Death Valley National Park is located in Eastern California near the Nevada border. Over 1,000 square miles of desert wilderness, Death Valley encompasses a variety of landscapes and formations. From the Badwater Basin 282 feet below sea level to Telescope Peak at 11,049 feet. With extreme summer heat, the best times to visit are spring and fall when daytime highs are usually in the 70s to low 100s F. The extremely dry air makes the heat more bearable than more humid climates at the same temperatures.
When visiting Death Valley, lodging options range from luxury resorts to mom-and-pop motels. The purpose of this article is to highlight the top hotels based on location, amenities, guest reviews and overall quality. Whether you’re looking for the ultimate pampered resort getaway or an affordable place to crash after a long day exploring the park. You’ll find great recommendations here.
The Inn at Death Valley
Without a doubt, The Inn at Death Valley is the premier lodging choice within Death Valley National Park. Located near Furnace Creek, the main hub of activity in the park. The Inn provides top-notch service, a wide range of amenities and excellent proximity to key park attractions.
Background & History
The Inn is situated on the site of the historic Furnace Creek Inn, originally built in 1927. Destroyed by floods in 2005, the resort was rebuilt from the ground up and reopened in early 2022 under new ownership. The new luxury resort aims to provide a 5-star pampered oasis in the rugged desert landscape of Death Valley.
Guest Accommodations
With 66 beautifully-appointed units, The Inn offers a range of room types and sizes to suit any interest or budget. From cozy single queen rooms to lavish two-bedroom suites outfitted with fireplaces and private patios, you’re sure to find pleasing Death Valley digs here. Warm natural tones, high-end furnishings and patio access distinguish all rooms.
Onsite Amenities & Services
From dining to recreation and beyond, The Inn goes above and beyond typical hotel amenities. Five dining and lounge spaces provide everything from casual poolside fare to fine steaks and seafood. The full-service spa offers indulgent body treatments and massages for complete relaxation. While spring-fed pools scattered around the resort provide refreshing oases. Guest programs range from yoga sessions to art workshops to expert-led area excursions. And the resort’s General Store stocks plenty of gear and provisions for venturing into Death Valley. With furnishings echoing the Old West, Libraries stocked with regional history books and small thoughtful touches everywhere, a stay at The Inn feels like something truly special.
Location & Accessibility
Occupying a prime spot near Furnace Creek, staying at The Inn provides easy access to numerous Death Valley sights. Zabriskie Point, Dante’s View, Badwater Basin, Harmony Borax Works and the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are all less than a 30-minute drive away. The central location also makes The Inn an excellent home base for day trips to attractions outside the park like Scotty’s Castle and Tecopa Hot Springs. With so many iconic Death Valley landmarks close by, you can easily fill your days exploring without spending hours in the car driving between accommodations and destinations.
The one downside? The price tag. As the premier luxury retreat in Death Valley, room rates predictably skew towards the expensive side. But special packages and off-season stays can help trim costs. For well-heeled travelers who want to experience Death Valley in serious style, The Inn is absolutely worth the splurge. With impeccable hospitality standards and endless amenities set against the stark Death Valley backdrop, this resort creates memories guaranteed to linger well past checkout.
The Ranch at Death Valley
Another excellent high-end choice sits just down the road from The Inn at Death Valley – The Ranch at Death Valley. Part of Marriott’s exclusive Autograph Collection, The Ranch balances “roughing it” in the Old West with plenty of upscale perks and a prime location just outside the park.
Old West Charm, Modern Comforts
Spanning numerous buildings and casitas on an extensive property, lodgings at The Ranch echo the structure of an 1800s mining town – updated for 21st century luxury or course. Quaint wooden facades front exterior hallways leading to surprisingly contemporary accommodations outfitted with vibrant decor, luxe linens and full modern bathrooms. Saddle up in a cozy lodge room or claim a private casita outfitted with fireplaces and your own porch if you’re traveling with a group or family. With so many structures housing guest quarters. The Ranch feels pleasantly un-resort-like, creating the vibe of holing up in your own little desert outpost.
Top-Notch Amenities
Despite the homage to the Old West, you’ll still find plenty of 5-star amenities at The Ranch. Multiple restaurants offer casual snacks, barbecue dinners and innovative cocktails along with gorgeous views of the Panamint Mountains. Pretty pools interspersed around the grounds provide refreshing escapes from Death Valley’s arid climate. Guests also have access to a full spa and well-equipped fitness studio. Nightly campfires with live music create congenial spaces to mingle with fellow guests after dark. For younger visitors, Kid’s Camp offers daytime and evening supervision and activities. Other perks include free self-parking, grocery delivery from area markets and 24-hour room service.
Location Convenience
Situated just two miles from the park boundary along Highway 190, The Ranch adjoins the Death Valley community of Furnace Creek—home to the airport, Visitor Center and several restaurants and stores. Though technically located just outside the National Park, the proximity enables easy access to all the iconic Death Valley sights within a 10 to 20-minute drive. So you can readily explore the natural and historic wonders during the day, then retreat back “home” to The Ranch when you’re ready to clean up and refuel. The location outside the park also makes The Ranch more accessible and affordable than The Inn ensconced within park boundaries.
For travelers who want to experience Death Valley thoroughly without straying too far from high-end amenities and services, The Ranch at Death Valley makes a fine choice. Marriott Bonvoy members can even earn and redeem loyalty points toward their stays. With flexible room options, loads of activities and a setting boasting character and charm, this desert getaway delivers one-of-a-kind Southwestern hospitality.
Panamint Springs Resort
Roughing it…in style! That’s the vibe at Panamint Springs Resort situated along Highway 190 near Death Valley’s western edge. What started as a humble tent camp and café in the rugged Panamint Mountains during the Old West mining era is now a multi-building lodging catering to modern travelers. Don’t expect luxury or lavishness here – instead you’ll discover down-to-earth digs interwoven with history and stunning high desert vistas.
Quirky, Comfortable Cabins and Rooms
Panamint Springs encompasses a variety of lodging options, ranging from rustic cabins without electricity to spacious rooms with satellite TVs and private porches. Decor varies from old-school wooden lodge aesthetics to Southwestern themes echoing Panamint’s stagecoach town past. You won’t find contemporary sleekness or high-end finishes here, but the diverse rooms containing at least basic comforts and WiFi access. Rates run cheaper than Death Valley’s luxury inns to match the middle-of-nowhere vibe. For a budget-friendly escape wrapped in history and personality, Panamint Springs can’t be beat.
Convenience Store & Café
In addition to lodgings, Panamint Springs operates a café and convenience store onsite—pretty convenient given it’s solitary location along Highway 190! The café serves up satisfying American fare perfect for hungry adventurers, from chili dogs to burgers to steak dinners. Grab breakfast before hitting the road or sip a cold beer at the end of an arduous day hiking. The general store stocks camping provisions, snacks, souvenirs and even fresh produce grown right on the property. Pretty handy for miles around!
Epic Views & Access
The remote Panamint Springs locale translates to stunning Death Valley views whichever way you look across the open expanses. To the west stands majestic Telescope Peak and the Panamint Range. Looking east over the resort, your gaze extends across Death Valley’s colorful badlands all the way to Nevada on clear days. And perched on the edge of Death Valley National Park, the site remains conveniently located to access popular destinations like Dante’s View, Zabriskie Point, Wildrose Peak and more with just a bit of driving on Highway 190 or the rough-and-tumble Emigrant Canyon Road. The peaks and canyons beckoning right from the Panamint Springs’ grounds beg to be explored as well!
For visitors focused more on soaking up dramatic desert panoramas than luxuriating in spa treatments, Panamint Springs Resort can’t be beat. Don’t expect 5-star finesse or service–just unpretentious hospitality against a landscape brimming with wild beauty and off-the-grid vibes.
Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel
If staying inside Death Valley National Park remains a priority for your travel plans, Stovepipe Wells Village offers the most cost-effective option of the bunch. Located in a tiny enclave midway along Highway 190 known as Stovepipe Wells (after an old cowboy camp), this hotel operated by park concessionaire Death Valley Lodging Co. provides clean, comfortable overnight accommodations year-round.
Motel-style Rooms
Constructed in 1959, the two-story Stovepipe Wells Hotel holds a retro appeal harkening back to Death Valley tourism’s early days. Guest quarters include standard motel rooms along outdoor breezeways, larger rooms with two queen beds and a few ground floor rooms outfitted for accessibility. Recently renovated quarters come appointed in Southwest themes with muted yellow walls, tasteful desert artwork, dark wood furnishings and bright white linens. Rooms lack massive windows, but sliding glass doors accessing small patios remedy any closed-in feelings. Though on the simple side, the muted interiors channel stoic desert style.
On-site Amenities & Dining
Also operated by Death Valley Lodging Co., The Stovepipe Wells General Store located steps away provides meals and essentials tohotel guests and passersby. Fast food fare like pizza, burgers and sandwiches satisfies hungry travelers, while shelves lined with camping provisions, snacks, apparel and basic grocery items cater to most needs. The small pool across from the hotel offers a cooling plunge after a hot day exploring and cozy poolside cabanas feature fireplaces for brisk desert nights.
Exploring Death Valley
Literally situated in the middle of the desert 25 miles from Furnace Creek, staying at Stovepipe Wells positions travelers well for accessing Death Valley’s literal middle ground. Badwater Basin, the Mesquite Flat dunes, Mosaic Canyon and Golden Canyon/Gower Gulch trailhead lie only about 15-25 minutes away in either direction off Highway 190. The mundane rows of motel rooms don’t provide the fabulous views touted at lodges perched on the park’s eastern and western edges. But clean affordable rooms—often less than $200 a night– make Stovepipe Wells Village ideal for visitors spending more time sightseeing in Death Valley than lounging at a resort. Convenience, national park access and budget ratesjoin forces at this desert outpost!
The Ranch at Furnace Creek – Date Farm Campground
So you want affordability coupled with Death Valley immersion…minus 4 concrete walls while sleeping, that is. Introducing The Ranch at Furnace Creek’s Date Farm Campground – pretty much an upscale tent city with a fraction of the rates commanded by local resorts and hotels!
Nabbing a First-Come Site
The Ranch at Furnace Creek offers 220 sites for pitching tents and parking RVs year-round on a first come, first served basis. That means no reservations, so early arrival is key to claiming a coveted site during busy times! Luckily ample space across 22 acres allows ample room to spread out away from neighbors if isolation’s your vibe. Nightly rates around $22 per site prove far cheaper than comparable furnished Death Valley digs. Unfurl your own bedding in the campground and facilities at the adjacent Ranch–like restaurants, pools, general store, etc.– become available for you to use as well!
Rugged Landscape, Plenty of Amenities
Date Farm Campground adjoins Furnace Creek Ranch in the heart of Death Valley – we’re talking literally across the street. That means you’re enveloped within the National Park’s most popular hub…without shelling out resort pricing. And remote definitely doesn’t describe this locale! Modern bath houses provide hot showers and flush toilets, eliminating uncomfortable middle-of-the-night porta-potty hunts. Picnic tables and fire pits grace every site along with power hook-ups and water spigots spaced regularly throughout. Feel free to build campfires when permits allow. Complimentary wifi makes connectivity a cinch. And the neighboring Ranch puts sundries, restaurants and recreation like pools mere steps away at your disposal.
Prime Access to Death Valley Sights
Practically part of the Ranch at Furnace Creek complex, Date Farm Campground enjoys prime positioning to visit Death Valley’s iconic destinations. Zabriskie Point, Dante’s View, Golden Canyon, Badwater Basin, Harmony Borax Works and Mesquite Dunes number among the park’s most popular attractions– all accessible right off Highway 190 within reasonable distance. Why drive miles out of your way backtracking from lodging on the park’s fringes when you can claim a Furnace Creek campsite virtually down the road? Death Valley immersion awaits…without blowing the budget on luxury quarters!
From barebones tent sites to lavish casitas with 5-star trimmings, plenty of excellent lodging options exist across Death Valley catering to all travelers. Hopefully this guide provided helpful perspectives on the best hotels inhabiting America’s legendary below-sea-level desert–each unique with it’s own panache and price point. Wherever you rest your head, spectacular adventure awaits just outside your Southwestern accommodations!
FAQs
The Inn at Death Valley is widely regarded as the most luxurious lodging in the park. This high-end resort features beautifully appointed rooms and suites, exceptional dining options, lush grounds with spring-fed pools, a full-service spa and custom guest programming. The Inn provides a 5-star caliber experience amid Death Valley’s stark desert landscape.
The Ranch at Death Valley appeals to families with it’s wide range of room types, onsite kids’ camp with supervised activities, multiple dining choices from cafes to upscale eateries, pools and recreation space. The ranch-style accommodations promote communal vibes with campfires and live music at night.
Panamint Springs Resort perched on a mountain ridge above the valley provides epic vistas. The Inn at Death Valley and The Ranch at Furnace Creek also showcase spectacular desert-and-mountain panoramas. For budget views, try one of Stovepipe Wells Village’s patio rooms.
The Date Farm Campground at The Ranch at Furnace Creek offers tent and RV camping for only $22 per night. Guests can access the Ranch’s pools, restaurants and other services while enjoying Death Valley’s prime central location on a budget.
The Inn at Death Valley and Panamint Springs Resort charge mandatory resort fees. Otherwise, free cancellation policies vary widely. Refer to individual hotel sites for specifics on fees and cancellation policies.
Conclusion
Death Valley National Park offers a remarkable diversity of lodging to suit all interests and budgets. From luxurious resorts like The Inn at Death Valley and The Ranch at Death Valley to modest accommodations at Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel to camping at The Ranch’s Date Farm Campground. You’ll discover exceptional hotels conveying the spirit of the Old West infused with modern amenities.
When selecting Death Valley accommodations, consider your location priorities in relation to key park sights along with desired room types, amenities and budget. Splurge on 5-star pampering at The Inn or unwind in cozy cabins at Panamint Springs Resort. Bring the whole family to enjoy The Ranch’s endless activities or relish peak mountain views from pools at Stovepipe Wells. And take advantage of supremely affordable camping steps away from Furnace Creek.