Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Start at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center for about 30 minutes. Check the latest road, heat and trail conditions before setting out; hours can vary seasonally, so verify them on the National Park Service website that morning. Pick up a park map and water if needed. Death Valley is vast, and cell service is unreliable, so download directions ahead of time and carry more water than you expect to use.
Drive south to Badwater Basin (roughly 30 minutes from Furnace Creek), then allow about an hour to walk onto the salt flats. The boardwalk and nearby flats are easy to reach from the parking area, but stay mindful of the heat and turn back before you feel tired. Continue north toward Artist’s Drive, a one-way scenic loop that takes about 1.5 hours with stops; pull in at Artist’s Palette for the colorful hills. The narrow, winding road is not suitable for vehicles over 25 feet, and conditions can change, so confirm it is open before you go.
Return to Furnace Creek for dinner at The Ranch at Death Valley. Budget about $25–$50 per person; check current restaurant hours and consider arriving before the busiest dinner period. Keep the evening unhurried—after a day of desert driving and walking, topping up water and settling in early is a good plan.
Stop first at Seven Magic Mountains, the brightly stacked boulder installation off I-15 south of Las Vegas. Allow about 30 minutes to wander and take photos; it’s outdoors, with little shade, so bring water and a hat. Parking is free, but the small lot can fill around midday. Then continue north to the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign for the classic photo. Plan on 20–40 minutes, including a possible queue; use the designated parking area rather than stopping on the road.
Drive to the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens on the central Strip. The display is free and generally open daily, though hours and seasonal arrangements can change—check Bellagio’s current visitor information before you go. Give it around 45 minutes, then take a little time to stroll through the resort rather than trying to squeeze in another attraction.
Head to Eataly Las Vegas inside Park MGM for a relaxed dinner and a browse through its counters and market. Budget roughly $20–$45 per person, depending on what you order; individual counters may keep different hours, so check before setting out. Parking at Park MGM is convenient for this end of the Strip, but fees and policies can vary. If you’re staying elsewhere, rideshare is usually easier than moving the car between Strip stops.
Leave Las Vegas early, ideally around 7:30 a.m., for Hoover Dam via US-93. Allow about 45 minutes to reach the dam, then 1½–2 hours to park, clear security, and walk the dam and viewpoints. Parking costs vary by lot; the closest garage is paid, while some more distant lots are free. Bring water, and check current access and visitor-area hours before setting out.
Continue to downtown Kingman and head to the Arizona Route 66 Museum first. Give it 1–1½ hours; its hours and admission can change, so check before leaving Las Vegas, especially because a late arrival could leave too little time before closing. Then take a short walk to Locomotive Park to see the steam locomotive beside the Route 66 corridor—about 30 minutes is plenty. Finish at Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner for a casual meal; budget roughly $15–$30 per person and confirm its hours if you arrive late. The stops are close together, so park once in downtown Kingman and explore on foot.
After the roughly three-hour drive from Kingman, make Coffee Pot Restaurant your first stop in west Sedona for a filling breakfast—plan on about $15–$30 per person. It’s a popular spot, so allow a little extra time if there’s a wait. Then drive to Airport Mesa for the red-rock panorama; give yourself 45–60 minutes for the overlook and photos. Parking is limited and may involve a small fee, so check the signs and current conditions when you arrive.
Head to Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village and spend 1–1½ hours wandering its shady courtyards, galleries, and shops. Many businesses generally open around 10 a.m., but hours vary by shop. From there, continue south to the Chapel of the Holy Cross for a 45–60-minute visit. The chapel is typically open during daytime hours, but access and parking can change; check its current visitor information before setting out, and be prepared for a short walk from the parking area. Keep the rest of the afternoon flexible—Sedona traffic and busy parking lots can slow these short drives.
Start with the short walk at Bell Rock in the Village of Oak Creek; allow 1–1½ hours on the trails around the formation, and bring water even for a modest stroll. Parking at the trailhead requires a Red Rock Pass or an America the Beautiful pass; check current rules and trail conditions before setting out. Then pick up coffee and a light meal at The Coffee Pot in west Sedona—budget about $10–$25 per person. It’s a drive of roughly 10–15 minutes from Bell Rock, depending on traffic; check that day’s hours before you go.
Continue to Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park, a quiet hillside stop in west Sedona. Allow 45–60 minutes to walk the grounds respectfully; donations are appreciated, and parking is limited. This order makes sense geographically, but the day is a squeeze: the stops take around 2½–3 hours before driving, meals, fuel, or rest breaks. To do the full route to Death Valley the same day, start very early and expect a long day; an overnight stop en route is the safer, more relaxed choice.
The return is roughly 7–8 hours behind the wheel, before stops. Head west toward Kingman on AZ-89A/AZ-89 and US-93, continue to Las Vegas, then take NV-160 through Pahrump toward Death Valley; check road conditions and fuel availability before leaving, and top up in a larger town rather than counting on services in the park. If you’re driving straight through, leave Sedona by late morning at the latest, but a morning departure is much more practical after the park visits. Plan for a late arrival, and consider staying overnight near Las Vegas or Pahrump instead of pushing on tired.
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