Death Valley is 162 miles and 2 3/4 hours from Tehachapi. We took Hwy 58, 14 and 395 to Hwy 178. This bypassed Ridgecrest, the last big town before Death Valley. We were able to find gas at Trona, 73 miles outside of Death Valley. There are 2 gas stations and a small convenience store. Gas was 10 cents higher than in Ridgecrest, as reported on GasBuddy. I highly recommend getting gas at Trona. If you have a container, it's also a good idea to fill up the container. Once you get into Death Valley, gas is much more expensive. If you need gas in Death Valley, Stovepipe Wells is much less expensive than Furnace Creek.
Just 55 miles from Stovepipe Wells, on Hwy 14, you'll find a sign about Ballarat. Ballarat is located 3 1/2 miles from this sign, at an elevation of 1079 feet. It was founded in 1897 and served the nearby mining camps. It is now a ghost town.
Nearby, you'll find a sign about Panamint City.
Panamint City is located in the Panamint Range. Copper and silver were discovered here in 1872. By 1874, the town had a population of 2000. In 1876, a flash flood washed out most of the town.
Death Valley is the hottest, driest and lowest national park. Admission, good for up to 7 days, is $30 per vehicle.
2022 01 18
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