Itineraries
To help you make the most of your trip, following are recommended itineraries.
Tour 6: Weekend Getaway Touring Two Desert Parks
Take I-15 south to Baker, and the Kel-Baker Road into the Mojave National Preserve. Stop at the old Kelso Depot Visitors Center for wonderful exhibits, gift shop and travel information.
- Spend the day touring the back roads of the Mojave Desert.
- Return to Baker on Kel-Baker Road, and continue north on Hwy 127 toward Shoshone. Spend the night in Shoshone or Tecopa Hot Springs.
- Head into Death Valley National Park via 178 and spend the day touring the many wonderful stops in Death Valley.
- Exit the Park via Beatty to Hwy 95, and head back to Las Vegas. There are overnight accommodations in Pahrump, Tecopa, Shoshone, Amargosa Valley, Death Valley Junction, Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells and Beatty. Check Lodging for details.
Tour 5: Weekend Getaway Retreat into Nature Saturday
Take Hwy 95 north from Las Vegas, and then head west into Death Valley National Park via Beatty or Scotty’s Castle.
- Spend the day in Death Valley National Park, with many wonderful destinations and stops to choose from.
- Exit the Park south, via Badwater Road and 178 to Shoshone. Dine in Shoshone at the Crowbar Café or in Tecopa at Pastel’s Bistro.
- Spend the night at China Ranch or Tecopa or Shoshone and enjoy the quiet, the sunset, and the fabulous night sky. Check the Calendar for Star Party dates around the New Moon.
- Sunday: Enjoy breakfast at Pastel’s Bistro, and walk the Meditation Labyrinth at Tecopa Hot Springs Resort. Go biking, birding, wildflower viewing or just take your camera to the Amargosa Canyon, Grimshaw Lake, or just about anywhere in the surrounding public lands.
- Follow the Old Spanish Trail back to Hwy 160, and proceed back to Las Vegas.
Tour 4: Weekend Getaway Hiking, Golfing, Brunching
Saturday: Take Hwy 160 to Pahrump and 372 (turns into 178 in CA) to Shoshone.
- Just north of Shoshone, enter Death Valley via Hwy 178 and the Badwater Road.
- Tour Death Valley National Park, with stops at Badwater, Devils Golf Course, Artist’s Drive and Golden Canyon on the way to the Furnace Creek Visitor’s Center, or play golf at the Furnace Creek Ranch (call for reservations).
- Spend the night in Death Valley at the Furnace Creek Inn, Furnace Creek Ranch or the Stovepipe Wells Resort. Don’t forget to visit the Borax Museum and other historical sites. Try one of several great venues for dinner, take a relaxing swim, a bike ride, or just swagger into the local saloon.
- Sunday: Indulge yourself with the famous Sunday brunch at the Furnace Creek Inn.
- Exit Death Valley National Park via Beatty or Scotty’s Castle to Hwy 95.
Tour 3: Weekend Getaway from Nature’s Wonders to Art and Opera Saturday
Take Hwy 160 toward Pahrump. 13 miles before Pahrump, turn left onto the Old Spanish Trail and travel 20 miles to Tecopa (sign says Tecopa Rd).
- Stop at China Ranch for a date shake and hike the Amargosa Canyon.
- Soak or steam at your choice of facilities at Tecopa Hot Springs, and for total luxury, add a massage or aroma therapy session.
- For a glimpse of the desert muse, take a turn around the Tecopa Basin Artists Gallery. Check the Calendar for Exhibit Artist Receptions.
- Spend the night at the Amargosa Hotel and Opera House, and attend world famous Marta Becket’s Saturday night performance. Check her calendar for performance times.
- Sunday: Have brunch at Longstreet’s Casino 8 miles north, and explore Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
- Travel north to Lathrop Wells, and return to Las Vegas via Hwy 95.
Tour 2: Ash Meadows, Shoshone, Tecopa, and Death Valley
Take Hwy 95 north from Las Vegas to Lathrop Wells. Head south on Hwy 373. In California, this becomes Route 127.
- Visit the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
- Be sure to stop at the Amargosa Hotel and Opera House at Death Valley Junction.
- From there, you can take Hwy 190 into Death Valley National Park at Furnace Creek, or continue south on Hwy 127 to our Visitors Center at the Shoshone Museum. See Itinerary 1 for details.
- Soak or steam at Tecopa Hot Springs, visit the Tecopa Basin Artists Gallery, or dine at Pastel’s Bistro. Stop at China Ranch for a date shake and hike the Amargosa Canyon.
- Take Hwy 178 into Death Valley National Park via Badwater to Furnace Creek and Stove Pipe Wells Village. Exit the Park through Scotty’s Castle or Beatty back to Hwy 95.
Tour 1: Tecopa, Shoshone and Death Valley
Take Hwy 160 toward Pahrump. 13 miles before Pahrump, turn left onto the Old Spanish Trail and travel 20 miles to Tecopa (sign says Tecopa Rd).
- Stop at China Ranch for a date shake and hike the Amargosa Canyon.
- Soak or steam at Tecopa Hot Springs, visit the Tecopa Basin Artists Gallery, or dine at Pastel’s Bistro.
- Take Hwy 127 and go 7 miles north to Shoshone. Visit our Visitor’s Center at the Shoshone Museum, and pick up the Walking Tour Map, which includes the Shoshone Cemetery and Dublin Caves. Services include a gas station and General Store, or dine at the Crowbar Café or Café C’est Si Bon. At the Amargosa Conservancy, learn about area conservation issues, or sign up for one of their monthly outings.
- Just north of Shoshone, take Hwy 178 into Death Valley National Park via Badwater, and visit the numerous facilities at Furnace Creek if you wish (see Itinerary 4). Continue on Hwy 190 to the Route 5 turnoff to Scotty’s Castle, and exit the Park through Beatty or Scotty’s Castle to Hwy 95.
