Octang Frye

I'm going to take a road trip in July, starting in Denver, down to Las Vegas, Death Valley, onto Los Angeles. It's about 2100 miles in total.

I have a Jetta with the turbo diesel engine, which is very efficient and puts out low heat. Has anyone driven through Death Valley in the summer time? Is there anything I should do to my car in preparation?

Also, do you have any other tips for the trip?

Ray, AWP, what's the legality of taking my G17 with me crossing Utah, Nevada, Arizona and the People's Republic of California?

fatbrit

Turn off the AC when you hit that "hill" just after leaving NV for CA. It's vertical!

another bloody yank

Carry supplies, especially water. www.packing.org might be able to help with the g17 question. That should be an awesome drive.

Ray

Yup packing.com will tell you what States have an agreement
with yours... if not lock in the trunk unloaded ...

Octang Frye

Lovely. What to do in Vegas? Not a gambler.

Sentosa

Yes we did Death Valley in July, I love that place we loaded the trunk with plenty water,just in case.There is a golf course and resort at the lowest level,and the usual tourist/gift shop. The heat is incredible but it is a dry heat unlike Florida where we live.When we left there we went over the Tioga pass and stayed the night in a little place called Bishop California, reminded us of Austria a little. We visited Mono Lake in the same area which is worth a visit.Kanab in Utah is a good place for lunch,was called little Hollywood in the 1920's most of the old westerns were filmed around there, the hotel were we had lunch is full of photo's and memrobilia of the stars that stayed there, the lunch was good too.Also in Utah Zion Canyon was incredible.
Las Vegas was good, even though we don't gamble, just to visit the different casino's is an experience, they are something else. We ate one night at the top of the Stratasphere I was terrified (don't like heights,) our friends did the
roller coast ride on top. It is weird up there you are eating dinner and an helicopter with a load of tourists fly around, but the views are great we went at dusk and watched the lights come on over Las Vegas.Also the Hoover Dam was a good experience, take the tour. You will have a great trip but check things out before you go, and pick out the places you want to visit, just do the homework first.