Find latest started threadsLas Vegas to Ely is 250 miles (400 km) - does your car have adequate fuel range? If it's going to be close, I'd top up in Alamo.
RoadTrip Guru & Enthusiast
Las Vegas to Ely is 250 miles (400 km) - does your car have adequate fuel range? If it's going to be close, I'd top up in Alamo.
Can't mss Death Valley!
It's always great when a member takes our suggestions to heart and modifies the scale of a trip. That being said, when you are so close to Death Valley National Park -- you really must go and at least drive through....Originally Posted by benjis_monikuss
So from Bakersfield take CA-58 through Tehachapi (don't forget to stop for some fantastic German pretzels at Kohens) when you reach CA-14 head northeast towards Ridgecrest and then County 178 through the Panamint Valley. Stop for an iced tea and marvel at the Redwood Burl at Panamint Springs and then head back northeast on CA-178 for the drive over Emigrant Pass into Death Valley National Park. If time is tight you can continue on to Furnace Creek and out of the Park to Pahrump. From there, it is short drive "over the hump" to Las Vegas. If you have more time, there are lots of places to explore on the paved roads in the park.
Mark
I'm fortunate enough to drive a '13 Honda Civic with a 50L/13.2g tank I get around 600-700km/ 435mi full to empty, 28mpg city and 36 hwy. My cardinal rule on this trip is to avoid having any less than 1/2 tank of gas, even with good economy, running out of gas is still my biggest fear lol. I'm going to add a backup list of gas stop towns in between gas stops just to put my mind at ease.
Thanks Mark, everyone on here offers tried and true opinions, I'd be silly not to take the advice I'm given! And it's funny that you mention that, as I've been delegating my weekends to the planning of this trip, today I zoomed in dragging my google map around my route and started looking at Death Valley. We will definitely have the time that day as we only have plans for Vegas that evening. I'm going to mention that to my partner in crime, but she hasn't done much to reign me in so far haha. I am literally going to copy and paste your directions into our 'Road Trip' file, that sounds like an awesome little detour! What brilliant suggestions!
A trip worth reporting.
As Mark states, Death Valley is too good to miss, when you are sooooooo close. Even if it is only a drive through with a stop here and there for a photo. There is nothing like it on the planet. It is amazing.
Your trip certainly sounds great and your excitement is understandable. However, we are just as excited for you and would love to hear how you got... how it all went. Sure hope you will be able to take some notes and share some of your photos with us.
Lifey
I definitely want to see Death Valley, we'll just have to look at our timeline for the day. I plan on documenting this trip very well, I've never done anything like it and will definitely post once I'm back and settled and pull everything of their devices. I'd like to keep some kind of journal/ timeline of all of our stops etc as well as getting some fantastic photos!
Out of curiosity do you know where I can get gas on that route, I was planning in going from Bakersfield - Barstow to gas up- Las Vegas.
RoadTrip Guru & Enthusiast
There is plenty of gas in Ridgecrest and Pahrump. Another option to Mark's recommendation is take CA-178 all the way from Bakersfield.
If you don't want to get below 1/2 tank, top off your tank in Alamo. It's 150 miles from there to Ely, with no gas stations at all.
178 does look more scenic? Going through some forests and a lake. I have some more research to do apparently haha
My threshold is 1/10th of a tank....
And don't get too paranoid about the 1/2 tank of gasoline issue. There are only a few stretches of highway anywhere in America where 1/2 tank of fuel (especially in your car) won't provide plenty of fueling options. I routinely drive sections of the Mojave Desert with less than 1/2 tank. The only exception is when I am about to drive off-highway -- then I try and leave the pavement with a full tank.
Mark
Wildrose canyon road ?
This is Mark's back yard and he knows DV well, but I have to ask if the section of road through Wildrose towards Emigrant pass would be suitable for a Honda Civic as it's described as 'Rough', narrow and windy. Otherwise I would continue on 190 from Panamint Springs to Furnace Creek.when you reach CA-14 head northeast towards Ridgecrest and then County 178 through the Panamint Valley. Stop for an iced tea and marvel at the Redwood Burl at Panamint Springs and then head back northeast on CA-178 for the drive over Emigrant Pass into Death Valley National Park.
You will also find Ballarat Ghost town along the Panamint Valley road.
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