Death Valley in June?

The road, particularly on the west side, can get steep and you might want to check all that out. It will be hot for both you and the gas engine. Can it be done? Yes, with caution.

TNRIVERSIDE wrote:
Is it safe to go through Death Valley in late June?
We are planing our trip out west (from Tennessee) for next summer with the Grandkids so we will be traveling while school is out. Our plan has us going from Yosemite (Tuolumne) to Los Vegas. Not staying in Death Velley. Just driving through. Pulling our 21' TT with our F150. The high temperature is the concern. Is this a safe plan? Thoughts appreciated.

June could see some hot temps during the day. Check DV's average temps in June. Look at changing the order of your schedule i.e. If going to Death Valley first would get you there earlier in the season April, May, you might avoid some of the heat temps. Just some general trip thoughts:
1. Make sure your vechicle is in tip top shape, especially tires and batteries. Carry an extra fan belt with you.
2. Make sure you have a good "Emergency Road Side Service plan" i.e. Good Sam, don't depend on service plans that are not primarily designed for RVers i.e. AAA. Let your family members at home know what your RV itinerary is approx. when going traveling through Death Valley.
3. There are some good RV camp grounds right in Death Valley at Furnance Creek to stay if you want to break up your trip from Yosemite to Las Vegas. Death Valley is an incredible experience and to really appreciate it you could spend 2 or 3 days exploring. To really appreciate the wonders of DV, I would recommend buying a travel book for DV and/or a good video before you visit there. Personally, Las Vegas would not be a high priority for me if traveling with kids. There is little to do for children, it is a Disney Land experience for adults. Just my own opinion based on many trips to both. If Vegas is a priority for you, I would check out the various shows especially ones that kids might enjoy and book them in advance.

The only way you can get from Yosemite, down the eastern side of the Sierras is Tioga pass. It is Hwy 120.
It is a steep downgrade with curves. You can do this easy. Lower gear is your friend.

This highway comes out near the eastern Sierra town of Lee Vining at Hwy 395.
Turn right, or south, on Hwy 395 for several miles and just after (south of) the June Lake junction turnoff, (Hwy 158) turn left, or east, on the now continuing Hwy 120.

This will take you to Tonopah NV. Then just follow Hwy 95 south all the way into Las Vegas.
Avoids the heat of Death Valley completely.

Doubt school will be out in April and May. I've been through death Valley in the summer three times and all three times I've had to run the heater with the windows down to try and keep the engine from overheating. The last time I had rigged a water spray system using water from the travel trailer to spray water on the radiator and it still overheated at less than 20 mph. Waited until later in the day leaving Yosemite so the temperatures would not be as hot.. waited until later in the day leaving Yosemite so the temperatures would not be as hot. . only 118.

I agree it's the shortest way to get to Vegas but I would rigg a water system with a spray bar and a valve that you can turn on from the PU when needed using the 12 V water pump in the camper. There is a reason there are water barrels every half-mile on this route.

PS: I boiled the brake fluid on the way down when a car pulled out in front of me losing the brakes on my suburban and having to use the electric brakes on the trailer. The brakes fixed themselves when they cooled down at the stovepipe wells.

Tioga pass Hwy. 120 would not be my 1 first choice to get to Death Valley when pulling or in this case being PUSHED by my trailer going down a steep grade!!! IMHO:)

Being a desert dweller myself I would suggest you stay out of Death Valley and Las Vegas in the summer. Staying overnight would be a real challenge as the nighttime temperatures could be well over 90 and an RV A/C unit will not be enough. Entering Death Valley from the west on CA190 anytime of the year with an RV without an engine brake is not recommended. Death Valley is a land of extreams, heat, steep terrain and very desolate. I have done it in July with my DP towing a trailer but then I live in a similar environment so it was "normal" to me and I probably wouldn't do it again.
Use clarkster's route or take the long way around by not going through Yosemite to US395, but loop through Yosemite valley then head south on CA99 to Bakersfield and east on CA58 to I15 into Vegas. But remember that Vegas is desert too and it will not be much different than Death Valley. These are areas best visited in the winter.

Do it, it will be worth seeing. I have been there during the 4th of July. Going east from DV towards Vegas isnt that hard of a climb and any modern vehicle should not have an issue with it. I would even plan to spend a night in DV.

clarkster wrote:
The only way you can get from Yosemite, down the eastern side of the Sierras is Tioga pass. It is Hwy 120.
It is a steep downgrade with curves. You can do this easy. Lower gear is your friend.

This highway comes out near the eastern Sierra town of Lee Vining at Hwy 395.
Turn right, or south, on Hwy 395 for several miles and just after (south of) the June Lake junction turnoff, (Hwy 158) turn left, or east, on the now continuing Hwy 120.

This will take you to Tonopah NV. Then just follow Hwy 95 south all the way into Las Vegas.
Avoids the heat of Death Valley completely.

This is the way I would go. I would also plan shorter travel days in the desert so you are not on the road in the heat of the day. Leave early morning and get to your next stop by lunchtime. Get your trailer A/C running before you even unhitch. I would also get your transmission and cooling system serviced before you head out west. Get something like a Scangauge to monitor temps and don't rely on the Ford dumb gauges

There are several long 8% to 10% grades. Yes it will be hot. If your truck is in good shape you should be fine. Don't push it. There are some hookups in Furnace Creek campground if you care to spend the night. Although it could be after midnight before your trailer gets reasonably cool to sleep. Carry some water in your fresh tank for if you get stuck. The road itself is good, just steep.

There are some sights to see along the roadway. You will not likely be getting out for much of a hike. Visitors center is a good for lots of information. There is gasoline in the park but it will be at least $1 more than anything you have seen this year.

If it sparks curiosity plan to return in the Winter or even Spring break. Much to see is off the paved road and will take days or a week+ to see most of it as the park is so large.

And yes if you have an engine temperature gauge you will probably get to see it actually move. Keep an eye on it and slow down some if it starts to climb.

Death Valley in June is just foolish, no good reason to be there with alternate routes available... and they won't be all that cool.

You will need to be able to monitor you trans fluid as well as well as engine coolant temps. Don't think you can safely rely on the dash gauges. A Scan Gauge will give you all the info you need. Keep the F-150 in Tow Haul to help keep the trans temp down and for better control both going up and down{it will cool your brakes big time}, those very long steep grades.

We did it last year in September and the forecast high of 88 turned into 110 by the time we got to Furnace creek. I was running our V-10 Class C and pulling my motorcycle {bike and trailer are 1,000#}, and it was not fun. Saw 230 degrees of trans fluid and 224 of engine coolant but they both dropped like stone {as they should}, once we cleared the summits.

As always.... Opinions and YMMV.

:C