Death Valley in September: What It’s Really Like in 106°F Heat
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When I told people I was finally going to Death Valley National Park, I knew it was going to be hot. What I wasn't expecting was to arrive in late September and see 108°F on the temperature gauge.
The forecast wasn't offering much relief either. Temperatures were expected to reach around 106°F the following day, so it quickly became clear that this wasn't going to be a typical sightseeing trip. If we wanted to explore Death Valley safely and actually enjoy ourselves, we'd have to plan our days around the heat.
Sunrise at Zabriskie Point
Death Valley had been on my travel wish list for a long time, and my boyfriend, Tyrone, surprised me by booking a two-night stay inside the park. I wasn't about to let triple-digit temperatures ruin a trip I had been looking forward to for years.
Instead of trying to pack as much as possible into every hour, our itinerary became a combination of very early mornings, scenic drives, short stops, lots of water, and afternoons relaxing at the pool. And surprisingly, it worked really well.
Visiting Death Valley in September certainly isn't for everyone, but the heat didn't stop us from having an incredible trip. Here's what late September was really like, what we were able to see in two days, and what I learned along the way.
Driving to Badwater Basin before sunrise
Is September a Good Time to Visit Death Valley?
Let's get this out of the way first: September can still be extremely hot in Death Valley.
We visited in late September and experienced temperatures around 106°F to 108°F. I knew Death Valley would be hot, but I thought visiting toward the end of September might mean temperatures had started cooling down a little more than this.
According to the National Park Service, fall really starts arriving in Death Valley toward the end of October, when temperatures become more comfortable for exploring. So if you're planning a September trip expecting traditional fall weather, you'll want to adjust those expectations.
That said, there were some advantages to visiting when we did. We planned our outdoor activities for early morning, spent the hottest hours relaxing, and encountered surprisingly few people in some areas.
The biggest thing I learned was not to fight the heat. Plan around it.
Incredible views at Dante’s View
Our First Morning at Badwater Basin
If there was one place I absolutely had to see in Death Valley, it was Badwater Basin. At 282 feet below sea level, it's the lowest point in North America, and I had been looking forward to walking out onto those massive salt flats more than anything else on the trip.
Because of the heat, we woke up early and left our hotel around 6:35 AM. We reached Badwater around 6:50 AM, when it was already about 80°F, and started walking beyond the boardwalk onto the salt flats.
Badwater Basin at sunrise
The sun hadn't risen above the mountains yet, so we were still in the shade. There was also a breeze, which made the temperature surprisingly comfortable.
As we continued walking, the salt formations started becoming much more interesting. There were a few people around when we started, but most of them stopped much earlier than we did.
We kept going until eventually Tyrone and I were standing in this enormous white landscape almost completely by ourselves. It was quiet except for the wind and the crunch of salt underneath our shoes.
That ended up being one of my favorite moments of the entire trip.
Early morning walk at Badwater Basin
Viewing the fine salt up close was fascinating
The National Park Service notes that you can begin seeing the famous salt polygons after walking roughly a quarter mile from the parking area. From our experience, continuing farther was definitely worth it because the formations became more defined and there were far fewer people around.
Just remember that there is no shade once you're out there. Visiting early made a huge difference for us, especially with temperatures expected to climb above 100°F later that day.
Loved all the space we had to ourselves
A Quick Stop at Devil's Golf Course
From Badwater Basin, we drove to Devil's Golf Course, where jagged salt formations stretch across the valley floor.
The road leading there was rough and bumpy, and we were happy to be driving a truck. Once we arrived, we walked around, took some photos and admired the strange landscape before moving on.
By then, temperatures were already climbing into the mid-80s. Without any shade, we could definitely feel the day getting hotter.
The formations here are also extremely sharp, so watch your step. This is not somewhere I'd want to trip and fall!
Devil's Golf Course
Driving Artist's Drive and Artist's Palette
Next, we headed to Artist's Drive, a nine-mile one-way scenic road that winds through colorful hills and canyons.
This turned out to be a great activity as the temperature started rising because we could enjoy most of the scenery from the air-conditioned truck. As we drove farther into the canyon, shades of green, red, pink and white began appearing in the mountains.
We stopped briefly at Artist's Palette Overlook, but I enjoyed the drive itself just as much. There are sections where the rock walls come surprisingly close to the road, and the scenery constantly changes as you make your way through the canyon.
By the time we finished Artist's Drive, we were ready for a break from the heat.
Artist's Drive
What Do You Do in Death Valley When It's Over 100°F?
You go to the pool!
Around 11:30 AM, it was already about 90°F and getting hotter quickly. Instead of forcing ourselves to keep sightseeing just because we were in a national park, we returned to The Inn at Death Valley, where we were staying for two nights.
The hotel is located inside the park near Furnace Creek, which made our September strategy incredibly convenient. We could explore in the morning and retreat to the resort during the hottest part of the day.
We spent the afternoon swimming and relaxing by the pool, which felt especially luxurious considering we were surrounded by one of the hottest places on Earth.
Normally when I travel, I feel like I should constantly be doing something. Death Valley forced me to slow down, and I actually appreciated it.
Lovely pool at The Inn at Death Valley
Our Sunset Mistake at Dante's View
After relaxing at the pool, we had dinner at the restaurant inside our hotel and decided to drive up to Dante's View for sunset.
There was just one problem. I hadn't realized Dante's View was about a 30-minute drive from our hotel.
By the time we arrived, we had missed the actual sunset. We caught the last colors lingering over the mountains, which were still beautiful, but it wasn't quite what I had planned.
In hindsight, Zabriskie Point would have been the better sunset choice that evening. It was only about a 10-minute drive from our hotel, so we could have finished dinner and gotten there much more easily before sunset.
It was one of those little travel-planning lessons you only really understand after you've done it. Fortunately, we weren't finished with either viewpoint yet.
Arriving at Dante’s View after sunset
Waking Up for Sunrise at Zabriskie Point
The next morning started very early again.
At 5:54 AM, I made the last-minute decision that we should go see the sunrise at Zabriskie Point.
We originally considered checking out the stargazing terrace at our hotel, but the moon was bright and the sky was already beginning to lighten. Sunrise suddenly seemed like the better idea, so we quickly changed plans and headed out.
Beautiful moonset at Zabriskie Point
There were already several cars in the parking lot when we arrived, with people gathering along the overlook. The walk up is short but steeper than it initially looks. I remember thinking it didn't look that bad and then finding myself completely out of breath on the way up.
Once we reached the top, it was worth the early wake-up call. The moon was disappearing behind the mountains on one side while pink clouds began glowing over the badlands on the other.
We eventually noticed people venturing down below the main overlook and decided to follow. I was a little nervous climbing down at first, but once we got there, the wind disappeared and everything became incredibly calm.
Sun rising on the other side of the valley at Zabriskie Point
Eventually, most of the other visitors left and we were almost completely alone again. That peacefulness was something I kept experiencing throughout Death Valley and one of the things I loved most about the park.
Our hotel was only about a 5 to 10-minute drive away, which made Zabriskie Point incredibly easy to visit for sunrise. If you're staying around Furnace Creek, I would absolutely make the effort to get up early for this one.
Hiking down to get more incredible views at Zabriskie Point
An hour after sunrise, we had the whole place to ourselves at Zabriskie Point
Giving Dante's View Another Chance
After Zabriskie Point, we returned to the hotel, packed up and checked out. We were heading back toward Las Vegas that afternoon, but I still wanted to give Dante's View another chance.
Since we had arrived after sunset the night before, we hadn't been able to fully appreciate the scenery. This time, we went back in broad daylight.
And I'm so glad we did.
Dante’s View
As we drove higher into the mountains, the temperature changed dramatically. It was around 90°F down in the valley, but by the time we reached Dante's View, I was actually a little chilly in my short sleeves.
The overlook itself was incredible. From up there, we could see across Death Valley and look down toward the salt flats where we had walked the previous morning.
I thought we'd get out, admire the view, take a few pictures and leave.
That is not what happened.
We kept on walking to get another view of the salt flats
It was a little scary sitting here but also incredible
Our Quick Stop Turned Into an Adventure
We noticed people hiking beyond the main Dante's View overlook, so naturally, we decided to see where they were going.
One viewpoint led to another. Then another.
Before I knew it, we were scrambling around rocks, dealing with huge gusts of wind and walking much farther than I had intended. There were areas without railings where I definitely started questioning my decision to keep going.
In awe of the beauty of Death Valley on top of Dante’s View
At one point, I was legitimately scared. Every time the wind picked up near the rocks, my brain started imagining every possible way this could go wrong.
But we kept going.
Eventually, we turned around and started climbing hill after hill back toward the parking lot. Our "quick final viewpoint" had somehow turned into an entire adventure.
I was exhausted, relieved and so glad we did it.
Dante's View ended up being the perfect final memory from Death Valley, and returning during daylight made me even happier that we hadn't simply checked it off our list the night before.
I could look at this view forever
What Surprised Me Most About Death Valley
Before this trip, I pictured Death Valley as one giant, brutally hot desert. And yes, it is definitely hot.
What I didn't expect was how varied the landscape would be.
Within two days, we walked across white salt flats 282 feet below sea level, drove through colorful mountains, watched sunrise over rippled badlands, relaxed beneath palm trees and stood high above the valley feeling chilly in the wind.
Death Valley is a place of extremes, and that's what made it so fascinating to me. The scenery and even the temperature can feel completely different depending on where you are in the park.
Zabriskie Point sunrise
Badwater Basin sunrise
What to Wear in Death Valley in September
With temperatures reaching over 100°F during our September visit, I mostly packed lightweight, breathable clothes that would keep me comfortable in the heat. For our early morning outings, I wore pieces that were easy to move around in but still comfortable as the temperature quickly warmed up.
One of my favorite outfits was my Quince linen shirt layered over a basic Uniqlo camisole with Alo shorts. The linen shirt gave me a lightweight extra layer without feeling too heavy in the desert heat. I also wore my Halara dress with sneakers, which worked really well for exploring places like Badwater Basin and Devil's Golf Course.
The one place I would have dressed differently was Dante's View. I wasn't expecting to do any hiking that day, so I wore jeans and a basic shirt. Once we started following the trails beyond the main overlook and scrambling around the rocks, I definitely wished I had worn athleisure instead.
Dante's View was also noticeably cooler and much windier than the valley floor because of the higher elevation. If I went back, I'd wear comfortable athletic clothes and sneakers and bring a lightweight layer, even if it was over 100°F down in the valley.
For a September trip, I'd prioritize breathable clothing, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, and a light layer for higher elevations. Death Valley's temperature changes surprised me almost as much as the scenery did.
I wish I was wearing athletic clothes at Dante’s View
Tips From Our September Death Valley Trip
Start early. We arrived at Badwater Basin before 7 AM and visited Zabriskie Point around sunrise. Those early mornings gave us much more comfortable temperatures.
Plan around the hottest part of the day. We used late morning and afternoon to relax at our hotel rather than forcing more sightseeing into the schedule.
Take advantage of scenic drives. Artist's Drive was perfect as temperatures climbed because we could experience the landscape without spending long periods outside.
Bring plenty of water. Death Valley is extremely dry, and even short walks made us thirsty.
Don't assume September means fall weather. We visited toward the end of the month and still experienced temperatures above 100°F.
Check drive times before chasing sunset. This is one I learned personally! From the Furnace Creek area, Zabriskie Point was much easier for us to reach quickly than Dante's View.
Check current park conditions before heading out. Extreme weather and road conditions can affect access, so it's always a good idea to check National Park Service alerts before your visit.
Give yourself permission to do less. You don't need to spend the entire day hiking to experience Death Valley. Some of my favorite memories came from slowing down and enjoying where we were.
Would I Visit Death Valley in September Again?
Yes, but I would approach it the same way we did.
I wouldn't choose September if my main goal was to spend all day hiking at lower elevations. For that kind of trip, I'd much rather return during the cooler months.
But the heat didn't ruin our trip. In a strange way, it became part of the experience.
It forced us to wake up early enough to see Death Valley in the beautiful morning light. It gave us an excuse to spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing by the pool. And it pushed us toward higher elevations, where we discovered a completely different side of the park.
By the time we left, I couldn't believe how much we had experienced in just two nights.
Badwater Basin was the place I had been dreaming about seeing. Zabriskie Point gave us one of the most peaceful mornings of the trip. And Dante's View, which was supposed to be one quick stop on our way out, somehow turned into our final unexpected adventure.
Death Valley had been on my list for years.
Now that I've finally been, I already want to go back.
Death Valley in September FAQs
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Very hot. During our late-September visit, temperatures reached around 106°F to 108°F. Cooler fall weather generally arrives later in the season.
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It can be if you're comfortable planning around extreme heat. We explored early in the morning, relaxed during the hottest hours and visited higher elevations later.
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Yes, but go early and follow current heat guidance. We arrived around 6:50 AM before the sun had risen above the mountains.
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I recommend two full days in Death Valley, especially if it's your first visit. We were able to see Badwater Basin, Devil's Golf Course, Artist's Drive, Zabriskie Point and Dante's View, but we didn't have enough time to visit the sand dunes. Two full days would give you more time to see the highlights without feeling rushed.
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We loved sunrise at Zabriskie Point. It was also conveniently located about 5 to 10 minutes from our hotel near Furnace Creek.
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Both Zabriskie Point and Dante's View are popular options, but check drive times carefully. From our hotel near Furnace Creek, Zabriskie Point would have been much easier for a last-minute sunset.
We visited Death Valley National Park in late September when temperatures were still reaching 106°F. Here's how we explored Badwater Basin, Artist's Palette, Zabriskie Point, Dante's View and more while planning our days around the extreme heat.