5 minute read

ROAD TRIP CAPITAL OF THE USA

A bold wager? You bet.

But with all our surprising scenery, intriguing towns, oddball attractions, endless adventure opps, and miles of highway all to yourself, odds are there’s a Nevada road trip with just the payoff you’re looking for.

Advertisement

Maybe even 10 of ’em.

Be sure to check out our recommended stops along the way, as well as fun extras, like playlists, maps, and more. TravelNevada.com/RoadTrips

For the full itinerary and tips on where to stay, see TravelNevada.com/LoneliestRoadInAmerica

#LoneliestRoadInAmerica #NVRoadTrip

In 1986, Life magazine dubbed Nevada’s Highway 50 the “Loneliest Road in America,” warning readers against traveling it without proper “survival skills.” Sure, roads don’t get much more wide-open than this. But isn’t that the whole allure? Today, this storied route is your gateway to ghost towns, historic mining communities, stunning state parks, outdoor action galore, and a few authenticity-packed Sagebrush Saloons, to boot.

375 to 500 miles [600 to 800 km]

Carson City to Baker 2 to 3 days

60 to 210 miles [95 to 340 km]

1+ Day Per Route

Colorado River Corridor

Las Vegas, Boulder City, Hoover Dam, Laughlin

Fire & Water Loop

Mesquite, Moapa Valley, Valley of Fire State Park, Lake Mead Scenic Route

Vegas has it all. But venture beyond the neon and you’ll be rewarded with some of Nevada’s most alluring state parks, famous landmarks, and exciting attractions—and still get back in time for your dinner reservation, spa treatment, or Elvis-offi ciated wedding. Meanwhile, travelers looking to escape the urban hustle and bustle for a night or two will find plenty to justify their getaway in southern Nevada’s other burgs, each with its own unique character and charm.

For the full itinerary and tips on where to stay, see TravelNevada.com/Neon-to-Nature

#NeonToNature #NVRoadTrip

Red Rockin’ Loop

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, Goodsprings

They call it the “Jewel of the Sierra Nevada,” and once you’ve seen it… you get it. Vast, crystal-clear, and encircled by towering alpine peaks, Lake Tahoe is a summertime paradise, a winter wonderland, and a year-round haven for unforgettable mountain memories. But Tahoe isn‘t the only gem in the box! From wild western Virginia City to idyllic Carson Valley, or the historic capital of Carson City to hip-and-happening Reno, just over the hill lie some of Nevada’s most intriguing destinations, iconic history, and best-kept secrets.

Up to 145 miles [235 km]

Reno to Lake Tahoe via Virginia City, Carson City, and Carson Valley 2 to 5 days

For the full itinerary and tips on where to stay, see TravelNevada.com/Lake-Tahoe-Loop

#LakeTahoeLoop #NVRoadTrip

Nothing is more extreme than a road trip from Las Vegas to Death Valley National Park—or rather, nothing has more extremes. We’re talking about the lowest point in North America and nearly 12,000-foot Mt. Charleston. Rugged biker bars and elegant wineries. Sprawling sand dunes and ancient bristlecone pines. Ghost towns and… well, Las Vegas. These are just a few of the mesmerizing contrasts you’ll attempt to wrap your head around on this classic Nevada road trip—all just a kaleidoscopic stone’s throw from one another along the very same route. So pack your sunscreen, sandals, gloves, and sweater, and come get extreme on the Death Valley Rally.

Up to 370 miles [595 km]

Las Vegas to Death Valley featuring Pahrump, Amargosa Valley, Beatty, and Spring Mountains

3 to 4 days

For the full itinerary and tips on where to stay, see TravelNevada.com/Death-Valley-Rally

#DeathValleyRally

440 to 515 miles

[710 to 830 km]

Las Vegas to Tonopah to Reno

1 to 3 days

Fear and Loathing hallucinations have nothing on the real-world wackiness along US-95, where psychedelic art meets the American West. The stretch of open road from Las Vegas to Reno is about as “far out” as it gets—metaphorically and often literally—with oddball attractions ranging from kaleidoscopic boulder towers and a psychedelic “forest” of junk cars to a ghost town sculpture garden and a haunted, clown-themed motel. Get ready to really put the “trip” in road trip.

For the full itinerary and tips on where to stay, see TravelNevada.com/Free-Range-Art-Highway

#FreeRangeArtHighway #NVRoadTrip

Few road trips brim with as much Western heritage as Nevada’s Cowboy Corridor. Speed limits hit 80 mph out here, but when you hit a town, slow down. Beyond those off-ramps, you’ll discover lively communities full of both history and right-now attractions—with museums, art galleries, poetry and music festivals, and even beers highlighting the confluence of buckaroo, Basque, and American Indian traditions that have shaped the Silver State. So pack your boots and become part of the story.

For the full itinerary and tips on where to stay, see TravelNevada.com/Cowboy-Corridor

#CowboyCorridor #NVRoadTrip

400 miles [645 km]

Reno to West Wendover 2 to 4 days

With Elko as your hub, this route’s wild spokes carry you to real-deal western cultures, epic outdoor playgrounds, and all-to-yourself scenic treasures. Recreation opportunities are as vast and varied as this land of alpine peaks—including the famed Ruby Mountains—flowing streams, aspen-lined canyons, and horizon-chasing valleys. Wherever you end up, keep your camera handy. And out here, deep in the heart of Nevada’s “Cowboy Country,” don’t be surprised to share a trail, a tale, or a local brew with a buckaroo.

30 to 375 miles [48 to 604 km]

Elko to Lamoille Canyon, Angel Lake, Ruby Lake NWR, Jarbidge (via highway, Jarbidge (via seasonal route)

2 to 5 days

For the full itinerary and tips on where to stay, see TravelNevada.com/Rubies-Route

#RubiesRoute #NVRoadTrip

350 to 585 mi [560 to 940 km]

Las Vegas to Great Basin National Park 3 to 5 days

#GreatBasinHighway #NVRoadTrip

16 TRAVELNEVADA.COM

Follow the pilgrimage route that Burners take each August on their journey “home” to Burning Man... starting in Reno—home to a Burner-friendly, art-fueled renaissance— around the quiet, sunset-splashing shores of Pyramid Lake, and off into the magnifi cent Black Rock Desert Wilderness, both on the fabled playa and beyond. For a week at the end of each summer, Black Rock City springs to life and, just as quickly, disappears. However, around northwestern Nevada, its spirit never really does. Over the years, many have taken up their rest-of-the-year residences here, infusing plenty of the event’s verve into public art, museums, shops, galleries, makers’ spaces, events, and more, keeping this rich culture—and even its guiding principles—alive year-round… and in turn enriching Nevada’s.

110 to 250+ miles [175 to 400+ km]

Reno to the Black Rock Desert 2 to 4 days

For the full itinerary and tips on where to stay, see TravelNevada.com/Burner-Byway

#BurnerByway #NVRoadTrip

Welcome to Alien Country. We can neither confirm nor deny the rumors of alien spacecraft, top secret technology, or little green dudes on the payroll. What we can promise is, when you pilot your vessel along the wide-open roads through this otherworldly wilderness, with that warm wind in your hair (or antennae…), you’ll get why a “visitor” would cross the galaxy to be here. Feast your curiosity on alienthemed everything, explore (in)famous Extraterrestrial Highway landmarks, and get ready to meet some friendly humans who don’t need a phone to call these lovably odd locales home.

100+ miles [160+ km]

Alamo to Tonopah. Loop from Las Vegas: 470 miles [756 km]

1 or 2 days

For the full itinerary and tips on where to stay, see TravelNevada.com/ET-Highway

#ETHighway #NVRoadTrip

You’re about to find plenty of reasons to blow up your friends’ social media feeds. Whether you’re sharing a FOMO-inducing selfie or some seriously #NOFILTER-WORTHY slice of scenery, be sure to use your Road Trip’s unique hashtag (see previous pages) so you can rub virtual elbows with your fellow voyagers, or any of our other go-tos, so we can live vicariously through your Silver State shenanigans!

This article is from: