Will a car overheat in Death Valley?

The temperature can get up to 120F in the summer. Your car should have the right water/coolant combination to handle that. You should also carry a few gallons of extra water so if you or your car get overheated, you can survive. What are the coolest sites in Death Valley National Park?



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That hot, dry air in Death Valley National can have a pretty big impact on your vehicle's performance. You'll even see signs in a few areas of the park advising drivers to turn off the car's air conditioner so that it doesn't overheat.

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It is not allowed to sleep in your car outside of these designated areas or along the side of the road. There are several campgrounds within Death Valley National Park that allow car camping. Some of the popular campgrounds include Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, and Mesquite Spring.

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Nighttime traffic is almost always light, and you can see vehicles from a long way. The main driving hazard is excessive speed. Some roads have curves that sneak up on you, and in the daytime, the awesome scenery can be very distracting. Single-vehicle accidents are the #1 cause of visitor deaths in Death Valley.

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Cell phones do not work in most areas of Death Valley National Park and wifi is only available for purchase at the Furnace Creek Ranch (Hotel).

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From the nps.gov website on Death Valley: Yes, but you must be prepared and use common sense. With an air conditioned vehicle you can safely tour many of the main sites in Death Valley. Stay on paved roads in summer, and if your car breaks down, stay with it until help arrives.

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If you're going to head to Death Valley, you really want to have access to a 4WD vehicle with high clearance. There's a lot you can see in a normal passenger car, but if you really want to get into the desolate backcountry that makes up the majority of the National Park, you'll want a little upgrade.

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The fee to enter Death Valley National Park is $30 per vehicle, good for 7 days. There's no gate controlling entry to the park, so you'll stop by an entrance station or visitor center to pay for the pass. The park is open 24/7, so you can start or end your tour at any time.

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Panamint City is a ghost town deep in the Panamint Mountains of Death Valley. It's historic, well preserved and hard to reach. More than 130 years after Panamint City's peak as a silver boomtown, it looks a lot like a post-modern apocalyptic summer camp.

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