Introduction:
This is a reasonably priced, conveniently located, full hook up campground in Death Valley National Park.
Click here to read about our criteria for campground reviews.
The Basics:
Overall Rating: 3.2/5
Price per night / Discounts: $40.00 / None
Campground website: Stovepipe Wells Village Campground
Our Site #: 13
Privacy Rating (how spacious and private do the sites feel):
1/5: This is not the type of campground one sits outside admiring nature. Campsites are lined up one next to another, with minimal spacing in between rigs and no natural or artificial barriers. There are no picnic tables, fire rings, or any other amenities at the sites. There is a small cement pad to set up your own chairs, but that's about it.
Location Rating (accessibility to points of interest or to major highways):
5/5: If you're looking for a convenient place from which to explore Death Valley National Park, this is a good option. It is located right at Stovepipe Wells, near a hotel, NPS campground (no hook-ups), and gift shop. If you want to be inside the park, it's a solid choice. (There is also a good campground at Furnace Creek, but that one tends to be very difficult to get into.) Our only advice is to come prepared with whatever you need. There are no regular grocery stores nearby and you'll be subject to tourist pricing on anything you buy in the park.
Site Quality and Big Rig Accessibility Rating (utilities and accessibility of campground hook ups):
2.5/5: Sites are on dirt and rock and are not particularly level. We had to use leveling blocks for both front to back and side to side alignment. We were careful about our energy usage since we'd read reviews that indicated power was touch and go. We were fine, but it's not a place where you can run everything all at once.
Technology and Customer Service Rating (online resources, reservations, campground wifi, and staff):
2.5/5: I was able to book my own reservation online - the campground is run by the hotel and you can book whatever you want on their website. Just make sure you book early. There are only 14 sites, so you can't wait until the last minute. Customer service was efficient at check in, but there was no other service to speak of. The wifi was pretty worthless. If you go up to the hotel check in area, you may get a tiny bit of connectivity, but it's not much. Otherwise, we had some spotty 3G service through our AT&T hotspot.
Overall Value Rating (the overall value of the campground; was it overpriced for what it was?):
5.0/5: Given its location inside the park, and given that it offers full hook ups, the $40 per night charge seemed perfectly reasonable.
Summary:
For a reasonably priced, full hook up campground, this place does what it needs to do. It's not fancy, but it's convenient and provided us a decent place to stay as we explored Death Valley National Park. There are only 14 sites, so you'll need to book early, and come prepared as supplies are limited and pricey, but for a campground inside the park, this is a good choice.