Is it dangerous to drive through Death Valley?

Is it safe to visit Death Valley in the summer? 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.

1. Why is Death Valley so dangerous?
2. Is it worth driving through Death Valley?
3. Is it safe to drive in Death Valley at night?
4. Do cars overheat in Death Valley?
5. What can kill you in Death Valley?
6. Has anyone died at Death Valley?
7. What is the best month to visit Death Valley?
8. Do people live in Death Valley?
9. Why is Death Valley so hot?
10. How common are rattlesnakes in Death Valley?
11. Is Death Valley the hottest place on earth?
12. Is there cell phone service in Death Valley?

Why is Death Valley so dangerous?

The valley, so named by pioneers who barely survived its hostile landscape in the 1800s, has seen many deaths over the years due to heatstroke and dehydration. Dehydration can cause disorientation and confusion which, in a vast, dry desert full of steep cliffs, can prove fatal.

Is it worth driving through Death Valley?

In my opinion, Death Valley National Park is criminally underrated — and yet it's only an easy 2-hour drive from Las Vegas. It should be on everyone's bucket list, and it's never too early to start planning your trip.

Is it safe to drive in Death Valley at night?

Nighttime traffic is almost always light, and you can see vehicles from a long way. The main driving hazard is excessive speed. ... Single-vehicle accidents are the #1 cause of visitor deaths in Death Valley.

Do cars overheat in Death Valley?

“Yesterday's excessive heat caused at least three vehicles in the park to break down from overheated engines, which can quickly turn fatal if passengers are stranded in this climate without air conditioning,” Death Valley National Park officials said on Facebook.

What can kill you in Death Valley?

Things that can kill you in Death Valley: Heatstroke & Dehydration. Poisonous animals.
...
How not to die in Death Valley

• Flash floods.
• Getting lost.
• Mine hazards.
• Marijana.
• Speeding.

Has anyone died at Death Valley?

-- An Arizona tourist died and his wife was rescued Friday after their vehicle got two flat tires and they went missing in Death Valley National Park in California. ... According to the Sheriff's Office, a note in the car stated: “Two flat tires, headed to Mormon Point, have three days' worth of water.”

What is the best month to visit Death Valley?

The best time to visit Death Valley is either in spring with blooming wildflowers or in autumn with clear skies. Both seasons bring pleasant temperatures. Winter months are colder but still great in terms of weather and least crowded. In the summer, it gets very hot.

Do people live in Death Valley?

More than 300 people live year-round in Death Valley, one of the hottest places on Earth. Here's what it's like. With average daytime temperatures of nearly 120 degrees in August, Death Valley is one of the hottest regions in the world.

Why is Death Valley so hot?

Why so Hot? The depth and shape of Death Valley influence its summer temperatures. The valley is a long, narrow basin 282 feet (86 m) below sea level, yet is walled by high, steep mountain ranges. ... These moving masses of super heated air blow through the valley creating extreme high temperatures.

How common are rattlesnakes in Death Valley?

The two most potentially dangerous animals of the Death Valley area are poisonous snakes and mountain lions. An encounter with either of these is rare but it does happen. Contrary to what some people think about deserts being infested with vicious snakes, encountering any snake in Death Valley is unlikely.

Is Death Valley the hottest place on earth?

In the popular imagination, Death Valley in Southern California is the hottest place on earth. ... Sitting 282 feet below sea level in the Mojave Desert in southeastern California near the Nevada border, it is the lowest, driest and hottest location in the United States.

Is there cell phone service in Death Valley?

Most of Death Valley National Park does not currently have cell phone reception. Comnet operates two cell towers in the park, one on NPS land at Stovepipe Wells and the other on private property at Furnace Creek.