California Route 190 Through Death Valley National Park - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

California Route 190 Through Death Valley National Park

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

I haven't travelled it with the 5th wheel. I have gone through with a 24FT TT & car a few times.

The switchbacks aren't tight and the road is a good road. Just be careful on the curves if a vehicle is coming from the other direction. It's lightly travelled from the west. Most of the traffic gets into death Valley from the east.

Outside of Olancha to the east on Hwy 190 about 6 miles is Dirty Socks Mineral Pool. It's accessible by a dirt road to the north of 190. The pool was built as part of a health spa way back in the 1800/1900. Strong sulfur smell is why it's called dirty socks. It's at the south end of the effort to re-vitalize Owens Lake.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Done it, won't do it again with a big rig. 6 miles of 9-1/2 to 10% grade on the east side of Panamint Valley, about 6 miles of very narrow, curvy road with a cliff going up on one side west of the Panamint Valley. The cliff keeps westbound big rigs over the line and there is no room to not clip mirrors. 190 is no problem from Stovepipe Wells east.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Bill and Larry. The 9-10% grades don’t bother me. Been there, done that last summer and the year before that, etc., etc. Rig is fine with those grades – up or down. But the narrow road in a tight turn vs. a semi or someone coming over the line – no so good. Proper equipment can’t deal with that. It’s that time and space conflict thing.

Guess this trip we’ll have to use US-95 east of Reno coming south and then into Death Valley from the east side. Boy does that route look boring. Please advise if there are any issues with that road. Haven't checked the Mountain directory yet but will.

Our overall route is from the NorCal / I-5 area down to the Phoenix area but wanted to go into Death Valley mostly just to check it off the list. Any other suggestions are always welcome.

Thank you

Bill

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

To avoid the narrow, curvy section you can take the road to Trona from Panamint Springs from US395.

What time of year are you going to Death Valley? It can be quite hot there closer to summer. We visit November through February, when it is quite pleasant.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

bjoyce wrote:
To avoid the narrow, curvy section you can take the road to Trona from Panamint Springs from US395.

What time of year are you going to Death Valley? It can be quite hot there closer to summer. We visit November through February, when it is quite pleasant.

Bill:

We’re going in late September. Not the best time but it's just when we are in the area and it times out with commitments in the Phoenix area.. So it seemed like we should at least stop for a day or so. Found a 50 amp campground for both AC units. That was the first criteria in the plan.

Thanks for that alternate route suggestion. But we’re coming from the north, Oregon, and it appears we would have to travel quite a way south on US-395 to cut over east to Trona and then back north to CA-190. If I’m missing something please educate. This is your neck of the woods. I’m better in Canada and Alaska. These local trips can be confusing. {Grin} That’s why I’m asking. Never been on those roads before.

Thank you

Bill

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

"Not the best time but it's just when we are in the area..."

My most recent Death Valley Adventure-
I was hired by a coworker to video tape their outdoor wedding at Furnace Creek Inn in the middle of August. Had to wear a suit in 115° heat. It got down to 98° at night. We didn't take our TT and tried to sleep in the campershell, luckily there was a breeze so we were able to get some sleep. Did a quick tour of Death Vally the next day and then headed home.