Zabriskie Point: A Death Valley National Park Must See!

Zabriskie Point is the best place to view a sunrise in Death Valley National Park.  Yes, it’s a bold claim, but it doesn’t make it any less true!  Even if you can’t get there for sunrise, this place is beautiful.

Between the unique rock structures around Zabriskie Point, the incredible mountains off in the distance, and the easy access of this place, you’ll love visiting Zabriskie Point. 

So let’s jump into everything you need to know about Zabriskie Point.  From where to park to how much to pay, we’ll cover it all!

Important Links

• Death Valley National Park website
• America the Beautiful Pass
• Zabriskie Point – AllTrails Link
• Badwater Basin – A Nearby Must See!
• Artists Palette – A Nearby Must See!
• Hiking Backpack Checklist Freebie – Always Be Prepared on the Trails
• Hiking Journal – Never Forget the Details of Your Favorite Hikes Again!

Location

Zabriskie Point is located right in the middle of Death Valley National Park.  This beautiful and rugged section of the park is a must see, but be prepared for quite a bit of driving to reach it.  

Zabriskie Point is located 2.5 hours from Las Vegas, NV, 5 hours from Los Angeles, CA,  and about 4.5 hours from Bakersfield, CA.  There are a couple small towns (i.e. Beatty, NV) just outside the park, but they are very small.  So stock up before you venture here!

Fees

Just like any other federal recreation area, Death Valley National Park has an entry fee.  The Standard Fee to enter the park is $30 per vehicle and is good for 7 days.  Or $25 for motorcycles.

However, unlike other National Parks, Death Valley doesn’t have a large entry gate where you must stop and pay.  In other words, the park has a bit of an honor system. There are a few small pay stations near the entrances, but the main way to pay is at the visitor center.    

Now, if you are looking to visit Death Valley more than 2 times per year, there is an annual pass option.  Let’s discuss.

Annual Pass Options

The Death Valley Annual Pass is good for 12 months and costs $55.  The pass and your ID gets you and a car-full of guests into the park for free. 

But if you are looking to visit Death Valley, the nearby Joshua Tree and perhaps Yosemite in a year, there is a better option.  Actually, regardless of what 3+ National Parks you want to visit within a 12 month period, there is a great option for you.  Cue the America the Beautiful Pass.  

The America the Beautiful Pass is $80 for US Residents, and a great investment.  With this pass, you and a car-full of guests can enter any federal recreation area for free for 12 months.  I have purchased the America the Beautiful Pass for the last 5 years and have saved a fortune on entry fees!

Again, you can purchase any of these passes at the visitor center.  So, let’s quickly discuss the visitor center.

Visitor Center

The only visitor center in Death Valley National Park is the Furnace Creek Visitor Center.  Here you’ll be able to buy your park pass, buy souvenirs, learn about this unique location and even talk to a Park Ranger. 

The Park Rangers here are extremely helpful and will answer any questions you may have.  Whether you have questions about the hiking trails, the road conditions for the backcountry, or the best places in the park, they’ve got you.  

Whether or not you need a park pass, I highly recommend stopping in to learn all about the park.   

Now, let’s jump right into the parking situation at Zabriskie Point!

Parking

The parking lot for Zabriskie is a decent sized lot and there are 2 pit toilets here.  However, this is a popular spot, especially for sunrise.  So the earlier you can get here the better.  In short, you’ll be parking here.

We passed this parking lot a few times in the middle of the day and it was about half full.  So if you don’t care about seeing the sunrise here, you should be fine to stop by later in the day.  

But let’s discuss what it’s really like at sunrise.  

Zabriskie Point at Sunrise (Reality Check!)

If you want to get a good spot, you’ll want to get here about an hour before sunrise.  We had our pick of the “perfect spot” when we arrived that early.

However, about 30 minutes before sunrise, people started coming in droves!  What was once an open view point, became very crowded.  So crowded that we ended up having to move down to the hiking trail area so we could get a clear view.

The above photos were taken right before sunrise.  I was very glad we arrived early to claim a spot.  

Now let’s talk about the “hike” up to the view point.

The “Hike”

Once you’ve parked, you’ll see the paved path (or perhaps driveway is a better term) up to the viewing spot.  

The path to Zabriskie Point is about 0.25 miles long and easily accessible for just about anyone.  The paved trail would even make it easy for a stroller or a wheelchair.

Now, I will say from experience, the best view for an uninterrupted photo is the white rocky ledge in front of the paved section.  If you’re heading up to the overlook, right before you reach the platform area, you’ll want to stay to the right.  This little path will lead you in front of the view point and give you a great view.  

But let’s discuss the climate of Death Valley.

Weather and Climate

Death Valley National Park is correctly advertised as the lowest, hottest and driest place in the United States.  This means you’ll be looking to visit Death Valley in the Spring, Fall or even Winter months. 

This also means you’ll need to come prepared for the sun and the heat.  Which means drinking lots of water and even adding electrolytes for added hydration.  

You’ll also want to remember that you’re in a desert. This means a hot and intense sun during the day, and MUCH cooler temps at night.  For the sun, be sure to pack lots of sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and maybe even a sunshirt.  But for the mornings, you’ll want some layers.

Our Experience

My husband and I visited Death Valley National Park in March of 2026.  It was already getting hot (80s and 90s) during the day.  We were glad to have plenty of sunscreen and my husband definitely wore long sleeves each day for added protection.

We started our visit to Death Valley by arriving early to Zabriskie Point for sunrise.  Like I said, this place was crawling with people by the time the sun finally rose.

But regardless of the busyness, this place was still beautiful during sunrise.  The Paramint Mountains were showing off some beautiful alpen glow!  And we stood there long enough that we got to watch the sun rays creep across the unique rocks in front of us until they were completely lit.  

Even if you aren’t a morning person, you’ll love catching the sunrise at Zabriskie Point!

Conclusion

Whether you come to Zabriskie Point for sunrise or in the middle of the day, this beautiful place is a Must-See when visiting Death Valley National Park!

As always, feel free to reach out to me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com with any questions.

-Happy Hiking!