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Death Valley/Stovepipe Wells Village
Overview
Stovepipe Wells Village offers a rugged yet comfortable home base for travelers exploring the vast, sun-drenched landscapes of Death Valley National Park. Established in 1926 as the park’s first tourist destination, this historic outpost provides a unique opportunity for RVers to secure full hookup sites within the park boundaries. The park maintains a nostalgic, Old West atmosphere that complements the stark beauty of the Mojave Desert, serving as a reliable sanctuary for those looking to experience the park's wonders with essential modern conveniences.
Location & Surroundings
Centrally located on the valley floor, the park is situated just across the road from the iconic Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. The surrounding terrain is characterized by wide-open horizons and the dramatic silhouettes of the Grapevine Mountains. Staying here places you in a prime central location, significantly reducing drive times to many of the park's most famous geological features. The vastness of the desert is on full display here, offering unparalleled views of both sunrise and sunset from the comfort of your campsite.
Amenities & Park Features
The dedicated RV park features 14 sites equipped with water, sewer, and 30-amp electricity. Beyond the hookups, guests have access to the Stovepipe Wells Village swimming pool, which offers a refreshing escape from the desert heat. The village complex includes a well-stocked general store for groceries and souvenirs, a gas station, and the Badwater Saloon. These amenities provide a sense of community and convenience that is rare in such a remote wilderness setting, making it easier to manage a long-term desert stay.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Adventure is steps away from the village. You can spend your mornings hiking through the polished marble narrows of Mosaic Canyon or exploring the nearby salt marshes. The proximity to the dunes makes it easy to head out for stargazing, as the area is part of a certified International Dark Sky Park. For a change of pace, the historic Ghost Town of Rhyolite is a short drive away, offering a glimpse into the region's mining past and unique outdoor art installations.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is ideal for National Park enthusiasts who prioritize being close to the action rather than staying in a luxury resort. It is perfect for photographers and hikers who want to be at the dunes for the first light of dawn. If you are a traveler who appreciates a rustic, authentic desert experience with the added benefit of a pool and a meal nearby, Stovepipe Wells Village is the best fit for your Death Valley itinerary.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
A. O.
This motel - cannot be called a hotel by any stretch of imagination - is centrally located to DVNP and everything good about it pretty much ends there. The room we stayed in felt like a dungeon. The room was clean but otherwise less than basic - no water or coffee/tea maker provided, the shower was some old stone/tile that looked dreary. The “blanket” was cheap felt material. They don’t even consider letting check-ins earlier than 4pm based on availability, which for us led to an entire line of people literally out the door to check in all at the same time. We waited about 20 mins in line just to check in. They had a coffee maker in the reception for people checking out early - not great coffee, but hey, it’s coffee and was the only “complimentary” amenity they offer guests. I wouldn’t stay here again.
Vinay Iyer
The only great thing about this place is location. This entire lodge could use a massive refresh. Everything was rather stale and out dated. They also did not service our rooms during the 3 days we stayed there. The attached restaurant was also just ok. Overall, for the rather pricey experience, I expect better quality.
Jill Bloom
We enjoyed our time here. Nice place to stay and well taken care of property for such a remote location. We stayed in one of the Deluxe Dune View rooms (the east facing side of the Road Runner Building) and loved it. The view from just outside the room was amazing! Had nice meals in the Badwater Saloon (servers Paul and John are great!) and enjoyed breakfast in the Toll Road Restaurant (breakfast is buffet style only and a very reasonable price of $13.99 per person). The campground and general store are across the street. Amazing sky viewing at Death Valley. Sunrises and sunsets. Check out the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes near the hotel. Great night sky viewing there. We were there during the full moon and it was so picturesque with the moonlight glowing on the dunes. We will need to go back during a new moon to view the Milky Way (with the full moon it was too bright to see that). This hotel location was also great for visiting the Wildrose Charcoal Kilns, Eureka Mine and the Mosaic Canyon hike (epic hike!). Hotel is also close to the North Highway to reach Ubehebe Crater (that road was unfortunately closed during our visit). Plenty of other places to check out from this area, especially if you have a high clearance vehicle or rent a jeep. We only had a standard rental car so missed out on a lot of things. So that just gives us an excuse to return in the future to see more remote highlights of the park! :) Enjoy your time at this special place. Very quiet, peaceful, remote and incredible panoramic views. Say hi to Larry the Lizard for me who hung out near room #223 all the time! :)
A K M
This property is located inside the NP which was the main reason why we chose to stay here. We had to wait for about 10 minutes to be checked in as there was no one at the counter. The staff were quite welcoming. They got us checked in quickly, handed us over the towels required and directed us to our room. There is a nice old lodge look and feel to the property and the room. Rooms are simple and basic yet clean and comfortable, considering this is an old property. The air-conditioning worked fine, thankfully. The hotel reminds the visitors about sustainability, and requests that water may please be conserved. One should not miss getting out of the room and trying to catch the night sky and identify the heavenly bodies and constellations. Just be sure to be safe (possibly not alone) though, as a couple of minutes of walk from the village can get you to a completely dark place. One of the park attractions, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes - are nearby. While they have some EV chargers near the visitor center (about 12 miles away), we went to Beatty (30 miles away) to charge ours because of the confirmation about the presence of superchargers.
Dom
We found 16 (!) cockroaches in the room. They said its normal due rain. In the next room we got only one cockroach, which is a huge improvement and in their eyes a clean room. I assume the first room wasn't cleaned at all, you cannot oversee that much cockroaches. Pool is currently out of order and shower water is hot (because water pipes gets heated due high desert temperature). It would be possible to cool the water but they don't do that. So no cooling possibilities after a hot death valley trip. Towels were also missing. They gave us 15 bucks discount, which is too less in my view. Location is good and nearby restaurant also.