Salt flats, monolithic boulders & star-soaked desert skies
Salt flats, monolithic boulders & star-soaked desert skies
Death Valley National Park, CA 92328Palm Springs, CA 92262
Trip overview
Journey through Southern California's most otherworldly landscapes, from Death Valley's sunken salt pans and glowing sand dunes to Joshua Tree's dark sky wilderness and the vibrant desert oases of Anza-Borrego.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 — Death Valley National Park
Badwater Basin
Walk out onto North America's lowest point, a vast expanse of geometric salt crusts sitting 282 feet below sea level.
Badwater Rd, Death Valley National Park, CA 92328
Artist's Drive & Palette
A scenic nine-mile drive winding through colorful volcanic hills mineral-stained in shades of pastel pink, teal, and deep purple.
Artists Drive, Death Valley National Park, CA 92328
Zabriskie Point
Panoramic vista overlooking badlands carved into maze-like golden ripples, particularly dramatic during late afternoon light.
CA-190, Death Valley National Park, CA 92328
Day 2 — Stovepipe Wells
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Explore rolling, wind-sculpted sand dunes surrounded by dramatic mountain backdrop, ideal for early morning dune trekking.
CA-190, Stovepipe Wells, CA 92328
Kelso Dunes
Towering 600-foot dunes in Mojave National Preserve known for creating a low booming sound as sand slides down the crests.
Kelso Dunes Rd, Baker, CA 92309
Amboy Crater
An extinct cinder cone volcanic crater along historic Route 66 offering a trail straight into the breached caldera crater floor.
National Trails Hwy, Amboy, CA 92304
Day 3 — Joshua Tree National Park
Hidden Valley Nature Trail
A scenic one-mile loop trail through a enclosed rock valley reputedly used by cattle rustlers in the 19th century.
Park Blvd, Joshua Tree National Park, CA 92277
Cholla Cactus Garden
An extraordinary dense concentration of silver tip cholla cacti that glow brilliantly in low morning and evening light.
Pinto Basin Rd, Joshua Tree National Park, CA 92277
Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace
Legendary desert roadhouse featuring mesquite-grilled BBQ, craft beers, and live indie music inside a 1940s movie set western town.
53688 Pioneertown Rd, Pioneertown, CA 92268
Sky's the Limit Observatory and Nature Center
An open-air night sky observation site offering telescope views under dark desert skies free from urban light pollution.
9697 Utah Trail, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
Day 4 — Joshua Tree National Park
Keys View
Sweeping vista point perched on the Little San Bernardino Mountains overlooking the Coachella Valley and San Andreas Fault.
Keys View Rd, Joshua Tree National Park, CA 92277
Salvation Mountain
A visionary folk art installation built from adobe bricks, straw, and thousands of gallons of vibrant paint near the Salton Sea.
Beal Rd, Niland, CA 92257
Galleta Meadows Metal Sculptures
Over 130 full-sized metal sculptures of prehistoric creatures and mythical serpents scattered across open desert terrain.
Borrego Springs Rd, Borrego Springs, CA 92004
La Casa del Zorro Resort
Historic desert estate featuring tranquil garden grounds and pristine stargazing in California's first Dark Sky Community.
3845 Yaqui Pass Rd, Borrego Springs, CA 92004
Day 5 — Borrego Springs
Font's Point
Known as California's Grand Canyon, this cliff edge overlooks an immense, labyrinthine expanse of carved desert badlands.
Font's Point Wash, Borrego Springs, CA 92004
Borrego Palm Canyon Trail
A rewarding three-mile trail leading to a hidden oasis of native California fan palms and refreshing natural stream pools.
200 Palm Canyon Dr, Borrego Springs, CA 92004
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Ride rotating cable cars up Chino Canyon from desert valley floor to alpine pine forests atop Mt. San Jacinto State Park.
1 Tramway Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Workshop Kitchen + Bar
Award-winning farm-to-table dining served inside a striking converted 1920s movie theater space in downtown Palm Springs.
800 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Experiences & guides
Bookable tours and stops worth a detour along this route.
Guide content may not reflect current conditions. Always verify information before your trip.
Frequently asked questions
The Deserts Odyssey road trip covers about 789 mi and roughly 17h 54m of driving, comfortably spread across about 5 days.
This itinerary maps out 18 stops from Death Valley National Park, CA 92328 to Palm Springs, CA 92262. Highlights include Badwater Basin, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and Cholla Cactus Garden.
It begins in Death Valley National Park, CA 92328 and ends in Palm Springs, CA 92262, following a mapped, road-following route the whole way.
The estimated cost is around $1,785, covering fuel, lodging, food, and activities. Your actual total varies with the season, your pace, and the choices you make along the way.
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