Day 24 - Death Valley National Park, CA/NV

Zabriskie Point

We bid adieu to the brisk spring air of the Sierras and ventured into the scorching depths of the hottest spot on the face of the planet. Amidst our journey through this blazing land, the landscape transformed before our eyes, and signs denoting cattle crossings lined the road. Can you believe it? Cows strutting across the road at their leisure! We encountered one sassy cow on our drive who seemed fine in the heat, patiently halting for us to pass. And when we courteously paused for her, she strolled on by 🐄.

We hit up all the usual tourist traps, soaking in the beauty of the desert in all its peaceful, dry glory. Wouldn't it have been epic to witness the desert bloom after a rare rainfall? Unfortunately, no such luck for us. Driving through the park was quite the adventure, with snowy peaks looming in the distance against the hazy valley backdrop.

We relied heavily on the National Park Service (NPS) app for informative driving tours, ultimately ending up at our final destination: the Badwater Basin. This spot is actually the lowest point in North America, sitting 282 feet belowsea level. We strolled around the flats (and resisted the urge to lick the salt), but didn't linger too long because it was scorching hot. Our RV was even feeling the heat, reading a toasty 109 degrees.

Badwater Basin

After leaving, we made our way to our campsite just outside Death Valley in Pahrump, NV. We decided to satisfy our appetite with a scrumptious dinner at a nearby eatery, where we were entertained by the sight of wild donkeys casually munching on grass. Our campsite turned out to be a desert paradise, complete with lush plants, a luxurious pool, a bowling alley, a restaurant, and even a gym. Who knew camping could be this glamorous!

Next Stop ~ Petrified Forest National Park!