LA Road Trip: 4 Days to Death Valley
Four days out of LA is enough to add a genuine third stop to the Vegas and Grand Canyon West Rim loop from the 3 day version : Death Valley, dropped in at the front of the trip since it sits roughly between LA and Vegas. This is not the 2-hour trip some old guides claim; Furnace Creek, the only real hub inside the park, is 4.5 to 5 hours from LA.
Book these before you go
- Reserve a rental car ; you will cover close to 900 miles over 4 days.
- Check Las Vegas hotel rates for your 2 nights there.
- Book a Grand Canyon West Rim tour ahead if the Skywalk matters to you.
Day 1: LA to Death Valley
Leave early, ideally before 8am, since this is the longest single driving day of the trip: 260 to 270 miles and 4.5 to 5 hours to Furnace Creek. April through October, check the forecast before you commit; daytime highs routinely clear 120F and this is not a season to underestimate.
Entry runs $30 a vehicle for 7 days, paid at a cashless machine on the way in, no reservation needed for a day or overnight visit. Check current conditions on nps.gov before you go, and stay the night near Furnace Creek so you catch the park at sunrise or sunset rather than only in the flat light of midday.
Day 2: Death Valley to Las Vegas
A short morning in the park before the drive out, then 2 to 2.5 hours to Vegas via Pahrump on NV-160, a genuinely easy drive compared to yesterday’s. Check into your Vegas hotel with the afternoon still free and spend the evening on the Strip.
Day 3: Vegas to the Grand Canyon West Rim and Back
125 miles and 2 to 2.5 hours each way on US-93 past the Hoover Dam. Leave by 7am for a real afternoon at the rim instead of a rushed hour. General admission is $67, the Skywalk add-on brings it to roughly $99 to $113 with taxes. Return to Vegas for your final night.
Day 4: Las Vegas to LA
Start back by early afternoon at the latest to avoid Sunday evening traffic stacking up on I-15 into LA. Budget 4 to 4.5 hours, more with a stop.
| Day | Focus | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | LA to Death Valley | 4.5-5h |
| Day 2 | Death Valley to Las Vegas | 2-2.5h |
| Day 3 | Vegas to Grand Canyon West Rim, round trip | 2-2.5h each way |
| Day 4 | Las Vegas to LA | 4-4.5h |
Why Visit Death Valley Before Vegas, Not After?
Geography, mostly. Furnace Creek to Las Vegas is a short 2 to 2.5 hour hop via Pahrump, while a direct LA-to-Death-Valley run is the longest single leg of the trip. Doing the hardest drive first, while you are fresh, beats saving it for the end when you are tired and eager to just get home.
Is Death Valley Safe to Visit on This Route?
Yes, outside of summer. Fuel up before you enter; services thin out fast once you pass the last town, and cell coverage inside the park is minimal. Between November and March, daytime temperatures are pleasant and the drive is straightforward; April through October, treat any midday hike outside air conditioning as a real risk, not just discomfort.
Want a shorter version without Death Valley? See the 3 day or 2 day itineraries. To keep extending the loop into Utah, see the 5 day , 6 day , and 7 day versions, or the full guide for every road trip out of LA.