Mesquite Springs Campground

Mesquite Springs Campground is a National Park Service campground at the northern end of Death Valley National Park in California, near Scotty's Castle Road at about 1,800 feet. Our Death Valley guide calls it the campground for people who want away from the Furnace Creek crowds: 30 well-spaced sites in a small loop of creosote and desert scrub, exceptional quiet, and one of the best dark-sky spots in the park because the resort lights are miles away. It suits stargazers and campers focused on northern Death Valley: Ubehebe Crater and, with high clearance, the Racetrack.

Hookups	None
Sites	30
Max RV length	30 feet recommended (campground roads are narrow)
Cost	$14/night
Reservations	First-come, first-served
Season	Year-round
Elevation	~1,800 feet
Dump station	Yes
Showers	No

Hookups

None

Sites

Max RV length

30 feet recommended (campground roads are narrow)

Cost

$14/night

Reservations

First-come, first-served

Season

Year-round

Elevation

~1,800 feet

Dump station

Yes

Showers

Why RVers stay here

Practically it is basic. No hookups and no showers, but a dump station, $14 a night, first-come, first-served, and open year-round. The elevation runs 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the valley floor in peak season, and our guide recommends rigs of 30 feet or less because the campground roads are narrow. The trade-off is isolation: the nearest fuel and supplies are at Stovepipe Wells, about 35 miles south, and the visitor center is over 50 miles away, so every central-valley sight means a long drive.

✓Exceptional quiet and dark skies far from Furnace Creek

✓10 to 15 degrees cooler than the valley floor

✓$14 a night, first-come, first-served, open year-round

✓Well-spaced sites and a dump station

✓Ideal base for Ubehebe Crater and the Racetrack Playa

!Nearest fuel and supplies about 35 miles south at Stovepipe Wells

!No hookups, no showers

!30 feet recommended; campground roads are narrow

What our guides say about Mesquite Springs Campground

Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.

Regional guide

Death Valley RV Camping: Hookup Sites, Dry Camps & Desert Survival Tips

Mesquite Springs is the campground for people who want to get away from the Furnace Creek crowds. It sits at the northern end of the park near Scotty's Castle Road, at about 1,800 feet elevation — which means noticeably cooler temperatures than the below-sea-level valley floor. During peak season, you might find Mesquite Springs running 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Furnace Creek.

The campground has 30 sites in a small loop surrounded by creosote bush and desert scrub. Sites are well-spaced, and the desert quiet here is exceptional. This is one of the best dark-sky locations in the park, partly because you are miles from the light pollution of Furnace Creek's resort complex. If stargazing matters to you, Mesquite Springs is the campground to pick.

The trade-off is isolation. The nearest fuel and supplies are at Stovepipe Wells, about 35 miles south. The visitor center is over 50 miles away. You are committing to a longer drive for every attraction in the central valley. For a two- or three-night stay focused on northern Death Valley — Ubehebe Crater, the Racetrack Playa (high-clearance vehicle required), and the mesquite groves — this is ideal. For a first visit when you want to hit the major sights, it adds a lot of driving.

Read the guide →

Mesquite Springs Campground: frequently asked questions

Does Mesquite Springs Campground have hookups?

No. There are no hookups and no showers, though there is a dump station.

How much does Mesquite Springs Campground cost?

$14 per night, per our Death Valley guide. Confirm current fees with the park.

What is the max RV length at Mesquite Springs?

Our guide recommends 30 feet or less because the campground roads are narrow.

Do you need reservations at Mesquite Springs Campground?

No. It is first-come, first-served and open year-round.

How far is Mesquite Springs from Furnace Creek and services?

The nearest fuel and supplies are at Stovepipe Wells, about 35 miles south, and the visitor center is over 50 miles away.