Complete Guide to Artist’s Palette

Last Updated: January 12, 2025

Hidden behind an unassuming yellow landscape in Death Valley, spectacular colors cover the hills of Artist’s Palette. These colors come from volcanic deposits rich in compounds such as iron oxides and chlorite, creating the rainbow effect that is seen. Several pullouts along Artist’s Drive provide parking areas from which the area can be explored on foot. Artist’s Palette is a beautiful sight at any time of the day, but the best time of the day to visit Artist’s Palette is around sunrise and sunset when the sun is less harsh and colors appear more vibrant.

Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park

Winter months bring the best temperatures (average high temperatures between 65-75 ^○F)
Early Spring and late Fall are also good times to visit and will provide slightly longer days
Summer can be dangerous due to extreme heat (average high temperatures exceed 110 ^○F). The National Park Services does not recommend being out after 10:00 AM.

How to Get to Death Valley National Park

The best way to get to Death Valley is to drive from Las Vegas, NV. It’s approximately a 2.5 hour drive from the LAS airport.
The distance and driving time from other nearby cities is much greater

- - Los Angeles, CA (258 miles, 4.25 hours)
  - Fresno, CA (327 miles, 5.25 hours)
  - Reno, NV (357 miles, 5.75 hours)

Driving and Parking in Death Valley National Park

Unlike some other national parks, you can drive through Death Valley National Park year around. In fact, you’ll most likely need a car since there’s not a shuttle system.

To get to Artist’s Palette, you’ll turn off of Badwater Road onto Artist’s Drive, a paved, one-way road. About halfway through the drive, there will be another turnoff towards the Artist’s Palette overlook that will take you to the paved parking lot. That said, you’ll encounter a number of smaller turn offs / parking areas along the way.

Artist's Palette Trail Information

Trail: No official trail
Length: n/a
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Elevation Gain: Flat
Time: 30 – 60 minutes
Pets: Not allowed
Parking: Large, paged lot off of Artist’s Drive, but also has multiple pull-offs along Artist’s Drive
Bathroom: Vault toilet located in parking lot
Water station: None available

Artist's Palette Permit Information

No permit is required to visit Artist’s Palette

What to Expect at Artist's Palette

Artist’s Palette is one of the most beautiful places in Death Valley and a definite must if you’re visiting the park! Depending on your schedule, this can be a quick stop or you could easily spend hours navigating through rainbow colors that are splashed across the rocks.

Artist's Palette Overlook

The Artist’s Palette Overlook is an easy 5-10 minute walk from the parking lot. This spot gives you the best view of the colored rocks, but there are a number of unofficial trails that weave through the colored rocks. If you have the time and ability, it’s definitely worth spending some time wandering around this really unique landscape!

By far, the best time to photograph the rocks is during sunrise and sunset as the harsh sun in Death Valley will wash out the color in your pictures.

Water Stations and Bathrooms Near Artist's Palette

Vault toilets are located in the Artist’s Palette parking lot
The only water stations in Death Valley at are at the visitor center in Furnace Creek and ranger station in Stovepipe Wells

How Much Does It Cost to Visit Death Valley National Park

An entrance pass is required for all visitors. The Death Valley entry fee is $35 for private vehicles and $25 for motorcycles. You can also buy an annual pass to Death Valley for $55 or, if you’re planning to visit multiple national parks this year, you can purchase an America the Beautiful pass for $80.

Unlike other national parks I’ve been to, there wasn’t a roadblock prompting you to pay as you enter the park. To pay the park entrance fee, you must go to one of the fee machines located throughout the park. Please note, the fee machines only provide weekly passes. If you want to purchase and annual pass or an America the Beautiful pass, you have to go to one of the locations designated as “in-person”.

Furnace Creek Visitor Center (in-person)
Furnace Creek Campground kiosk (in-person, when staffed Oct 15 – April 15)
Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station (in-person)
Grapevine Ranger Station
Ryan Kiosk (east entrance to park on CA-190)
Zabriskie Point
Badwater Basin
Hell’s Gate (Daylight Pass Road)
Sunset Campground (when open)
Texas Springs Campground (when open)
Stovepipe Wells Campground (when open)
Mesquite Springs Campground (when open)

No entrance pass is required on the following days

January 20 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
April 19 – First Day of National Park Week
June 19 – Juneteenth
August 4 – Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
September 27 – National Public Lands Day
November 11 – Veterans Day

Where to Stay at Death Valley National Park

Lodging Inside the Park

Stovepipe Wells (their website was no longer working during the last update of this blog, it was unclear to me if they’re still open)
Fanciest: The Oasis at Death Valley (Inn at Death Valley)
Cheaper: The Oasis at Death Valley (Ranch at Death Valley)
Cheaper, western side of park: Panamint Spring Resort

Lodging Outside the Park, EAST

Driving times show below are to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center

Beatty, NV (~45 minutes)
Shoshone, CA (~1 hour)
Pahrump, NV (~1.5 hours)
Las Vegas, NV (~2.5 hours)

Lodging Outside the Park, WEST

Driving times show below are to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center

Lone Pine, CA (~1.5 hours)
Ridgecrest, CA (~2.5 hours)
Bishop, CA (~3.5 hours)

Camping at Death Valley National Park

For more information on available campgrounds and rules, please visit the NPS Camping in Death Valley website.

What to Pack for Death Valley National Park

Water (and lots of it!) as access to water stations are very limited
Download an offline map of Death Valley as the cellphone service is very spotty throughout the park
- These trails are all mapped in Google Maps so you can also follow yourself along the trail if you have it downloaded for offline use
Snacks
Sunscreen / sun protection (e.g., hat)
Sunglasses
Camera
All Trails Mobile Application