FURNACE CREEK, Death Valley in the Summer.

We were in Pahrump in July for a few days when prevailing daytime temps were 117 degrees. Not terribly uncomfortable with AC set at MAX but I don't want to do it again. You've got to really want to have that experience.

The tow company from Lone Pine makes daily runs into the park. :) It won't take long to get service.

We are heading to Furnace Creek on Christmas morning coz nothing says Christmas like DEATH VALLEY, LOL. It's sold out. Not a single spot left. Typical California National Park Camping. Forecast is 38F at night and 65F during the day. LOVELY!

Can you do it in the summer? Sure. Everything may go very well and you WILL NOT HAVE A PROBLEM GETTING A SPOT. Any time I don't have a problem booking a site at the last minute in a NP in CA, I have to figure out why. With the potential for 120f during the day, IF anything breaks or goes wrong, say with your AC or Gen, you will be sleeping on the floor of the visitors center if you are lucky. ;)

Good luck and have fun. I certainly hope you do. Tell us how it goes as I love reading trip reports.

We camped @ Stovepipe in September and was supposed to be upper 80s and turned out to be 110+. With hookups we survived quite well. We used the reflective foil in the windows and kept blinds pulled. We stayed 3 nights and did most of our sightseeing in the morning and evenings. A/C ran nonstop, and fridge seemed to do just fine. Enjoyed our trip and would do it again in a heartbeat.
(P.S. DW and I are in the minority here as we can stand a lot of heat but just despise cold...)

Save a trip to Furnace Creek for winter or early spring. Going in the summer is asking for trouble.

As one who lives in the Mojave desert I can say that the night time temps will not be that much different when the sun does down. Yes it's cools a little and the sun load is gone but at midnight it could still be over 100. Lows at that time of year will be in the 90's. RV A/C units will not keep up.

If you have to ask if you're crazy, then you just might be :b
Unless you're a Vulcan I'd advise against it.

With the forecast calling for highs in the upper 80's, we ventured west to east from 395 through the valley in late September. BIG mistake! By 1000 we had gotten to Panamint Springs and it was 110 and the climb up and out from there generated the highest coolant and trans fluid temps I have ever seen {225/230}.

Weather forecasts in DV are not to be trusted just about any time of year. We made it out to Pahrump but as noted our frig was working overtime without much in the way of good results.
To answer the OP's original question... YES, you are crazy if you venture into DV in June. :B

You might get away with it but why put you, your family and the rig through it? If anything goes wrong {breakdowns, flat tire etc.} it is going to be a huge problem very quickly. Roadside assistance and cell coverage are spread pretty thin. Death Valley is amazing but choose your moment carefully and then you can enjoy... safely.

I am in the early planning stages of the Iron Butt Association's Heaven to Hell endurance ride from Pike's Peak to Bad Water. It will be tricky balancing the weather on each end of this {motorcycle} ride. Don't want to get summer temps in DV or winter on Pike's Peak. Hoping for a weather window in late April - mid May.... either way it should be a hell of a ride. {see, I do know a little bit about crazy... LMAO}.


As always.... Opinions and YMMV.

:C

Never been there myself, but just the name of the place says it all: DEATH valley!

TenOC wrote:
With FHU has anyone camped in June. Will 2 A/C keep my 30 foot 5er cool. It does not need to be cold only cool enough to sleep.

Or am I crazy . . . :R

:):):) I think you answered your own question:):):) Death Valley is absolute must to visit BUT in early spring, ie Feb. ,March,April. The desert heat is real different in that it is a dry heat which makes it less tolerable. The lack of any humidity just adds to the real heat temps. in Death Valley.