Las Vegas Travel Forum

We are thinking of travelling to las vegas end of july beginning of august and are going to drive to yosemite. We want to see death valley but are a bit worried about driving through there in the heat, how long would it take to drive through the desert and would it be better to stop overnight or just keep driving to yosemite?

Also any advise on the best route to visit all these places, las vegas, grand canyon, yosemite, LA and san diego?
Thanks

We got good advice on this last year (although we only drove near Death Valley on I-15), the main routes are not that remote or anything but if you broke down or whatever and say it took an hour for the emergency services or recvoery to reach you - that can be a long time.

Before you set out to drive in the desert have AT LEAST one gallon bottled water per passenger in the boot of the car.

And if a sign says to wirtsh off the Air Con for 10 miles - do it. We saw this driving from Yuma, AZ to San Diego CA and in that 10 miles stretch we had seen I think 4 differnt break downs - presumably from overheating.

I would go, unless I had an unreliable car. I love Stovepipe Wells Lodge in the summer. They keep the pool open late at night and it's always packed with Europeans.

You will get to go by Mono Lake - stop and check out the tufa deposits at the south end.

In LA - Cantors, Cantors, Cantors (unless you're from New York.) It's the best deli on the west coast and it's open 24 hours a day.

Between Vegas and the Grand Canyon, take old route 66, where it still exists. Check out the burros in Oatman.

If you are planning an overnight stay at any of the national parks at that time of year, you'd better check on the availability of lodging now. Gary

I would drive to Death Valley and continue to San Diego then go up the 405 to LA from LA go North to Yosemite. Then you can go to Lake Tahoe and Reno then back down to Vegas.I am from Ca and Las Vegas so I would'nt spend a night in death Valley unless you like HOTT Deserts. From Las Vegas to Death Valley you can go in the back way and drive thur to Baker and get on 15 to San Diego in a few hours depending on stops.I would guess about 8 hours to drive thur DV and get to San Diego.I don't know how long you are staying but I would say at least 2 days in SD 2 hour drive to LA,unlimited time in LA as long as you can theres a lot to do there between OC and LA 1 day to drive to Yosemite and 2 days there and about a day and 1/2 to get back to Vegas.As for the signs to turn off the A/C those signs have been up for 50 years and as long as you have a newer in good condition car I would'nt worry about it. I drive to Ca at least once a month and have never turned off the A/C and its not worth suffering in the 115 heat.Do take a cooler with water just in case and a cell phone.

Hi! Las Vegas, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, San Diego and LA...that sure is A LOT of driving, mostly through HOT and very boring desert. Temps in Death Valley can reach 120 degrees at that time. My suggestion: While you are in Las Vegas, take a helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon and skip driving there. It's about 2 1/2 hours to Death Valley from Las Vegas--your choice if you want to stay there in that heat. Personally, I'd leave LV early, spend several hours in Death Valley, and then drive up Highway 395 (spectacular Sierra Nevada scenery on your left--like Mt. Whitney)and spend the night in Mammoth Lakes where the weather will be great and the scenery is beautiful. Mammoth is about three hours from Death Valley. It's at 8000 feet so the weather is much cooler; it's only 5 minutes from 395 which has been gradually climbing from Bishop--a mostly straight, easy drive. The next day head for Yosemite--about 2 1/2 hours from Mammoth and a gorgeous drive through the Sierras over the Tioga Pass. You may want to stop by Devil's Postpile before you leave Mammoth--very cool! You could also visit Mono Lake as mentioned or visit Bodie Ghost Town (if Arnold hasn't closed it--it's on his hit list). When you are ready to leave Yosemite head south on the 5 freeway to LA and on to San Diego. If you are certain that you have a good, reliable car and plenty of gas and water and a cell phone I wouldn't worry about driving in the heat. You'll be on well-traveled roads the whole time. One further tip: since CA is bankrupt we've noticed that the Highway Patrol is out in force Big Time, writing tickets to make up the difference, especially around Bishop, so watch your speed! Have fun!

Definitely visit Death Valley. It will be hot (110-120 degrees during the day), but you will be spending most of your time inside an air-conditioned car, so you will only experience it for brief periods when you step outside at viewpoints. other interesting things to see along the way in California include the Manzanar historic site (site of World War II Japanese internment camp), the Bristlecone Pine forest (world's oldest trees), the Devil's Postpile (unusual rock formation), Mammoth (take the gondola to the mountaintop for a great view), Mono Lake, and Bodie (largest ghost town in the western US). Feel free to visit our Death Valley, Manzanar, Devil's Postpile, and Bodie pages here on Virtual Tourist for pictures and more info.