By Christopher Carol
Death Valley National Park is described on its website as a "land of extremes." It is the driest and hottest national park in the
United States. The entire park is a desert landscape surrounded by the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. It is an excellent place to visit to experience the mystery and beauty of an arid climate.
Instructions
Difficulty: Easy
Step 1
Choose a campground. Death Valley National Park has nine different areas designated for camping. The campgrounds are open according to season. Furnace Creek, Mesquite Spring, Emigrant and Wildrose are open year round. Sunset, Texas Spring and Stovepipe Wells are open from October to April. Thorndike and Mahogany Flat are open from March to November.
Step 2
Reserve a campsite by calling 1-877-444-6777 for the Furnace Creek Campground. Furnace Creek is the only campground in the Death Valley National Park that accepts reservations over the phone. For the other campgrounds, you can choose where to camp at the park entrances.
Step 3
Pay the required fees and, if applicable, indicate which campground you will be staying at. As of 2009, the entrance fee for Death Valley National Park was $20 per vehicle for seven days. The camping fees vary according to season. During the summer months, the fee was $12 per night per campsite. In the winter, the fee increased to $18 per night per campsite. If you have chosen not to stay at Furnace Creek or you have otherwise not made a reservation, you can indicate which campground you will be staying at by filling out the appropriate forms at the ranger station or the park entrances.
Step 4
Locate the campsite and set up camp. At the entrance, you will be provided with maps and directions as to get to your campsite. If you do not have a reservation, finding a camp ground is a simply matter of locating a campsite that does not contain a tent, a vehicle or a tag indicating that the campsite is taken.
Resources
About the Author:
Based in Traverse City, Mich., Christopher Carol has been writing professionally since 2009. His work primarily appears on various websites. An avid outdoorsman, Carol holds two Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and English from Michigan State University and a Juris Doctorate from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where he graduated with honors.
