The Mystique of Death Valley: Counting Miles with Tesla (Plan & Itineraries)
This must be the place, Journey Notes | 2022-05-01
“At the end of your imagination lay terrains of beauty. Step out of your comfort zone, and you will find a place where the divisions of this world disappear. There will be you; and the nomads all around. This must be the feeling the humans’ phrase as the views of aesthetic imagination. Standing at this cliff you can witness perception of your beauty reflected across these canyons. This must be the place I was searching for.”
5:30AM Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, California
Preamble
When I finally decided to document the journeys I have had taken in the past, and the upcoming ones. I wanted to start with death valley.
However, this is going to be a multi-part journal of the mystique landscapes of the Death Valley, California. Each location in Death Valley will have a separate journal post. Here are the upcoming list of Journals:
The Mystique of Death Valley: Counting Miles with Tesla - Plan & Itineraries (this Post - a preamble)
Zabriskie Point: Embracing the Poetic Silence of Boundless Vistas
Artist Drive and Palette
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: A Desert in Nowhere
Golden Canyon Interpretive
Badwater Basin: Fish in the Desert
Devils Cornfield: Wanders World
Mosaic Canyon Trail: An Experience of Aging Geography
Unfortunate Tesla 911 Call: Joshua Tree, U2, Tesla 911 Rescue Call
Star Wars Canyon (No Fly by day)
Panamint Springs Resort: Tesla Camp-mode under the California Sky
Towne Pass: There Used to be a Lake Here
Furnace Creek Visitor Center: Measure the Heat
The Plan
Final Drive to the second stop of Lone Pine Tesla Supercharger. Before the drive to Death Valley.
In a nutshell plan was to start from San Jose, California and drive with Tesla with a range of 350 miles. So it was very important to keep in mind to make sure miles are properly counted to not get run out of the miles and get stuck. And this one is an adventures trip plan as Tesla is not a vehicle to take for a trip like this to Death Valley.
Day 1, 6:30 AM, San Jose | 330 Miles
Drive from Milpitas, San Jose (Home) to first stop of the trip at Buttonwillow Tesla Supercharger
Departing from Milpitas, San Jose at 6:30 AM, head towards Death Valley via Highway 101, then transition to Highway 5 at Los Banos. Our first stop for a charge and brunch will be at the Buttonwillow Tesla Supercharger (150W, Tesla Supercharger, 20673 Tracy Ave, Buttonwillow, CA 93206) around 10:30 AM, after approximately 4 hours of driving, with an estimated loss of 230 miles.
While waiting for the 1-hour charge, we will take the opportunity to enjoy brunch at nearby restaurants. Elsy’s Antojitos offers delicious Mexican cuisine, while Willow Ranch serves up classic American BBQ. Alternatively, try Tita's Pupusería Lonchera for authentic Salvadoran flavors, or indulge in Indian cuisine at Taste of India, depending on your mood and preferences.
P.S. - Instead of the above planned restaurants, we opted for a quick bite at McDonald's and grabbed coffee from Starbucks.
3:30 PM, Buttonwillow Tesla Supercharger | 280 Miles
Drive from Buttonwillow Tesla Supercharger to Lone Pine Supercharger
Proceed towards the Lone Pine Tesla Supercharger (150W) for the second stop to fully charge the Tesla Model 3 by 3:30 PM. The journey typically takes around 3 hours and 10 minutes, but for comfort, let's allocate an additional 1 hours, accounting for a loss of 200 miles.
While the Tesla is charging, enjoy lunch at the Mt Whitney Restaurant, known for its long-standing diner experience and diverse menu of traditional American dishes, all in a relaxed atmosphere. Additionally, remember to pack some food for dinner during the night camping at Death Valley.
4:00 PM, Lone Pine Tesla Supercharger | 330 miles
The Counting Miles Start Here.
Drive from Lone Pine Tesla Supercharger to Panamint Springs Resort (50 Miles, 50 minutes)
Note 20 Miles always reserved for the emergency usage.Now here on the Death Valley drive starts. From the Lone Pine start towards the Panamint Springs Resort, (40440 CA-190, Darwin, CA 93522) for our 2 nights stay at the Death Valley. The drive is around 53 minutes for 50miles (280 Tesla remaining miles). From here on the battery mile count and the ration starts.
5:00 PM, The Joshua Tree | 305 miles
Drive from Lone Pine Tesla Supercharger to The Joshua Tree (28 Miles, 30 minutes)
On our way to the resort we will stop at the long waited The Joshua Tree which is exactly in the middle our our 50miles travel to the resort. We will reach there around 5:00PM and spend around 20-30 minutes
5:30 PM, Saline Valley Alternate Road | 305 Miles
Drive from The Joshua Tree to Saline Valley Alternate Road (9 Miles, 9 minutes)
After visiting the dream beneath the desert sky, The Joshua Tree; we will continue towards the resort. And make another quick stop after 10 minutes, 9 miles of drive on the road to take few shots of the beautiful Saline Valley Alternate Road. Which is just right on our way and no detour required. We will spend around 10-20 minutes there for our landscape photoshoot.
5:40 PM, Star Wars Canyon | 295 Miles
Drive from Saline Valley Alternate Road to Father Crowley Overlook (7 Miles, 8 minutes)
From Saline Valley Alternate we will again travel towards the resort. After 1 mile we will just stop for a quick second to take the photo of the Death Valley park sign board. Driving again after 8 minutes we will make our another stop at Father Crowley Overlook (Parking lot, CA-190, Inyo, CA). Also will spend some 10 minutes here which will include visit of Star Wars Canyon, Darwin, CA 93522 by walk.
6:00 PM, Panamint Springs Resort | 280 Miles
After exploring Star Wars Canyon, proceed to your final destination, Panamint Springs Resort. Check-in upon arrival and unwind for the evening, perhaps indulging in some nighttime astrophotography before resting for the night.
Drive from Father Crowley Overlook to Panamint Springs Resort (8 Miles, 15 minutes)
Day 2 - Road Travel, Stops, and Food
Few Details
The next day in the Death Valley is all about the travels around the Park with the Tesla. That means that we will need to conscious about the charge and the milage. This is where the weather conditions especially the temperature in the valley becomes vital to the travel as the higher temperature also kills the battery of Tesla hence the Milage faster. However, there is a plus and minus side to another story. The Vally is slope that means we get to charge or gain some milage on Tesla when we are down rolling. But as the same time we are using more battery when we climb up. The best to be intelligent about saving the milage on Tesla is by driving slow. The slower we drive the more milage we have on the car.
Tesla Driving Tips in the DeathValley
Roll the car in the slope to gain the milage (or battery)
Drive slow in normal and higher elevation to save the milage (or battery)
Temperatures in the Park
Death Valley is renowned for being one of the driest and hottest places on earth. Take a look at what to expect when you come visit the desert during the summer, fall, winter or spring. Of course, I also recommend checking current weather conditions before traveling.
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Fall arrives in late October, with warm but pleasant temperatures and generally clear and sunny skies.
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Winter is mild with occasional winter storms. Winter requires warmer clothing and light to medium jackets. Sunny skies are typical in Death Valley. The period from mid-November to before Christmas is the least crowded time of the entire year.
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Spring time is the most popular time to visit Death Valley. Besides warm and sunny days, the possibility of spring wildflowers is a big attraction. Wind is not uncommon in the desert during this time of year.
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Summers are extremely hot and dry. High temperatures commonly run above 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 ºC) in the shade with overnight lows dipping only into the 90’s F (32 ºC). Comfortable clothing and a broad brimmed hat are recommended to provide sun protection.
Average rainfall is less than 2 inches annually.
7:00 AM, Towne Pass | 315 Miles
Day to Starting from the Camp to Towne Pass, Death Valley, CA | Tesla: 315 Miles
Rise early to capture the sunrise in the Valley. Drive towards Furnace Creek, making a brief stop at Towne Pass along the way to capture the stunning road and landscape views for 10-20 minutes.
7:45 AM, Mosaic Canyon Trail | 295 Miles
Continueing on Towne Pass to Mosaic Canyon Train, Death Vally | Tesla: 295 Miles
Head towards Furnace Creek from Towne Pass and make a stop at Mosaic Canyon Trail. Turn off the main road within the park to reach Mosaic Canyon Trail. Park the Tesla at the trailhead and embark on a leisurely walk. Allow approximately 15-30 minutes to explore the trail.
8:40 AM, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes | 290 Miles
Mosaic Canyon Trail to Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Vally | Tesla: 290 Miles
It's time to visit one of my favorite spots in Death Valley: the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, conveniently located near our destination and just 11 minutes away from Mosaic Canyon Trail. Although we'll lose approximately 5 miles in our Tesla, it's well worth the detour. Before reaching the dunes, we'll make a quick stop at Stovepipe Wells to capture a few shots along the road. Plan to spend about 40 minutes exploring the sand dunes before continuing on to our next destination.
9:30, Devils Golf Course | 285 Miles
From the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Parking (CA-190, Stovepipe Wells, CA 92328), we'll proceed towards Devils Cornfield (CA-190, California 92328). We plan to spend approximately 10-20 minutes there. By this point, our Tesla will have around 285 miles of range.
10:25, Furnace Creek Visitor Center | 270 Miles
From Devil’s Golf Course, we'll head directly to our destination for the day, Furnace Creek Visitor Center. Upon arrival, we'll park our Tesla and initiate charging. The drive will cover approximately 20 miles in about 25 minutes, leaving us with around 270 miles of range in our Tesla.
At Furnace Creek Visitor Center, we might consider renting a car to facilitate our exploration of the valley's various attractions.
11:00, Breakfast Canyon, Golden Canyon | 265 Miles
We could opt to leave the Tesla for charging at Furnace Creek or choose to drive it to Breakfast Canyon and Golden Canyon, which are approximately 5 miles away and a 7-minute drive from Furnace Creek. We plan to spend around 30 minutes exploring each of these locations.
11:40, Artist's Palette | 250 Miles
From Golden Canyon, we'll drive to our first notable destination, the Artist's Palette. We anticipate spending approximately an hour exploring this fascinating site.
8:00PM, Back to Base | 165 Miles
Zabriskie Point before Sunrise, 9 mile drive
Before Sunrise, The Place I was Searching For
Nestled in the heart of Death Valley, California, lies a place that defies the ordinary and transcends the realms of imagination. Zabriskie Point, with its ethereal landscapes and surreal vistas, is a testament to the raw beauty that nature can carve out of the harshest environments. Before heading out for the home let’s enjoy the views of aesthetic imagination.
As the sun rises over the desert horizon, it paints the rugged terrain in hues of orange and gold, casting long shadows that dance across the undulating dunes. The jagged peaks of the Amargosa Range stand sentinel in the distance, their sheer cliffs creating a stark contrast against the soft curves of the valley below.
Photographers from around the world flock to Zabriskie Point to capture its otherworldly allure. With each passing hour, the light transforms, revealing new textures and colors that seem to shift with the changing moods of the desert.
At dawn, the landscape is bathed in a soft, golden glow, while at dusk, fiery reds and purples set the sky ablaze, casting a spellbinding spell over the entire vista. The interplay of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and dimension, drawing the viewer into a world that feels both familiar and alien.
But Zabriskie Point is more than just a scenic overlook; it's a window into the geological history of Death Valley. The layered sedimentary rocks that form the backdrop of the landscape tell a story millions of years in the making, each stratum bearing witness to the ebb and flow of ancient seas and the shifting sands of time.
For those willing to venture off the beaten path, Zabriskie Point offers endless opportunities for exploration and discovery. Hike along the winding trails that snake through the badlands, or simply sit and soak in the silence, letting the vastness of the desert envelop you in its embrace.
Whether you're an avid photographer seeking the perfect shot or simply a traveler in search of inspiration, Zabriskie Point is a destination like no other. In its rugged beauty and timeless allure, it reminds us of the profound power of nature to captivate, awe, and inspire.
In the separate Journals of this series we will start with Zabriskie Point.
