Planning for your family reunion in death valley national park California? Here are the top places and destinations to include in your things to do in death valley national park California
Already chosen California? Read the California Planning Guide.
Badwater Basin (Death Valley National Park)
Visit the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level, featuring vast salt flats and stunning mountain views. Badwater Basin offers easy walking access, interpretive signs, and opportunities to experience this unique geological phenomenon. Perfect for families seeking natural wonders, the area provides accessible boardwalks, parking facilities, and educational information about the formation of salt flats. The basin creates otherworldly landscapes with crystalline salt formations and dramatic desert vistas.
SCOUT LOGISTICS
Park entry is $30 per vehicle valid for 7 days and the Badwater lot holds about 40 cars with no overflow option nearby. Visit between October and March when temperatures stay below 100F as summer heat regularly exceeds 120F and is dangerous for elderly or young family members. The boardwalk to the salt flats is ADA accessible for the first quarter mile before transitioning to rough salt crust.
Website: nps.gov/deva
Zabriskie Point (Death Valley National Park)
Experience panoramic views of colorful badlands and eroded hills from this famous overlook accessible by a short walk from the parking area. Zabriskie Point offers spectacular sunrise and sunset viewing opportunities with interpretive exhibits about Death Valley's geological history. Perfect for families wanting dramatic scenery, the viewpoint provides accessible pathways, restrooms, and some of the most photographed landscapes in the park. The overlook showcases millions of years of geological processes in stunning visual display.
SCOUT LOGISTICS
The viewpoint parking lot holds 25 vehicles and fills by sunrise during peak season from November through February. The paved path from the lot to the overlook is short and ADA accessible with a gentle grade suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Arrive 30 minutes before sunrise for the best golden light on the badlands formations and bring flashlights for the walk back.
Website: nps.gov/deva
Furnace Creek Visitor Center (Death Valley National Park)
Learn about Death Valley's natural and cultural history through exhibits, films, and ranger programs at the park's main visitor center. The facility offers educational displays, bookstore, and information about park activities and safety considerations for desert travel. Perfect for families planning their Death Valley experience, the center provides maps, weather updates, and guidance for safe exploration. The visitor center includes exhibits about desert ecology, Native American history, and the park's unique geological features.
SCOUT LOGISTICS
The visitor center is free to enter and open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM with a large parking lot that can hold tour buses and 15-passenger vans. The building is fully ADA accessible with accessible restrooms and a wheelchair-friendly museum with interactive exhibits suitable for all ages. Rangers offer free 20-minute talks throughout the day and groups of 20 or more can request a dedicated program by calling 2 weeks ahead.
Website: nps.gov/deva
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes (Death Valley National Park)
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes rise up to 100 feet from the valley floor, creating a Sahara-like landscape easily accessible from a roadside parking area. The dunes have no marked trails, which means your reunion group of 15 to 50 can spread out freely and explore at their own pace without following a set path. Sunrise and sunset visits create dramatic lighting for group photos that look like they were taken on another planet entirely. The soft sand and gentle slopes make it accessible for most fitness levels, though the open terrain keeps everyone visible so no one gets separated from the group.
SCOUT LOGISTICS
The parking area off Highway 190 near Stovepipe Wells holds about 50 vehicles and is free with your $30 park pass. There is no designated trail so the dunes are not ADA accessible but the first 100 yards from the lot are flat packed sand manageable with assistance. Visit at sunrise or sunset to avoid midday heat and bring 1 liter of water per person per hour as there is no shade.
Website: nps.gov/deva
Scotty's Castle Area (Death Valley National Park)
Scotty's Castle is a Spanish Colonial mansion built in the 1920s in a remote desert canyon, telling the colorful story of con man Death Valley Scotty and his wealthy benefactor. While the castle interior is currently closed for flood repairs, the grounds and canyon area remain accessible for groups wanting to explore this fascinating piece of desert history. The surrounding Grapevine Canyon offers short hikes and geological formations that keep your reunion group engaged while learning about the area's unique past. Ranger-led programs when available give your group a shared storytelling experience that sparks conversation during the drive back to base camp.
SCOUT LOGISTICS
The castle is currently closed due to flood damage from 2015 with reopening estimated for 2025 so check the NPS website before planning your trip. When open tours cost $15 per adult with a group rate of $12 for parties of 10 or more booked 4 weeks in advance. The lower grounds and exterior are partially ADA accessible but the interior tour involves stairs that cannot be bypassed.
Website: nps.gov/deva
Artist's Drive (Death Valley National Park)
Artist's Drive is a nine-mile scenic loop through colorful volcanic and sedimentary hills displaying vibrant pinks, greens, purples, and golds in the rock formations. Your reunion caravan can drive the one-way road together, stopping at Artist's Palette and other pullouts for group photos against the rainbow-colored hillsides. The drive takes about 30 minutes without stops, making it an easy addition to a day packed with other Death Valley attractions for your group. The confined canyon road keeps your caravan of vehicles naturally together, and the designated pullouts provide safe gathering spots for everyone to exit and explore.
SCOUT LOGISTICS
This one-way 9-mile scenic loop is included with the $30 park entry fee and has pullouts at all major viewpoints with space for 8 to 10 cars each. The road is not suitable for vehicles over 25 feet so large passenger vans and RVs should view the canyon colors from the main road instead. The Artist Palette viewpoint has a short paved ADA-accessible path from the pullout to the interpretive signs.
Website: nps.gov/deva
Dante's View (Death Valley National Park)
Dante's View sits at 5,475 feet elevation offering a sweeping panorama of the entire Death Valley floor, Badwater Basin, and the Panamint Range from a single viewpoint. The paved road to the top and short walk to the overlook make it accessible for family members of all mobility levels in your reunion group. Standing together at this dramatic vantage point creates a powerful shared moment as your group takes in the vastness of the landscape below. Early morning visits avoid the heat and provide the clearest views, making it a perfect first stop before your reunion descends to explore the valley floor attractions.
SCOUT LOGISTICS
The summit parking lot holds about 20 cars and the access road has sharp switchbacks not recommended for vehicles over 25 feet or trailers. The main viewpoint at 5475 feet elevation is ADA accessible via a short paved path from the lot with a protective railing. Temperatures here run 20 to 30 degrees cooler than the valley floor making it a comfortable stop even in warmer months.
Website: nps.gov/deva
Ken O.
Founder of AmazingReunion and veteran reunion organizer who has coordinated 50+ family gatherings across the US.