Death Valley in one long day

[mdod]

I tried my first post a few of hours ago but nothing has come up so I'm posting again. Hopefully this won't be a duplicate.

We were going to go to Death Valley next weekend and spend the night at Stove Pipe Wells but we may have to leave early the next morning to pick up friends in Vegas on our way to Zion so we're thinking about doing Death Valley in one day. We'll be heading out early AM from near Red Rock Canyon and we'll go until dark, eating meals along the way. These are the places that we'd like to go in the order that seems to be the most efficient route.

Dante's View
20 Mule Team Canyon
Zabriskie's Point
Badwater
Devil's Golf Course
Artist's Drive
Golden Canyon Trail
Salt Creek Flats- pupfish
Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes
Mosaic Canyon

Other than Golden and Mosaic Canyons, it sounds like most of these are drives or short stops but I have no idea how long it takes to get from one place to another. If anybody can give me an idea so I will now how we're doing time wise, that would be great.

I read that Zabriskie's Point is best at sunset or early morning but then we'd have to back track to pick up 20 Mule Team Canyon and Dante's View. Is it worth doing that?

I had also planned to finish up at the Sand Dunes near sunset but then I read that the sun sets there 90 min earlier than other places. If that is the case, would we be able to go to Mosaic Canyon after the dunes or does the sun set early in the canyon too?

Do we need to see Golden Canyon and Mosaic Canyon or does seeing one give you a feel for the other? If we have to cut something, any suggestions as to what to cut first?

TIA!

[Mark Sedenquist]

I tried my first post a few of hours ago but nothing has come up so I'm posting again. Hopefully this won't be a duplicate.

Sorry, you had a problem the first time -- thanks for reposting and Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum!

We were going to go to Death Valley next weekend and spend the night at Stove Pipe Wells

Where are you starting from?

but we may have to leave early the next morning to pick up friends in Vegas on our way to Zion so we're thinking about doing Death Valley in one day.

It's a good three hours from Las Vegas to the park and so you are looking at a very long day... but here's my suggestions

We'll be heading out early AM from near Red Rock Canyon and we'll go until dark, eating meals along the way. These are the places that we'd like to go in the order that seems to be the most efficient route.

Oh, so if I read this correctly -- you are planning to start in Summerlin, drive to Death Valley, drive around Death Valley and still reach Zion that night? If you left at sun-up --it could be done, I guess.

Death Valley is one of my favorite parks in America -- I can easily spend weeks at a time in there -- but given your time-table this is what I suggest:

Take the local's route to Death Valley Junction and follow CA-190 into the park. (I would take a miss on Dante's View this time -- )

Drive the one-way Twenty Mule Canyon -- one of the best drives in the park

Stop at Zabriskie's Point -- Views are incredible.

Go to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center -- pay your fee and get the maps GO TO THE MUSEUM

Drive to Mosiac Canyon (Stove Pipe Wells area)

Re-trace your path to Badwater

As you head north again stop at the Devil's Golf course

Take the Artists Palette Drive (it is great at sunset -- but you don't have this luxury)

Golden Canyon

Go back to Furnace Creek -- Drive up to the Furnace Creek Inn and marvel at the gardens

Head back to Las Vegas - if it's not too late -- you can take the side trip to Dante's View

This will take about 10 hours....

Mark

[UKCraig]

Like Mark I love Death Valley. I may live a bit further away than him but I've been back three times now. I think you'd be missing out if you don't spend the night there if you can fit that in to your plans.

Sunset at Badwater Basin:



and sunrise the next morning at Dantes View



are breathtaking and thoroughly memorable. It'll be an early rise to see the sunrise so you can still make it back to Vegas in time for a late breakfast...

[mdod]

Thanks for the comments Mark and UKCraig.

To clarify our plans, we're leaving for Death Valley from a friend's house near Red Rock Canyon early Sunday AM. We are thinking about going back to their house that Sun night instead of staying overnight. We have reservations in Zion Monday night and I was planning on using Mon as a flex day to check out some views of DV at sunrise and catch anything else we wanted to see and head for Zion. Another couple is also going to Zion but they wanted to visit friends in Vegas instead of going to Death Valley. We were going to catch with them in Zion but my husband is pushing to picking them up in Vegas and driving with them so they won't have to get a separate rental car. If we did that we'd have to leave pretty early and still have 5 hours drive to Zion so I figured it might be better to just do DV in a day and get a good night's sleep and then drive the 3 hrs to Zion.

[Mark Sedenquist]

We are thinking about going back to their house that Sun night instead of staying overnight.

Death Valley is a reasonable day trip from Las Vegas -- so, sure if you spend a long day (Sunday) in the park you can see many of the "top" spots and still have a leisurely trip to Zion on Monday.

Mark

[LoveThatWesternLandscape]

it was my favorite view in the park.

my brother and i did your agenda in TWO days, and it felt very rushed. there is more distance to cover than you think.

Death Valley is breathtaking! And more colorful than you'd ever imagine!

[mdod]

I read that it's a 20-30 min drive out to Dante's View. Sunset is at 7:08. Any idea when we would have to leave Golden Canyon to have enough time to see Dante's View?

[Mark Sedenquist]

Top speed for most of the drive up to Dante's View is about 15 mph and even slower if there's much traffic on the road. If it were me, and I am not sure what the attraction for sunset from Dante's View is going to be... but I would allow a full ninety minutes to drive from Golden Canyon to the top viewpoint. You might make it in 45 minutes -- but....

[mdod]

Thanks Mark. No particular attraction to sunset. It's just on the way out so, if we want to see it we'd have to be there before sunset.

[Mark Sedenquist]

I really like the approach from the west -- One of my favorite places to watch the sunset is from Panamint Springs as the sun's raking light turns the Cottowood Mountains golden and orange. Even if with your tight schedule I would be tempted to suggest that when you leave mosaic canyon that you continue west on CA-190 so you can get the opportunity to drive to the top of Towne Pass and enjoy the winding descent into Panamint Springs. I would keep on going as far as Father Crowley Point -- get out enjoy the views and then turn east again -- Stop at Panamint Springs -- enjoy one of their signature ice teas -- marvel at the Redwood Burl bar and climb the hill again for the rapid descent into the valley.

Mark