the dark-sky season begins as the evenings stretch past 12 hours of dark.
- Early-morning drives and quick overlook stops; hiking stays above 5,000 feet.
Pack
- The same gallon-per-person rule as summer
- A headlamp for pre-dawn starts
- A booking confirmation for the winter trip
Death Valley National Park in October
October: the door reopens
Early October still pushes past 85 and the park remains hot, but by mid-month days settle into a comfortable range and nights cool to about 65. By late October it rivals spring, and the reservation season, the scenic drives and the high season all start together.
- 89° / 65°avg high / low
- 11.3 hdaylight, 7:54 am to 7:13 pm
- 0.1 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Furnace Creek Campground returns to reservations October 15 via Recreation.gov; book ahead.
- The Inn at Furnace Creek opens for its October to May season.
- Artists Drive, Twenty Mule Team Canyon and Titus Canyon typically open for the October to May window.
- Entrance $30 per private vehicle; the park is open daily.
How busy
Moderate and climbing; October is part of the high season.
Best for
- camping
- the first hikes of the season
- scenic drives
What to do
- The first Artists Drive of the season as the light softens.
- Golden Canyon once the mid-month temperatures make a midday walk reasonable again.
- Camp: nights around 65 make October the first pleasant camping month since spring.
Pack
- Sun protection: the first half of the month is still hot
- A light layer for evenings later in the month
- Water for every walk
Death Valley National Park in November
November: shoulder season and the clearest light
Highs around 74, lows around 51, and crowds that drop noticeably from October. Every scenic drive and trailhead is open, the humidity is low, and the skies are clear enough that the park's own pages call it an excellent month for photography and stargazing.
- 74° / 51°avg high / low
- 10.3 hdaylight, 7:25 am to 5:41 pm
- 0.1 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Furnace Creek Campground requires reservations (October 15 through April 15).
- All scenic drives and trailheads are open; roads are fully passable.
- The Inn at Furnace Creek, The Ranch and Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel are all open.
- Entrance $30 per private vehicle, $80 for the America the Beautiful annual pass.
How busy
Low. Shoulder season between the October rush and the winter holidays.
Best for
- photography
- fewer crowds
- stargazing
What to do
- Photography in low-humidity light, from the Harmony Borax Works to the canyons.
- Stargazing in Death Valley's Dark Sky Park on long, clear nights.
- Wildlife and birds are active again as the temperatures cool.
Pack
- Layers for a 50-degree morning and a 74-degree afternoon
- A headlamp: sunset is before 6
- A tripod for the night sky
Death Valley National Park in December
December: the coolest month and the shortest days
Highs in the low 60s, nights near 41 but rarely below freezing at Furnace Creek, and under ten hours of daylight. Telescope Peak and the Panamint Range may be frosted after winter storms, and most days on the floor are clear and sunny.
- 63° / 41°avg high / low
- 9.7 hdaylight, 7:52 am to 5:34 pm
- 0.1 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Furnace Creek Campground on reservations through April 15 via Recreation.gov.
- Furnace Creek Visitor Center has exhibits and ranger talks; the park is open daily all year.
- Higher-elevation passes may see winter snow, but the park rarely closes entirely.
- Entrance $30 per private vehicle; The Inn, The Ranch and Stovepipe Wells lodging are open.
How busy
Low, rising over the holidays; higher than summer, lower than spring.
Best for
- stargazing
- cool hiking
- clear days
What to do
- Badwater Basin and Artists Drive in 60-degree sun, the park's easy-hiking season.
- Stargazing: December and January are ideal, with the longest dark hours of the year.
- Walk the dog on the pet-friendly routes while the ground is cool enough for paws.
Pack
- A warm jacket for 41-degree nights
- A headlamp: sunset is around 5:30
- Sunscreen, because it is still Death Valley
Which month is yours?
Questions people ask about Death Valley’s seasons
What is the best month to visit Death Valley National Park?
October through May is the window. February and March bring wildflowers and highs of 71 to 79, but crowds peak and parking fills by mid-morning. November and December offer comfortable 51 to 74 degree conditions with far fewer people. June through August is dangerous heat with average highs of 109 to 115 and is best avoided.
Can you visit Death Valley in summer?
The park is open, but June through August highs of 109 to 115 make valley-floor hiking unsafe; heat exhaustion can strike within hours. If you go, stay in an air-conditioned vehicle, visit only at dawn and dusk, and carry at least a gallon of water per person. The only hikes the park's pages recommend are the high-elevation Telescope Peak and Wildrose Peak trails, started at dawn.
Does it snow in Death Valley?
Not on the valley floor as a rule. NOAA's normals for Stovepipe Wells show no measurable snow, and Furnace Creek nights rarely drop below freezing. Telescope Peak and the Panamint Range may be frosted after winter storms, higher passes can see snow, and snow can linger on the Telescope Peak trail into early summer.
How much water should I bring?
A minimum of one gallon per person per day, more in summer or on strenuous trails; on any trail in summer carry 3 or more liters per person, and 1 to 2 liters even for short walks from the car. There are no reliable water sources beyond the developed areas. Carry electrolytes, salty snacks or sports-drink powder, to prevent hyponatremia in extreme heat.
Where can I get gas inside the park?
Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells have gas 24 hours a day. Panamint Springs Resort, on the west side, runs its pumps 7 am to 9:30 pm daily. Fill up before any remote road; in-park prices run higher than outside.
When does Furnace Creek Campground require reservations?
October 15 through April 15, via Recreation.gov. From April 16 through October 14 the 136 sites are first-come, first-served. Tent sites are $12 per night April through October; RV hook-ups are $30 year-round.
No month on this page comes from a visit. Every month is built from NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the Stovepipe Wells station, the sun's position for daylight, and the park's published fees, reservation windows and road dates, and the page says so where it matters. Temperatures: Stovepipe Wells 1 Sw, Ca Us, 80 ft (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, station USW00053139).
