Emigrant Campground
The Quick Take
IMPORTANT STATUS NOTE: Emigrant Campground has been closed indefinitely since late August 2025 due to severe flood damage to its water system, with no estimated repair date. When it was operational, this was Death Valley's best-kept secret for budget campers -- a free, no-reservation, tent-only spot with just ten sites perched at 2,100 feet elevation along Highway 190. That modest altitude bump made summer nights slightly less punishing than the valley floor, though 'slightly less punishing' in Death Valley still means brutal. The trade-off was real: no flush toilets, no fires allowed, and a bare-bones setup that filtered out casual visitors. If and when it reopens, Emigrant is ideal for self-sufficient desert rats who want a free base camp without the circus atmosphere of Furnace Creek, and who do not mind trading amenities for elbow room and quiet.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
10 sites, first-come first-served.
What You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
270 ADA-accessible campsites. The campground has a gravel service which is rough and rocky. A building with flush toilets is 270 feet down a dirt path. 2 steps lead to the entrance of each bathroom. Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather
Rules to Know
- Fires:Fires: Fires including charcoal grills are prohibited.
- Bear Safety:Wildlife: All unattended food, garbage or cooking equipment must be sealed in a vehicle or an animal-resistant container.
- Checkout:Checkout is 12 PM Noon.
- Occupancy:8 people per site.
- Stay Limit:Limits: 30 days.
Pro Tips
Check the NPS Death Valley alerts page before making any plans -- Emigrant's closure has no timeline for resolution, and the five-mile water pipe damage is extensive. Do not show up expecting to camp here without confirming it has reopened.
When operational, the campground sits right off CA-190, which means easy access but some road noise. Sites on the back side of the loop offered slightly more buffer from passing traffic, especially during peak season when tour buses run the highway.
Since no fires or charcoal are permitted, bring a reliable camp stove and plan meals that do not require elaborate cooking. The nearest supplies are at Stovepipe Wells, about ten miles northeast, but their selection is limited and priced for captive audiences -- stock up in Ridgecrest or Lone Pine before entering the park.
Photos
NPS/C. Rohe
NPS/J.Gray
NPS/J.GrayGetting There
Directions
40 min from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. From the visitor center, turn left on CA190 and drive west past Stovepipe Wells. Emigrant Campground is 10 miles southwest of Stovepipe Wells.
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