Driving in Death Valley

Death Valley National Park is more like an empire than a national park. At 3,367,627 acres, it is 50% larger than Yellowstone and is by far the largest national park outside of Alaska. Paved roads cross the park and provide access to most of the more well-known features of the park. Most of the development is concentrated in the Furnace Creek area. Hundreds of miles of unpaved roads lead to many additional areas; most of these are suitable only for high clearance four wheel drive vehicles, but there are some exceptions. Always ask a ranger for conditions first. Getting stranded in the backcountry of Death Valley can be a life threatening problem.