Death Valley National Park Travel Forum

We live in the UK, and are flying into Las Vegas for 2 weeks, from September 13th.
For our 2nd week (as we head back towards Las Vegas from Santa Barbara, we wanted to find somewhere to base ourselves for a couple of days, where we could do some hiking and see some glorious countryside. Is Death Valley N.P. a good choice?
If so, where should we stay, and can you recommend a hotel? Do you have a website for a more detailed map?

MANY THANKS

David Howard

Hi David,

Death Valley would be a good choice, but not at the time when you will be visiting. It is way too hot...and I mean...hot. Once I was there exatly the same time as you are planning to come, the highest temperature was 130!!! We were camping one night, but instead of sleeping, we were just sweating and drinking at night...the temp. was around 98 at night...it didn`t really wanted to cool down until 2-3am, and the dry wind made it even worse. I didn`t regret though...it was worthed. I guess, if you would stay in the hotel, you probably have the airconditioner there, so it`s somewhat better then camping.
Hiking is really out of question...you can probably go by car and just take a short look at the most important sites, but believe me...soon you will want to get back to the airconditionered car. Make sure that your car is in good condition. I am not sure if you were asking a map about Death Valley or the neighbourhood...but here is the official site of the National Parks, you will find maps here.

Have a good time,
Cheers
Monika

I forgot about the link :-)
Here it is
http://www.nps.gov/deva/

Thanks for your advice.

joshua tree national park would be cooler and a lot better hiking and only about 45 minutes from Palm springs area. Great discounts on hotels as season hasnt really started yet in september. Death Valley that time of year offers heat stroke, sun stroke and not much more that time of year. It will still be over f100 here in palm springs. Joshua Tree national park f85 to f95. Need any other info on area just email me

follow up from clamman there is a back route from L.V. to joshua tree that is a very nice drive and avoids a lot of the nastry Interstate 15 construction thats going on now through 2005

While Death Valley is truly fascinating in its barren beauty, the September heat is unbearable. In all of our travels in the western US, Death Valley is the only place we left earlier than planned because the heat was intolerable. We felt it was actually dangerous for humans and bad for the car, too. A breakdown here is really a problem.

I would recommend Yosemite. The weather will be beautiful and the hiking and scenery cant be beat. Stay in the Valley for a couple days at one of the hotels or at a tent cabin in Curry Village. Yosemite is not to be missed if you like waterfalls and outdoor beauty. When you leave, take Hwy 120 east over the Sierra Nevada Mountains and on through Death Valley to Las Vegas. This is a wonderful drive.

yosemite is probably the best choice for moderate temperatures and it is suppose to be fabulous.
joshua tree is nice but it will be quite hot too.
i was in death valley recently. even though it will be very hot, i'd stay one night at the furnace creek ranch. they have air conditioning in their rooms and they have a pool. a couple of restaurants on sight so you won't have to walk far. won't be able to hike but driving the car around is worth having a look. just the drive across the park is interesting. some of the nice viewpoints you can drive to and you could do artist's drive.