Stovepipe Wells Campground
The Quick Take
Stovepipe Wells is Death Valley's sweet spot between roughing it and having a safety net. You get nearly two hundred sites spread across open desert floor at sea level, with the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes practically in your backyard and the general store a short walk away for forgotten supplies or a bag of ice. The trade-off is real: there are no flush toilets, no showers on site, and no electrical hookups, so RVers need to be self-contained or comfortable with the basics. But the village next door sells pool and shower passes, which is a desert camping cheat code worth knowing about. Sites are first-come, first-served and the flat, exposed layout means zero shade and zero privacy, but also zero obstructions between you and some of the darkest skies in the lower forty-eight. Choose Stovepipe Wells if you want easy access to the park's iconic western landmarks without the Furnace Creek crowds or price tag.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 190 sites are reservable.
What You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
Accessible restrooms available. Road and site surface is very flat, but dirt/gravel. Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather
Rules to Know
- Fires:Check-out Time:12 PM Noon Campfires: No wood gathering.
- Generators:Generator Hours: 7 AM to 7 PM.
- Bear Safety:Do not feed wildlife.
- Checkout:Check-out Time:12 PM Noon Campfires: No wood gathering.
- Occupancy:8 people per site.
- Stay Limit:Stay limited to 30 days.
Pro Tips
Arrive by early afternoon during peak season (November through March), especially on holiday weekends. Sites fill by mid-morning on Thanksgiving and Christmas week. If you roll in after two PM on a Friday in January, have a backup plan for Emigrant or dispersed camping along Emigrant Canyon Road.
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are less than two miles east and spectacular at sunrise. Walk out before dawn with a headlamp, find a ridge line, and watch the light paint the Panamint Range. Mosaic Canyon trailhead is just a mile west for a quick morning scramble through polished marble walls.
Temperatures can swing forty degrees between afternoon and pre-dawn, even in the mild season. Bring layers you would not expect for a desert trip. Fill water containers at the campground spigots before the evening rush, and stash extra gallons in your vehicle. The dump station here saves you a trip to Furnace Creek if you are in an RV.
Photos
NPS/C. Rohe
NPS/J.Gray
NPS/C. Rohe
