I agree with the Las Vegas choice. You may also want to consider Reno, since that's a straight shot down highway 395.

As for driving through Death Valley without living up to the valley's name: Don't drive a crappy old car. Have lots of water. If it's very hot, don't make a lot of long stops. Long hikes in the Summer are a bad idea.

But you MUST stop at Badwater so you can brag that you were at the lowest spot in the lower 48 and the highest spot in the lower 48 (Mt Whitney). smile
Bonus points if you actually hike all the way from Badwater to Whitney (I have never done that and probably never will).