FURNACE CREEK

OVERVIEW In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes. Yet, each extreme has a striking contrast. Towering peaks are frosted with winter snow. Rare rainstorms bring vast fields of wildflowers. Lush oases harbor tiny fish and refuge for wildlife and humans. Despite its morbid name, a great diversity of life survives in Death Valley.  If you choose to camp in this beautiful land of extremes, there are 9 National Park Service campgrounds to choose from (though some are seasonally closed). Furnace Creek Campground is the only campground in the park that is reservable - all others are first-come, first-serve. Furnace Creek is also the only NPS campground that has hookup sites and designated group sites. It is highly recommended that you make a reservation if you want to stay in Furnace Creek during the reservation window (October 15 - April 15) - there are rarely sites available until the first-come, first-serve season. Please visit our website to help you with trip planning and to check out all of our camping options: www.nps.gov/deva RECREATION There are over 3.4 million acres of Death Valley to explore. The popular main attractions are accessible by paved roads and more remote areas of the park will require high clearance, 4wd. Please visit our website for helpful tips when planning your trip: www.nps.gov/deva FACILITIES Furnace Creek has 136 campsites with drinking water, picnic tables, flush toilets and a dump station. Each site has either a campfire ring or grill. A campground kiosk is staffed 7 days/week during the reservation season (Oct 15-April15). Campground Hosts are also available to help during our peak camping season.   Full Hook-up Pull-through Sites: 67, 68, 69, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77  Full Hook-up Back-in Sites: 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52  Tent Only Drive-in Sites: 100-110  Tent Only Walk-in Sites: 115-150 NATURAL FEATURES Death Valley has sunk below sea level through geologic processes over time. It lies within the Mojave Desert and is the hottest, driest and lowest location in North America. Yet despite its extreme conditions, the park boasts a diversity of ecosystems, including colorful badlands, snow-covered peaks, desolate sand dunes, rugged canyons and flat, dry basins called playas. Furnace Creek is on the edge of a playa at the bottom of the valley floor. It is fairly open with sparse vegetation, though some sites do have trees that provide shade. The facility offers a wide view of the mountains to the east and west, which glow with hues of orange, red and yellow during sunrise and sunset. CONTACT_INFO Between 10/15/2020 and 04/15/2021 this location is staffed. Please call (760) 786-2441 to speak with local staff. From 04/16/2021 to 10/14/2021 this location is unstaffed. Please call (760) 786-3200 for general information. NEARBY ATTRACTIONS Explorers of all ages can enjoy educational programs and exhibits at the Visitor Center, just a short walk from the campground. Birders may have luck spotting local and migratory birds around the campground and along Airport Road, especially in the cooler months. Visitors can bike, walk their dog, or run along a one-mile bike path to an interpretive trail from the campground to the Harmony Borax Works, an abandoned borax refinery from the late 1800s. The campground is also within walking distance of the private resort, Furnace Creek Oasis and Ranch. CHARGES & CANCELLATIONS Reservation Cancellations & Changes Cancelling a Reservation: Customers may cancel their reservation prior to arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation (see below). Changing an Existing Reservation: When changes are made prior to the cut-off window: If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee. There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation. If they choose to depart early, they may forfeit the recreation fee for the day of departure. There is no change fee if the customer wants to switch sites that are the same price with the same reservation dates in the same facility. If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date. Late Cancellations or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. No-Shows Overnight and Day-Use Facilities: A no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date (or for day-use facilities, by check-in time the day of arrival). Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night’s recreation fee for a campsite. Early Departures If a customer departs prior to the scheduled check-out date, they may be eligible for a partial refund. Please notify staff at the facility if you depart early to allow others to use the site. Customers may notify the call center to request a refund of remaining unused nights. If a customer requests a refund for an early departure after the facility check-out time has passed, the customer will not be refunded for that night and is eligible for a refund on any additional nights that will not be used.