Death Valley National Park is vast and remote — which means most visitors reach it via long desert drives from Los Angeles or Las Vegas. Two state parks turn those approach drives into destinations of their own, one on each side of the park.
Red Rock Canyon State Park (California) — on the route from Los Angeles
Where Highway 14 cuts through the El Paso Range, Red Rock Canyon State Park rises in tiers of pink and white badlands cliffs — a landscape familiar from countless westerns and sci-fi films. It’s a natural leg-stretcher or overnight stop on the LA-to-Death-Valley run: desert trails, a quiet campground beneath the cliffs, and serious dark-sky stargazing. (Not to be confused with the Red Rock Canyon conservation area outside Las Vegas.)
Valley of Fire State Park (Nevada) — about 2 hours away via Las Vegas
On the Las Vegas side, Valley of Fire State Park — Nevada’s oldest and largest state park — concentrates 40,000 acres of flame-red Aztec sandstone, petroglyphs, and wave-like rock formations. The Fire Wave and White Domes trails pack more color into a half day than almost anywhere in the Southwest, and the scenic drive alone justifies the detour before or after Death Valley.
Planning your trip
Both parks shine in the same season Death Valley does — October through April — and both offer camping when the national park’s sites are taken. Browse all California state parks and Nevada state parks for more, or compare the best state parks for camping nationwide. Confirm current fees, hours, and conditions on the official park pages before you go (verified June 2026).
