The short answer: Furnace Creek, in Death Valley National Park, is about 119 miles from the Strip. The route runs through Pahrump on NV-160, then CA-190, and takes 2 to 2.5 hours each way. In 2026 a private vehicle pays $30 for 7 days, and the park takes no cash. Go between November and March, never on a whim in summer.
| What | Cost or rule | Where or when |
|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $30, valid 7 days | Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Stovepipe Wells, card machines (24/7), Recreation.gov |
| Motorcycle | $25 | Same |
| One person on foot or bike | $15 | Same |
| Nonresident surcharge | None | |
| Cash | Not accepted | Anywhere in the park |
| Fuel | Furnace Creek: two grades plus diesel | Panamint Springs: gas and diesel; Stovepipe Wells: 87 only |
The drive: NV-160 to Pahrump, then CA-190
From the Strip, NV-160 climbs west out of the valley and over the Spring Mountains to Pahrump. Pahrump is the last real town on the way, so fill the tank and buy water there. Past it you cross into California and pick up CA-190 down to Furnace Creek.
California and Nevada share Pacific Time, so unlike the Grand Canyon trip, the clock does not change. Your phone signal does. The Park Service says "cell phones do not work in most areas". Download offline maps before Pahrump and tell someone your route.
The Park Service also names the real danger plainly: "not the heat - it is the single car rollover". Keep to the limit, and stop when you are tired rather than push on.
Heat and water
Summer on the valley floor can reach 130°F, and nights can stay as warm as 90°F, according to the Park Service. Its safety page says not to hike at low elevations when it is hot, in capital letters. It asks for at least 1 gallon of water per person per day.
For a party of 4 on a day trip, that is 4 gallons in the car before you leave Pahrump. Carry more than the minimum, in case the car stops somewhere with no phone signal.
Las Vegas gives a sense of the season. Harry Reid airport averages 78.2 days a year at 100°F or more under the 1991–2020 normals, and the valley floor runs hotter than the city. From November to March, the airport's average highs sit between 57°F and 71°F. That is the window for walking anywhere low.
Paying the fee
The park does not accept cash. Pay by card at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center or at Stovepipe Wells. Card fee machines take payment 24 hours a day, and Recreation.gov sells the pass ahead.
Unlike the Grand Canyon, which added a $100 fee for nonresidents in 2026, Death Valley charges everyone the same $30 a car. The Grand Canyon page sets out that park's 2026 fees and passes.
Who should not go in summer
Anyone planning to hike, anyone in a car they do not trust, and anyone who cannot carry 1 gallon of water per person per day. From June to September, the Park Service's own figures are 130°F by day and 90°F at night. A July visit is a drive with air conditioning, nothing more.
If you have no car, a guided day takes the driving off your hands. The Las Vegas tours guide compares it with the others, and the rental car guide covers the LAS counters. For a cooler day out in summer, Mount Charleston is the other direction on US-95. More trips are on the Las Vegas guide.
The route to Death Valley runs west through Pahrump to Furnace Creek, with fuel at Stovepipe Wells and Panamint Springs further in.