Trip to Death Valley National Park from Illinois

Here's a suggestion if you still want to visit DV in August: Stay in one the nice and inexpensive RV parks in Pahrump, NV and drive to DV by car. If you don't have a toad, rent a car for a day or two to explore the entire park. Pahrump is only 60 miles from Furnace Creek. While in Pahrump, you can also visit Las Vegas 60 miles away. Make sure to visit DV early in the morning while the temps are at their lowest. Good luck!