How risky is it to visit in January without hotel reservations in advance?
I'm the trip planner, or more honestly, the over planner. I'm planning on spending a Saturday and a Sunday night in the park. Can I change my ways and wing it without ending up sleeping in the car, which makes me very grumpy, or should I book something on each end of the park for maximum sight seeing opportunities?
Any recommendations for accommodations are also appreciated. I prefer to stay inside the parks.

Check out this link
http://tinyurl.com/q6mu53t
showing monthly visitation levels over the last 25 years or so.

If you want to stay within Death Valley NP, here's your options:
http://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/lodging.htm

We always book at Furnace Creek Ranch. It's not like there are a lot of other options. Check the cancellation policy. It is two days in advance.

HTtY

Absolutely book in advance -- you will be there on a weekend.

Book one place and use it as a base.

There were epic floods in Death Valley last month. As you plan your visit, you may want to read the article at the link below. Note that Grapevine Canyon and Scotty's Castle are closed indefinitely. Several other roads are also closed with no re-open dates announced yet.

http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me...110-story.html

As the date of your trip approaches, check the Death Valley Morning Report.

http://www.nps.gov/deva/upload/Morning-Report.pdf

Even Ridgecrest can get sold out. Definitely book ahead.

I would book ahead.
I would also join AAA if you do not already belong.
Family members had a breakdown this spring and were very glad they had AAA to pay for the tow. You can also use it to save on hotel rooms throughout the trip.

I don't think anyone pays for a tow from Death Valley to the nearest shop (which I believe is 5 hours away in Las Vegas) Plus there isn't any cellphone reception!

I know this because I had a flat on the side of the road toward Badwater.

Fortunately my spare was inflated and a group of good Samaritans managed to change it.

So better advice is to be sure you have a good spare and jack, don't drive at night, carry extra water and blankets.

And keep your eyes on the road! (It is difficult, I was distracted by the scenery and there was a sharp edge to the paving that blew out a sidewall on my very expensive tire).

Weird, mlgb. I'll ask to confirm, but we got the message that they were being towed to get the truck fixed. And they weren't traveling at night.

So what are you saying? Trucks that break down just sit in Death Valley forever?

I'm renting a car, it'll be their problem. I have aaa, our car has 160,000 miles on it.

Thanks for the responses, I am going to book at furnace creek tonite.

Jean, thanks for the heads up about the flooding. I didn't think it was that bad but I am wrong. It totally figures that something like that would happen. When we went to Yellowstone three of the entrance's were shut down and we had to detour 550 miles just to get into the darn park. Good times.

I was wrong.
She was in the Mojave desert, not Death Valley.
She had very little cell service, but enough to call out and text. Not enough for GPS. Verizon is her provider.
AAA towed her to get it fixed.

>>I don't think anyone pays for a tow from Death Valley to the nearest shop (which I believe is 5 hours away in Las Vegas)

Check out the news on severe flooding in Death Valley.

We will be there the first week in December. Already booked Furnace Creek.
Will report back!

thanks sassy_cat, I just checked the D.V. face book page and some roads are opening up. It doesn't look like a low rider auto is going to cut it in the park though.....

We have 4 wheel drive booked

Thanks ziggypop

Artist's Drive (loop) off Badwater Road south of Furnace Creek has reopened.