Charging near J-Tree and Death Valley

[mikehmb]

We’re scoping out a camping trip for later this week. I’ve done both Joshua Tree and DV numerous times in my previous ICE trucks, with varying degrees of hilarity and failure (coyotes stealing pans …. multiple flats within 100’ … etc). But I’ve never run out of fuel.

J-tree seems easy (Cabazon is only a few miles from pretty deep into the park). So it might be the leading candidate for this mission.

But for Death Valley … It’s well over 100 miles from Olancha into the core of the park, though (eg Badwater - though I’m not sure I want to brave the inevitable crowds). I could certainly round-trip it, but having enough juice for some exploration makes this a little more daunting.

Anyone with recent experience - especially with the various closures and infrastructure damage - would love to hear about it.

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[DuoRivians]

San Bernardino RAN is supposed to open soon, not sure when exactly though

 

[tahoer1s]

We just did what sounds like a very similar trip over Thanksgiving!

Our route: North Lake Tahoe (start) --> Bishop, CA (1 night) --> Death Valley (1 night) --> Joshua Tree (1 night) --> Tulare, CA - just outside of Sequoia --> Sequoia/Kings Canyon (1 night) --> back to Tahoe.

Everything was pretty easy charging-wise, except for Death Valley.

Death Valley:

We came down from Bishop and stopped in Olancha to charge up before heading into Death Valley.

Olancha RAN worked great. I charged to just over 80%.

After charging, I found out the road in red below (see image snip) was closed, so we lost time (and charge) backtracking to Lone Pine.

We made it into the park with no problem... you do go over 2 mountain passes. On one of them, just before Panamint Springs, there is a vehicle escort. With the escort, you only go around 25 mph, so that helped a lot to conserve range. [Just be prepared for the delay.]

There are L2 chargers at 2 locations in Death Valley - 1 set at the hotel and 1 at the common area parking. BUT - as of Thanksgiving, only 2 chargers were working in the common area (none at the hotel).

After driving around the park a bit (down to the lake bed and such), we needed to charge before leaving. I managed to hop on one of the chargers for 3-4 hours... but only after several visits to check if they were open... getting up at 4 AM to wait next to them... establishing an informal line with other EV owners (mainly Teslas), etc.

Everyone at the chargers was nice, but in a similar situation... just trying to charge enough to make it out to their next fast charger. Due to the time I got on the charger (7 AM), we ended up delaying our departure by 3-4 hours vs. original plan.

We went the way we came in on the way out, heading back to Olancha. We made it back to Olancha with 10% or so of charge remaining. If I had not have gotten to use one of the L2 chargers in the park, we would not have made it.

All-in, that experience sucked. It made me think Death Valley really wasn't ready for EVs yet.

In hindsight, I would have charged to 100% before leaving Olancha to enter the park. With that, we might have been able to make it in and out of the park without using the L2 chargers.

Since we were headed to Joshua Tree from Death Valley, ideally we would have been able to take 178 down to Inyokern, and hit the EA station there. However, just looking at the map, I was nervous about the distance and wasn't sure with the terrain if we'd be able to make it... thus we ended up back in Olancha. [178 was open though]

Key callout - there is very little cell service in Death Valley. The Rivian range estimate rarely worked because of this (just displayed a ? mark). Be sure you go in with a solid plan or be prepared to wait an indefinite amount of time at the L2 chargers!

P.S. - We tent camped at Furnace Creek Campground. There are 50a plugs there, however they are all labeled "not for EVs, this could hurt your car, etc." I tried hooking up to one, but it was off. I think the Ranger has to flip it on when you check in. My next move if I didn't get an L2 spot was to plead with the Ranger to let me try to use one. Despite the campground being full, there were a couple of RV pull through slots open.

Hope this helps! It's doable, but go in with 100% charge.

 

[capitolm94]

We just did what sounds like a very similar trip over Thanksgiving!

Our route: North Lake Tahoe (start) --> Bishop, CA (1 night) --> Death Valley (1 night) --> Joshua Tree (1 night) --> Tulare, CA - just outside of Sequoia --> Sequoia/Kings Canyon (1 night) --> back to Tahoe.

Everything was pretty easy charging-wise, except for Death Valley.

Death Valley:

We came down from Bishop and stopped in Olancha to charge up before heading into Death Valley.

Olancha RAN worked great. I charged to just over 80%.

After charging, I found out the road in red below (see image snip) was closed, so we lost time (and charge) backtracking to Lone Pine.

We made it into the park with no problem... you do go over 2 mountain passes. On one of them, just before Panamint Springs, there is a vehicle escort. With the escort, you only go around 25 mph, so that helped a lot to conserve range. [Just be prepared for the delay.]

There are L2 chargers at 2 locations in Death Valley - 1 set at the hotel and 1 at the common area parking. BUT - as of Thanksgiving, only 2 chargers were working in the common area (none at the hotel).

After driving around the park a bit (down to the lake bed and such), we needed to charge before leaving. I managed to hop on one of the chargers for 3-4 hours... but only after several visits to check if they were open... getting up at 4 AM to wait next to them... establishing an informal line with other EV owners (mainly Teslas), etc.

Everyone at the chargers was nice, but in a similar situation... just trying to charge enough to make it out to their next fast charger. Due to the time I got on the charger (7 AM), we ended up delaying our departure by 3-4 hours vs. original plan.

We went the way we came in on the way out, heading back to Olancha. We made it back to Olancha with 10% or so of charge remaining. If I had not have gotten to use one of the L2 chargers in the park, we would not have made it.

All-in, that experience sucked. It made me think Death Valley really wasn't ready for EVs yet.

In hindsight, I would have charged to 100% before leaving Olancha to enter the park. With that, we might have been able to make it in and out of the park without using the L2 chargers.

Since we were headed to Joshua Tree from Death Valley, ideally we would have been able to take 178 down to Inyokern, and hit the EA station there. However, just looking at the map, I was nervous about the distance and wasn't sure with the terrain if we'd be able to make it... thus we ended up back in Olancha. [178 was open though]

Key callout - there is very little cell service in Death Valley. The Rivian range estimate rarely worked because of this (just displayed a ? mark). Be sure you go in with a solid plan or be prepared to wait an indefinite amount of time at the L2 chargers!

P.S. - We tent camped at Furnace Creek Campground. There are 50a plugs there, however they are all labeled "not for EVs, this could hurt your car, etc." I tried hooking up to one, but it was off. I think the Ranger has to flip it on when you check in. My next move if I didn't get an L2 spot was to plead with the Ranger to let me try to use one. Despite the campground being full, there were a couple of RV pull through slots open.

Hope this helps! It's doable, but go in with 100% charge.

thanks! How was Sequoia for the Rivian? Did you charge at Tulare EA, how high, and where did you stay in the park?

Planning a trip there soon and now sure it is a good EV option yet either.

 

[tahoer1s]

thanks! How was Sequoia for the Rivian? Did you charge at Tulare EA, how high, and where did you stay in the park?

Planning a trip there soon and now sure it is a good EV option yet either.

Sequoia was a cakewalk compared to Death Valley.

We charged up to 100% at the Tulare EA. We stayed nearby (Marriot points... I think it was a Fairfield Inn or something), so I was able to walk from the chargers to the hotel and back.

We stayed at the Wuksachi Lodge in the park. No charging in Sequoia. There are rumors that there is an accessible outlet somewhere at the lodge, but the concierge said there was not one.

Drove in the first day up to the lodge, stayed at the lodge, and then the second day drove out through Kings Canyon. Was able to explore without range anxiety and make it to an EA station in Fresno with no issue, plenty of charge left. Could have actually gone a bit further north before stopping to charge.

 

[Greg Chick]

Inyokern has Rivian chargers at a good place too.

 

[capitolm94]

Sequoia was a cakewalk compared to Death Valley.

We charged up to 100% at the Tulare EA. We stayed nearby (Marriot points... I think it was a Fairfield Inn or something), so I was able to walk from the chargers to the hotel and back.

We stayed at the Wuksachi Lodge in the park. No charging in Sequoia. There are rumors that there is an accessible outlet somewhere at the lodge, but the concierge said there was not one.

Drove in the first day up to the lodge, stayed at the lodge, and then the second day drove out through Kings Canyon. Was able to explore without range anxiety and make it to an EA station in Fresno with no issue, plenty of charge left. Could have actually gone a bit further north before stopping to charge.

Awesome thank you! Planning a stay at the same hotel.

 

[capitolm94]

Inyokern has Rivian chargers at a good place too.

The burger place at those chargers is delicious, that is the best fast charger stop I have been to because of it!

 

[Greg Chick]

That was a free charger last I was there, but was told that was changing to $. There is a restaurant and everything there restrooms as well. The chargers are fast!.
Barstow has several fast stations with more food to eat than the food court at a mall.

Also Mojave City has many chargers.

 

[mikehmb]

We just did what sounds like a very similar trip over Thanksgiving!

Our route: North Lake Tahoe (start) --> Bishop, CA (1 night) --> Death Valley (1 night) --> Joshua Tree (1 night) --> Tulare, CA - just outside of Sequoia --> Sequoia/Kings Canyon (1 night) --> back to Tahoe.

Everything was pretty easy charging-wise, except for Death Valley.

Death Valley:

We came down from Bishop and stopped in Olancha to charge up before heading into Death Valley.

Olancha RAN worked great. I charged to just over 80%.

After charging, I found out the road in red below (see image snip) was closed, so we lost time (and charge) backtracking to Lone Pine.

We made it into the park with no problem... you do go over 2 mountain passes. On one of them, just before Panamint Springs, there is a vehicle escort. With the escort, you only go around 25 mph, so that helped a lot to conserve range. [Just be prepared for the delay.]

There are L2 chargers at 2 locations in Death Valley - 1 set at the hotel and 1 at the common area parking. BUT - as of Thanksgiving, only 2 chargers were working in the common area (none at the hotel).

After driving around the park a bit (down to the lake bed and such), we needed to charge before leaving. I managed to hop on one of the chargers for 3-4 hours... but only after several visits to check if they were open... getting up at 4 AM to wait next to them... establishing an informal line with other EV owners (mainly Teslas), etc.

Everyone at the chargers was nice, but in a similar situation... just trying to charge enough to make it out to their next fast charger. Due to the time I got on the charger (7 AM), we ended up delaying our departure by 3-4 hours vs. original plan.

We went the way we came in on the way out, heading back to Olancha. We made it back to Olancha with 10% or so of charge remaining. If I had not have gotten to use one of the L2 chargers in the park, we would not have made it.

All-in, that experience sucked. It made me think Death Valley really wasn't ready for EVs yet.

In hindsight, I would have charged to 100% before leaving Olancha to enter the park. With that, we might have been able to make it in and out of the park without using the L2 chargers.

Since we were headed to Joshua Tree from Death Valley, ideally we would have been able to take 178 down to Inyokern, and hit the EA station there. However, just looking at the map, I was nervous about the distance and wasn't sure with the terrain if we'd be able to make it... thus we ended up back in Olancha. [178 was open though]

Key callout - there is very little cell service in Death Valley. The Rivian range estimate rarely worked because of this (just displayed a ? mark). Be sure you go in with a solid plan or be prepared to wait an indefinite amount of time at the L2 chargers!

P.S. - We tent camped at Furnace Creek Campground. There are 50a plugs there, however they are all labeled "not for EVs, this could hurt your car, etc." I tried hooking up to one, but it was off. I think the Ranger has to flip it on when you check in. My next move if I didn't get an L2 spot was to plead with the Ranger to let me try to use one. Despite the campground being full, there were a couple of RV pull through slots open.

Hope this helps! It's doable, but go in with 100% charge.

Thank you so much for this information. We’re going to skip Death Valley this time around, and keep an eye on charging infrastructure. I knew 180 was closed based on google maps, but the lack of any charging in Lone Pine or in the park itself made this seem incredibly inconvenient (if not impossible).

 

[Singletracker]

I used to head down to DV, with some regularity. That was when I had my FJ and could spend a few days remote camping and 4-wheeling. With my R1T, that trip is sadly impossible.

 

[snrblink]

I took a trip to DV prior to Thanksgiving. I went through Trona, and charged there both in and out.of the park.(I was able to get about 130kW max there) . I charged at Olancha both in and out as well to minimize the charging time in Trona?
I stayed at StovePipe Wells for one night, and was able to charge with an adapter at about 2.5 KW over night at one of the RV sites (it was a $20 flat fee) I also charged at the Ranch (6.5 KW L2) prior to going to Badwater and then GreenWater Valley Road and Gold Valley Road. I traveled during the week and was likely the only EV in the park: as such, I encountered no waiting at the chargers.

I hope this information was useful

 

[mkg3]

"Rivian is opening a NEW Charging Post in Joshua Tree, complete with 12 DCFC stalls, a snack bar, outdoor and indoor lounge areas, a bathroom, a merch shop, and a display vehicle for potential owners.

It seems Rivian is strategically placing these posts near adventure hotspots like National Parks, like a true Rivian Adventure Network! "

 

[SoCal Rob]

We’re scoping out a camping trip for later this week. I’ve done both Joshua Tree and DV numerous times in my previous ICE trucks, with varying degrees of hilarity and failure (coyotes stealing pans …. multiple flats within 100’ … etc). But I’ve never run out of fuel.

J-tree seems easy (Cabazon is only a few miles from pretty deep into the park). So it might be the leading candidate for this mission.

But for Death Valley … It’s well over 100 miles from Olancha into the core of the park, though (eg Badwater - though I’m not sure I want to brave the inevitable crowds). I could certainly round-trip it, but having enough juice for some exploration makes this a little more daunting.

Anyone with recent experience - especially with the various closures and infrastructure damage - would love to hear about it.

I know a lot of people aren’t fans of EVgo because of pricing, but if you place value on convenience there is a relatively new EVgo station in Yucca Valley at the Aldi parking lot. A number of fast food places are a quick walk away on the other side of the 62. We see at least one other Rivian there every time we charge. It’s a game-changer for us since we spend a lot of time in that area.

There’s a large Tesla Supercharger in Yucca Valley, too, if you have an adapter.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Yucca TSC has 16 stalls. Palm Springs and Pal Desert (La Quinta) each have one Rivian-accessible TSC; 8 stalls each.

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