Holiday Inn Express and Suites sits on the main highway through Pahrump, the largest town on the Nevada side of Death Valley and the last place with a full range of shops, fuel and restaurants before the desert closes in. That makes it a very practical base. It has about a hundred rooms, a continental breakfast included in the rate, an outdoor pool, a hot tub and a 24-hour gym, and it is one of the best-reviewed hotels in town. You will not be sleeping inside the park, and nobody pretends otherwise, but you will be sleeping in a clean, quiet, air-conditioned room at a sensible price, with a proper breakfast before an early start and a cool pool when you come back from the heat. For travelers driving in from Las Vegas it also breaks the long day into two easier halves.
Location
The hotel is on South Highway 160, within a short walk of the Pahrump Nugget casino and a handful of fast-food and sit-down restaurants, with a larger choice a couple of minutes away by car. Las Vegas is roughly an hour and a quarter away by road, and the entrance to the national park is further on across the Pahrump Valley and the dry Amargosa landscape, so allow a good part of an hour and a half or more to reach Furnace Creek and plan the day with that drive in mind. Fill the tank in Pahrump before you leave, because fuel inside the park is limited and expensive.
Rooms and facilities
Expect standard chain rooms with king or two queen beds, plus suites with a sofa bed for families. Rooms typically have a television, microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker, and there are accessible rooms. Free parking and wireless internet are included, there is a laundry room, a business center and a small bar or lounge, and the hotel has an elevator.
There is no full restaurant on site, which is why the included breakfast matters: serving hours are set by the hotel, so check them when you book if you want to leave before dawn for a sunrise at Zabriskie Point.
Who it suits
Road-trippers, families who want a pool, couples on a budget and anyone who wants a reliable bed after a long day in the sun. It is a good choice in summer, when the in-park hotels are expensive and some close, because you can do the park in the cooler early morning and be back in the pool by early afternoon.
In winter and spring, when the park lodging is booked solid, Pahrump is the practical overflow base. Dogs are accepted for a fee, so pet owners should confirm the policy when they book.
Practical tips
Check-in starts in the afternoon and check-out is late morning, so on a park day you can pack the car and leave your gear in the room while you are out. Ask about room location if you are sensitive to highway noise. Pahrump is also close to the wine tasting rooms and the racing track on the edge of town if you want a different kind of evening. Rates swing with events and holiday weekends, so compare dates when you book and read recent traveler comments before you decide.
Why stay here
- ✓Free continental breakfast
- ✓Outdoor swimming pool
- ✓Hot tub
- ✓24-hour fitness room
- ✓Free parking
- ✓Free wireless internet
- ✓Laundry facilities
- ✓Rooms with microwave and refrigerator
Good questions
How far is it from Death Valley National Park?+
Pahrump is on the east approach, so expect a drive of roughly an hour and a half or more to reach Furnace Creek. Plan an early start.
Is breakfast included?+
A continental breakfast is included in the rate. Check the serving hours when you book if you plan to leave early.
Is it a good choice in summer?+
Yes. The pool and air conditioning suit hot months, and you can visit the park in the cool early morning and return to rest.
