Tucked in the park’s quieter northern reaches near Scotty’s Castle Road, Mesquite Spring is a genuinely peaceful alternative to the busier Furnace Creek area, with far fewer visitors despite being just as scenic. Sites offer vault toilets and potable water, no hookups, on a first-come, first-served basis year-round — this stays open even in summer, though camping in Death Valley’s peak heat season is still not advisable regardless of which campground you choose. Its northern location puts you closer to the Racetrack Playa and Ubehebe Crater than anything near Furnace Creek, making it a smart base if those more remote sights are on your itinerary.