TravelinMom

I'm planning to drive from San Francisco to Death Valley in February with my 2 kids (15 and 11) and am looking for advice! Is this a good time of year to go? I've tentatively made reservations at both Furnace Creek Ranch and Stovepipe Wells -- any advice on which is better for me? Any "can't miss" suggestions? (We like easy hikes, views, wildlife, geological features.) How long (we have up to a week, total)? Finally, 8 hours for the drive (according to mapquest) is long for my guys; suggestions for stopping points in the middle that don't add too much to overall time? Thanks.

Otis_B_Driftwood

February is a great time in Death Valley. However, it's more than an 8 hour drive from SF, more like 10.

We usually break the drive and spend the first night in Ridgecrest and then drive into Death Valley in the morning when we are fresh and are interested in seeing the sights on the way in. Or, if we drive the Tahoe way, we'll spend the night in Bishop. Both Bishop and Ridgecrest have excellent motels and good restaurants.

Not sure where you are coming from but flying into Vegas is another option. Then, it's only a couple of hours to Furnace Creek if you rent a car.

Furnace Creek is the place to stay. Stovepipe would be good for a night but no longer. Furnace Creek is the center of the Park and has much more to do.

If you are going to spend a week there, buy the book "Explorer's Guide to Death Valley National Park" by the Bryans. Also, look in the Park newspaper for the daily ranger led hikes. These are the best options for getting the Death Valley experience.

janis

Otis' info is spot on. But just to add - the drive will probably take AT LEAST 10 hours and likely even more. In Feb you could hit REALLY thick tule fog in the central valley - slow and dangerous driving conditions. And if you take the Tahoe route you may hit snow and need chains - and heavy snow is always a possibility -- or it could be dry as a bone - you can't tell more than about 5 or 6 days in advance.

These are more reasons you might consider flying from SF to Las Vegas and driving from there.

ltt

february will be great. stay at furnace creek ranch. we were there in march and i really liked it. all the rooms have either a balcony or a patio. i was in room 720 which was probably the furthest from the restaurant/shop area. i liked it cause it was quiet. their pool there is really nice. the tour at scotty's castle is nice. the drive around "artist's loop" is nice. i think a 3-4 night stay would be enough.

janis

Maybe I should clarify - my comments about fog and snow are strictly re the routes you'd have to take from SF. In Death Valley itself the weather will likely be wonderful . . . . . .

jimshep

You are getting good advice. I've never stayed at Furnace Creek Ranch, but I will stay there next time. Stovepipe Wells is a funky joint and overpriced for what it offers.

The problem in driving from SF is that you will run into snow on northern routes and some passes are closed in the winter.

The best route may be via Bakersfield, which is 290 miles from SF and 215 from Death Valley.

TravelinMom

Thanks for the info. I'm driving from SF because I live there and can drive my own car -- airfare for 3 plus car rental adds a lot to the cost of the trip that I'd like to spend elsewhere.

Some of you have talked about bad driving conditions -- will it be bad if I take I-5 (not scenic, but hopefully faster) until I get near Bakersfield?

Otis_B_Driftwood

I-5 should be fine and is by far the quickest route. Tule fog is usually a problem in December and January, not as bad in February. But, check with CalTrans before you go. Often, in February, there is a warmer period when the weather gets quite nice. Hope that happens for you.

Best route is I-5 to CA 58 into Bakersfield and then CA 178 to Lake Isabella and Ridgecrest. If the weather is nice, do consider going the Tahoe route one way and the Bakersfield route the other for variety.