Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 49–75°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Sunny55°F Lancaster8:15 AM PDT Sunny49°F Mojave8:30 AM PDT Sunny49°F Searles Valley10 AM PDT Mostly sunny57°F Towne Pass11 AM PDT Sunny51°F Death Valley11:45 AM PDT Sunny75°F - WedOct 14
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 47–78°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Sunny59°F Lancaster8:15 AM PDT Sunny47°F Mojave8:30 AM PDT Sunny52°F Searles Valley10 AM PDT Sunny60°F Towne Pass11 AM PDT Sunny58°F Death Valley11:45 AM PDT Sunny78°F - ThuOct 15
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 51–83°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Sunny59°F Lancaster8:15 AM PDT Sunny51°F Mojave8:30 AM PDT Sunny57°F Searles Valley10 AM PDT Sunny66°F Towne Pass11 AM PDT Sunny64°F Death Valley11:45 AM PDT Sunny83°F - FriOct 16
HighGusts to 43 mph near Lancaster around 8:15 AM PDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Sunny66°F Lancaster8:15 AM PDT Sunny57°F Mojave8:30 AM PDT Sunny61°F Searles Valley10 AM PDT Sunny72°F Towne Pass11 AM PDT Sunny66°F Death Valley11:45 AM PDT Sunny87°F - SatOct 17
CautionGusts to 32 mph near Mojave around 8:30 AM PDT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Mostly sunny69°F Lancaster8:15 AM PDT Sunny58°F Mojave8:30 AM PDT Sunny63°F Searles Valley10 AM PDT Sunny71°F Towne Pass11 AM PDT Sunny67°F Death Valley11:45 AM PDT Sunny86°F - SunOct 18
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 57–87°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Sunny68°F Lancaster8:15 AM PDT Sunny57°F Mojave8:30 AM PDT Sunny61°F Searles Valley10 AM PDT Sunny71°F Towne Pass11 AM PDT Sunny67°F Death Valley11:45 AM PDT Sunny87°F - MonOct 19
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 58–87°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Mostly sunny67°F Lancaster8:15 AM PDT Sunny58°F Mojave8:30 AM PDT Sunny66°F Searles Valley10 AM PDT Sunny71°F Towne Pass11 AM PDT Sunny67°F Death Valley11:45 AM PDT Sunny87°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Los Angeles (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Los Angeles, CAStart 284 ftelevation
- Lancaster, CAMile 70 · 1 h 11 min 2,352 ftelevation
- Mojave, CAMile 95 · 1 h 34 min 2,760 ftelevation
- Searles Valley, CAMile 167 · 3 h 2 min 2,098 ftelevation
- Towne Pass, CAMountain pass · Mile 225 · 4 h 4,957 ftelevation
- Death Valley, CAMile 266 · 4 h 46 min -169 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Los Angeles, Mojave and Death Valley.
| Month | Los Angeles 230 ft | Mojave 2,735 ft | Death Valley -194 ft | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 68° / 49° | 58° / 33° | 0.2 | 67° / 43° | 0 |
| Feb | 68° / 50° | 60° / 35° | 0.1 | 74° / 49° | 0 |
| Mar | 70° / 52° | 67° / 40° | 0 | 83° / 57° | 0 |
| Apr | 72° / 55° | 72° / 45° | 0 | 91° / 65° | 0 |
| May | 74° / 58° | 81° / 53° | 0 | 101° / 75° | 0 |
| Jun | 77° / 61° | 91° / 64° | 0 | 111° / 84° | 0 |
| Jul | 82° / 65° | 97° / 69° | 0 | 117° / 91° | 0 |
| Aug | 84° / 65° | 97° / 67° | 0 | 116° / 89° | 0 |
| Sep | 83° / 64° | 90° / 61° | 0 | 108° / 79° | 0 |
| Oct | 79° / 60° | 78° / 49° | 0 | 93° / 64° | 0 |
| Nov | 73° / 53° | 66° / 39° | 0 | 77° / 51° | 0 |
| Dec | 67° / 48° | 57° / 32° | 0.1 | 66° / 41° | 0 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: LOS ANGELES DWTN USC CAMPUS (USW00093134, 230 ft); MOJAVE (USC00045756, 2,735 ft); DEATH VALLEY NP (USC00042319, -194 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for California rather than repeat them.
- California · CaltransQuickMap conditions and cameras
- California · winter rulesChain controls
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Los Angeles to Death Valley with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Los Angeles to Death Valley?
266 miles, about 5 hours of driving without stops, by way of CA-14 and CA-178. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Towne Pass, at 4,957 ft. It comes at mile 225, about 4 h of driving after you leave Los Angeles.
How cold is Death Valley in January?
Death Valley averages a high of 67°F and a low of 43°F in January (1991–2020 normals).