Here's a few tips from a RFF member (me) who has been living the last 20 years near the area your going to be traveling:
1) Buy gas and fill-up well before you enter Death Valley. There are few are no gas stations there, and the distances are HUGE. Any gas you can find there will be double anywhere else. Be sure to stop at the visitors center - fascinating to visit.
2) Vegas and that area is cheap for tourists if you don't gamble. Week days are cheapest. The food, accommodations, and shopping are good. Don't expect European class of course - it's pure Americana at it's best and worst!
3) Walgreen's drug chain does a good job processing C41 in less than an hour. They are all over California - I don't know about Nevada, but I think they are national.
4) San Francisco is a good city for dining. Visit China town for great food at good prices. The sea food restaurants are also nice in other parts of the city, but not particulary cheap. The bridges over the bay are not to be missed (Golden Gate and Bay Bridge). Carmel is great fun.
