Getting Oriented
The road sits in the northern half of Death Valley National Park in Inyo County. Beatty, Nevada is the closest fuel and supply town, 70 miles east of the road's start at Ubehebe Crater. The Racetrack Playa lies at 3,708 feet in a north-south valley east of the Panamint Range. The Lippincott Mine Road on the southwestern end connects to Saline Valley Road for technical drivers willing to traverse the area's hardest 4WD section.
Trail Overview
From the paved end at Ubehebe Crater, Racetrack Road heads south as wide gravel for the first few miles, then narrows and gets rougher as it climbs through Tin Pass. The road's defining feature is the constant rock damage: sharp embedded rocks and exposed shale sections cut sidewalls. Most travelers run the road slowly (10-15 mph), check tires regularly, and reach the Grandstand parking area in 2 to 3 hours.
From the Grandstand a half-mile walk southeast on the playa accesses the best moving-rock trails. Driving on the playa surface itself is prohibited and damages the fragile clay. The road continues south past the Grandstand to the Lippincott Mine Road junction, a technical 4WD descent to Saline Valley.
Points of Interest
- Racetrack Playa. The dry lakebed with sliding rocks. Best photographed early morning or late afternoon when shadows highlight the trails.
- The Grandstand. A dark-colored quartz monzonite outcrop at the playa's north end.
- Teakettle Junction. A road junction marked by an iconic sign with hanging teakettles. Photo stop.
- Tin Pass. Halfway pass with views into the surrounding ranges.
- Lippincott Mine Road. Technical 4WD spur descending west into Saline Valley.
- Ubehebe Crater. A 600-foot-deep volcanic crater at the road's start.
Where to Camp
Dispersed roadside camping is allowed along Racetrack Road outside Death Valley National Park's developed areas — but the Racetrack itself is in a special-use zone. Backcountry permits may be needed for some sites; check at Furnace Creek Visitor Center. The closest developed campgrounds are Mesquite Spring (near Ubehebe Crater) and Stovepipe Wells.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Visit October through April. Summer temperatures top 110°F.
- Carry two full-size spares and a plug kit. Tire damage is the road's main risk.
- Travel in two or more vehicles. Recovery from a single-vehicle breakdown takes hours.
- Carry full water and food for the day plus emergency reserve.
- Cell coverage is absent. Carry a satellite messenger.
- Do not drive on the playa surface. The damage takes years to recover.
- Do not move or remove rocks. Doing so disturbs the phenomenon and is a federal violation.
- Park admission required (Death Valley NP entry fee).
- Watch the tire-pressure: deflated tires reduce sidewall punctures but lower clearance.
- Contact Death Valley National Park at 760-786-3200 for current conditions.
