How to Visit Racetrack Playa & See the Sliding Rocks in Death Valley NP

Death Valley National Park is truly a hypnotic and wonderfully bizarre place filled with mysteries.

From surreal undulating landscapes to a 400-foot-deep crater, this national park features an endless array of otherworldly sights.

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A mystical, dry and large lakebed set in the heart of Death Valley National Park. At two miles wide and three miles long, this lakebed is quite large.

What is the Racetrack Playa?

How do the playa’s rocks move?

According to their research, the playa turns into a shallow lake when it’s raining in Death Valley.

How to get to the Racetrack Playa in Death Valley NP 

On average, it takes 3 hours and 30 minutes to reach the playa via Furnace Creek.

Visiting Responsibly – This is so important!

Never move anything.

Don’t drive on anything but the actual road.

Don’t carve your name into the salt pan.

Racetrack Valley Road driving tips

Drive a high-clearance, 4×4 vehicle. While SUVs with no 4×4 do just fine, the National Park Service recommends using jeeps and pick-up trucks.

What to do if you don’t have a 4×4 vehicle?

Join a tour - There are tour operators, like Farabee Jeep Rentals, that offer day tours to the playa for a minimum of two guests.

Highlights to See at Racetrack Playa

The Grandstand - Once there, you may admire or take a photo of the Grandstand, which is a uniquely-shaped rock formation.

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