Best route to Death Valley

[Giant Jeff]

Travelling to Death Valley in a couple weeks and have never been there. What's the best route? We'll be coming from the Bakersfield area via hgwy 58 in a 36 foot class A with a toad. We're staying at the National Park campground in Furnace creek. Im looking at 395 out of Lonepine but heard there are other routes.

[Sagamore]

don't take 178. I took it and will never drive it again.

[Doggy Daddy]

Near Boron is the Borax 20 Mule Team Visitors Center.
Spacious parking $3 and educational. Set aside 60-90 minutes. http://www.borax.com/about-borax/visitor-center

https://images.search.yahoo.com/sear...isitors+center

[RV735]

Giant Jeff, We traveled from Bakersfield on Rt-58, turned north onto Rt-395, east onto Rt-90 and into Death Valley March of 2014. We were very surprised on Rt-190 at the steep down hills 7-8% for several miles, hair pin turns, into the first valley, up several thousand feet over a mountain range. Then down into Death Valley with the same steep, slow hair pin turns. Beautiful scenery but scary down hills. I would not travel again with a MH. We towed a toad and have an exhaust brake. I pity anyone who is in MH with no exhaust brake. The rangers in Death Valley indicated that it is not unusual to see MH catch fire from brakes overheating from inexperienced drivers.

If you are not adventurous I would suggest entering form the east side and pick up Rt-190 west. We left Death Valley going east to Las Vegas and the road was not difficult. Death Valley was spectacular. We did not know there was so much to see. Zabriskie Point was the most scenic.

We have yet to update our blog for our trip back to NY form California but will be doing that in the future weeks. You can see our blog of the 2014 trip form NY starting on the Natchez Trace Road in Mss. at:

RVGR8escape: MONT JULIET, TENNESSEE JANUARY 3-7, 2014

EnJOY Death valley it is worth the trip
Safe travels and THE JOY IS IN THE RIDE

[Dennis_K]

The best route between Bakersfield and Death Valley is 58 to I15 to 127 to 190 and enter Death Valley from the southeast. Using 395 and 190 entering from the west is a very twisty and steep road not recommended for RV's and this time of year the weather could add to that difficulty.

[focker]

We have driven in from 395 to 190 many times with our 37 foot Outlaw with no issue however the above comments are correct about being twisty and steep in areas and to not use the brakes excessively. If you mind your speed and use the engine to slow your speed down you will be fine coming from that direction.
Coming from Sacramento it would add far too many miles and too much time to go around to the east/southeast.

[AvoJim]

Zabriskie Point is currently closed for construction. Check out Dantes View for a great birdseye view of the whole valley.

AJ