Death Valley

I suppose as long as it doesn't overheat.

It will be hot. You will have a 5000 ft gain in elevation to get to Lone Pine.
CA 190 interesting link.

Chiefelectusn wrote:
Going to be in the Death Valley area in mid May.
Can you drive through the park in a 40' RV with tow comfortably without problems coming from Beatty, NV to Lone Pine, CA.

I'll be there at the same time. I might loop down around and head for Yosemite. PM me if you want to exchange ideas.

I don't think I would recommend it.

Hwy 190 climbs from -100 ft to almost 5000 ft in a long curvy road leading to the summit of Towne's Pass. From the summit there is a 10% downgrade for about 5 miles (maybe a little more) down to the Panamint Valley floor...then once again climb up over the Cerro Gordo mts on a VERY curvy and 6+ grade before getting over to Owens Valley and Lone Pine.

Your motor home better be in tip top condition, and I'm sure it's temperature will climb sufficiently that you'll have to pull over to let it cool off.

You can by-pass this last climb (out of Panamint Springs) by taking the cut off (in the Panamint Valley floor - before you get to Panamint Springs) over to Trona and Ridgecrest to Hwy 395. There is a small climb over Slate Range just before dropping into Searles Valley and Trona. This grade is at least 6%, but it's only a couple of miles long and does have a couple of horseshoe turns.

Note my location...I'm only a few miles from there and have lived here most of my life...so I know this area quite well.

During May, I would recommend going the Trona way or as far as Stovepipe Wells, and then back track over to Furnace Creek and then go out of the park via Death Valley Junction and Baker to I-15. From there you can go west on I-15 to Barstow, Hwy 58 west to Hwy 395.

Good luck and I hope this helps..

Ron

Be very careful going down Towne pass to the west as it can be unforgiving with curves and a relatively steep downgrade. It is not a place to have brake problems.

I've done it towing a 5er, it was, well, cool. Rain when we went over the pass that changed to snow while we were in Lone Pine.
I don't recommend it, period.
This forum has a former CalTrans employee that strongly does not recommend it.

n7bsn wrote:
I've done it towing a 5er, it was, well, cool. Rain when we went over the pass that changed to snow while we were in Lone Pine.
I don't recommend it, period.
This forum has a former CalTrans employee that strongly does not recommend it.

That retired caltrans employee would be me. May Temps in the valley will be hovering around one hundred degrees. I have seen hone hundred twenty degrees at nine in the morning. Mid seventies at night. It just isn't worth the risk. That road is hard on RV's hot brakes and overheating are common and I have seen them on fire. Help is a long way away.

Thanks to all!
I think that we will stay in Pahrump and tour Death Valley by Jeep, then either circle north or south around it to get to Lone Pine and then Lee Vining,
Smart thing to do. Thanks again.

If you're coming in from the east (pahrump) I would go on to Furnace Creek and camp there. Then use that as a base camp and use the jeep to explore the rest of the part. When leaving for good, recommend going down to Baker and I-15 (as I mentioned in my previous reply).

Have fun..

Ron

Three friends of mine and I drove through Death Valley on a Sunday afternoon in a Plymouth Barracuda with no A/C. That was 1967. I've still never been any hotter than that.