Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park
Crowds and weather by month · California, Nevada · NPS visitor counts through 2025
The short answer
Mild weather, fewer people: January — 65% as busy as March, about 3,305 visitors a day, average high 67°F (20°C).
Quietest month: September — about 2,548 visitors a day, average high 108°F (very hot).
Busiest month: March — about 5,109 visitors a day.
Death Valley month by month
| Month | Crowds · visitors/day | High / low · precip. |
|---|---|---|
| JanuaryBest○ Mild weather, busy | Busy65% of peak · 3,305/day | 67° / 42°F20° / 6°C · 0.4 in · 1 wet days |
| February○ Mild weather, busy | Peak87% of peak · 4,469/day | 74° / 49°F23° / 9°C · 0.5 in · 1 wet days |
| March○ Mild weather, busy | Peak100% of peak · 5,109/day | 83° / 57°F28° / 14°C · 0.3 in · 1 wet days |
| April× Hot | Peak95% of peak · 4,866/day | 91° / 65°F33° / 18°C · 0.1 in · 0 wet days |
| May× Very hot | Busy73% of peak · 3,734/day | 101° / 75°F38° / 24°C · 0.0 in · 0 wet days |
| June× Very hot | Moderate56% of peak · 2,852/day | 111° / 84°F44° / 29°C · 0.1 in · 0 wet days |
| July× Very hot | Moderate59% of peak · 3,002/day | 117° / 91°F47° / 33°C · 0.1 in · 0 wet days |
| August× Very hot | Busy60% of peak · 3,081/day | 116° / 89°F47° / 32°C · 0.1 in · 0 wet days |
| SeptemberQuietest× Very hot | Moderate50% of peak · 2,548/day | 108° / 79°F42° / 26°C · 0.2 in · 1 wet days |
| October× Hot | Moderate54% of peak · 2,740/day | 93° / 64°F34° / 18°C · 0.1 in · 0 wet days |
| November○ Mild weather, busy | Busy73% of peak · 3,723/day | 77° / 50°F25° / 10°C · 0.1 in · 0 wet days |
| December○ Mild weather, busy | Busy78% of peak · 4,005/day | 66° / 41°F19° / 5°C · 0.3 in · 1 wet days |
Crowds = visitors per day as % of the busiest month: ●●●●● Peak (85–100) · ●●●●○ Busy (60–84) · ●●●○○ Moderate (35–59) · ●●○○○ Quiet (15–34) · ●○○○○ Very quiet (under 15). ◎ mild weather, fewer people · ○ mild but busy · △ very few visitors (often seasonal closures) · × cold or hot. Wet days = days with at least 0.1 in of rain or melted snow.
Death Valley by month
Visitors per year
| Year | Recreation visits | |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1,154,843 | |
| 2016 | 1,296,283 | |
| 2017 | 1,294,827 | |
| 2018 | 1,678,660 | |
| 2019 | 1,740,945 | |
| 2020pandemic | 820,023 | |
| 2021pandemic | 1,146,551 | |
| 2022 | 1,128,862 | |
| 2023 | 1,099,632 | |
| 2024 | 1,440,484 | |
| 2025 | 1,320,134 |
Where the weather numbers come from
Temperatures and precipitation are 30-year averages (1991–2020) from the NOAA station DEATH VALLEY NP — Furnace Creek (park headquarters), at -194 ft (-59 m). Higher viewpoints and trails can be much colder and snowier than the station.
Months with very few visitors often have roads, campgrounds or visitor centers closed for the season. Check current conditions on the official Death Valley National Park website before you go.
Other parks at their best in January
- White Sands
43% of peak · high 57°F
How “best” is chosen: the least crowded month with an average high between 55°F and 85°F (13–29°C), skipping months with under 30% of peak visitors because those are often seasonal closures. Crowds compare visitors per day, so short and long months are treated fairly.
Sources. Visitor counts: National Park Service, Visitor Use Statistics (recreation visits, final figures through 2025; typical months use 2022–2025). Weather: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station DEATH VALLEY NP, USC00042319, -194 ft / -59 m). Both are U.S. Government works in the public domain. How we calculate.
Park Months is an independent site and is not affiliated with the National Park Service or NOAA.