Death Valley National Park in January
January at Death Valley National Park averages a daytime high near 65°F and an overnight low around 42°F, with about 0.2" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 0.8× the park's average month, which makes January a quiet month here.
- Average low
- 42°F
- Average high
- 65°F
Range across the year: 41°F to 115°F
- Precipitation
- 0.2 in
- Daylight
- 9.8 hours
Roughly 7% of the park's yearly visitors come in January: about 89,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes January the 11th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the March peak (1.4×) and the June low (0.7×).
January is our recommended month at Death Valley: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 54°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 7.9 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 22% of annual visitors, choosing January instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.
You'll have about 9.8 hours of daylight in January to explore — between the 9.5-hour midwinter low and the 14.5-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 1,320,134 recreation visits, down 8.4% from 1,440,484 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 18.3%, so January may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
How January compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| December | 63°F / 41°F | 1.0× Average | 54 Fair |
| January | 65°F / 42°F | 0.8× Quiet | 66 Good |
| February | 71°F / 49°F | 1.0× Average | 63 Good |
All twelve months at Death Valley, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Death Valley in January
The National Park Service tags 11 Death Valley activities for winter. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
January averages a daytime high near 65°F and an overnight low around 42°F at Death Valley National Park, with about 0.2 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 7.9 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
January is quiet at Death Valley National Park (about 0.8× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good" at 66/100. January is our recommended month for this park.
The busiest month is March and the quietest is June. January sits at about 0.8× the park's average, or 7% of annual visitation.
A typical January sees about 89,000 recreation visits at Death Valley National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Death Valley in January
Booking a January trip to Death Valley National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live January availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Death Valley
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Visiting Death Valley in January?
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in January.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.