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My wife and I are thinking of riding to Death Valley in January. It's about an 7 to 8 hour ride from our place to get there. Then we would likely stay in a hotel/motel, tour around DV a couple of days they ride back home. So, looking at a four day ride, could possibly stretch into a five day ride. Any suggestions on where to stay in DV and where to ride while there?
I stayed at Stovepipe Wells in June 2010 and I doubt much has changed since then.
It's very basic but "good enough" with two major exceptions..
1) The restaurant is only open certain hours and is like a Boy Scout Summer Camp mess hall.
2) (as of 2010), the gas station directly across the street only sold 87/88 octane gas.
Stovepipe Wells office
General store / gas station across road
It's about 25 miles to Furnace Creek where you can get 91 octane and much better food,
(although much pricier as well). After 1 meal at Stovepipe, I "commuted" back and forth
to Furnace Creek for gas and food.. about a 50 mile round trip.
At some point I'll go back and I'll spring for the extra bucks to stay at Furnace Creek.
Your tolerance for bletch food may be better than mine and we know that we actually can
run our bikes on 87/88 so you CAN stay at Stovepipe, but I wouldn't.
Here's a album containing pics from that trip which hit a number of Old 66 places between
Albuquerque and Death Valley..
Thanks for the replies. If it was just me I'd probably just bring a tent and camp, but I want my wife to be comfortable so we can do this again. I'll probably spring for the Furnace Creek accomidations.
I think camping is the way to go. However, you do have a few hotel options on the outskirts of the park. This is in adition to what others have already mentioned. Shoshone/Tecopa and Pahrump both have hotels and restaurants. Tecopa also has hot springs if you don't mind nudity. Baker south of the park has a couple of hotels and restaurants too. Longstreet in the Amargosa Valley also has some rooms too. Over in Panamint Valley you can stay in Trona or Panamint Springs.
Stay at furnace creek! Nice base camp area for day trips and supplies.
Visitor center will give you plenty to do.
Basics for first timers:
Golden canyon, and bad water and all the stops in between. Must do artists palet and go down and walk around in all the colors!
Zabriski point and Dante's view for the upper views of the valley.
Far north is Scottie's castle and ubehebe crater.
Go to the other side of the valley for a view of the charcoal kilns and great scenery. Go inside one of the kilns and clap your hands oe yell. (Believe me!)
That's just a starter. One of my favorite places but keep an eye on the road and stop often.
Where ever you stay I'm sure you will have fun. That said have you thought of exactly how far everything is in the park. I would like to recommend staying in different hotel each nite. You would have to pre arrange each one but doable. Fuel available where there are hotels. Don't know where you are coming from but do a loop like Pahraump then Shashone, then furnace creek, Panamint is a beautiful valley and some neat sites but off to the west. Scottys castle is a must Beatty has a neat hotel Atomic Inn I think. Look at a map and make a few calls. Sites are spread out so my thought is that staying in one place means you are driving back and fourth to see sites, equates to less time at those sites. Furnace creek is kinda like a hub with ranger station and information on the park which is useful.
Like this place. http://www.amargosa-opera-house.com/schedule.htm
But your gunna need 4-wheel drive for this one. Have fun keep plenty of water for both of you and let someone know each day your itenary, don't change unless you talk with them.
Russ
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Looking For Advice On Death Valley
