Emigrant Campground, located within Death Valley National Park, offers a unique opportunity for visitors to experience the park's rugged beauty without breaking the bank. This free, primitive campground provides a tranquil and secluded setting for those seeking a more adventurous camping experience.
Free Camping in Death Valley
Emigrant Campground stands out as one of the few free campgrounds within Death Valley National Park. This makes it an attractive option for budget-minded travelers and those who prefer a more rustic camping experience. Please note that while camping is free, you may still need to pay the park entrance fee.
Primitive Camping Experience
Emigrant Campground offers a truly primitive camping experience, with limited amenities and a focus on preserving the natural environment. The campground provides basic facilities such as pit toilets, but potable water and other amenities are not available. Campers should be self-sufficient and prepared to bring all necessary supplies, including water, food, and camping gear.
Stunning Desert Views
Despite its primitive nature, Emigrant Campground boasts stunning views of the surrounding desert landscape. The campground is located at an elevation of 2,100 feet, offering panoramic vistas of the Cottonwood Mountains and the vast expanse of Death Valley. Campers can enjoy breathtaking sunrises, sunsets, and stargazing opportunities.
Exploring Death Valley
Emigrant Campground's location along CA-190 provides easy access to various attractions within Death Valley National Park. While the campground itself offers a secluded experience, it's just a short drive away from popular destinations such as:
Campground Features:
Promotional Information:
Experience the raw beauty of Death Valley National Park with a stay at Emigrant Campground. Enjoy free camping, breathtaking scenery, and a tranquil desert environment. Plan your trip today and discover the magic of this unique camping destination.
Contact Us:
Death Valley National Park
CA-190, DEATH VALLEY, CA 92328, USA
Your Desert Adventure Awaits at Emigrant Campground!
Onsite services
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
RV water hookup
Picnic tables
Public restroom
Running water
Tent sites
Good for kids
On-site parking
Dogs allowed
This was my first time ever at death valley, I'm an astrophotographer, and I came all the way from Los Angeles to shoot the milky way. This spot is perfect for shooting the stars. There is zero light pollution. I had a very beautiful and peaceful experience.
Best place to camp in the valley. Restrooms with flush toilets, 2 sources of water. Places with spots big enough for RVs and a handful of primitive camp sites. But it’s right next to the highway so you may hear a big truck or two in the middle of the night. Super remote so get a great view of the stars at night
This is a free campsite for tents only. However, several people brought in their car campers & just set up a tent. You can leave your tent in one of the 10 spots & travel throughout the park during the day but that is not best practice because then others will not have an opportunity to use a site as they come in for their 1st night. This has working toilets that flush & are kept well. There are multiple trash cans that are changed out. While the ground is hard & filled with stones which make it hard to get a good stake in the ground, this is a good campsite due to location, it is free, the amenities are quite nice given this. This is a 10 minute drive from Stove Pipe Wells (just SW of Stove Pipe) & you can get gas as well as general store stuff there. I would advise you come early & get a spot. Many people arrived just before sunset & after dark but were not able to get a spot because this filled up so quickly. Do not be that guy at 10 PM circling the lot & spotlighting everybody. Finally, while this has good bathrooms & drinking water available, you need to know that those facilities are located a bit off the side. You’ll have to walk, not far, to the structure to use them just so you know.
This is a favorite camping spot for heading into or out of the main part(s) of Death Valley. While first-come-first-serve, I have never had an issue getting one of the sites. A communal potable water spigot is available, and a restroom building is just a short walk away. Only down side is that it is located fairly close to the main road, so vehicle headlights can be annoying on the inner sites. Otherwise, the outer sites offer a decent view of the valley and surrounding mountains.
So there I was, the time was 5:30pm in Vegas as I made a last minute decision to hot the road with the idea of heading towards Yosemite. Since it was so late, nothing was planned and took a chance at camping in Death Valley. I first stopped at Stovepipe Wells but the camping area was closed. I remembered passing by Emigrant every time I'd go to Telescope Peak and figured it was worth a shot. Boom! Got the last spot available. Super close to some nice bathrooms, water source, and an amazing view of the sky. No shade and very... it's a desert. It's open. Lol I enjoyed my quick stay!