Looking for a day trip from LV in August. Is death valley "doable" for a northerner? What sites are a must? thank you!

DV is worth more than one day trip. The drive down into it is fantastic. We usually drive north on 95 to Beatty and then go west over the hump and down into the valley, stopping at Rhyolite if we're with someone who hasn't been to a ghost town and then stopping at the toilets at the top of the hill and walk across the street and take some pictures down the valley then come back through Parumph. It will be extremely hot in August and is certainly "doable" but you won't want to spend too much time out of your car. I would skip Scotty's Castle this time and spend my time driving through the valley. Go to the Visitor's Center see the video etc then check out Borax works, Zabriski point, Devil's golfcourse, Badwater, Artists' pallet drive,and some other places I've forgotten about. Take lots of water and enjoy the ride.

I agree with the above. The scenery is stark and beautiful. Camping there was a great experience. Don't ignore warnings about the heat, though. If the weather report says 115 degrees during the day, know that you will feel it, and that night temps will only drop to 90 or 95 or so.

Skip it. Forecast for tomorrow is 123 degrees. August won't be much cooler. Death Valley is a winter park.

Spend the day on the lake or down in Black Canyon on the water.

http://www.travelblog.org/North-Amer...log-63821.html

Yes - DV is "worth" a day trip. However forget it entirely - absolutely 100%. They don't call it Death Valley for nothing. It is NOT an August destination (except for Germans and Brits -- for some reason the place is popular w/ northern Europeans in summer - but they they are certifiably loco). You won't be able to get out of the car and if you break down, you are on your own.

Don't fool around w/ desert excursions in August . . . .

We love Death Valley but agree that August is NOT the time to go. I don't think you can enjoy it that much from inside a car, and the air will be too hot to breathe outside of the car. Go November through April and enjoy exploring on foot.

As others have said, you won't be able to do much but view from the vehicle because it will be so hot.

If you want a long day trip from Las Vegas, then you would be much better off going to Zion National Park. Timewise, it will be a little shorter drive than Death Valley. Zion is a beautiful national park. You can take a hike along the Virgin River and take a dip in it if it gets to hot. http://www.nps.gov/zion

Utahtea