Do you plan on staying in Death Valley National Park during your trip? Would you like to explore this beautiful California desert and have a place to sleep?
We stayed in a cute cottage and loved it. I’m sharing my experience because you might want to check this place out.
Just don’t get stranded in the heat along the way!
Also, you’ll want to read my blog post about what we saw while driving through Death Valley. I give you details on what you’ll want to check out and see on your trip.
The Ranch at Death Valley
While exploring the desert, we saw a few landmarks. After seeing Artists Palette, we called it a day and checked in at The Ranch at Death Valley.
We drove around all day in the heat and found this oasis in the desert welcoming. The delightful western ranch theme made me smile.
Book ahead of time if you plan to stay in the national park. When we checked in at the Town Hall, some people did not have reservations and got turned away.
Death Valley has limited lodging inside the park, so keep that in mind. Many hotels are outside the area, and you might have to drive a bit to get to them.
While exploring the park, many people gathered at every point of interest. We visited during the popular spring season.
People like to visit Death Valley at this time of year because of the wildflowers in bloom. While summer brings in scorching weather, spring is more pleasant.
Inviting desert oasis
The Ranch at Death Valley had a refreshing contrast to the desert backdrop. I felt at home in our cute, cozy cottage.
Built like a tiny home, it had everything we needed. There was a refrigerator, living space, spacious bedroom, huge closet, and a porch to unwind on.
Beautiful big flower bushes and lush palms lined the pathways. While walking around, we found a post office, ice cream parlor, quaint stores, and restaurants.
In the evening, we had dinner at The Last Kind Words Saloon. They were packed, so we had to get on a waiting list.
The saloon’s decor made dining here fun. I ordered the tasty salmon dish and can still savor it now. Ummm…
After dinner, we looked at the bright stars against a clear dark sky. The desert was very quiet and peaceful.
Staying at the Ranch at Death Valley gave me a restful sleep. I surely needed that after exploring Death Valley and dealing with bad allergies all day.
In the morning, we ate breakfast at the buffet. They had a wide variety of food that tasted pretty good.
A man entered the restaurant from the side exit door. He did not go through the front door, and he did not pay.
He had a bag full of plastic sports bottles. With his cap pulled down low, he filled up at the soda and juice machines and just left.
Maybe he didn’t see the general store where you can buy snacks and juice. Hmmm…
After breakfast, we walked around the ranch and shopped in the General Store. We saw a little museum and a golf course a short walk away.
After that, we checked out of our cottages and drove around the desert more. Overall, I enjoyed my stay at The Ranch in Death Valley.
Staying in Death Valley again
Whether we travel in the van or not, I’d still like to stay in Death Valley again. I can’t speak on the hotel rooms at the ranch, but the cottage was great.
I want to return in the fall and winter to see what this desert is like during the cooler months. From what I read, stargazing during these times is even better.
Speaking of stars, we saw lots in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. You might also want to check out this desert while on your West Coast road trip.
I hope you have a nice time staying in Death Valley National Park. Also, don’t forget to check out my blog post about the places we discovered in the desert.
I’d love to hear about how your visit went!
