If you go
Getting to Death Valley National Park: From Las Vegas, about 120 miles, via Nevada Highway 160 to Pahrump, left on Bell Vista Road, right on California Highway 127 at Death Valley Junction. From Los Angeles, about 300 miles, via I-15 north to California Highway 127 in Baker north, then left on California Highway 190 at Death Valley Junction.
Furnace Creek Resort: The Inn, carved on the side of a hill overlooking the valley, is an upscale historic hotel while the Ranch is more laid-back, sprawling across the valley floor like a small town. Rates at the Ranch, which is open year-round, start at $150, and the Inn, which is typically closed from mid-May to October, start at $350.
Safety tips: A handful of tourists have died in recent years visiting Death Valley. Don’t underestimate the need for bringing water with you. Don’t stay in the sun long. Tell someone at home what your travel plans are, and don’t go off main roads; GPS directions have sometimes led visitors astray.
Information: www.nps.gov/deva/.