Don’t let the title “Loneliest Highway in America” idiot you. Nevada’s Freeway 50 has been a serious thoroughfare because the Pony Categorical related the West. And when mail by horse pale with the daybreak of the telegraph and vehicle, the route blazed a brand new path as the primary transcontinental freeway, from New York to San Francisco. We’ll admit that we thought Route 66 held that declare to fame, however the Lincoln Freeway got here first, and Nevada’s part was a lynchpin to guiding vacationers by way of the desert and over the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Why is Nevada’s Freeway 50 known as “The Loneliest Highway in America”? In 1986, Life Journal did a characteristic, damning this 287-mile stretch, saying, “There aren’t any factors of curiosity,” and warned that motorists would want “survival expertise” to make it by way of this excessive desert. Effectively, as seasoned highway trippers who’ve pushed the Alaska Freeway, the whole thing of The Mom Highway, and 9 cross-country highway journeys, we knew higher than to let some persnickety editor preserve us or Nevada down! We’d taken a chew out of The Loneliest Highway in America on earlier Nevada journeys and have been excited to lastly drive its full size and discover all its wonders with an eight-day highway journey!
Comply with our Route 50 Highway Survival Information from Nice Basin Nationwide Park, by way of eight historic cities to quite a few scorching springs, sacred Native American websites, sand dunes, sagebrush saloons, and so many stops to make The Loneliest Highway in America a bucket-list highway journey.
Loneliest Highway in America Map
Our journey information follows Route 50, heading west from the Utah border by way of the cities of Baker, Ely, Eureka, Austin, Fallon, Virginia Metropolis, and Carson Metropolis, and ends alongside Nevada’s shores of Lake Tahoe. Whereas these cities maintain numerous intrigue, it’s all about ambling between them, having fun with the Basin and Vary Topography, Bureau of Land Administration (BLM) recreation areas, surprising cultural websites, and watering holes each time you could find them. As you’d think about on one thing known as the Loneliest Highway in America, there might be some lengthy stretches between companies, so preserve your fuel, water, and snack provide topped up so you possibly can journey with confidence and gusto!
Under, we’ve got damaged down Nevada Route 50 by city, the very best issues to do in every, and the must-see sights in between!
Nice Basin Nationwide Park
Dwelling to one of many US’s southernmost glaciers, the world’s oldest bushes (5,000+ years!), dazzling caves, and an Worldwide Darkish Sky Park, Nice Basin is without doubt one of the most spectacular nationwide parks within the nation—but it’s the third least visited within the decrease 48! Referred to as a Desert Mountain Island, this distinctive ecosystem rises from what was an historic inland sea and the present-day hydrographic Nice Basin space that covers most of Nevada and plenty of components of the West. The Basin refers to the truth that this space has no river shops and that any water that falls, evaporates, sinks underground, or is captured in lakes. This makes for a dry, harsh local weather, which explains why this 77,000 acres of biodiverse park stand in such stark and beautiful distinction.
Listed below are the very best issues to do in Nice Basin Nationwide Park:
Lehman Caves
Sixty-four years earlier than Nice Basin grew to become a nationwide park, their spectacular Lehman Caves earned Nationwide Monument standing. To discover this underground wonderland, we signed up for the park’s most intensive ranger-guided expedition, the 90-minute Grand Palace Tour. It begins within the Gothic Palace room, the place enjoyable formations like “cave bacon,” “soda straws”, and their well-known “cave shields” glisten within the dim lighting. To deliver us again to the times of the early explorers, the ranger shut off the lights for a minute and stated, “In right here, our eyes will NEVER modify.” Solely uniquely tailored species just like the Nice Basin Cave pseudoscorpion and springtails can navigate this darkness…and people with gentle, like Mr. Lehman who first explored the caves by candle within the Eighteen Eighties.
The wheel-chair accessible path turned to slim passageways between the stalactites and stalagmites, as we moved by way of the Rose Trellis Room, organ-esque Music Room, and the Inscription Room coated in signatures from Nineteenth-century guests, and the Cypress Swamp with its surreal reflections. At two linear miles, Lehman Caves is probably not as massive as Carlsbad Caverns Nationwide Park, however they boast 500 extra cave shields and these beautiful round formations, dripping with petrified droplets, making it one of the distinctive and elaborate within the nation.
Journey Tip: Join your cave tour as early as doable, since you possibly can’t enter the caves and not using a information, and excursions can replenish months prematurely. When you overlook to make reservations, get to the park workplace earlier than it opens and verify for last-minute cancellations.
Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive
Hugging the Snake Vary and serpentine curves of this 12-mile highway, the Nice Basin panorama modified from sagebrush to pinyon pines to rugged cliffs to snowcapped peaks as we ascended to 10,000 toes above sea degree. Be sure you pull over at Mather Level for the massive vista of the jagged Wheeler Peak and preserve going to the tip for the Bristlecone-Alpine Lakes Path!
Journey Tip: Wheeler Highway and its mountain trailheads sometimes shut in November for snow, so attempt to go to from April to October for the complete Nice Basin expertise.
Bristlecone-Alpine Lakes Path
This 1.6-mile path results in one of many oldest forests on the earth…the Nice Basin Bristlecone Pine Grove! Solely present in small sections of California, Utah, and Nevada, and at elevations between 9,800 to 11,000 toes, these hearty bushes can stay greater than 5,000 years! At such heights, snow typically dusts the path, making the steep pitch slightly extra technical and exhilarating. We reached the grove of gnarled bushes and thought concerning the millennia of occasions they’d endured and historic wonders they outdated (transfer over Pyramids of Giza!). As if this grove wasn’t spectacular sufficient, the path continues to one of many southernmost glaciers within the North America. We scrambled up the moraine for a straight-on view of Wheeler Peak Glacier and would have sooner guessed we have been in Switzerland than Nevada!
For extra unbelievable alpine vibes, prolong your hike on the two.7-mile loop to Teresa & Stella Lake. Quick on time? Teresa Lake is only a 10-minute detour off the Bristlecone-Alpine path and soooo fairly!
Stargazing with the Astronomy Rangers
Nice Basin’s distant and arid location makes it one of many premier worldwide Darkish Sky Parks within the USA. On a transparent, moonless summer season night time, hundreds of stars, the Milky Method, and even distant objects just like the Andromeda Galaxy may be seen with the bare eye. To degree up our stargazing we joined the park’s common Astronomy Ranger speak and guided telescope viewing, plus a particular NASA scientist speak concerning the annular eclipse that was occurring that week! Our thoughts was blown as we peered into their $10k telescopes and noticed 4 of Jupiter’s moons and the large interstellar cloud of the Lagoon Nebula 4,100 gentle years away (aka 24,600,000,000,000,000 miles from Earth)!
Astronomy applications are held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from Could to September, with the grand finale being the Nice Basin Astronomy Pageant through the September new moon.
For extra photographs from Nice Basin Nationwide Park, see our Instagram gallery.
Ely
Persevering with 62 miles alongside the jagged Snake Vary and sea of sagebrush, the city of Ely emerges. Based as a stagecoach cease and buying and selling submit within the 1870s, it grew to become a mining boomtown with cooper riches and a railroad that put it on the map within the early 1900s. Upwards of 100 nationalities flocked to Ely and the city nonetheless prides itself on its multicultural heritage with the motto, “Ely, the place the world met and have become one.”
It was the 2023 Nice American Eclipse that introduced us to Ely, Nevada, for his or her multi-day competition and ideal viewing of The Ring of Fireplace! Watching the moon slowly creep throughout the solar because the air chilled, the sky grew darker, canine howled, and new buddies gasped in unison was sheer magic! After the hour-long viewing, the merriment continued with a Punkin’ Chunkin’ medieval competition, town-wide cocktail crawl, and occasions all weekend lengthy.
For enjoyable, any day of the yr, attempt these prime issues to do in Ely:
Ely Renaissance Village
Honoring their numerous neighborhood, the Ely Rennaissance Society has renovated 11 properties of a former mining camp and designed each to replicate a distinct ethnicity of Ely’s early residents. Wandering between the villages of Basque, Slavic, Chinese language, German, Italian, and plenty of extra kinds of house, with their respective antiques and on a regular basis gadgets, gave an intimate window into every household’s cultural identification and model of the American dream. We extremely suggest this museum and a tour from Glen, one of many individuals who has dedicated many years of his life to preserving this village!
Northern Nevada Railway
We hopped aboard ole No. 98, a 114-year-old steam locomotive on the Nevada Northern Railway…America’s best-preserved standard-gauge brief line and an entire rail facility! The railway employees have been in interval costumes and utilizing instruments from the times as a mining boomtown. In the present day it’s not prospectors, however train-fans from across the globe that come for this bucket-list journey. To listen to the whistle, really feel the chug, odor the soot, and step again in time as you progress from this 70-building practice advanced to the mining ghost city a number of miles down the tracks, is unforgettable. Watch the video above for extra on our short-line rail journey and take a look at their web site for extra of their themed experiences, from the Roaring 20s to their Haunted Ghost Prepare.
Ely Mural Stroll
Study concerning the historical past of Ely as you stroll by way of downtown, admiring their 20+ vibrant murals, bearing on all the things from the evolution of Ely’s transportation to the plight of its indigenous folks. (“The Miss is Lacking,” painted by a mother-daughter group from the Ely-Shoshone tribe is so transferring!) Take a look at this free audio-guided tour or dial up the hotline beneath every mural and punch within the respective quantity to listen to extra about every bit.
Hit the Strip
With Resort Nevada’s origins as a playing getaway to Hollywood Stars, the strip has a retro-fabulous vibe. Comply with the sidewalk stars to the lodge that began all of it (in case you’re staying there, the primary drink is on them), and take a look at your luck! Pop throughout the road to Jailhouse Lounge for mid-century cool vibes and cocktails, then finish your night time out at The House at Taproot, Ely’s hottest new music venue.
OHV Ward Mountain
The Ely space has 11.4 million acres of BLM land, which suggests infinite recreation alternatives and OHV heaven. We rented a side-by-side from Jap Nevada Adventures (proper downtown) and inside a mile of The Strip we have been scaling mountain trails. We took a chew out of the Ward Mountain Journey Loop, by way of sagebrush and blended Pinyon juniper forest, and unbelievable vistas of the Egan Vary. Watch this superior journey!
Eureka
We pulled into the “Friendliest City on the Loneliest Highway,” and felt the great vibes instantly! Found in 1864 by silver prospectors, Eureka grew to become Nevada’s second-fastest-growing mining city, with a really worldwide inhabitants (notably Cornish, Chinese language, Italian, and Basque). Their 50 mines and 17 smelters processed 700 tons of ore per day and sufficient wealth to create the tremendous structure that also stands in the present day.
Choose up a self-guided tour map to examine every of the marked buildings, just like the European American Assets Constructing and the Eureka Opera Home…among the many Silver State’s best-preserved Nineteenth-century theatre! We additionally beloved that some buildings haven’t been renovated and simply left to nature, with apple bushes rising up by way of the center!
Austin: Midway on The Loneliest Highway in America
It’s a 70-mile stretch between Eureka and Austin, and whereas there may not be different cities in between, there are a ton of factors of curiosity within the roughly 20 miles main as much as Austin, so don’t miss these pitstops!
Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Space
The Western Shoshone folks have been on this space for over 10,000 years with spectacular rock artwork to indicate for it. Proper alongside Nevada Route 50 you’ll see the massive picket BLM signal for Hickison Petroglyphs, main you to the beginning of the 1.6-mile interpretive path (and a stunning free tenting space). These historic work shortly reveal themselves, however preserve going so you possibly can uncover extra scenes and 360-degree views of the Massive Smoky Valley and Toiyabe Mountain Vary.
Journey Tip: Need extra of Nevada’s vibrant Native American Historical past? Head 26 miles south to Toquima Cave for a number of the most vibrant pictographs left in North America.
Fortunate Spur Saloon
Named “Finest Bar within the Center of Nowhere” by Males’s Well being, Fortunate Spur Saloon is straight out of a Western film. About 18 miles off Nevada Route 50 and down an extended dusty highway, you’ll assume you’re misplaced till you see a tall, tin windmill, emblazoned with ‘’Fortunate Spur.” Order a bloody mary, pull up a saddle barstool, take within the views to Kingston Canyon, and attempt to hustle some cowboys at a recreation of pool.
Spencer Scorching Springs
Do you know Nevada has extra scorching springs than another state within the USA? For probably the most constant and scenic on The Loneliest Highway in America, you’ve gotta absorb Spencer Scorching Springs. We took the six-mile detour down a mud highway and noticed the steam rising over the 4 swimming pools. The solar was setting so we did a fast change and hopped into the “cowboy tub” to take in the 110-degree waters and sundown. For a extra pure tub and even hotter water (as much as 130 levels), most individuals head to the decrease swimming pools, however we beloved the privateness and the wildlife viewing on the prime. After sitting nonetheless within the moonlight for some time, six wild burros tiptoed to the water’s edge for a drink with us!
Little Blue Chook Turquoise and Jason’s Artwork Gallery
Civilization emerges once more within the city of Austin, with a reasonably church, normal retailer, a few inns, and the gem of city…Little Blue Chook Turquoise & Jason’s Artwork Gallery. We walked into this false-front constructing from 1870 and the proprietor Duane regarded up from sharpening a stone to greet us. He and his spouse are the silversmiths behind this rock-to-gem jewellery studio of 38 years. We acquired chatting and the following factor you recognize, Duane invited us to the again to see how they tumble, polish, and reduce the stones into artwork. So cool!
Stokes Fort
On the cliff on the western fringe of city, Stokes Fort stands testomony to Austin’s profitable silver mining previous. Constructed as a trip house and show of wealth by railroad mining magnate Anson Stokes, it was impressed by a Roman tower from his travels and made with hand-hewn native granite. The household lived right here for lower than a month, however 130 years later the general public can nonetheless benefit from the hanging exterior and scenic lookout level over Reese River Valley.
Middlegate Station
Sixty miles later, the highway cuts by way of a sequence of mountain passes that the early land surveyors and Pony Categorical groups known as Uppergate, Middlegate, and Lowergate. You’ll know once you hit Middlegate Station, as a result of it appears to be like like a time capsule, with its wagon wheels, vintage automobiles, phone cubicles, old-time fuel pumps (nonetheless working!), and large BAR signal. We walked in and it simply acquired higher, with a whole bunch of greenback payments pinned to the ceiling and many years of Western knickknacks on the partitions. A spot this distinctive doesn’t even must have good meals or service to warrant a go to, however to our shock, that they had each! We acquired chatting with the co-owner of 38 years, and he or she stated 5 generations of her household nonetheless work right here and stay on the premises. Her short-order cook dinner made us top-of-the-line veggie burgers with onion rings! and we left with the most important smiles on our faces.
The Shoe Tree
Two and a half miles east of Middlegate Station are the remnants of the famed Shoe Tree and its resilient youthful sister. Legend has it {that a} newlywed couple was tenting below the cottonwood tree and acquired in a tiff. She threatened to go away him, however he replied with one thing to the impact of “When you do, you’ll need to go barefoot,” and threw her sneakers within the tree! He sped off to Middlegate Station and the bartender satisfied him to go make-up. A yr later, once they had their first youngster, they returned to the tree and threw the child’s sneakers up there too. So started a practice of hundreds of vacationers chucking their kicks into the boughs. Sadly, vandals reduce down the unique Cottonwood, however the custom continues in a neighboring tree. Go forward, hurl yours up there, and be part of the legacy!
Journey Tip: Middlegate Station permits you to camp free of charge, for as many days as you’d like! With nice meals, the occasional band, and tales for miles, it would make for a memorable in a single day.
Fallon
By Loneliest Highway in America requirements, Fallon is a metropolis! There are 9,000 folks unfold throughout this verdant valley (largely as a result of naval airbase). Set in what was an historic lake, the Fallon space nonetheless has essential wetlands and nutrient-rich soil for farming, unusual within the surrounding desert. These sources made it an essential space to early Native People, who left behind extra noteworthy artwork and relics. So whether or not it’s historic artwork, good eating places, wildlife watching, ATV adventures, or craft whiskey, the Fallon space has rather a lot to maintain you busy.
The Grid Market & Brewery
The favored Grid restaurant opened up a brand new brewery and expanded the house with a whiskey and wine tasting room, poke eatery, bar video games, and boutique retailers. It’s an unsuspecting mashup of companies that attracts locals and out-of-towners for a novel night time of consuming, procuring, and taking part in. We acquired a unbelievable vegan poke bowl, drank a flight of craft beers, and performed shuffleboard for an ideal night time.
Journey Tip: For extra nice eating places in Fallon, attempt The Slanted Porch, Maine Road Cafe, and Telegraph Espresso.
Sand Mountain
Twenty-five miles southeast of Fallon, slightly Sahara Desert seems. When historic Lake Lahontan dried up 9,000 years in the past it left behind hundreds of acres of sand dunes. Famend within the ATV neighborhood, this BLM recreation space is an off-roading paradise. Buddy the Camper is way from a 4×4, so we walked the dunes at sundown and completely loved the sand between our toes and watching the parade of headlights zigzag down the mushy mountain.
Frey Ranch & Distillery
Distilleries are popping up across the nation, nevertheless it’s uncommon to seek out one that could be a true property distillery that may boast ground-to-glass whiskey, with all of the substances grown on-site. The Frey household are fifth-generation Nevada farmers who’ve put their expertise collectively to create the state’s first official distillery. Driving below the tunnel of bushes, surrounded by waves of grain, we might already inform this place was particular, then the mansion of a former Nevada Senator and a wonderful distillery appeared! The Freys’ proper handyman Sam gave us a superb tasting of their top-notch spirits (ever tried oat whiskey or Irish-peet smoked single malts earlier than? So good!) Then he walked us across the distillery to see their Vendome copper nonetheless on full roar, their vats of mashes effervescent away, and 1000s of white oak barrels ageing their whiskeys to perfection. We left with a bottle of their straight rye, flipped it over, and noticed their slogan ”Be good to the land and the land might be good to you.”
Grimes Level & Archaeological Space
Listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations and Nevada’s first Nationwide Recreation Path, Grimes Level and Hidden Cave supply unbelievable insights into the realm’s earliest inhabitants, the Paiute-Shoshone. We walked the trail between desert-varnished boulders and marveled on the remarkably intact petroglyphs on the shiny sunbaked rocks. Persevering with slightly down the highway, we hiked up the mountainside and into the sequence of caves carved by historic Lake Lahontan and used as primitive shelter and storage. To see the famed Hidden Cave, which was used as a cache 3,500 years in the past, and found with unbroken and completely organized artifacts, be part of the BLM’s free public excursions on the second and fourth Saturday of every month.
Stillwater Nationwide Wildlife Refuge
A number of miles east of Fallon, the Stillwater wetlands draw so many migratory birds (a whole bunch of hundreds throughout 290 completely different species!) that it’s listed as an space of Worldwide Significance by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Community. We arrived simply after dawn and drove the roads between the canals and ponds. We hopped out to discover their boardwalk and sequence of brief trails and noticed egrets, tundra swans, and numerous geese. Come at dawn or sundown to see probably the most chook exercise and don’t overlook to learn the interpretive indicators for extra concerning the chook migrations and the methods the Paiute folks used these pure sources to thrive.
Virginia Metropolis (Loneliest Highway in America…Important Detour!)
On its very personal scenic freeway, 20 miles off of Nevada Route 50, lies our favourite and one of many best-preserved Western cities within the USA…Virginia Metropolis! When prospectors struck the Comstock silver lode of 1859, this place went from a distant mountain outpost to a cosmopolitan metropolis with opera homes, state-of-art colleges, hospitals, 100+ saloons, and main newspapers (with Mark Twain on workers!) Like many elderly western cities, Virginia had a large hearth, however when their blaze hit in 1875, they have been rolling in 7 million tons of silver, so they only constructed again higher. In the present day the city nonetheless shines with grand Victorian structure, picket boardwalks, and buckets of Western attraction.
Historic Fourth Ward Museum
To get a grand overview of the historical past of Virginia Metropolis in a wonderful and genuine setting, head to the Historic Fourth Ward Museum. When this Victorian Second Empire-style constructing opened in 1876, it was amongst probably the most superior colleges within the West, with state-of-the-art heating, air flow, and sanitation methods. When mining pale away, their inhabitants of 1,000 college students whittled to a couple dozen, and by the Nineteen Thirties the varsity closed and the constructing remained shut for 50 years. With a grant from the Nevada Humanities neighborhood, it has been restored as a superb museum. Study concerning the city’s mining historical past, superior metropolis planning, instructional system, and its well-known residents with an hour wandering these hallowed halls.
Searching for extra museums and a style of the 1860s opulence? Strive the Mackay Mansion down the road.
Virginia Metropolis Hat Maker & Bootmaker
Wandering the retailers alongside South C Road is a step again in time, however no place upholds the craftsmanship of the Previous West like Pioneer Emporium & Virginia Metropolis Hat Maker. Pascal Baboulin is a fourth-generation hatmaker from Switzerland who fell in love with a Virginia Metropolis lady and he or she inspired him to deliver this artwork again to city. On the fly, we watched Pascal sculpt beaver felt with steam, massaging, and finesse into a stunning headpiece. To additional nurture the artwork of Western vogue, he shares the house with Jake Houston, a customized cowboy bootmaker. The checklist of nation stars ready in line for his bedazzled kicks is as spectacular because the sneakers themselves!
Saloon Crawl
Whereas there is probably not 100 saloons left in Virginia Metropolis, a dozen of the best stay. Don’t miss the Bucket of Blood for mid-day stay music and superb sunsets over the mountains. The Silver Queen’s identify proves true with a towering girl made of three,261 silver {dollars} and the tallest again bar on the earth! (When you’re into the paranormal, this lodge and bar has been on Ghost Adventures 3 times for the murdered mistress who nonetheless haunts the constructing.) The Previous Washoe Membership doesn’t look the grandest on the bottom flooring, nevertheless it was house to the Millionaires Membership and members like Ulysses S Grant frequented their lavish and unique lounge upstairs. For an atmospheric bar with good grub, The Pink Canine serves pizza with their suds.
Priscilla Pennyworth’s Previous-time Photographs
Positive getting dressed up in Western garb and taking black-and-white photographs is a very touristy factor to do, however we’re so glad we did! The gals at Priscilla Pennyworth’s have been unbelievable in serving to select costumes and poses to strut our stuff like John Wayne and Vera Miles. We hopped into the Virginia Metropolis Bathtub Home tub with simply the necessities (hat, whiskey, and shotgun) and had some good clear enjoyable, plus three superbly printed photographs to take house. Click on by way of the gallery above for extra photographs from Virginia Metropolis.
Carson Metropolis
The highway was lonely no extra, we made it to the capital of Nevada! Simply 15 miles from Virginia Metropolis, this accessible valley grew to become the hub for transporting and minting this wealth within the 1800s. Through the Civil Conflict, Lincoln noticed the realm as a precious accomplice within the Union’s struggle and granted Nevada statehood with Carson Metropolis as its capital. In the present day it’s one of many quaintest little capitals with some spectacular websites.
Nevada State Museum
Set within the Historic Carson Metropolis Mint, the Nevada State Museum has all of your important matters coated (Native American historical past, geology, geography, mining, and artwork of all types). Right here, you gained’t simply be wandering stark galleries however exploring a ghost city, mine shaft, coin-making operation, and extra. Extremely suggest!
Equipment Carson Path
To deliver this tiny city to state-capital standing, grand properties have been constructed for the brand new authorities officers and Comstock millionaires of the Nineteenth century. Comply with this curated 2.5-mile route by way of the historic West Facet district to study concerning the Victorian properties, museums, church buildings, and the folks behind them. Use the interactive audio information, obtain the map, be part of a Nevada State Museum docent stroll to deliver Carson Metropolis’s earliest and best buildings to life.
Carson Metropolis Triathlon: Drink, Dine, Dip
From the Washoe Native People to the California Gold Rush miners, Carson Metropolis Scorching Springs has been a staple for the realm’s recreation and leisure. Lately they’ve leveled it up with the assistance of some new neighbors and slightly humor on the tourism board. When you’re feeling as much as the problem, the Carson Metropolis Triathlon includes the low-impact sports activities of consuming, eating, and soaking. We began on the mining-themed springs, with a number of the purest scorching spring water on the earth (no chemical substances, warmth, or faucet water added), and took within the waters flowing from the choose axe waterfall and the tipping miner’s trolley. Simply throughout the parking zone was Shoetree Brewing (of Middlegate Station fame), the place we had unbelievable IPAs and Bitter beers brewed by this brother group. The ultimate stretch was at Sassafras restaurant to get pleasure from their global-inspired, vegan-friendly menu and art-filled house. Finest triathlon you are able to do with out breaking a sweat!
Brewery Arts Heart
Housed within the oldest business constructing in Nevada (est 1865), the Carson Brewery has gone from making suds to printing information to nurturing artists. For the previous 40+ years, this neighborhood artwork middle has hosted courses, performances, exhibitions, and events that deliver creativity and connection to the capital. We popped in simply as they have been closing, however volunteer Patricia Finest couldn’t assist however inform us concerning the first annual Mural Pageant that was storming the city. Clearly, their artistic expression extends past the brewery partitions. Take a look at their occasions calendar to see what’s on if you are on the town and what creative-types you may meet.
Lake Tahoe: The Finish of Route 50 Nevada
Nevada’s Route 50 ends alongside the shores of the beautiful Lake Tahoe. It’s such a preferred place that it doesn’t precisely qualify as an element The Loneliest Highway in America, however being among the many largest alpine lake within the nation, with hundreds of acres of wilderness areas, you possibly can nonetheless discover that serenity and solitude to spherical out your highway journey! Hug the shore to Cave Rock path the place you may get sweeping views of the Sierra Nevadas and a turquoise lake that extends past the state line. Whereas we didn’t make it to Lake Tahoe this journey (we headed south to Genoa, Nevada’s Oldest City), the Tahoe space is the place I spent each fall and spring as a child, so we are able to wholeheartedly suggest a few days enjoyable on this beautiful lake in your Route 50 finale!
The place to Keep on the Loneliest Highway in America (east to west)
Whilst you might fortunately keep in any of the cities above, Ely, Fallon, Virginia Metropolis, and Lake Tahoe supply probably the most issues to do and are properly spaced aside. That stated if in case you have an RV or tenting setup, Nevada is a dream for unbelievable free campsites. The state is greater than 80% public land (for reference, Texas is 4% public land) and the Bureau of Land Administration and Nationwide Forest do an ideal job sustaining campgrounds, typically with bogs, picnic tables, and firepits, with out charging charges. As RV house owners, we did a mixture of each metropolis resorts and distant tenting and thought it was the right mix. Listed below are the very best locations to remain on the Loneliest Highway in America:
Stargazer Inn, Baker/Nice Basin Nationwide Park
Nice Basin Nationwide Park has nice campgrounds, however for extra facilities and many small-town attraction, keep in close by Baker at The Stargazer Inn. They’ve properly up to date rooms and are increasing their choices in 2024. The Bristlecone Basic Retailer is the center of the property with connoisseur meals, charming items, and helpful info to plan your adventures round Nice Basin Nationwide Park.
Resort Nevada, Ely
Ely’s most iconic lodge and playing corridor, Resort Nevada has been a fixture on the strip since 1928. For Hollywood stars en path to Solar Valley Ski Holidays, Resort Nevada was probably the most trendy halfway level. Rooms give a nod to their star-studded ties, with suites themed to completely different old-time actors. Earlier than we checked into “Hoot Gibson’s” room, we have been welcomed with a complimentary margarita and craft beer of our selection that set the tone for an evening of enjoyable. When you like retro vibes and a chunk of historical past, Resort Nevada is your Ace of Spades.
Spencer Scorching Springs Tenting, Better Austin
With 4 scorching spring swimming pools to select from and large mountain vistas, this wild tenting space is a delight. It’s a real boondocking expertise so know that there aren’t any amenities (ie bogs, picnic tables, and so forth) and to come back ready. To assist protect this valuable place, observe scorching springs etiquette and park at the very least 100 yards from the water. Value for tenting and comes entry? Free.
Vacation Inn Categorical, Fallon
Fallon doesn’t actually have boutique lodge choices, so The Vacation Inn Categorical is the very best of the mainstream lodging. The clear room and complimentary breakfast made it a stable launchpad for our larger Fallon adventures.
Sand Mountain Tenting, Better Fallon
When you’re searching for pure magnificence, have the gear to camp, and dig ATVing, this dune space is an unbelievable possibility exterior of Fallon. FYI there’s a little bit of a celebration scene right here with happy-go-lucky ATVers, nevertheless it’s an enormous tenting space so you possibly can simply tuck away or be part of the merriment. It is advisable to purchase a recreation go prematurely to make use of the realm, however $40 for as much as seven days is a reasonably darn whole lot.
Tahoe Home Resort, Virginia Metropolis
Set proper on the principle drag of Virginia Metropolis and in a constructing inbuilt 1859, the Tahoe Home Resort has lately been restored with modern facilities, whereas sustaining its historic attraction. Love their new bar and that their rooms have balconies to absorb the ambiance of city.
Edgewood Tahoe Resort
This 150-year-old lakefront ranch, Edgewood Tahoe has been reimagined to satisfy LEED-certified and five-star requirements. Keep within the lodge or their luxe cabin suites, dine at their top-notch eating places, and luxuriate in the very best of lake life!
Loneliest Highway in America/NV Hwy 50 Survival Information & Passport
That can assist you navigate to the very best stops and commemorate your daring journey, Journey Nevada has created the Loneliest Highway in America Survival Information and Passport. Choose up a information on the customer middle in any of the cities or have one despatched to you earlier than your journey. And preserve your eye out for the indicators that say “Official Stamp Location” in retailer home windows. Get inked in at the very least 5 of the 8 cities and ship within the again web page to obtain an official Freeway 50 Survivor memento and certificates to commemorate your unbelievable journey throughout the Loneliest Highway in America!
Many due to Journey Nevada for believing we might survive the Loneliest Highway in America and do its story justice. To point out our appreciation and assist protect the cultural and pure worth of the area, we’ve donated to the Nevada chapter of the Belief for Public Land and the Lincoln Freeway Affiliation. For extra info on the route and inspiration for all of your Nevada adventures, you should definitely take a look at TravelNevada.com and our massive IG Nevada Highlights reel.