Death Valley Scenic Byway (CA-190)

About this drive

California State Route 190 traverses Death Valley National Park from the Panamint Valley to the Nevada border, passing through some of the most extreme terrain on Earth. The drive descends to Badwater Basin at 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in North America, while the surrounding Panamint and Black Mountains rise to over 11,000 feet. Salt flats, sand dunes, rainbow-painted canyons, and volcanic craters make every mile a geological revelation. Best driven in spring or autumn to avoid extreme summer heat.