Road trip adventures in Nevada

24 October 2024

The neon-lit casinos and lively nightlife of Las Vegas are what come to most people’s minds when Nevada is mentioned, but the ‘Silver State’ is so much more than that, with incredible plant and animal life, landscapes, and biodiversity. A full 80% of it is wild, unfenced, and open to the public – immense open spaces where the phrase ‘avoiding the crowds’ takes on new dimensions. As such, it’s the perfect place for a classic US road trip adventure.

Scenic landscapes

As you travel Nevada’s (mainly empty) roads, you’ll discover a huge array of terrains – it’s not all about the desert here! Indeed, this is one of the most mountainous states in the US, making it great for hiking and biking, as well as winter sports. It’s also the state with the greatest number of hot springs, together with hundreds of lakes and waterways offering several sporting activities. Some of these are in Nevada’s various national parks and state parks, which beckon lovers of the great outdoors.

Stargazing haven

Another reason to visit is for its dark sky reserves, which are protected areas offering some of the best stargazing in the whole world thanks to the absence of light pollution. The state is even home to the ‘Starry-est Route in America’ – the Park to Park in the Dark route, which takes you from Death Valley to Great Basin via some of the least light-polluted spaces found in small towns in the USA. This is a truly unique experience – you’ll be without a phone signal and far from other people as you soak in the electrifying and humbling sight of thousands of stars.

Historic towns

History abounds in Nevada too, not least in historic mining towns that have been frozen in time. A great road trip for history fans is the ‘Cowboy Corridor’, which brims with Western heritage. Driving along I-80 Nevada, you’ll encounter vibrant communities packed with intriguing museums and art galleries, which often host poetry and music festivals. Here you’ll learn about the confluence of buckaroo, Basque, and American Indian traditions that have shaped Nevada. Meanwhile, in Nevadan cities, including Reno and its city-suburb Sparks, Henderson, Elko, Carson City, Mesquite, and Boulder City, eclectic art scenes take in everything from galleries and murals to street art.

Otherworldly attractions

Dotted around the state you’ll find quirky pit stops and overnighters. One not to be missed is the extra-terrestrial attractions surrounding Area 51, an active US military base. Most visitors start at the Alien Research Center, where you can chat to locals about ‘UFOlogy’ and treat yourselves to one-off souvenirs before driving along Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway. This 470-mile loop from Las Vegas takes you along wide-open roads through an otherworldly wilderness punctuated by alien-themed landmarks such as the Black Mailbox and Little A’Le’Inn, where you can hear locals’ tales over the likes of Alien Beers and Saucer Burgers.

Nevada has more than 600 ghost towns too – more than its actual populated cities and communities! After the silver and gold rushes of the 1860s were over, mining camps and boomtowns were left abandoned and are now both fun and educational places to explore. Among them is one of the most-photographed places in Nevada, Rhyolite Ghost Town within a volcanic rock canyon on the edge of Death Valley, with the eerie remains of its bank, general store, and train depot – fascinating stuff.

To book your Nevada road trip, call your Travel Counsellor today.

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