About Jeep rentals for Racetrack Playa

When we go to Racetrack Playa on our Death Valley trips, most people will ride in rented Jeep Wranglers from Farabee Jeep Rentals. People with their own 4WD vehicle are welcome to drive it, however driving a 2WD may result in damaging your oil pan.

The Jeeps have five seat belts (two in front, three in rear), but Farabee suggests that the back seat is only comfortable for three children, so we’ll only put four people maximum in each Jeep. Our goal is to minimize the number of Jeeps we have to rent.

Cost estimation

The final cost (including rental and gas) will range between $100 and $162 per person, with the maximum more likely $135.

We ask for a contribution at the high end, and will reimburse people if the actual cost ends up being lower.

• Rental
  • In 2025 the rate is, $345 per Jeep. This includes all taxes and fees, but not gas. It also includes 200 miles.
• Gas
  • The trip is about 82 miles each way, so let’s round that up to 100 for calculating cost of gas.
  • The Jeeps seem to get about 20 MPG.
  • So, 200 miles round trip at 20 MPG is about ten gallons of gas.
  • On the return trip, we’ll gas up at Stovepipe Wells, where the gas is usually $1 less expensive than at Furnace Creek, although still maybe $6/gallon.
  • Ten gallons at $6/gallon is $60.
• Total cost per Jeep: $405.
• Breakdown per person:
  • Remember that these prices are estimates, and the price of gas and MPG will affect the ultimate cost.
  • Range, depending on how number of Jeeps and passengers, is from $101 to $162.
  • If all Jeeps have four people in them, that’s $101.25 per person.
  • If all Jeeps aren’t full, we’ll still break down the cost per person, so the people in a not-full Jeep don’t pay more than others. Here are some examples:
    • Four Jeeps
      • 16 seats, 15 passengers: $108 per person
      • 16 seats, 13 passengers: $125 per person
    • Three Jeeps
      • 12 seats, 11 passengers: $110
      • 12 seats, 9 passengers: $135
    • Two Jeeps
      • 8 seats, 7 passengers: $116
      • 8 seats, 5 passengers: $162

Just an aside

The IRS reimbursement rates for driving in 2025 if $0.70/mile, so even driving your own car the 200 miles would be about $140 (let alone the excess wear and tear from the washboard roads).