What is between Vegas and Bakersfield?

After spending a couple of nights inLas Vegas in mid May we are picking up a hire car (Jeep Grand Cherokee or similar) to drive to Bakersfield (to use as a base to visit Sequoia and then onto Yosemite). Rather than the direct drive on route 15 etc. I would like to drive through Death Valley.

My proposed route is leave LV driving north on the 95. At Beatty turn left onto the 374and then continue driving on the 190 through the Park. Ideally I would like to turn off left just before Panamint Springs on the 178 and drive through the valley, past Searles Lake. Or should I just continue until I hit the 395 and drive south?

My next decision is continue south on the 14 & then into Bakersfield on the 58. Or do I take the nicer 178 through to Bakersfield?

To allow for some stops, I really don't want to be driving for more than about six hours.

I would really welcome your views & comments.

Many thanks.

Mike

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FresnoFacts

Fresno, California

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1. Re: Driving Route Las Vegas to Bakersfield Through Death Valley?

7 years ago

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You say Bakersfield will be your base to visit Sequoia. Do you mean you will drive back and forth from Bakersfield to Sequoia roundtrip for a day visit in Sequoia? Bakersfield is not a convenient choice for a day visit to Sequoia.

Bakersfield to Giant Forest in Sequoia is about a 3 hour one-way drive. That would be a 6 hour roundtrip if you are thinking about using a hotel in Bakersfield as the base for a Sequoia visit.

If you are thinking about driving Bakersfield to Sequoia then on to Yosemite Valley all on the same day that would be about 8 hours of driving time without stops.

If you wish to include a visit to Sequoia you should consider another night in between Bakersfield andYosemite OR drive past Bakersfield another hour or so to someplace like Visalia to stay the night before Sequoia.

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mike k

Moulton, United...

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2. Re: Driving Route Las Vegas to Bakersfield Through Death Valley?

7 years ago

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Hi

Thank you 'FresnoFacts' for getting back to me so quickly.

I haven't explained properly. We drive from LV to Bakersfield on the Tuesday & check in. On Wednesday we drive to Sequoia via the 65, explore the Park and drive back to Bakersfield. On Thursday we drive toYosemite via the more direct 99 & 41 and stay within Yosemite.

I am expecting to be driving for about 5-6 hours on our day out to Sequoia. I am hoping that as we get closer to the Giant Forest the scenery will be wonderful.

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FresnoFacts

Fresno, California

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3. Re: Driving Route Las Vegas to Bakersfield Through Death Valley?

7 years ago

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I would drop the 2nd night in Bakersfield. You are giving yourself too much back and forth driving with no real reason or benefit. The 3 hour drive back to Bakersfield for a 2nd night when there are other options is not a good choice.

A stop in Bakersfield the first night is OK after a long drive from LV/Death Valley.

But checkout and plan the 2nd night somewhere else. If you can, stay inside either Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Parks that 2nd night. If availability or prices inside the parks does not work for you then stay the 2nd night near Fresno, Three Rivers or Visalia. Even staying in one of those cities outside the parks will allow you to enjoy spending the extra 2 hours of driving saved visiting the parks instead of backtracking to Bakersfield.

One alternative you might consider is this routing:

**Checkout of Bakersfield and drive to Sequoia via Highways 99 and 198.

**Sightsee in Sequoia/Kings Canyon (Giant Forest, Grant Grove, etc.)

**Spend the night at John Muir Lodge near Grant Grove

**Depart next day forYosemite via Highways 180 and 41.

Another alternative is

**Checkout of Bakersfield and drive to Sequoia via Highways 99 and 198

**Sightsee in Sequoia/Kings Canyon (Giant Forest, Grant Grove, etc.)

**Exit via Highway 180

**Spend the night at a hotel in Fresno OR a Bed & Breakfast along the way (as an example, Sequoia View B&B is just off Highway 180 between Kings Canyon and Fresno and is a nice vineyard/winery stay)

**Depart next day for Yosemite via Highway 41.

Of course there are other options also. But skip the 2nd night in Bakersfield and that extra driving time back to there after visiting Sequoia.

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dotfurio1

Bakersfield...

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4. Re: Driving Route Las Vegas to Bakersfield Through Death Valley?

7 years ago

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The 178 to Bakersfield would be the prettier drive through the canyon as you approach Bakersfield, but it will be longer I think. Some areas are 1 lane each way and are quite twisty, so the driving speed is much slower than on the 58 (although some locals drive it way too fast, in my opinion).

The 14/58 would take you by Red Rock State Park which has some interesting scenery. You'd also be by Ridgecrest and the Maturango Museum http://maturango.org/ , which does tours of Little Petroglyph Canyon if that's something that interests you. The petroglyphs are actually located on a naval base, so you'd need to book in advance and pass clearance. You'd also pass through Tehachapi on the 58, which a cute little town and a draw for people interested in trains.

I know you're on a schedule and probably don't have time for extras, just thought I'd throw those out there just in case.

After visiting Sequoia I wouldn't come all the way back to Bakersfield. We used to stay in Three Rivers when we visited Sequoia; you might consider spending the night there before going on toYosemite. Or even stay in Visalia or Fresno. The 198 out of Sequoia goes through Three Rivers and also reaches the 99.

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mike k

Moulton, United...

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5. Re: Driving Route Las Vegas to Bakersfield Through Death Valley?

7 years ago

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Strong advise not to drive back to Bakersfield.

My problem is that we enjoy good hotels and this trip is actually part of our honeymoon (so an even greater need to ensure that we stay somewhere comfortable. The Padre Hotel at Bakersfield gets very good reviews on TA, which we couldn't find for some of the other towns closer to Sequoia.

More thought & investigation needed by me I think!

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FresnoFacts

Fresno, California

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6. Re: Driving Route Las Vegas to Bakersfield Through Death Valley?

7 years ago

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You may need to focus on great views rather than the hotels for a few days in the Sierras. I would still not stay in Bakersfield for the 2nd night.

There is a very good hotel elsewhere on your route toYosemite if you want to consider it, although I do not know your budget. Instead of back to Bakersfield you could drive to Oakhurst (about 2 hours from Grant Grove and 1 hour north of Fresno on Highway 41) and stay at Chateau du Sureau.

Chateau du Sureau is a Forbes 5-star, AAA 5-diamond, Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence, Conde Nast Reader's Choice Award (Top 25 hotels in US) rated property. Rooms at the Chateau range in price from about US$350 to US$600.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g32809-d73879-Reviews-Chateau_du_Sureau-Oakhurst_California.html

http://www.chateausureau.com

Erna's Elderberry House restaurant is part of the same complex with the same owner. Elderberry House also is 5-star/5-diamond rated with Zagat scores rivaling the best restaurants in the Bay Area and Napa.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g32809-d514387-Reviews-Erna_s_Elderberry_House-Oakhurst_California.html

http://www.chateausureau.com/restaurant.html

If you are looking for a great lodging and dining experience, I would stay at Chateau du Sureau instead of the Padre for the night between Sequoia and Yosemite.

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Frisco_Roadrunner

San Francisco...

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for Death Valley Junction, Death Valley National Park

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7. Re: Driving Route Las Vegas to Bakersfield Through Death Valley?

7 years ago

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Since you are getting lots of tips about the last part of your trip, I’ll offer some for the first, to help you enjoy Death Valley. For distance, I’ll use the junction of Hwy 190 and Panamint Valley Road as a reference point. If you start inLas Vegas and go through Beatty, making no detours for sightseeing, it will be about 180 miles to that point. This is similar to going through Pahrump and Death Valley Junction. However, the first route will keep you outside the actual Death Valley National Park for far longer, and the 100 miles from Las Vegas to Beatty on Hwy 95 is easy on the eyes but quite undramatic. Nothing on it compares with what you'll see inside the park.

Also, this route takes you far north of some of the unique natural wonders in Death Valley, including Dante’s View, Zabriskie Point, and everything along Badwater Road (Devil’s Golf Course, Badwater, Artist’s Drive/Artist’s Palette, and maybe Golden Canyon). If you enter from Pahrump and DV Junction, these side trips will add some distance (26 miles for Dante’s View; about 35 to see all the Badwater sights) – but at least they will be a practical option, one you would not have if you took the Beatty route. You can also go to the park Visitor Center and Salt Creek, which would be detours if you came via Beatty.

* “Ideally I would like to turn off left just before Panamint Springs on the 178 and drive through the valley, past Searles Lake” *

This is the Panamint Valley Road, outside Death Valley NP. You will go through Panamint Valley and Searles Valley. It is an interesting area, but less interesting and scenic than Death Valley itself. Searles Lake is an ancient lake that is now a dry desert marsh. Minerals are harvested from the lakebed, and refineries in the adjoining town of Trona process them for industrial uses. An interesting natural feature south of Trona is the Trona Pinnacles, a cluster of tufa, or rock spires formed from minerals from the ancient lakebed.

An alternative to Panamint Valley Road is to stay on Hwy 190 to Lone Pine so you can see Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the United States outside of Alaska. This will add only about 25 miles overall. Then continue down 395 to your choice of 178 or 58. These routes are similar in distance, but 178 is more rural, winding along the Kern River Canyon. Hwy 58 is all freeway but it is a mountainous area and not ugly like urban freeways.

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mike k

Moulton, United...

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8. Re: Driving Route Las Vegas to Bakersfield Through Death Valley?

7 years ago

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Thank you all for your tremendous advise, particularly Frisco_Roadrunner & Fresno Facts.

Frisco - you have given advise that I could never get from just maps. So my planned route now from LV to Bakersfield is leave LV, take the 160. 4 miles after Pahrump turn left at an unmarked road until the DV Junction. Then take the 190 until the turn off toDantes View. Return back onto myself to Zabriskie Point & after a short distance take the detour again to Badwater. Then back onto the 190 & follow the route you have suggested to Bakersfield.

Can you please give me a rough idea of total driving time following this route from LV to Bakersfield excluding time out for stops?

FresnoFacts - thank you for informing us about Chateau du Surean. It does indeed look lovely, but maybe a little out of our price range. We will continue to research though.

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Frisco_Roadrunner

San Francisco...

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for Death Valley Junction, Death Valley National Park

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9. Re: Driving Route Las Vegas to Bakersfield Through Death Valley?

7 years ago

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Yes, from Pahrump, you will stay on Hwy 160 until Bell Vista Avenue, where you will turn left. It will change names to Stateline, then Ash Meadows, but it’s still the same road; you won’t be turning off. It dead-ends in the ghost town of Death Valley Junction, at the Amargosa Hotel and Opera House; turn right and almost immediately left, for DV.

In Pahrump, you will see a major intersection with a marked left turn for Death Valley on NV Hwy 372. Do NOT take this. It will become CA Hwy 178 for Shoshone and adds more time and distance. Keep going north to Bell Vista.

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