24 hrs. In Death Valley National Park
With a terrain made famous by Star Wars movies, this US national park makes for a great visit.
In a state of great road trips, a short weekend trip to Death Valley is the thing to do, especially, in the cooler seasons. Out-of-the-world terrain, easy hikes, and accessibility from Los Angeles or Las Vegas make it more popular than it would seem from its barren terrain.
Start on Friday Afternoon (2 to 6 PM)
Drive into Death Valley National Park from I-190 and stop at the Stovepipe Visitor Center to pick a map and get the latest trail information. Attempt the easy hike on the Mosaic Canyon trail that takes you through a narrow canyon lined with polished rocks and marbles. After the hike, make the 90-minute drive to the Ubehebe crater to see what a large volcanic crater looks like. Then, drive back to the Mesquite Dunes to catch the setting sun rays reflecting off the sand.