Is there an outstanding budget hotel/motel to stay at while traveling through Death Valley CA?

My fiance and I are driving from San Frsansisco to Las vegas next month and are planning to stop over in Death Valley. Do you know a great low cost hotel/motel to stay at over night in the area to take a good look around the local area ?

There are no budget hotels/motels in Death Valley. Cheapest place, which isn't really very cheap, is Furnace Creek Ranch. It is less expensive than the adjacent Furnace Creek Inn. Furnace Creek is pretty centrally located and there are services on-site. That would be my top recommendation if you are just stopping over and want to take in some of the main sights.

Outside Death Valley, there are budget places to stay in Ridgecrest, CA (I've stayed at the Motel 6 for about $40 a night), and a weird/strange semi abandoned motel called the Amargosa by Death Valley Junction which is about an hour outside of the park. I've driven past it and I wouldn't be comfortable there but maybe you would.

It will be stinking hot that time of year; you might be interested in the mountains in the southern part of the park or visit the other sites really really early in the morning. Death Valley is a really big place; takes hours to cross in a car. I'd really advise returning to Death Valley after the weather cools down a bit in the late fall if you want to really explore the place.