My last visit I did not know about Beatty being one of the "hot sheet" centers of NV, we could hear the stillettos outside in the hallway all night! So paying more than a place is worth (and inside the park) should avoid that scenario. Other options on the California side are Ridgecrest and Panamint Springs, but if you can book a refundable rate now for inside the park, I'd probably do that.

Weather in late April in Death Valley (and to a lesser degree JTNP) is so variable that it is hard to say how much time to plan there. Just because the park is big doesn't mean you can get to all of it, especially in a rental car. In late April you are likely already into the mid to high 90s with only the mornings until about 11-12 comfortable for spending extended time out of the car (afternoons stay hot). Another factor is how much of the road network will survive the prior monsoon season (or this winter!). It really only takes a full day to cover the accessible parts of the park by car with short stops and you should not be doing long hikes at that time of year! (for example I would not hike Ubehebe Crater in April. ) Wildflower blooms are relatively accessible ner Furnace Creek but April is likely much too late. Places like Titus Canyon are probably off the table as well. Two full days (eg three nights) will be plenty even if you have only mornings for walking (eg the dunes) and later for the driving parts of the park (eg Badwater which you can see coming in from Las Vegas). You could allow a third morning by booking a night somewhere like Ridgecrest or Barstow on the way between DV and JTNP.

Be sure to download all maps (including how to get there from LAS) since Google Maps will not take you on the park roads (if you come in from Shoshone you can avoid an out and back to Badwater).

DV is quite a bit closer to Los Angeles than to Northern California where several of the very active California posters live.

I am glad that you enjoyed your Minnesota/MI/ND foray. What I forgot to say 3 years ago is that one of the reasons there is so much standing water in this part of the world is because it is at the top of a continental divide, see the green line The Great Divide between the Pacific and Atlantic is mostly the crest of peaks and the water rushes away from the divide either east or west, but this Northern, or Laurentian, Divide is mostly subtle and flat. So like a gutter full of standing water resting at the top of a hill, there is no strong positive drainage near the top of this low "height of land" continental divide and water just stands.

RE Death Valley: My visit was a pretty chilly Christmas (in no way warm), but 3 days wasn't enough. Did a steep 2000+ foot climb at the Keane Wonder Mine, which took up a whole day. Another day was the central valley floor, the dunes (frankly those set right off the main highway aren't really much, I hear there are more dramatic dunes but you will need a Jeep to get to them), Badwater, the Artist Palette drive, Zabriskie Point with a good hour of hiking there, Golden Canyon where it is worth hiking to the Red Cathedral. Waited until the last day to go up to Dante's View because the air was clearer. You can see Sierra peaks from here if you walk north up the crest from the parking lot, alas Mt Whitney is not visible. The kilns work on the way out if headed into California, it is worth going up there for the pine forest. Note that many of the roads in the Park are pretty awful. Did not have time for the Crater or Scotty's Castle which I think is still closed anyway. I know there is a southern entrance allowing a shortcut to Badwater but can't vouch for it, I believe it is now paved so fine.

Joshua Tree I saw from Palm Springs as part of work trip, did the Hidden Valley walk, the Keys overlook south over the fault (couldn't make the fault out), the cholla garden (this is a very common SW cactus, all around Santa Fe for example), I didn't do an oasis walk. It's pretty and has some size, takes a long time to traverse, but not especially scenic. The towns on the NW edge of the park like 29 Palms and Joshua Tree looked pretty lugubrious.

When one plans Death Valley it is necessary to take into account weather, type of vehicle and fitness.

Going in winter is not the same as going in late spring with a rental car.

And yes the road south to Badwater is paved.

Here is the latest winter/spring guide with some info on hikes. Red roads are paved. If you come in via Shoshone and out via Panamint (or in the other direction) you will cover both Badwater and Father Crowley vista point. Some hikes can be done for just a short bit from the parking lot and back, such as Golden Canyon.

2022-Winter-Visitor-Guide-compressed.pdf

The one spot to ask about is the Salt Creek boardwalk, it was damaged and may not have reopened yet. It took me several times to finally make it and see pupfish!

Be puzzled no more! Joshua Tree was made a national park because it shows the meeting of two deserts, and if you know where the dividing line is (hint: it's on all the park maps), it's fascinating to see the difference. No doubt, it is close to Palm Springs and can be visited easily with other attractions, so I'm sure that's also part of the lure.

Thank you for all the great information - and the maps. That all gives me a better idea of what would be possible for us to do there. I am waiting for the 2023-2024 school calendar to come out so that I will know the exact dates of the April vacation so that we can book things. And now I can see I want to be on the earliest possible dates of the vacation for any walking outside of the car. And right, with a rental car we definitely won't be going on any unpaved roads. The sunrises and sunsets look incredible and my roommate loves the dark skies places and loves to take pictures so she'll be happy snapping shots there, I'm sure. She is able to walk much less than me so we will undoubtedly just do short walks and not hikes, especially in the expected heat.

A cool place to stop outside of Death Valley is the China Ranch Date Farm, an amazing oasis in the desert. Hopefully they are making their date shakes!
https://www.chinaranch.com/default.asp?m=0

Sounds great - thank you!

We did stay in Beatty the last time we went to Death Valley and noticed no stilettos in the hall. itis about 2 and a half hours from the airport and we came from the east coast so that was as much time we were willing to drive. I also really love that approach to the park when you head west from Beatty. Loook for a quick jog to Rhyolite a ghost town with one house made from beer bottles. Then stop at the pit toilets at the top of the ridge, walk across the street for a fantastic panoramic view of the valley.
If you decide on the other route, look for lodging in Parumph, if you do not want to stay in Vegas, it will probably be less expensive than in the valley and is also on the way and less driving in the dark.

pick up a cooler and fill it with ice,food, and drinks. Do walk a way into Marble Canyon.

I would just use either Beatty or Parumph as a place to stay for the first night to drive into the park in daylight then stay there o couple of days.

Have a fantastic trip!