From Las Vegas to Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park

It's time to charge up for most of the rest of the day's drive.
Type: CCS 6 Plugs Power: 50-350 kW Note that the next charging station is 275 km / 170 miles away.

While the EV is charging at one of the EVgo Chargers onsite, you can check The World's Tallest Thermometer off the list of kitschy yet cool desert oddities you had no idea existed.
Head inside the gift shop (of course there's a gift shop) to check out the equally-kitschy, possibly ironic merchandise — there's even a thermometer snow globe for sale — and definitely a couple of extra waters for the road.
Fun fact: The thermometer's 134-foot height and its highest temperature of 134F commemorate the hottest day on record in the world, recorded in Death Valley in 1913.

Return to the charging station to collect your car and continue your journey.

It's wild to think about pioneers living small desert towns like Shoshone long before wifi, GPS, modern plumbing, even electricity. And yet, they were here — Crowbar Cafe & Saloon was in fact founded by two known Death Valley pioneers, Charles and Stella Brown, more than 100 years ago.
Stop in at this colorful time capsule for a classic American breakfast, which means eggs served with hash browns and toast (and most likely bacon or another breakfast meat) and a short list of griddled classics, like buttermilk pancakes and French toast. Of course, there's biscuits and gravy on the menu — and a couple of healthier options, meaning hot oatmeal or yogurt topped with granola, too.
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Monday 8:30 am – 9:00 pm

The town's local visitor center-museum, Shoshone Museum is a treasure trove of local and regional history and relics, as well as free regional guides and maps, and free public Wifi. Have a look around; Shoshone is the largest small town you'll be seeing for the next 24+ hours.
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

It's definitely worth a few minutes to pull off to the side of the road, get out of the car, and snap a photo with the entrance sign to Death Valley National Park — world's hottest recorded temperature record holder and the largest national park in the Lower 48 — you've officially made it!
As Death Valley is a place of unpredictable and extreme weather, always double-check the National Park Service's site for any recent alerts or road closures before setting out on this road trip. Also, you can't ever have enough extra water with you in the car, as well as sun protection (suncream, hats, etc.) and cool-weather coverups or jackets for the evenings and early mornings.
Park passes can be purchased online in advance or at kiosks throughout the park, including at the Ryan Kiosk (near this entrance to park on Hwy 190) and also the Zabriskie Point scenic viewpoint, coming up on the route.

This first stop in Death Valley National Park is just a teaser as you'll need to detour to charge up for tomorrow's drive before heading deeper into the park for dinner in Furnace Creek and a good night's rest.
But what a teaser it is! Dantes View — located at 5,575 feet elevation along the ridge of the Black Mountains — is arguably the best view of Death Valley and is a photographer's favorite for its sweeping perspective of the landscapes below. Pick one of the short trails from the parking lot that leads to even better valley views.

The State of Nevada is slowly rolling out EV charge points to more remote points along the drive between Reno and Las Vegas, one of which is located here at the rest center. (Note this EV Charge Point has recently been down — double-check it's back in order before embarking on this road trip).
Type: CCS 1 Plug Power: 50 kW Note that the next charging station is 285 km / 177 miles away.

You'd be remiss if you didn't take this window of downtime as an opportunity to check out the Area 51 Alien Center that's a short walk away (as you get closer, you can't miss the neon green building). This middle-of-nowhere junction is close to the southwest corner of what's known as Area 51 and the Nevada Test Site (and is now called the Nevada National Security Site.)
Inside, there's more alien merchandise and Area 51 tees and souvenirs than you could possibly imagine, as well as a well-stocked convenience store and a cafe that's open for breakfast and lunch. Cross the road with caution, as it is a 2-lane highway, but you'll have plenty of opportunities to get across safely.

Return to the charging station to retrieve your vehicle and enjoy the breathtaking views of Death Valley in all its glory.

Time to break for one last scenic viewpoint en route to Furnace Creek — and pay for your park pass, if you haven't already. To get the full experience of Zabriskie Point — one of the most photographed views of Death Valley overlooking the badlands and the salt flats beyond — follow the paved 1/4-mile trail to the lookout point; be sure to have your camera at the ready.

After a full day of driving through the desert, it's nothing short of remarkable to find a genuine semblance of civilization such as Last Kind Words Saloon & Steakhouse — especially so deep in Death Valley. The logistics to get all of the essential food product here required to serve entrees such as prime rib, several steaks, and baby back ribs with all the sides is no easy feat (so expect that the prices will reflect as much).
Not to be upstaged, the dining room's ambiance is "Western frontier town" in all the right ways. Think beautiful carved woodwork and a painted tiled ceiling, walls covered in bric a brac from history — old movie posters and vintage promotional advertisements, Western art, antique firearms and Western wear, taxidermy game animals — it's a time capsule and love letter to the region all at the same time.
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 12:00 am – 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

The sunsets from the hillside vantage point of The Inn at Death Valley are always a treat — with any luck, you're checking in just in time.
In any case, there's absolutely time for star watching and an evening swim in the spring-fed infinity pool on property (always a comfortable 87F) or a nightcap in the lounge. This historic desert inn — popular among Old Hollywood stars — fairly recently underwent a $150 million refresh, which happens to be just time for its 100th birthday in 2024.