Death Valley in December: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Peak crowds · VisitWhen score 62/100 · #4 of 12 months

December is peak season — the 4th-busiest month of the year, at Death Valley National Park: crowds run 72% of the March peak (115,548 average visits). Weather: highs average 66°F and lows 41°F, with 0.3″ of precipitation and 9.7 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Death Valley in December: what the park service says

For a December trip, the camping question at Death Valley is whether you booked Furnace Creek. The park service takes reservations there for its October 15 to April 15 season, from six months out until two days before arrival, so a holiday-week stay can be reserved as early as late June. Without a booking you are relying on the park's first-come, first-served campgrounds, several of which only open part of the year; the park asks you to check each one's status before traveling.

Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-05.

Crowds in December

Death Valley averages 115,548 recreation visits in December — 72% of what March, the peak month, draws. Plan lodging and entries with that in mind — book early and start days at dawn.

Weather & daylight

Daytime temperatures are comfortable (highs average 66°F), and mornings are chilly (lows average 41°F). It is typically dry (0.3″ of precipitation). Mid-month daylight runs 9.7 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station DEATH VALLEY NP, CA US (1 mi from park coordinates, -194 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of December.

What to pack for Death Valley in December

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy) — mornings average 41°F
• Headlamp — only 9.7 hours of daylight in mid-December (compare other options)
• Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month

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Looking for a better window? The computed best months for Death Valley are January and February.

Also at their best in December

Other parks whose computed December verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• American Samoa in December — 17% of peak crowds, highs 88°F, score 66/100
• Everglades in December — 72% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 64/100
• Biscayne in December — 77% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 62/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in December · Last verified 2026-09-24