Death Valley

[racquetballfreq]

We live in the Antelope Valley, northeast of Los Angeles and are planning a trip to Death Valley. There appears to be a couple of routes that we can take. Anybody have an opinion/advise as to the best route to take pulling our 318BHS?

[HamRad]

Racquetbllfreq,
From where you are just about any of the routes are OK. We used to like to take the route up through Trona. But I don't know if the Park even maintains that road any longer.

Last time we were over that direction we were in Pahrump, NV and came it from that side of the park. We were pulling the Monty and took 127 south to the I-15. Easy enough ride and will bring you into the park from the south.

Or take the 395 up till you hit the 190 and come in from the west. All of the routes are very doable and you should have no trouble with the rig. Just take your time and enjoy the scenery.

We've also camped from one end of the part to the other. At the north end you are up about 2200 to 2500 feet or so. At the other end you are near or actually lower than sea level. Great star viewing!

Enjoy your trip, Dennis

[Clemson1881]

The real Death Valley is located in the upstate of South Carolina. It will be a long trip, but it is quite an experience.

[racquetballfreq]

Thanks, Dennis, for the great info. We'll take the 395-to-190 route.

[sreigle]

When are you going to Death Valley? Or have you gone already? I'm from the midwest. May is late Spring and usually warm but not ridiculously hot. I made the mistake of taking us there one year in May. We came in from the south and went to the middle, then west to the park boundary at Panamint Springs, where we stayed 3 nights in the CG there. The temperature when driving through the park was 114 degrees. And we had about a hundred or so miles at that temperature plus a long 10% grade to climb. But we made it. We have a horror story about the park but that's another subject and not something you'll probably run into. Next time we'll stay in that park more in the interior of the NP. Forgot it's name. We want to go back. But not in May!