Badwater Saloon in Death Valley National Park

Restaurant · Death Valley National Park

Badwater Saloon

Cold drinks and hearty bites at Stovepipe Wells desert saloon

Type
Restaurant
Nearest trail
1.8 mi
Audio stories
4 nearby
  • Food
  • Restrooms
  • Parking

Hear the audio tour

Stovepipe Wells Village: Desert Outpost and Dune Gateway

Overview

About Badwater Saloon

Badwater Saloon is the bar-and-grub centerpiece of Stovepipe Wells Village, a small services hub inside the park. It’s an easy, air‑conditioned cooldown after blasting around Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes or squeezing through Mosaic Canyon. Expect an old‑west vibe and a crowd of dusty, happy park‑goers swapping trail stories.

Why stop

  • House “Death Valley” label beer on tap and full bar
  • Convenient Stovepipe Wells hub for post-hike food and drinks

Heads up

  • Menu is limited compared to big-town restaurants
  • Can get crowded during peak seasons and dinner rush
Stovepipe Wells sits near marquee sights like the Mesquite Dunes and Mosaic Canyon, so the saloon doubles as your de facto pit stop between adventures. It’s also part of the official in‑park concession area, meaning it’s designed to serve travelers right where you need it most.
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Map

Where it is

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RestaurantBadwater Saloon36.60614, -117.14621
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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Badwater Saloon

  1. Hit it after Mesquite Dunes or Mosaic Canyon to beat the dinner rush.

  2. Late afternoon is cooler and lines are shorter than prime dinner hours.

  3. Bring a valid ID if you plan to drink.

  4. If renovations are underway, expect a limited hot‑food menu and confirm day‑of.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Late afternoon through sunset is the sweet spot: cooler temps, less squinting heat, and a good wind‑down before evening. Expect waits during peak season and dinner hour; off‑peak or earlier meals are smoother. Hours can vary seasonally.

3 active Death Valley alerts

  • ClosurePark roads closed or hazardousPlan around multiple closed roads and use extra caution on damaged routes. - Paved roads: North Highway and Beatty Cut-off are closed due to flooding and debris from the October 22 storm.Official details
  • ClosureSaline Valley Lower Springs closed after wildfireLower Springs at Saline Valley Warm Springs remains closed after the September 15 wildfire; stay out because the fire left safety hazards, including potential hazardous chemicals.Official details
See all 3 alerts
A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone
Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Death Valley Tour Guide

Your drive to Badwater Saloon, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Death Valley National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Death Valley audio tour

Recorded for this place

Stovepipe Wells Village: Desert Outpost and Dune Gateway
Listen
“You're coming up on Stovepipe Wells Village, a classic desert crossroads and service hub.”

Plays as you drive up to Badwater Saloon in the Parkwolf Death Valley Tour Guide.

More stories near here in the app

  • Stovepipe Wells Campground: The Convenient Basecamp
  • Stovepipe Wells Airport: A Runway for Stargazing
  • Reading the Night's Story on the Dunes
  • Mosaic Canyon: A Hike Through Polished Marble
  • 130 audio storiesacross Death Valley’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
  • Wildlife heatmapsfor Bighorn Sheep, Desert Tortoise, Coyote, and 13 more
  • Works offlinemaps, 36 trails, 114 places, and audio download before you lose signal
  • CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
★★★★★
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
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4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

Guide

More about Badwater Saloon

What to ExpectThis is a casual, saloon‑style spot focused on cold drinks and straightforward comfort food.

This is a casual, saloon‑style spot focused on cold drinks and straightforward comfort food. Prices and portions are reasonable for such a remote location, and service is noted as friendly and fast. The setting is all about cooling off, refueling, and getting back to the good stuff outside.

Food & DrinkYou’ll find burgers, simple bar fare, and a solid lineup of beer, wine, and cocktails—headlined…

You’ll find burgers, simple bar fare, and a solid lineup of beer, wine, and cocktails—headlined by their own “Death Valley” label beer on tap. It’s not a culinary destination, but it hits the spot after a hot day. During occasional renovation periods, hot food can be limited, so check day‑of if you’re counting on a full menu.

WildlifeYou’re in the village core, so wildlife viewing is incidental—think birds and the odd coyote at…

You’re in the village core, so wildlife viewing is incidental—think birds and the odd coyote at dawn or dusk. For real encounters, head back out to the dunes or canyons.

Tips & PairingsPair the saloon with a sunrise or sunset session at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, or cap off a…

Pair the saloon with a sunrise or sunset session at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, or cap off a Mosaic Canyon hike here. If the attached dining program is under renovation, the saloon may pivot to simpler offerings—check the current status at the village when you roll in.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Death Valley

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Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Death Valley. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.

Keep exploring

Near Badwater Saloon

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Trails nearby

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Parkwolf’s Death Valley ranking

Top sights in Death Valley

All 114 places
  1. 1Badwater BasinSight
  2. 2Dante's ViewSight
  3. 3Mesquite Flat Sand DunesSight
  4. 4Zabriskie PointSight
  5. 5Golden CanyonSight
  6. 6Artists PaletteSight

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