Death Valley Starcamp
February 9th - March 30th, 2024
Special Lecture Nights February 9th & 10th, 2024
Just west of the national park in Panamint Valley, CA

The Death Valley Starcamp is landing again in Spring 2024 (Also just added December 18th through January 3rd!) Join us sometime February 9th through March 30th, 2024, at our location just west of the national park in Panamint Valley (Google Map Here). Experience dark nighttime skies free of city lights, along with viewing the cosmos through a 12” telescope operated each night by our host! Also on hand for your entertainment is a giant two foot chess set with LED lights, SHIFTPOD XL arcade, and a Free WiFi Zone courtesy of Starlink! On the nights of February 9th & 10th there will be lectures along with Q&A with professional astrophysicist Dr. Cameron Hummels of Caltech.

Each campsite during this unique stargazing experience will include a picnic bench, fire pit, as well as access to the amenities listed above — you bring your tent/RV/camper van, etc. There are clean, communial porta-potties onsite, and ample space in between each campsite for privacy. Each night the starcamp host will operate the huge 12” telescope for a couple of hours beginning about an hour after sunset. The base price is $155/night for two people, but you can bring up to three additional guests at $25/night each for a total of up to five people per campsite.

For the nights of February 9th & 10th, there will be lectures from Caltech Astrophysicist Dr. Cameron Hummels. These two special nights are reserved for parties of two for $235, and each of these nights will include the lecture with Dr. Hummels — Black Holes on Friday the 9th, and Galaxy Evolution on Saturday the 10th.

There is no cell service in the area, however, there is free WiFi onsite courtesy of SpaceX Starlink!

Stay one or more nights

Please note there is no water, electricity, or trash services at this primitive location, and you will have to travel 8 miles down a county maintained dirt road to get here. Any type of vehicle can make the drive. Please pack out all of your trash and recyclables.

Click here for a Google Map of the location in Panamint Valley

During this starcamp the moon phases will change, with some nights having darker skies than others. If you are concerned about visiting during the darkest skies when the stargazing is best, then please check the moon phase before booking your preferred date. Even when there is moonlight, though, the moon itself is also pretty spectacular to observe!

Please note that to keep prices as low as possible, we cannot offer refunds or changes to Death Valley Starcamp reservations, so please make sure your chosen dates work for you before you book. If for some reason the weather doesn’t allow us to use the telescope during your visit (which is rare in these parts), you’ll be able to come back and stay again on the house in our overflow camping area. If the lecture nights have to be canceled for any reason, you will be credited with two tickets to any Panamint Valley or Sage Valley Dark Sky Festivals or Meteor Shower Parties.

The base price is for up to TWO people for only $155/night — extra persons are $25/night each for up to five people per campsite.

Use the map above to determine which campsite you want. All sites are self check-in — when you arrive, proceed to your campsite and make yourself at home. The amenities listed are there for your use. The Starlink WiFi Zone is located around the telescope area. The camp host can also be found in the travel trailer near the telescope.

All campsites are suitable for tents and camper vans, but only sites 1, 2, 3, and 10 are RV friendly (there are no hookups). Please note the RV friendly sites are also farther away from the porta-potties and the rest of the campsites and amenities. Every reservation includes up to three vehicles and up to three friendly pets. Please clean up after your pet! If you want to have a campfire, you’ll want to bring your own firewood as we do not have any on hand.

If you’re looking for someone who will drop off an RV for you to stay in during your visit, check out @MyRVRentals on Instagram.

Check-in is any time after 2 pm on the day of your arrival, and please check out by 11 am on the day of your departure.

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There are also countless day trips in the area