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Route 50 Road Trip Map: The Ultimate Guide to an Epic Adventure

Embark on the ultimate cross-country adventure with our route 50 road trip map guide! Discover hidden gems and iconic landmarks along the “Loneliest Road in America.

Are you up for an epic road trip adventure that you’ll remember for a lifetime? Look no further than Route 50, a legendary cross-country highway that stretches over 3,000 miles from coast to coast. This ultimate road trip map takes you through 12 states, from the Pacific Ocean in California to the Atlantic Ocean in Maryland.

Route 50, known as the “Loneliest Road in America,” has a rich history that dates back to 1926. It winds its way through the heart of the United States, showcasing diverse landscapes that range from the magnificent Sierra Nevada mountains to the rugged deserts of Nevada, the rolling hills of the Midwest, and the lush forests of the Appalachian Mountains.

Unlike other popular roads, Route 50 offers a unique experience with its lack of big cities and tourist traps. Instead, you’ll discover charming small towns, historic landmarks, and hidden natural wonders that are off the beaten path. This road trip map is perfect for those seeking an escape from the crowds and a chance to immerse themselves in the beauty of America’s heartland.

But Route 50 is not just about breathtaking views and picturesque landscapes. It also holds a significant place in American history as a major route for settlers and explorers during the westward expansion of the country. You can explore historic sites like the Pony Express Trail, which once carried mail from Missouri to California in the mid-1800s, or visit the Lincoln Highway, the first transcontinental highway in the United States.

Whether you’re a history aficionado, a nature lover, or simply in search of a unique adventure, Route 50 has something for everyone. So, grab your map, pack your bags, and get ready for an epic road trip across America’s heartland.

Planning Your Route 50 Road Trip

Before embarking on your Route 50 road trip, it’s essential to plan ahead to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. Consider the following factors when planning your trip:

• Timeframe : Route 50 is a long highway, so decide how much time you want to spend on the road. Will you complete the entire route in one go or break it up into smaller segments?
• Season : The weather conditions along Route 50 can vary greatly depending on the time of year. Check the forecast and plan accordingly.
• Budget : Road trips can be costly, so it’s important to set a budget and stick to it. Consider expenses such as gas, food, lodging, and attractions when planning your trip.
• Mode of Transportation : Will you be driving your own car, renting one, or using public transportation? Ensure your vehicle is reliable and well-maintained before hitting the road.

Fortunately, there are numerous tools and resources available to help you plan your Route 50 road trip. Online mapping tools can assist in creating a route, finding hotels, and locating attractions. Additionally, travel apps like Roadtrippers provide valuable information on road conditions, gas prices, and local events. Remember to keep your itinerary flexible, as unexpected adventures and detours often make road trips even more memorable.

Must-See Attractions Along Route 50

Route 50 is teeming with must-see attractions and landmarks that are worth a stop on your road trip. Here are some of the top attractions along the way:

• Great Basin National Park : Located in Nevada, this national park showcases stunning mountain vistas, underground caves, and unique wildlife.
• Gateway Arch : A St. Louis landmark, the Gateway Arch is a 630-foot stainless steel structure that offers panoramic views of the Mississippi River and the city skyline.
• Shenandoah National Park : Located in Virginia, this park boasts breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, hiking trails, and the opportunity to spot wildlife like black bears and white-tailed deer.
• Blackwater Falls State Park : Situated in West Virginia, this park features a magnificent 62-foot waterfall, hiking trails, and opportunities for fishing and kayaking.
• Antietam National Battlefield : This Maryland battlefield was the site of the bloodiest one-day battle in American history. Visitors can embark on guided tours, explore historic landmarks, and delve into the depths of Civil War history.

In addition to these top attractions, Route 50 caters to outdoor enthusiasts with activities like hiking, camping, and kayaking. Along the way, explore charming small towns and savor the local cuisine at delightful restaurants to truly immerse yourself in the culture of each place. Don’t forget to plan your food and lodging stops to make the most of your road trip experience.

Tips for a Thrilling Route 50 Road Trip

Before embarking on your Route 50 road trip, keep a few things in mind to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey.

Safety Precautions to Take

Safety should always be your top priority when driving on Route 50. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Always wear your seat belt and ensure that all passengers do the same.
• Obey traffic laws and adhere to speed limits.
• Stay vigilant for wildlife on the road, especially at night.
• Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, particularly large trucks.
• Have your car thoroughly checked and serviced before the trip.

Weather Considerations

Weather conditions along Route 50 can vary significantly, so it’s crucial to be prepared. Keep the following tips in mind:

• Check the weather forecast before you depart and plan accordingly.
• Pack clothing suitable for various weather conditions, including rain gear and warm layers.
• Stay informed about severe weather alerts and adjust your plans if necessary.
• If traveling during winter, equip your vehicle with snow tires or chains and carry essential items like a shovel and ice scraper.

Packing Essentials for the Trip

Packing for a road trip can be a challenge, but here are some essentials to consider for your Route 50 adventure:

• Maps and a GPS device to help navigate the route.
• Snacks and water to keep you fueled during the journey.
• A well-stocked first aid kit and any necessary medications.
• Blankets, pillows, and other comfort items for long drives.
• A camera and binoculars to capture the stunning scenery along the way.

Embarking on a Route 50 road trip is an experience that will leave an indelible mark on your memory. The beauty and history of this iconic highway make it a must-visit for any travel enthusiast. However, like any adventure, proper planning and preparation are crucial. By following the tips outlined in this guide, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable journey across America’s heartland.

So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, grab your map, and hit the road on your very own Route 50 adventure. The team at TooLacks wishes you a safe and unforgettable journey!

To learn more about TooLacks and discover other exciting adventures, visit TooLacks .

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All information is Copyright(c) protected US50 COAST to COAST. Tour across America and see the USA on US 50, also known as Highway 50 or Route 50.  'US 50 Coast to Coast' documents a journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific.  

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From coast to coast, come along on a journey, from the atlantic to the pacific, on route us 50.

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FOR two years we planed and prepared for a trip on US Route 50 from Ocean City, Maryland to San Francisco , California. We believe that Route 50 crosses some of the most beautiful parts of America. On May the First we watched the sun rise above the Atlantic Ocean and departed on our journey to the Pacific Ocean where we observed the sun set twenty days later. Our trip was memorable and inspirational.

As we crossed the country, we met and talked with people from different backgrounds and affiliations. everybody was proud of his or her heritage and place of residency., the eastern shore of maryland is a jewel for vacationers. the area is located between the chesapeake bay and the atlantic ocean. us 50 begins in ocean city and that is where our journey starts. we will travel from the atlantic to the pacific., washington, dc, is also known as the district of columbia. us 50 travels through the center of our capital. for someone who wants to tour this beautiful city, follow the us 50 sign and you will see all the famous monuments., virginia is for lovers. our trip will take us through northern virginia and the northern tip of the shenandoah valley. it is a regent of great contrasts. modern civilization and historic battlefields are in close proximity., west virginia is a state that caters to tourism. you will find beautiful and well-maintained state parks for your enjoyment. many nature trails allow you explore the beauty of this state. relax and forget the hectic life in the city. we did; we were so impressed that we stayed an extra day..

Southeastern OHIO has beautiful rolling hills. The mighty Ohio River has left its marks everywhere.  Early settlers crossed the river and later farmed the interior land. A scenic drive from Belpre takes us past the states first capital city called Tecumseh, later renamed to Chillicothe.   Finally, we reach the Queen City Cincinnati.

INDIANA is a small state with a big heart.  Railroad tracks have joint us beside the road.  These tracks will stay with us almost till California.  We can see old telephone poles that are 14 feet high and spaced 50 feet apart.  we admire the work of stone artisans that create building blocks from white sand stones.  A visit to the George Rogers Clark National Historic Park transforms us back to the year of 1779.

Southern  ILLINOIS    from the Wabash River on the Indiana boarder to the Mississippi River in East St. Louis is sparsely settled.  Farming is the main industry in this part of the state.  Carlyle Lake was created to control frequent flooding along the Kaskaskia River.  This 26,000 acre lake lets you enjoy camping, picnicking, swimming, boating, fishing and hunting. 

After leaving the St. Louis Area, long considered the gateway to the American West, US 50 runs through the middle of  MISSOURI. This part of the state is known as the Lake of the Ozarks Region.   State parks feature beautiful swimming beaches, many miles of shoreline for excellent fishing, boat ramps, cabins and plenty of space for camping.  Show your respect to Old Drum by having your picture taken with him in front of the Johnson County Court House in Warrensburg.

KANSAS captured our hearts. The Sunflower State is known for Midwestern hospitality. Gone are the days of -rip-snortin' and gun-slingin'. A cowboy riding with The Great American Cattle Drive '95 expressed his feelings to us. 'I'm a lonely cowboy and I've followed the Chisholm Trail with a herd of Longhorn steers from Fort Worth, Texas, to Dodge City, Kansas, in the Spring of `95. I will have to follow the Longhorns 'till I am too old. Juan Pirtle-cowboy, Arizona.'

As we follow the arkansas river through the great plain into the colorado rocky mountains, we are fascinated by the beauty of the land. we must climb to an elevation of 11,312 feet highway 50 crosses the continental divine over the monarch pass.  the black canyon of the gunnison national park may be one of the most incredible canyons in north america.  several overlooks allow us to view the gunnison river 2,000 feet below.  it was not until the year 1901 when abraham lincoln fellow and william torrence successfully passed through the canyon in a rubber raft. fellow described his observation in the following way: the roar of the waterfalls was constantly in our ears, and the walls of the canyon, towering a half mile in height above us were seemingly vertical. occasionally a rock would fall from one side or the other, with a roar and crash, exploding like a ton of dynamite when it struck bottom, making us think our last day had come.  a visit to the colorado national monument leaves a memorable impression., we still can see the colorful canyons in utah. as we crossed the green river, our thoughts went with john powell as he explored this territory in 1869. in delta, we met valerie mason from the chamber of commerce. she gave us a lot of interesting information and asked us to write to our congressmen and senators to support route 50 in the preservation act of the national highway system. there is talk that highway 50 should not be maintained as a national artery of the infrastructure. we promised to write our representatives in washington to maintain funding for this beautiful scenic route. as we have seen and can attest, us 50 is of vital importance to tourism, not only for this country but also for many visitors from abroad who come and visit us., the nevada. visitors guide describes the pony express territory as follows: 'visitors will be well-rewarded by the almost surrealistic intensity of the wild western landscape, deep blue skies, jagged stone horizons towering above the bone white play as of the valley floors and the hypnotic rhythm of the telephone poles marching single file, in a solemn procession beside the road.' us 50 follows roughly the path of the pony express riders., california   the golden state.  our final destination is in site.  how appropriate the state motto   "i have found it" applies to us.  those who arrive from the east must cross high mountains to reach the rocky cliffs and sandy beaches that line the shores of the pacific ocean in the west.  one can admire thick redwoods in the north and barren deserts in the south.  california ranks first among many statistics.   diversities are to numerous and are left for you to explore., yes, america the beautiful is the greatest country on earth. we have sorted our notes and pictures and written a book about our trip along route 50, the sights and the people. i hope my book will encourage others to take a journey across america and see this beautiful country. only those who have experienced the tranquility of nature will fight to preserve it., always remember: our public land is not for sale, to obtain information on ordering a copy of, us 50 coast to coast,           travel anecdotes & advisories.

Ray Derby from Derby Enterprises has designed these special decal.  They should generate conversation along the way.  Go to   http://www.signs-derby.com/catalog/item/4027930/5344006.htm   

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Route 50: How to Road Trip the Loneliest Road in America

When embarking on a journey across the entire country, many people immediately think about taking a road trip on Route 66 from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California. But what about a road trip on US Route 50: the Loneliest Road in America? Yes, you read that right. The loneliest route in the US was granted its moniker by Life Magazine back in 1986 for its desolate 300-mile stretch across Nevada . The entirety of the remote road actually runs for 3,073 miles from West Sacramento, California, to Ocean City, Maryland.

After being given its forlorn name, Route 50 was also noted for the dangers that come with its desert attributes. Although the scenic drive isn't actually as deadly as it sounds, you might want to fill up your tank at every gas station you find, maybe even storing a few extra cans in the trunk just in case. A AAA representative once warned, "We warn all motorists not to drive there unless they're confident of their survival skills."

But like most American transcontinental highways, there's plenty to behold along the way. Following a survival guide , after the first 300 miles of barren land consisting of only fresh air and the dusty road, you'll hit some of the most scenic and historic areas in the US while passing through a dozen states, our nation's capital, and some of the most magnificent mountain landscapes.

And of course, researching and planning how you approach a trip like this one will be key to enjoying chasing the horizon. So depending on whether you want to spend only a few days traveling or dedicate a lengthy week, we've provided a personal Route 50 road trip itinerary for you to follow so that you don't become overwhelmed by all the things you could see and do.

Route 50 Road Trip: Your Guide to Taking on the Loneliest Road in America

Below are two options on how you can tackle this route, depending on how long your trip will be. Both options will follow the first half of the itinerary, which should take anywhere between three to five days. If you plan to continue your journey, the following will take you coast to coast, doubling your time on the open road. But if you choose the former, you can dip out after completing the more western part of US Highway 50. Each leg of the trip will feature stops and things to do in between cities and places you can rest your head for the night once you arrive.

There are a few places where you can start your adventure. Our itinerary starts in Nevada, but if you choose to start more near the Pacific, you'll be able to check out San Francisco in California, drive through the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range , and experience Lake Tahoe near Reno.

1. Carson City-Austin, Nevada

Related content, 51 hours of stunning mountain views: travel on the california zephyr train, the 15 best u.s. destinations you can travel to alone, explore colorado's natural beauty with this 12-day road trip itinerary.

Length: 172 miles Duration: 2 hours 51 minutes

Follow the Pony Express as you'll be passing the cities of Dayton, Fernley, and Fallon respectively. You'll get a fill of historic petroglyphs, sand dunes, state parks, the Wild West, and ghost towns.

Along the Way:

Hidden Cave & Grimes Point Archaeological Site Sand Mountain Recreation Area Middlegate Station Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park Fort Churchill State Historic Park Frey Ranch Distillery

2. Austin-Baker, Nevada

Length: 209 miles Duration: 3 hours 26 minutes

This leg of the trip is where you'll pass the cities of Eureka and Ely. Along the way, you'll find more historic sites, turquoise jewelry, hot springs, classic saloons, and a gorgeous national park.

Jason's Art Gallery Spencer Hot Springs Sagebrush Saloons Toquima Cave Eureka Sentinel Museum Eureka Opera House Lehman Caves Great Basin National Park

?RELATED: Rocky Mountain National Park: A Traveler's Guide to Taking Your Kids

Most road trip itineraries for Route 50 cover traveling around Nevada only, but there's much more on the highway to discover once you exit the state. You can end your trip here, not missing out on too much if you're pressed for time. But if you're privileged enough to keep exploring, there's much more for you to see. You should expect to be driving on the road for much longer periods of time as you travel through the midwest to the east.

3. Baker, Nevada-Pueblo, Colorado

As you start to enter the central US, you'll be able to hit some of the Big 5 national parks in Utah before hitting red rock country in Colorado. If you're big on hiking, this leg of the trip is probably where you'll spend most of your time.

Length: 657 miles Duration: 11 hours 4 minutes

Canyonlands National Park Arches National Park Monarch Pass Royal Gorge Bridge Pike's Peak Million Dollar Highway

5. Pueblo, Colorado-Jefferson City, Missouri

As you cross the Great Plains, you'll drive along the Arkansas River through Dodge City and Emporia in Kansas, and Kansas City and Jefferson City in Missouri. You'll find random attractions worth checking out during this leg of the trip but will probably spend most of your time driving while embracing the scenic openness of the midwest.

Length: 750 miles Duration: 11 hours 10 minutes

Midway USA Cosmosphere International Science Education and Space Museum Cheyenne Bottoms Garden of Eden Kansas City Arris' Pizza Palace

6. Jefferson City, Missouri-Athens, Ohio

As you exit the Great Plains, you'll start making a faster journey across multiple states, moving through Illinois and Indiana, into Ohio. You'll find more settled areas while diving into the history and culture of small towns across the spread of these states.

Length: 617 miles Duration: 9 hours 16 minutes

In Illinois: Salem Lebanon Lawrenceville

In Indiana: Bedford Brownstown Clifty Falls State Park

In Ohio: North Bend Cincinnati Athens

7. Athens, Ohio-Washington, DC

Nearing the end of your trip, you'll be crossing West Virginia and Virginia, finishing your journey at Washington, DC. Making your way over the Allegheny Mountains, you'll hit a couple of state parks and a few more historically significant cities before arriving at our nation's capital.

Length: 354 miles Duration: 5 hours 40 minutes

Arthurdale Cathedral State Park Davis History House Iwo Jima Memorial Lincoln Memorial

Although our itinerary ends in Washington, DC, there's quite a bit left to see in Maryland before you hit the end of Route 50. Stop by Annapolis before following the Eastern Shore full of piney woods, cornfield, and fishing fleets, and ending at the massively popular beach town, Ocean City . And if you put in the hours on the road from West Sacramento to Ocean City (the equivalent of almost two to three full days worth of driving!), then you can proudly claim that you took on the Loneliest Road in America.

Have you taken a cross-country road trip across Route 50 or a similar one like it? Share your adventure with us on our Wide Open Roads Facebook!

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US Route 50: The Loneliest Road in America

Of all the fabled road trips and long-haul drives you can make in America, US Route 50 sits in a unique category of its own. Starting in Ocean City, Maryland , and ending all the way in Sacramento, California , Route 50 spans the entire width of the North American continent, connecting both coasts. Running east to west through almost every landscape America has to offer, the 3,000-mile-long ride is chock-full of breathtaking scenery and wilderness. Then why is Route 50 often referred to as the loneliest road in America?

Why So Lonely?

For a highway that is often thought of as an empty wasteland, Route 50 is actually quite busy, especially on the coasts. The reason this highway can be so "lonely" is due to the Western portion of the road through Nevada . This section of US Route 50 is one of the least traveled highways in the nation. Coined the "Loneliest Road in America" by Life Magazine in 1986, this route may be famous, but it is still a pretty desolate route to travel.

Despite the awe-inspiring sights of the American West, there is not much happening on Route 50. What makes this highway so special is how few cities and even small towns it goes through. While most large highways pass through major cities and trade hubs, Route 50 winds through a part of the country that most people will never see in person.

What To Expect

The level of remoteness is what is most apparent. Anyone daring enough to take the trek can expect to see endless plateaus, grasslands, and ghost towns . It is not uncommon to not see another car for hours while driving on this road. It may feel more like a trip onto the set of a Western film rather than a leisurely drive. For some, this is a terrifying thought, for others, it is the highway's main attraction.

One of the more charming features of Route 50 is the historic mining communities that dot the highway. Do not expect to arrive at any bustling metropolis' but rather quaint towns of a few thousand or a couple of hundred people. Each town has a unique charm and character to them that you cannot find in the big cities. Most places have the essentials such as a gas station and general store if you are in need of basic supplies. If you decide to stay the night do not expect to be staying in a lavish hotel but rather in a modest roadside inn.

Needless to say, those who are willing to go where few have gone before should have food, supplies, and basic survival skills. If you run into any car trouble there is a good chance you will be on your own for hours. Cell reception is poor in most areas and even if you are able to find help, it could take a while to get there. Remember to always tell someone where you are going before you leave for the open road.

What To Bring

A reliable car is a must, along with snow tires depending on what time of the year you are traveling. The climate can switch on a dime while driving through the many mountains passes. The weather could look clear for a moment and the next change into an intense and dangerous snowfall. Do not let the Las Vegas postcards fool you, it snows in Nevada, especially in the northernmost area of the state.

For those who like to camp in trailers or near a road, Route 50 is perfect. Nevada is home to many parks, such as Great Basin National Park , and the majority of the land is public. This means that if you see a place that looks like a good campsite, chances are, you will be able to pull over and pack it in for the night.

Gas Up And Go Explore

US Route 50 does not have the glitz and glamour that some of the other famous attractions do in the United States but it has an allure of its own. Many of those living in the city may not appreciate the remote and barren parts of the country. If you are willing to take the extra safety steps necessary, seeing this part of America is a truly priceless adventure.

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Route 50: A Road Trip Guide

Route 50, also known as the “Loneliest Road in America,” is a 3,000-mile stretch of highway that runs from West Sacramento, California, to Ocean City, Maryland. The route passes through some of the most remote and beautiful parts of the country, making it a popular destination for road-trippers and adventure seekers.

Outdoor activities

Explore the outdoors when traveling along Route 50. From hiking in the National park to relaxing at Mono lake, there's something for every adventure seeker to enjoy.

Hiking in Great Basin National Park : Located in Nevada, Great Basin National Park is home to some of the most stunning landscapes in the country. The park offers a variety of hiking trails, ranging from easy nature walks to strenuous backcountry treks. Some of the most popular trails include the Lehman Caves Trail , which takes you through limestone caves filled with colorful formations, and the Bristlecone Pine Trail, which takes you to the oldest living trees on earth.

Relaxing at Mono Lake: Mono Lake is a unique and fascinating place known for its otherworldly landscapes and high concentrations of salt and alkaline. The lake is home to various wildlife, including migratory birds and brine shrimp, and is a popular spot for swimming and kayaking. Note that this lake does not have fish as it is saltier than ocean water.

Must See Places

Explore two top attractions along Route 50, from historical mines to stunning architecture. Don't miss out on these must-visit destinations during your trip.

Virginia City, Nevada

This historic mining town was a hub of activity during the Comstock Lode silver strike of the 1800s. Today, it’s a well-preserved example of a western mining town and a popular tourist destination. Visitors can take a tour of the mines, visit the museums, and explore the many shops and restaurants that line the main street.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe is the capital of New Mexico and one of the oldest cities in the United States. The city is known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning architecture. Visitor s can stroll through the historic downtown, visit the many museums and art galleries, or explore the beautiful mountains.

Unusual Tip

Uncover the hidden gems of Route 50. This unusual tip will let you turn your travel into an unforgettable experience.

Visit the International Car Forest of the Last Church in Goldfield, Nevada: This sculpture park features dozens of cars, trucks, and vans buried nose-first into the ground. The cars are decorated with murals, graffiti, and other forms of street art. It is a unique and exciting place to visit on Route 50.

Hidden Wonders

These places are unique and interesting and provide a great opportunity to take some unique and memorable photos.

The “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” Sign

This iconic sign is located on the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip and is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city. Visitors can take a photo with the sign and learn about its history at the nearby museum.

The “Hole N” The Rock

This unique home and tourist attraction is located in Moab, Utah. It was carved out of a large sandstone rock by Albert and Gladys Christensen in the 1940s and features rooms, corridors, and even a fireplace. Visitors can take a tour  and see the various rock formations and sculptures on the property.

Accommodation Suggestions

These are just a few suggestions, but there are many other options along Route 50, depending on your preference and budget. We recommend checking online review platforms, such as TripAdvisor or Booking.com, to find the best accommodation options and deals.

Motel 6 or Super 8 . Many locations along Route 50 offers comfortable and affordable rooms. These chain motels often offer amenities such as free wifi, continental breakfast, and on-site parking.

Best Western or Holiday Inn. These chain hotels offer comfortable rooms and amenities such as fitness centers and swimming pools. They also often have on-site restaurants and bars.

The Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons . For those looking for a luxury experience along Route 50, these hotel chains offer top-notch amenities such as spas, fine dining, and concierge service.

El Cosmico , a unique camping experience in Marfa, Texas. It offers luxury tents, yurts, and teepees for a unique and memorable stay.

The Route 50 highway is a great place for a road trip, with many beautiful landscapes, historic towns, and unique places to visit. These are just a few of the many attractions along the way, but there are many more to discover. So, pack your bags, hit the road, and have a great time exploring this beautiful and diverse country!

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Driving US Route 50: The Loneliest Road Trip

The stark landscape along US Route 50 is the origin of its famed solitude, but it has given rise to some of the best recreational activities Nevada has to offer. From hot springs to mountain-biking trails to sand drifts just begging for a dune buggy ride, the Loneliest Road in America is the perfect route for outdoor enthusiasts.

Day 1: Carson City and Lahontan State Recreation Area

91 Miles / 2 Hours If you’re based in Reno, slide down to Carson City on I-580 and share the antipasti plate and crab and tomato salad at Café at Adele’s, a candidate for best restaurant in the state. Although it’s not the typical tourist attraction, tours of the old Nevada State Prison encompass the world’s first gas chamber and the most brutal solitary-confinement cell in the country. After a visit, you’ll want to shake the feeling of confinement with an exhilarating flight over lake, ridges, or treetops in Hang Gliding Tahoe ’s motorized ultralight aircraft.

Recover from the rush by communing with wild horses, foxes, herons, and Nevada’s only nesting bald eagles at Lahontan State Recreation Area , a little over halfway on the 90-mile drive to Fallon. For dinner, order soup and egg rolls at Vn Pho in Fallon.

Day 2: Hidden Cave and Sand Mountain

125 Miles / 2 Hours Start your day in Fallon at the Churchill County Museum , checking out the re-creations of frontier dwellings and a Native American tule shelter. At the museum, get directions to Hidden Cave , where generations of local indigenous people stored tools, weapons, and food. Hike a mile from the caves to Grimes Point, containing fine examples of Native American petroglyphs.

Continue east on US 50 to spend the rest of the day at Sand Mountain . Wax up your sandboard and hurtle down 500-foot inclines, dodging OHVs along the way. If the ATVs and motorcycles don’t drown them out, listen for the whistling moans of the “singing sand” as the wind blows through the grains.

Stop at Cold Springs Station for comfort food and a Pony Express history lesson, then cruise the final 50 miles to bunk down at Union Street Lodging in Austin.

Day 3: The Toiyabe Range and Spencer Hot Springs

136 Miles / 3.5 Hours After loading up on coffee and carbs at Union Street’s complimentary breakfast, break out the mountain bikes and pedal some of the varied trails scattered throughout the Toiyabe Range. Castle Loop, a 4.5-mile ride, is a moderate place to start. (More seasoned cyclists may want to take the time to test their mettle on the steep climbs of the 27.5-mile Gold Venture Loop. )

Morning exercise out of the way, take the scenic drive south along NV 21, flanked by the Toiyabe and Shoshone Ranges. It takes nearly two hours to cover the 50 miles to Ione Pass through the southern Shoshones, but your destination, Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, is at the end of the pass. Spend a few hours strolling among the well-preserved mining town relics and check out the ichthyosaur fossil beds and interpretive displays that describe the life and times of the ancient marine lizard that once plied the seas covering Nevada.

Take the easier route back through Austin via NV 844, NV 361, and US 50. Your bike-addled bones and muscles will thank you for continuing the 20 miles southeast to Spencer Hot Springs, one of the most visitor-friendly hot springs in Nevada.

From Austin, you can retrace your route back to Reno or continue eastward to Great Basin National Park . Better yet, jump on NV 305 north for 95 miles (1 hour 25 minutes) and take I-80 back to Reno through Winnemucca and Lovelock.

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Moon Nevada

by Scott Smith

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Loneliest Road in America

• 1 Understand
• 3.2 By plane
• 4.1 Day one: Fernley to Ely
• 4.2.1 Route to Beaver
• 4.2.2 Route to Delta
• 5.1 Weather
• 6.1 From Beaver
• 6.2 From Delta

The Loneliest Road in America is a highway route in Nevada and Utah . The name "Loneliest Road" originates from the remote areas which U.S. 50 goes through, with few or no signs of civilization along many parts of the route. The 408.82-mile (657.93-km) highway crosses several large, desert-like plateaus separated by numerous mountain ranges towering over the valley floors.

Understand [ edit ]

U.S. Route 50 is a transcontinental highway in the United States, stretching from the Sacramento region of California in the west to Ocean City of Maryland in the east. The Nevada portion, which goes through the center of the state, was named The Loneliest Road in America by Life magazine in July 1986. While the name was intended as a pejorative, Nevada officials seized it as a marketing slogan, and U.S. 50 became a challenge for tourists of who could "survive the highway".

Due to the fact that the little rain that falls does not drain to any ocean, the region of the United States that the Loneliest Road travels through is referred to as the Great Basin .

U.S. 50 goes through the petroglyphs, alpine forests, desert valleys, ghost towns, and Great Basin National Park before splitting near the Nevada-Utah border. This itinerary covers the route from Fernley, Nevada , to Delta, Utah .

Prepare [ edit ]

Due to the remoteness of the route, make sure your car is in good working order and has no issues; it's not going to be a pleasant experience if your vehicle breaks down in one of the many wilderness areas.

Also, you may want to bring some food and drinks that don't go bad too easily, since restaurants along the route are few and far between.

However, if you were thinking of bringing money, don't bring much with the intention of gambling. The lack of population along most of the Loneliest Road means that there are not as many casinos as there are in Reno , Carson , and Vegas ; the only towns on the Loneliest Road with notable gambling opportunities are Fernley , Fallon , and Ely , and even these towns have nothing like the gambling scene that Las Vegas has due to their low population. There are of course no casinos once you go into Utah, which is closely related to the fact that Mormonism has a strong presence in that state.

Get in [ edit ]

By car [ edit ].

If you begin the route in Fernley as this itinerary describes, and you are coming from Sacramento or the Bay Area , take I-80 across the Sierra Mountains past Reno and on to Fernley. Once you're at Fernley, you can take the Main Street westbound exit and you will soon be on the Loneliest Road.

By plane [ edit ]

The nearest notable civilian airport to the beginning of the Loneliest Road is in Reno . You can rent a vehicle there.

Drive [ edit ]

This route will go from Fernley west along the Loneliest Road over a period of two days. In other words, if you want to do the journey from east to west, you'll have to follow this itinerary backwards.

Day one: Fernley to Ely [ edit ]

This is the first part of the journey, and the part where you cross most of Nevada's Great Basin region.

You'll drive on Route 50 east from 39.5985 -119.23838 1 Fernley , and within not too long you'll be in 39.472358 -118.77719 2 Fallon . Fallon is more-or-less the end of civilization on the highway for approximately a hundred miles. There are no major points of interest in Fallon (although there are restaurants and hotels, unlike the road ahead), so you will most likely be interested in continuing to the mostly uninhabited region to come.

Shortly after the Fallon area, which is farming country, the countryside quickly turns to high-altitude desert and you'll reach the 39.304648 -118.405879 1 Sand Mountain Recreation Area . While Sand Mountain is an enjoyable experience for those who have ATVs , it's otherwise not a very interesting place to visit, and most people will want to drive past this destination.

The part of the Loneliest Road from Sand Mountain to Austin, Nevada is one of the most remote parts of the route and is therefore one of the loneliest sections. While there are populated places like 39.287534 -118.026174 3 Middlegate and 39.30634 -117.880013 4 Eastgate , they are hardly even settlements from the traveler's point of view: they may consist of a few buildings, and if you're really lucky, a place to eat or drink. Once you pass Eastgate, you'll get into the authentic Great Basin country: great, towering mountain ranges on each side of the highway and large plateaus between the mountain ranges.

If you continue to drive along US 50, not too long after passing Middlegate and Eastgate you should come to a couple of buildings, dirt tracks and building remains called 39.39209 -117.85165 1 Cold Springs . This was once part of the Pony Express Route that existed for only a few months in the early 1860s but is now considered to be an extremely important time period in the history of the West. To the right of US 50 is the turn-off onto a short dirt road that leads to a tourist information center about this section of the Pony Express. It doesn't take much imagination to visualize the horses coming across the valley from the monstrous nearby mountain range and going towards their destination.

There's also a trail that leads from Sand Springs toward the mountain range, but it's far from being a popular hike.

A little farther along the highway is also the 39.414292 -117.841552 1 Cold Springs Rest Stop , which is one of the few rest stop areas along this section of the road. The road goes northeast for several miles after Cold Springs, and eventually goes through a pass in the mountain range.

You'll then turn in a more southward direction for a while before going directly east and coming to the "town" of 39.492726 -117.071094 5 Austin . However, anyone who has hopes of this being a bustling, charming little town is not imagining the place very well. The town has no real restaurants by city standards, although it has a couple of cafes where you can stop and have something to drink or maybe even a bite to eat before you face another long, weary drive.

The town of Austin is, however, an important point on the route because it marks the transition from the desert landscape on the route west of it to the higher-altitude, more juniper-covered region to the east. The section of Route 50 that goes east out of Austin, which you will be taking, is quite twisty until it reaches a mountain pass. The section of Route 50 east of Austin over the mountains is part of the 39.463259 -116.999834 2 Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest . Once you pass through the National Forest, you will enter a consistent pattern of crossing a plateau, then going over a mountain range with beautiful juniper woodlands, then back down to a plateau, and so on.

Eventually, you will cross a very wide valley that seems to continue for eternity, except for what appears to be strangely low-set mountains in the distance. You may assume this is due to a lower elevation between you and the mountains, but it's actually due to Earth's rotation: the curvature of the earth turns an area with all the same elevation above sea level into a higher area and then what seems to be a ditch before some very high mountains come higher than the ditch.

After this seemingly endless valley, you will finally come to another "town" called 39.51221 -115.961588 6 Eureka . While the road to the town, with a few buildings, quarries and even a supermarket, may give travelers some hope of a larger-scale settlement, they will be disappointed when they reach the town's practically empty Main Street area. There are practically no restaurants in Eureka, but at least there is a gas station and the 39.512417 -115.962604 3 Eureka Sentinel Museum in the town.

From Eureka onward, the Loneliest Road goes in a southeasterly direction. Quite a long way along the route is a turn-off to a ghost town called 39.251218 -115.48569 4 Hamilton . It's quite a lot of extra driving off the route if you want to make the side trip, but if you're ahead of schedule you might choose to do it.

Finally, after many more miles of driving on US Route 50 from the Hamilton turn-off, you'll finally come to a small city called 39.255261 -114.867911 7 Ely , where there are several hotels where you can stay for the night. Ely is the location of the 39.25931 -114.869152 5 Nevada Northern Railroad Museum if you're interested in trains or Central Nevada's history. There are a couple of restaurants in Ely's downtown as well.

Day two: Ely to Beaver, Utah or Delta, Utah [ edit ]

To stay on the Loneliest Road after Ely, you'll now need to turn right to stay on Route 50 and go south for a while before you will go over another mountain pass. You should then see a giant mountain range, which is the 38.985729 -114.313729 6 Wheeler Peak range. The highway then turns north and goes around the highest part of the range and comes to a junction where there are two varying routes you can take to finish the Loneliest Road route.

If you turn right on Nevada State Route 487, you will take the part of the Loneliest Road that eventually leads to Beaver . However, if you go straight on, you will continue along U.S. Route 50 and go to Delta .

Route to Beaver [ edit ]

As stated above, you will leave U.S. Route 50 to take the Loneliest Road to Beaver and go on state highways instead of the United States Route 50. This will mean that you will go quite a lot south for the final part of your journey, and this will put you farther south in Utah, and therefore closer to Bryce National Park , Zion National Park , and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon . Also, the route to Beaver will go past the eastern entrance Great Basin National Park , which is one of America's lesser-known national parks but still with excellent scenery.

If you turn right on State Route 487 for the route to Beaver, after a few miles of southward travel you will come to the small settlement of 39.011776 -114.123079 8 Baker . Although Baker is small, it at least has a grocery store, a couple of restaurants, and a few places to sleep.

But the more notable aspect in the Baker area is that it provides access to 39.006011 -114.240008 2 Great Basin National Park . If possible on your route, visit the park; the mountain range that covers most of Great Basin National Park is the same towering mountain range you saw earlier the same day when you were still on U.S. Route 50 (see the first paragraph of #Day two ). To get to Great Basin National Park, just turn right on Lehman Caves Road when you get to Baker and follow Lehman Caves Road to the visitor center.

You can do some hikes in Great Basin National Park, which go into the mountains. There are also a couple of picnic areas, and the visitor center does tours of Lehman Caves, which are inside the park. To get back to Baker, take Lehman Caves Road back again.

Once you've done the Great Basin National Park excursion, continue to drive on State Route 487 south from Baker. Soon after you drive out of Baker, you will come to the 38.949438 -114.048657 7 Nevada-Utah Border , where there are welcome signs for the states and you can pull off to the side of the road and take a picture of the signs. Once you cross the state line, you will be on State Route 21 instead of Route 487.

You'll then go through another "town", except that this one is even smaller and has less to offer than Baker, called 38.938324 -114.032797 9 Garrison . However, after Garrison you'll be back in remote terrain, although this terrain will be very desert-like again and you may notice the curvature of the earth once more in the mountain ranges.

After many miles of traveling, you will eventually come to some very rocky mountain peaks, which you'll go around. But if you thought you'd escaped the juniper trees, you didn't: the range after the rocky mountain peaks has some more juniper trees, but it also has something else: the ghost town of 38.453544 -113.266251 8 Frisco . After you've gone past Frisco, you will then descend the range and come to civilization and away from true loneliness for the first time since Fernley and Fallon: you'll reach the small town of 38.395455 -113.012247 10 Milford . The town is nothing spectacular, but it's a return to the connected world once more: you will even see farming country again as you come out of the settlement.

Navigating through Milford should not be too hard: you will drive along Route 21 into the town until you reach Main Street, where you will turn right. Then you can just stay on that road out of Milford.

From Milford, you will drive south for a few miles to 38.213513 -112.925461 11 Minersville before going east to a fairly substantial lake, 38.219792 -112.832409 9 Minersville Reservoir . You will pass the reservoir's dam, go northeast for a couple miles, and then go east for the final stretch of a couple miles to 38.275615 -112.640638 12 Beaver . Beaver is close to I-15, so from Beaver you can easily get around many of the populated areas of Utah.

Route to Delta [ edit ]

The route to Delta is really quite simple: instead of turning off on State Route 487, just continue along U.S. Route 50. After a little while, you'll reach the state line, where there is the 39.05643 -114.049229 13 Border Inn , which has a gas station.

You will then go through some desert and mountains and pass 39.045547 -113.177648 10 Sevier "Lake" , a salt flat region. Several miles later you will come to farming country, pass the settlement of 39.325937 -112.671568 14 Hinckley and soon will be at 39.352054 -112.575985 15 Delta , the end of this route. The road splits in Delta: you can either stay in Delta, take U.S. Route 50 and intersect with Interstate 15 near 39.099891 -112.270813 16 Holden , or drive along U.S. Route 6, which leads north in the direction of Salt Lake City .

Stay safe [ edit ]

Weather [ edit ]

There are of course dangers associated with being out in these deserts, pretty much all alone. The roads will be extremely quiet (with at most a car every few minutes on U.S. Route 50 east of Fallon), so if something happens to your car you can expect a long wait at best, and die of thirst at the worst.

Don't take the Loneliest Road in winter. California's milder climate may fool you that Nevada, which is at approximately the same latitude, does not have cold weather . You could hardly be more wrong . For example, here are the record temperatures reached for each month in Ely:

Obviously, these are records, so temperatures are not normally this extreme. But if your car broke down and it was even close to the record lowest temperature for February, you will probably die within a very short period of time, especially if you left your vehicle.

The same is true if it was close to the record hottest day in July and your car broke down: your life could be at risk.

The added danger with these areas is that, if something goes wrong, the chances of easily getting a connection are low, so emergency calls may not be a possibility along remote portions of the route; bring a satellite phone with you.

Go next [ edit ]

From beaver [ edit ].

East of Beaver are many national parks and scenic areas, which are part of the National Parks Grand Circle. The Grand Circle includes Arches , Bryce , Canyonlands , Grand Canyon , Monument Valley , and Zion Parks, and all of the Grand Circle is in Utah or a state that neighbors Utah. The closest of these parks to Beaver are Bryce and Zion.

From Delta [ edit ]

From Delta, you can head northeast to Salt Lake City , the capital of Utah and an important center of Mormonism .

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Unusual Places

U.s. route 50 – america’s loneliest road.

U.S. Route 50 (US 50) is a major east–west highway, connecting Ocean City, Maryland and West Sacramento, California . Stretching 3,000 miles (4,800 km), the route runs through mostly rural areas in the Western part of US. It includes the section through Nevada known as “The Loneliest Road in America”.

All the way across the country, US-50 passes through hundreds of small old towns. Blue Highways author William Least Heat-Moon writes about US-50 , “for the unhurried, this little-known highway is the best national road across the middle of the United States.” The route offers such a compelling cross-section of the nation that Time magazine devoted nearly an entire issue (July 7, 1997) to telling the story of the road it called the “Backbone of America.”

The Nevada portion of the route, named “The Loneliest Road in America” by travelers, evokes the feeling of loneliness. You find miles and miles of little more than mountains, sand, and blue sky.

US Highway 50 westbound, West of Eureka, NV

U.S. Route 50 looking toward Hickison Summit. Image by Jonathan Berman

Image Credit: pbase.com

US Highway 50 wasn’t built overnight. The history of US Highway 50 starts almost two hundred years ago. There were no established trails other than pathways left by the Native Americans.

Driving along the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas (now called the Bighorn Sheep Canyon) in the early days of US 50. – via highway50.com

It’s believed that US 50 owes its existence to Captain William Bicknell. He successfully made the long exhausting trip to Santa Fe, where he made a fortune selling goods. Thus the Santa Fe Trail was established and the route that Bicknell explored became the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail. Later the railroads would follow Bicknell’s Santa Fe Trail establishing routes that someday would become a part of US Highway 50.

Today as you travel through the towns and countryside along US Highway 50 be on the lookout for sights of the highway’s past. There you can still find some old gas stations, motor courts and diners hidden between newer buildings and businesses – a glimpse to another time in America’s past.

More: US-95: Nevada’s Highway of Oddities .

About The Author

My wife and I drove U.s. 50 from Carson City, Nv. to Utah in 1992, the year I retired from the Federal Government (Pentagon). A very interesting and beautiful drive. We enjoyed it so much and always wanted to drive it again. We are up in years now and chances are slim we will ever do that again. I tell everyone that you need to drive across this beautiful land at least once before you move on. We were very fortunate to drive it 4 times from Myrtle Beach South Carolina to California. This is a drive everyone should take in their lifetime. Thank you very much for posting such beautiful pictures of US 50. God Bless America.

I totally agree, I am originally from England & have driven across country 4 times from Florida to Nevada, taken several different routes. Every state has it’s own signature & should not missed off your bucket list!

I drove this road from Fallon to Sigurd Utah at least 7 times back in 2007. The first time I did it just to “see what was out there”. I expected to see a desert wasteland and got the exact opposite. It was one of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever seen, so I kept doing it. There are huge stretches of smooth straight road (wound up doing 120 mph and didn’t realize it ) followed by twisty mountain roads. I think you cross about seven mountain ranges while crossing Nevada . My favorite part was the last gas station just before the Utah border. I’ve never heard anything so quiet. This was followed about 55 miles later by a site that made me skid off the side of the road and stare: notch peak! Second highest vertical drop in the continental US, and out in the middle of nowhere. I will make this drive again before I die!

Thanks for posting those stunning pictures. I have been Googling on the drive for more than two years now. I have never been to America, but still haven’t given up my dream to visit this wonderful place on earth. I hope my lifetime drive will come true, and sooner. Best wishes from Bhutan!

I hope you make it one day. I live in central Missouri – I drive Hwy 50 every day. My husband and I take driving trips every few years to different parts of the US – avoiding the Interstate highways as much as possible and enjoying the lesser highways. It is so diverse in beauty!

Many thanks, Paula. I’m now in Perth, WA doing my post-grad. Will be here for a year or so after which I hope to do the Hwy 50. Cheers to you and your husband!

Pema, congrats on making it most of the way to Highway 50. My wife and I drove it from Sacramento almost to Utah in early October. If your schedule and budget allow, I strongly suggest the following: – Find a friend to travel with – Take the Coast Starlight Amtrak train from Washington state to Sacramento, California – Rent a car – Get on Highway 50 and head East – Go at least to Baker, Nevada (about 5 miles/8km off of Highway 50) – Take lots of pictures and enjoy! Best of luck!

Pema, Lovely to see your post. I’ll share two things. First, my family and I had a truly wonderful visit to Bhutan in 2001. My children were 3 and 6 at the the time and we were traveling for four months. Without exception, people were kind, welcoming and helpful and it made our visit exceptional. I’d love to return, but we’ll have to see what fate holds on that score. And second, should you come to the US and embark on an exploration of the Western States, we’d be happy to return the favor and help. We’ve traveled hundreds of back roads all over the Western US and our entire family loves to get out and explore. Though I’ve driven 50 through Nevada several times, I was on this site because my wife and I and the kids, now 20 and 23 years old, wanted to take the more scenic and interesting way home from visiting their grandparents in Colorado. We are located in the San Francisco Bay Area and would be happy to host you and provide suggestions. Coincidentally, my wife and I also did graduate studies in Australia, though over in Melbourne.

Good luck in your studies and travels. Peter

Have you ever run across an ICE CAVE out there? My husband and kids ran across one many years ago and cant remember what State it was in now the Hwy we would have been on. We live in Florida and pray we can make one more trip out there before our trip leaving this world. My email is [email protected] . Please feel free to contact me there. I sure hope you get this as you seem to be my best hope out of all the other comments. God speed, Linda

You are probably thinking of ice mountain in West Virginia west of Winchester VA just off of route 50. It is owned by the nature conservancy these days so not sure how how to get a tour etc.

I have been back and forth across the USA coast to coast numerous times..We live in Carson City NV and are doing this trip tomorrow From Carson City to Baker West to East and back to Carson City and looking very forward to it….

I am planning on riding US 50 from Maryland to California in 2016 going on my Harley

When are you leaving? My wife and I would like to make the same trip next year. We are in Louisville KY.

I am flying out to California to ride a HD rental on HWY 50 for my 50th birthday. I will be on the road July 23rd. Would love to meet some east-west riders if you are on the road then. Dawn

You’ve got to share your experiences. I’m making the trip on my bike (not a fancy HD, but a Honda VTX1300) in July 2017. I will leave San Diego, ride up the beautiful 395 to Tahoe then turn right at HWY 50. I’ll take it all the way to OC, MD. I can’t wait. I’ve been thinking about this trip for years.

We live in Floyds Knobs, IN . My husband and I have this drive on our bucket list. Unfortunately this trip has to wait until 2023.

Then you will never do it . . . take it from a very old man.

Don Have you driven US 50 coast to coast ? We live in Cincinnati and are planning a road trip in 2019. We have done US 66 and enjoyed it immensely. Charles

I will be out there in July- anyone know how the weather would be? I know it will be hot in the troughs potentially….

Oh- I will also be on a Harley!

We were in Kansas & Colorado in June. The weather was pleasant but we did hit some storms! I say be prepared for all seasons just to be safe!

John did you make the trip ? I am looking into driving US 50 Coast to Coast starting in Maryland mid 2019. Let me know what happened Charles

you are fucking stupid.

Wow, your a douche-bag Ergst. Nothing nice to say I see. Well I’m riding my bicycle and trailer across 50 from Chillicothe ,Oh to Green River, Ut which starts 10/11/2019 from Monroe, NC. I have to ride up to Chillicothe from Monroe via 601 to 52. It’s going to be a long boring but hopefully adventuresome trip with lots of people along the way. I’m sure more than a few Ergst Flumonpert as well. ugh!!!!

I’ve lived in the Bay Area and near Sacramento in the 90s, then near Lake Tahoe, then in Fallon, NV, traveling back and froth to Austin on “The Loneliest Highway,” then near the San Rafael Swell in Utah and now in Salida, CO since 2006. US 50 has been part of my life for years! I’m thinking it’s high time I continued following it to its Eastern terminus. I haven’t spent much time in the East since the family left for California in 1957. Now a friend is moving to North Carolina soon and wants me to visit — perhaps this is just the “excuse” I need to head East. When I get a newer car that can make it there – AND BACK – I’ll probably be on my way, staying and eating in as many “Mom and Pop” places as I can find. When I was a kid, we drove from PA to CA and back three times, some of it on US 50. I’ll bet a new trip will bring back old memories.

We recently stayed at Salida & loved that town! It’s one of the few towns that makes me want to move from my home!

Me and my wife are driving from Maryland to the Grand Canyon then to the red wood forest, we are going to drive route 50, can anyone tell me if I should or should not use this route?

If you want to see America as it really is….Use it. The small towns, the people, the awesome geography and beauty is all there.

I was on it from Kansas into Colorado & recommend using it instead of the interstates.

YES YES YES

This is the only way to go. I would hope you take in Mesa Verde and then spend a few days in Moab, UT to visit all the National Parks and then drive through Monument Valley to the Grand Canyon.

As a history major I love to travel on roads filled with history, route 50 is one of those roads. I have driven it from my home in Ohio to Ocean City, Md and on other occasions ventured west as far as Utah. People who stick to the interstates are missing an experience that is full of beauty and a wonderful education of America.

Traveling through Indiana on US 50 takes you through just one section Hoosier Hysteria. March is the best time around the second Saturday to get a feel for high school boys basketball hysteria . Seymour in South Central Indiana is the sight of the First, Second and Third rounds during the tournament. Its an experience you will enjoy

I’m from Scotland and my boyfriend is French. We are both very keen on driving West-East across America and as this route seems to encompass most of our most desired places to visit, it seems like the ideal choice.

We would like to take 1 month to really make the most of it. For any road-trippers out there who have been there and done it – how much money should I budget for this trip? (including car hire, but not including flights from Scotland). Just looking for an idea of how much to budget daily for food and fuel as well as the average nightly price for hotels/hostels/motels (doesn’t need to be fancy!)

Any info that you could give would be a great help and would just be great to hear from people who have done it really!

I recommend easily budgeting no less than $100 daily.

Most hotels are $100 & up nightly. I recommend camping along the way. There are numerous books & websites which list campgounds. You can camp in your vehicle or pitch a tent. Public lands don’t usually charge. Just make sure you know where you are!

I highly recommend a National Parks annual pass if you plan on visiting any while here. $80 covers everyone in your vehicle. We recently visited 5 parks at $25-$30 per vehicle. Having the pass saved us $$!

Pack a cooler with what you want to eat/drink in order to save money. Gas stations/convenience stores/fast food restaurants charge about $2 per nonalcoholic beverage. Most local grocery stores have delis so you can stop in for cheap eats.

Walmart gas stations (Murphy oil) usually have the least expensive gas especially if you get the gas card which discounts it 3 cents per gallon more.

Using your smart phone & apps can be great but remember that you might not always have cell service. I had a phone which used AT&T towers & had few problems. But nothing beats having directions written down on paper if you can’t get the phone to work! I also like to stop at each state’s visitor center to get free maps & helpful tips. Using the rest rooms there or at “Rest Stops” is usually quicker too.

I think there’s a Road Trip book which covers this interstate & has good suggestions.

Also, my mom uses Triple AAA auto club which provides detailed travel guides plus can get discounts for you at hotels. Online reservations for hotels are usually the best rates but ask for discounts such as AAA, or whatever other affiliation you may have.

I was on I50 from Kansas into Colorado in June 2016.

I hope I can do this once in my life. Absolutely mesmerizing. Cheers from Pakistan.

I bicycled this highway last year and it was absolutely amazing. I will say that it is correctly labeled, there were times that it was over 2 hours between cars. The longest was 2 hours 45 minutes. Many days of bicycling of 70 or more miles between towns.

I’m thinking of a trans American charity ride for breast cancer research when I retire in 18 months time (my wife suffered it but has since recovered) Do you think highway 50 is a viable route? I currently don’t cycle but do run around 20 miles a week so am reasonably running fit, but as yet not cycling fit. Any tips ?

Hello I drove Route 66 in 2011 on my motor by myself and this was really great . Now I like to ride Route 50 Westbound in 2018 . I have to start in Ocean city and have to hire a Harley. Do you know an affordable company . Thanks. Peter

Thinking of driving route 50 from Utah to Carson city end of March. Wondering about the road conditions, we are from England and love driving in the USA. We did a route from Boston to San Francisco a few years back. Any info will be appreciated.

Thanks Keith.

A solidão aberta das estradas é um lugar que invoca e provoca. Neste momento estou numa rodovia em algum lugar do mundo. A dinâmica da vida no tempo parece recrudescer exponencial. De onde não se espera é que sai. Estou numa região considerada pobre, nordeste de Gana, África, e próxima de Burkina Fasso. Veja uma pick-up que eu nunca tinha ouvido falar: zx auto grandtiger, coisas que até ontem só apareciam no mundo considerado civilizado e rico…:)

Road trip tips from a professional driver… 1- Budget is king for professionals. The more I spend on the road the less I bring home! The less I bring home the more my wife send me back out to make more money!!! 2- A good cooler that plugs into your car lighter will save hundreds in food cost. You can always find microwave heaters in quick stops and hotels. I eat out only once every other day or so. And when I do I spend a little extra because I have saved so much more with the cooler. 3- Map/GPS Maps are a must, GPS is a luxury. A good quality map will get you out of trouble when the GPS goes on the fritz, and they all go on the fritz eventually and some regularly. GPS’ LIE too. They all have some fouled up programming hidden within their brilliant minds that seems to rear its head at the most in-opportune time. They are good but maps are a must. You can use a map tp plan in to the future as well. Rand McNally makes a sheet protected US map that you can use again and again with white board markers for your rout planning. Don’t get me wrong I love my GPS, but I would never leave the house without my map! 4- Fuel APP. I use Gas Buddy. I can save about 20 to 70 cents a gallon with some planning. First I am not afraid to top off even if the tank is 2/3 full and I will put a 10 in just to get to a better price. But you have to realize that fuel is my number one cost. Saving 10% is huge in business. I also spend 100 to 300 dollars a day on fuel. 5- Hotels. I am a Hot Shot driver. That means that my pickup does not have a sleeper. Like most travelers I stay in hotels along the way (24 night a month on average). I budget 70 a night for hotels across America and I spent an average last year of 64.3 dollars a night. I stay in 3+ rated hotels but they are nothing to write home about. National chains like Motel 6, Super 8, etc. are in this range. So I don’t do dives and I don’t do Hiltons, but I do require a safe clean room. I am also willing to stay 40 miles away from my destination to find a better deal on the room, knowing that I will have the extra drive the next day means that I just need to plan a little better. I use a hotel finder app like Hotels.Com regularly but not always, there are plenty out there and you might even be able to gain a free night now and then. I never limit myself to chain apps as that cuts down on the pool in any given area, and some of my best deal have been the Mom and Pop type stays. 6- MOST IMPORTANTLY – BE PREPARED! Be prepared for anything! Have a sleeping bag or blankets, some food and plenty of water with you at all times. I cant tell you how many times I have pulled over to help someone to find that they don’t have anything in the car for an emergency. A small tool kit, blankets, maps, water and rations are a must for all travelers. I have begun a 200 mile round trip and been forced to shut down on the side of the road for three days once. Luckily I was prepared and knew the forecast, road conditions and emergency procedures. I also had a couple of good books to read. NEVER PUSH THE LIMITS OF YOUR DRIVING SKILLS! Get a room and wait it out. 7- If you can, travel buddy’s are great. A second car can go get fuel, parts, or emergency cell service. Cell service you say… there is always cell service. Not so my inexperienced friend. There are, what I like to call, 100 mile black holes all over the nation. Believe me, I know, I travel a lot of them. And there are many places like TEXAS where the local service may not provide your carrier a piece of their bandwidth. BE PREPARED! A buddy can get to the next town or get you to the next auto parts store if he is there and has another mode of transportation.

right on, glad to hear from another road professional, good advice, i spent well over 30 years long haul trucking , all 48, and well over three million miles under me, as a youngen, back in the seventies, i started camping out of the back of a beater 69, chevy 4×4 pick up, growing up in northern california, the jeep trails of the sierra nevada mountains, western nevada, all manner of remote, rugged back country. like us old school “wheelers, used to say, “lock em in, and 4 low, and, oh yeh, dont forget to air down that “aftermarket , off road rubber! point is, be prepaired, and most important, be self suffecient, self relient. i dont care if that subu, outback of yours never leaves the pavement, if you are going to venture into some of the most remote places on the north american continant,, my rule of thumb, better to have and not need than to need and not have. but to a point, be reasonable, this comes with experience. like most things in life. as with all multi day road trips, you have to eat, sleep, ect. any of us who have made the jaunt across 50, know, its a long way period, fuel, food, lodging, you are pretty much at the mercy of whats availible’ , im a firm believer in self containment, what ever that means, to you, be prepaired to fend for yourself. case in point, i later owned a 1979, ford f-250, 4×4 pick up, set up and prepped for serious off road adventures, i hade a nice sportsman s type of camper shell, i built a bed platform, with a nice single maters an ice chest and a grub box full of food and drinks and goodies. oh yea, gas, the trucks factory capacity between 2 tanks, 45 gal, plus 3, 5 gal jerry cans in the back, i could roam off road for days. im well aware most all of you will never do this type of extreme adventuring, case in point, with multiple trucks over the years, we have been in and out of some of the most desolete, unforgiving backcountry you can imagine, and yes, ive wheeled around moab, in a full size pick up. i have never walked out due to running out of gas, never slept slumped over the steering wheel, never went hungery. i have owned three full sized , self contained slide on truck campers, my big lance had the onan 2.5 generator, out in the middle of nowhere, or a wallmart parking lot, push the switch, think microwave, hot shower, think hair dryer. like a lot of us road trippers out there, i like my own bed, wherever that may be, over the years, in my liesure time i have roamed all over the u.s, but mainly i love the off the beaten path americn west. yes a 3,000 lbs camper on a one ton 4×4 can seriously limit your off road mobility, you just cant be stupid as to where you think you can go with, this brute. but you still have a lot of backcountry mobility. meanwhile, back on the pavement, ugh, hwy 50, across nevada, is without a doubt one of my top faveret jaunts, and i have done a lot of remote nevada back country, ghost towns, you name it, with the camper, pull off any decent spot along the way, you are set for the night. probibly more than any state, nevada is “wide open, as in roam at will, free wheelen, dont fence me in , mean anyting ? by all means, do u.s. 50, its been discovered, in the modern era, its not as foreboding as in the past, but just know and understand what you are dealing with, its not a race track, like wally byum, ( founder of airstream travel trailers) once said, its about the journey. my wife and i have been full time r.v.ing the 4 years we have been together, we are domiciled out of the columbia river gorge region of washington . our set up for the road, year 2000, ford f-350, diesel 4×4, pulling a new custom ordered grand design, reflection 37 foot triple slide trailer, ( i wouldent have another 5th wheel as a gift, ) for all you motorheads and tuck guys out there, here goes, she is a 2000,( custom factory order, fall of 99, ) full 4 door crew cab, long bed, ( the longer wheelbase lends to better hauling /towing stability. ) 7.3 powerstroke diesel, built, chipped, bullydog, big intake / exaust, k.n. air filter, pulling tourque is unreal, increased fuel economy. just keep your foot out of it speed racer. ! a 6 spd manual , dond like automatics , heavy duty, aftermarket towing clutch, 2 inch lift kit, rancho 5000,off road shocks, b.f. goodrich all terrian k,o,s mounted on nice aftermarket aluminum rims, a pet peve of mine, yoy see people off road with contemporary day “s.u.v.s with street rubber, really, ? carry two spares, we had two flats, we got stuck, i,l bet you did, the right tool for the job, enjoy hwy 50,

I drive regular from Fallon NV to Pueblo CO and love the drive. the continued portion through Utah and Colorado are just as if not more impressive, but not as lonely. The drive over Monarch Pass at well over 11000 feet is very impressive.

I left the notes above just to jelp road trip planners with a few of my professional tips. hope they help!

I live just off US 50 in Maysville CO, about 10 miles west of Salida. I have driven the road many times from my former home in Sacramento to Maysville. I love the drive, even the Nevada portion. Starting Tuesday, I am going to drive from Maysville to Indiana on HWY 50. Picking up my new Palomino cab over camper in Indiana. The unit was $3,000 cheaper there and no sales tax to pay. Can’t wait. Was hoping to make it all the way to Ocean City MD but not this time. Don’t want to fight the east coast traffic over Memorial Day weekend.

I just drove the Nevada and part of Utah part. Awesome.

Mike Myself and a friend are contemplating a road trip from Illinois, near St Louis, to California and back on touring bicycles. After reviewing this website I will most definitely present Highway 50 as an option. Anyone with a thought about this, whether optimistic or pessimistic, would be appreciated.

My wife & I are planning to follow Hwy 50 from Sacramento to Ocean City. Where is the beginning of the highway in Est Sacramento? Is there a sign marking the western end? Thanks for the help. Tom

Planning a US 50 trip from Cincinnati to Utah for this fall!

I am also riding US 50 west to CA , in Sept. I will be riding my Kawasaki Concourse . Can’t wait….

I drove US 50 between Fallon NV and Delta UT about 20 times between 1995 & 2005 on trips from Ashland, OR to Santa Fe, NM, and back. I always looked forward to the vast openness of this part of the trip. Through NV one climbs many ranges and finds each valley just as breathtaking as the last. I preferred driving in winter when the road was largely empty and the ranges were covered in snow. In summer the highway is not quite as lonely. I am committed to creating an excuse to do the drive again soon. Happy trails!

Last september i drove US 50 from Ocean city to San Fransisco in 19 days , just me and my HD With a side step to on US 550 from Montrose to silverton and back. Ride of a live time !

Highway 395 is another wonderful road trip. It runs north and south along the east side of the mountains from Washington south to California. It is very scenic.

My buddyHoward and I will be driving from ocean to ocean on Rt. 50 this coming July. Anybody have any don’t miss things to detour to see along the way? We are looking to be on the road for about 30 days just looking and loving America..

@BobbyTaylor: Shortly after you cross into Nevada (westbound) or just before you leave NV (eastbound), you will see signs for Baker, NV and Great Basin National Park. I recommend stopping for a half day or day or so and visiting the Park, including Lehman Caves and the Bristlecone Pine Grove. About an hour to the west of Baker is the town of Ely. I highly recommend stopping there and going to the Nevada Northern Railway (nnry.com). If you have the money and time, you can drive a diesel or steam locomotive. I have done both, loved it each time, and would do it again. Even if you don’t drive a locomotive, you can go on a train ride and wander around an extraordinarily well preserved heritage railroad. Good luck, have fun, drive safe and don’t go too fast on 50 (the Nevada Highway Patrol enforces… don’t ask how I know).

It took me over a year, but I found my excuse and will be doing Fallon to Delta on Wednesday 12/16. Yahoo!

We are traveling from Moab, UT to Fremont, CA in a large motorhome, towing a truck. Would Us50 be a good route ?

@Marlene Emerson: Depends what time of year and how reliable your motorhome is. Spring and Autumn would be great, I think. Winter you could easily find yourself in snow. Summer… well, it’s hot. I would probably leave US50 at Fallon, NV and cut up to I80, as US50 from about Carson City to Sacramento is more crowded and has some parts that are twisty enough that a motorhome might be tough to navigate through them. Hope you enjoy your drive, regardless of the route!

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How long does it take to drive Route 50?

Nicknamed “The Loneliest Road in America,” US Route 50 is one of the most famous roads in America's West. As its name might suggest, this drive is remote yet full of epic landscapes, making it a great journey for any curious or adventurous travelers.

This incredible drive through 410 miles of the iconic American West on famous Route 50 will take you 7 hours without stopping. You can make stops along the way including Fallon, Sand Mountain, Austin, Eureka, Ely, and Great Basin National Park.

Although people do live in this region, many of the stops are considered ghost towns and you'll be sure to be the only car on the road for much of the way. Continue reading below to learn more about the best time to drive Route 50, how long it takes, and top tips so you can make the most out of this lonely yet wonderful stretch of road.

Time to drive Route 50

Route 50 takes you through the deep heart of the American West. The route is driven from either west to east or east to west.

The key places are Fernley, Nevada as the starting point and Delta, Utah as the endpoint. The time it takes to drive from point A to point B really depends on where you join this road from but traveling it in its entirety will take 7 hours of nonstop driving, and cover 410 miles.

Where is Route 50, or “America's Loneliest Road”?

US Route 50 is nicknamed 'The Loneliest Road in America' maybe unsurprisingly due to its remoteness. The road starts at Fernley, Nevada, in the state's west, near the California border.

Traveling east, it cuts through the center of Nevada before crossing into Utah, where the road ends at Delta near the central region of the state. It covers the Great Basin Region which is full of monumental landscapes and rugged history.

You'll pass endless desert landscapes, towering mountains, ghost towns, and mines. If you want an adventure through the American West, then this route is the perfect journey for you.

As mentioned above, it takes roughly 7 hours without stopping to drive the entire Route 50. This would be difficult to do because of all the beautiful yet remote stops and scenic areas along the way.

If you make our 6 recommended stops, at 30 minutes each plus travel time, your total driving time will be around 10 hours and 30 minutes.

Because of the distance, we recommend splitting this drive into two sections. By taking 2 days, you'll not only be able to relax but have plenty of time to see the sights along the way.

We recommend staying in Ely, Nevada. This town is 290 miles into the 410-mile road trip. There are limited hotel options along the route yet, Ely has a selection of hotels such as a Holiday Inn, La Quinta and various independent casinos.

Driving the entire length of Route 50

Leaving from Fernley, Nevada, you'll begin your drive through the Great Basin region. You'll soon come to Fallon. This is the last chance of civilization for close to 100 miles so make sure to load up on snacks and supplies before venturing on.

Continuing east, you'll encounter the Sand Mountain Recreation Area. This area is beautiful so you'll want to take plenty of photos.

You'll be deep in the wilderness until Austin. But even so, Austin is a small town with nothing more than a few charming cafes.

From here you'll get to Eureka. This is your chance to fill up with gas. Eventually, after 290 miles, you'll enter Ely. This is your best place to stop for the night as there are hotel options here.

Around 60 miles from Ely, you can stop at the Great Basin National Park. Leaving the Great Basin National Park you'll be on your last stretch. After crossing into Utah and passing Sevier Lake, you'll reach the end of the road at Delta, Utah.

Driving to Route 50 from major cities

Route 50 is accessible from many US cities. Depending on where you're coming from, getting to either side of Route 50 can be very easy and convenient.

From California, you can drive 3 hours from Sacramento, 5 hours and 20 minutes from San Francisco, and 5 hours 40 minutes from San Jose. This will take you to the route's western end.

Other destinations in the west are even closer. Salt Lake City is only 2 hours away and Las Vegas is 4 hours and 40 minutes.

Things to know that can impact your driving time

It'll be very unlikely you'll meet heavy traffic along US Route 50. However, you may have to slow down for the occasional cattle guards, it is a good idea to keep an eye our for these.

Also, depending on the time of year you make the trip, there's bad weather in high-elevation areas. Snow will be your biggest hindrance in and around Ely, Nevada.

The snowy season lasts for 7 months from October to May. The Nevada Department of Transportation is efficient at snow removal, but you should be wary of ice.

As always, check the weather before departing. This will give you the peace of mind that you need to make this journey safe and stress-free.

Tips to drive Route 50 in the shortest possible time

Although this drive is very straightforward, there are a few things to keep in mind to make the drive shorter and more convenient. First, have two drivers available so you can alternate and stay fresh.

It is a good idea to choose an economical car if you have the option to do so, in order to minimize refueling stops. Also, stock up on delicious snacks and in-car entertainment, to reduce the need for stops and detours.

Due to the stretches of wilderness along Route 50, check that your car is in good condition before setting off. Bring food and drinks as you'll have long drives of the road without shops.

Fill up on gas when you can. Use Ely as a stop but make sure you start your journey on a full tank. If your vehicle isn't efficient, then bring a jerry can full of gas just in case.

Things to see on Route 50

Although the route is considered lonely, the sometimes desolate route is full of unique places to see and visit. Below are our top highlights along the way.

• The Topaz Museum - The Topaz Museum tells the story of Americans of Japanese ancestry who were interned during World War II. The museum is on the site of the camps.
• Great Basin Museum - Learn the area's history. The museum displays artifacts of original settlers and natives of the region.
• Little Sahara Sand Dunes - Picnic, camp or hike over sand dunes. Climbing the 700-foot-tall Sand Mountain is a popular challenge for local hikers.
• Gunnison Bend Reservoir - Water ski and boat on the reservoir. With shaded picnic tables and restrooms, it's a brilliant spot to spend the day by the water.

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Loneliest Road In America – HWY 50 Road Trip Itinerary

By: Author Hannah

Posted on Last updated: 6 August, 2019

Heading on a road trip down “The Loneliest Road in America” and wondering where to stop and what to see along Nevada’s US 50? We just spent a week cruising down HWY 50 and have put together Loneliest Road In America road trip itinerary for you!

Loneliest Road In America Road Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Reno – Austin Distance: 185 miles (with suggested stops)

We’d suggest spending the night in Reno and having a big breakfast before hitting the open road.

Stop #1 Frey Ranch & Churchhill Vineyards

• Address: 1045 DODGE LANE FALLON, NV 89406
• Tasting Tours: Saturdays Noon-4pm

What makes Frey Ranch different than other distilleries is they make all their own ingredients, everything is grown on the ranch right there in Nevada. Frey Ranch serves up tasty samples of Vodka, Gin, and soon Whiskey (still aging).

Located at the same stop is Churchill Vineyards. Who knew they could grow grapes in the middle of the desert?!? Churchill Vineyards is located 4,000 above sea level with cool nights and warm days providing perfect temperatures for producing well-balanced wines. Their wines may be purchased at their wine store varying in price from $14-20, pick up a bottle to enjoy when later in the trip.

*Make sure to have a designated driver for stop #1, if you don’t then skip it and head to stop #2*

Stop #2 Sand Mountain Recreation Area 

• Address: 5665 Morgan Mill Rd, Carson City, NV

Sand Mountain is 3.5 miles long, 1 mile wide, and 600 feet tall making it the highest single dune in all of the Great Basin. Feel free to hike up Sand Mountain, ride an ATV, or even sandboard down it!

A permit is required within 30 minutes upon arrival to Sand Mountain Recreation Area for a fee of $40 a week but Tuesday & Wednesdays are free entry days to everyone.

Stop #3 Shoe Tree 

• Address: 42500 Austin Hwy Fallon, NV

Right off the loneliest road in America is a sight you must pull over for at least a few photos. In the middle of a desert is a lonely cottonwood tree strung full of shoes. The tree is decorated with not only shoes but a few pairs of underwear, gum, and just about anything people have handy to hang from the tree. The story of how the shoe tree started is quite funny, click here to read it.

Stop #4  Stokes Castle

• Address: No Specific address, follow the castle sign at the edge of Austin, Nevada

Stokes Castle is another quirky roadside attraction alongside the loneliest road in America. This castle is not the picturesque castle you typically think of, the Stokes Castle is a 3-stories high and 50 feet around. Originally built in 1896 and only lived in it a short time before the family headed west in 1898 when it was the castle was left neglected. Head to Stokes Castle for sunset, it’s a great spot to catch the Nevadan sunset.

Overnight in Austin, Nevada

Day 2: Austin-Ely

Distance: 172 miles (with suggested stops)

Austin is a cute little town with a few motels and bed & breakfasts, we stayed at the Union Street Lodge. There’s a cute diner in town, but make sure to check the hours as they are known to close early

Stop #1 Eureka Opera House

• Address: 31 S Main St, Eureka, NV

You can’t miss the Eureka Opera House as you drive down Main Street Eureka. The opera house was built in 1880 and held several balls & silent films back in the day. Peak your head in and see if they will give you a tour if you’re passing through town.

Stop #2 East Ely Railroad Depot Museum

• Address: 1100 Avenue A, Ely, Nevada
• Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-430pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am-4pm

Take a train ride on a vintage steam locomotive are in operation throughout the year, but make sure to check the schedule in advance. Make sure to head back here in the evening to take some amazing star photos on the train tracks.

Day 3: Ely 

Distance: 160 miles 

Today will be spent exploring around Ely, so it’s best to base yourself in Ely and spend 2 nights in a hotel. We stayed at Hotel Nevada an old-school casino hotel, but there are several hotel chains in town if you prefer that.

Stop #1 Great Basin National Park

• Address:  100 Great Basin National Park Baker, NV
• Visitor Center Hours: Daily 8am-5pm during the summer

Break out your National Park pass and spend the morning exploring the Great Basin National Park .  It’s a newer national park and will actually be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2016. Drive the Wheeler Peak scenic drive for some of the most amazing views of the Basin.

Stop #2 Lehman Caves

• Address: 100 Great Basin National Park, Baker  NV
• Tickets can be purchased in advance but we advise reserving in advance click here

Take a guided tour of the Lehman Caves which are a limestone solution cave traced back to 550 -600 million years ago. If you’d like to bring in your tripod you must book a special after-hours tour as tripods are NOT allowed on other tours.

Stop #3 McGill Drug Museum

• Address: 11 Fourth Stree (Highway 93) McGill, Nevada
• Hours: Open by appointment only, Please call ahead 775-235-7082 or  [email protected]

The McGill Drug Museum was one of our favorite stops in Northern Nevada! Talk about a random museum and the guy who runs it is a character and a half. Walking into the McGill Drug Store is like entering a time capsule. Items on the shelves go back to the ’50s, the packaging and products in the shelves are left just the way they were when the store closed in 1979. It’s a must-stop attraction.

Day 4: Ely-Reno

Distance: 320 miles via US 50 or for different scenery try I-80 (430 miles) or US 95 (405) where you can easily dip into Yosemite National Park

There are tons of more things to do in Northern Nevada that you could extend your road trip down the loneliest road in America.

Pin Me For Later!

Additional HWY 50 Nevada Articles

A few resources to plan your trip down hwy 50 in nevada:,    .

Thanks to Travel Nevada for inviting us on such an epic road trip! Like always all opinions are our own.

Driving the Loneliest Road in America in 2024 - US 50 Across Nevada

U.S. Highway 50 (US 50) is a historic transcontinental highway which stretches from Sacramento, California in the west, to Ocean City, Maryland on the east coast.

US 50 crosses the central portion of Nevada, from the west side of the state near Lake Tahoe to the east side near Great Basin National Park.

Why is US Highway 50 Called the Loneliest Road?

The Nevada portion of U.S. Highway 50 was named "The Loneliest Road in America" by Life magazine in July 1986.

The article in Life had definite negative overtones, and quoted a AAA Counselor:

"It's totally empty. There are no points of interest. We don't recommend it. We warn all motorists not to drive there."

However, astute Nevada officials seized on the flawed article as a marketing slogan. The name originates from large desolate areas traversed by the route, with few or no signs of civilization. The highway crosses several large desert valleys separated by numerous mountain ranges towering over the valley floors,

The route was constructed over a historic corridor, first used for the Pony Express and Central Overland Route, and later for the Lincoln Highway.

Our Road Trip on the Loneliest Road

The Nevada Commission on Tourism today publishes an excellent passport-size document: The Official Highway 50 Survival Guide .

It includes maps and highlights along the road. If you get your Survival Guide stamped along the way, and mail it in, you receive a certificate of travel! It's very well done. Make sure you pick one up when you travel the Loneliest Road.

We've wanted to drive the route for years, and finally had the opportunity to traverse most of it recently.

We journeyed eastbound, from Carson City, with a small side tour over to nearby Virginia City.

We had planned to drive the entire Nevada U.S. Route 50 through Ely, and to the Great Basin National Park, and then into Utah.

After an overnight stay in Ely, the forecast of hurricane force winds in Utah forced us to head north from Ely, up U.S. Highway 93 to West Wendover.

Included herein are a few photo highlights of a great trip on the Loneliest Highway... highly recommended for anyone who loves the solitude of the open road, with constantly changing vistas, spectacular scenery, and no traffic!

Lodging Options Near the Loneliest Road

Map of u.s. 50 in nevada: the loneliest road.

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Loneliest Road in America: The Ultimate Guide to Nevada Route 50

Don’t let the title “Loneliest Road in America” fool you. Nevada’s Highway 50 has been a major thoroughfare since the Pony Express connected the West. And when mail by horse faded with the dawn of the telegraph and automobile, the route blazed a new trail as the first transcontinental highway, from New York to San Francisco. We’ll admit that we thought Route 66 held that claim to fame, but the Lincoln Highway came first, and Nevada’s section was a lynchpin to guiding travelers through the desert and over the Sierra Nevada mountains. 

Why is Nevada’s Highway 50 called “The Loneliest Road in America”? In 1986, Life Magazine did a feature, damning this 287-mile stretch, saying, “There are no points of interest,” and warned that motorists would need “survival skills” to make it through this high desert. Well, as seasoned road trippers who’ve driven the Alaska Highway , the entirety of The Mother Road , and nine cross-country road trips, we knew better than to let some persnickety editor keep us or Nevada down! We’d taken a bite out of The Loneliest Road in America on previous Nevada trips and were excited to finally drive its full length and explore all its wonders with an eight-day road trip!

Follow our Route 50 Road Survival Guide from Great Basin National Park, through eight historic towns to numerous hot springs, sacred Native American sites, sand dunes, sagebrush saloons, and so many stops to make The Loneliest Road in America a bucket-list road trip.

Table of Contents

Loneliest Road in America Map

Our travel guide follows Route 50, heading west from the Utah border through the towns of Baker, Ely, Eureka, Austin, Fallon, Virginia City, and Carson City, and ends along Nevada’s shores of Lake Tahoe. While these towns hold lots of intrigue, it’s all about ambling between them, enjoying the Basin and Range Topography, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recreation areas, unexpected cultural sites, and watering holes whenever you can find them. As you’d imagine on something called the Loneliest Road in America, there will be some long stretches between services, so keep your gas, water, and snack supply topped up so you can travel with confidence and gusto!

Below, we have broken down Nevada Route 50 by town, the best things to do in each, and the must-see attractions in between!

Great Basin National Park

Home to one of the US’s southernmost glaciers, the world’s oldest trees (5,000+ years!), dazzling caves, and an International Dark Sky Park, Great Basin is one of the most spectacular national parks in the country—yet it’s the third least visited in the lower 48! Called a Desert Mountain Island, this unique ecosystem rises from what was an ancient inland sea and the present-day hydrographic Great Basin area that covers most of Nevada and many parts of the West. The Basin refers to the fact that this area has no river outlets and that any water that falls, evaporates, sinks underground, or is captured in lakes. This makes for a dry, harsh climate, and is the reason why this 77,000 acres of biodiverse park stand in such stark and stunning contrast. Here are the best things to do in Great Basin National Park:

Lehman Caves

Sixty-four years before Great Basin became a national park, their spectacular Lehman Caves earned National Monument status. To explore this underground wonderland, we signed up for the park’s most extensive ranger-guided expedition, the 90-minute Grand Palace Tour. It begins in the Gothic Palace room, where fun formations like “cave bacon,” “soda straws”, and their famous “cave shields” glisten in the dim lighting. To bring us back to the days of the early explorers, the ranger shut off the lights for a minute and said, “In here, our eyes will NEVER adjust.” Only uniquely adapted species like the Great Basin Cave pseudoscorpion and springtails can navigate this darkness…and those with light, like Mr. Lehman who first explored the caves by candle in the 1880s. 

The wheel-chair accessible path turned to narrow passageways between the stalactites and stalagmites, as we moved through the Rose Trellis Room, organ-esque Music Room, and the Inscription Room covered in signatures from 19th-century visitors, and the Cypress Swamp with its surreal reflections. At two linear miles, Lehman Caves may not be as big as Carlsbad Caverns National Park, but they boast 500 more cave shields and these stunning circular formations, dripping with petrified droplets, making it one of the most unique and elaborate in the country.

Travel Tip : Sign up for your cave tour as early as possible, since you can’t enter the caves without a guide, and tours can fill up months in advance. If you forget to make reservations, get to the park office before it opens and check for last-minute cancellations.

Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive

Hugging the Snake Range and serpentine curves of this 12-mile road, the Great Basin landscape changed from sagebrush to pinyon pines to rugged cliffs to snowcapped peaks as we ascended to 10,000 feet above sea level. Be sure to pull over at Mather Point for the big vista of the jagged Wheeler Peak and keep going to the end for the Bristlecone-Alpine Lakes Trail!

Travel Tip: Wheeler Road and its mountain trailheads typically close in November for snow, so try to visit from April to October for the full Great Basin experience.

Bristlecone-Alpine Lakes Trail

This 1.6-mile trail leads to one of the oldest forests in the world…the Great Basin Bristlecone Pine Grove! Only found in small sections of California, Utah, and Nevada, and at elevations between 9,800 to 11,000 feet, these hearty trees can live more than 5,000 years! At such heights, snow often dusts the trail, making the steep pitch a little more technical and exhilarating. We reached the grove of gnarled trees and thought about the millennia of events they’d endured and ancient wonders they outdated (move over Pyramids of Giza!). As if this grove wasn’t impressive enough, the trail continues to one of the southernmost glaciers in the North America. We scrambled up the moraine for a straight-on view of Wheeler Peak Glacier and would have sooner guessed we were in Switzerland than Nevada!

For more incredible alpine vibes, extend your hike on the 2.7-mile loop to Teresa & Stella Lake. Short on time? Teresa Lake is just a 10-minute detour off the Bristlecone-Alpine trail and soooo pretty!

Stargazing with the Astronomy Rangers

Great Basin’s remote and arid location makes it one of the premier international Dark Sky Parks in the USA. On a clear, moonless summer night, thousands of stars, the Milky Way, and even distant objects like the Andromeda Galaxy can be seen with the naked eye. To level up our stargazing we joined the park’s regular Astronomy Ranger talk and guided telescope viewing, plus a special NASA scientist talk about the annular eclipse that was happening that week! Our mind was blown as we peered into their $10k telescopes and saw four of Jupiter’s moons and the giant interstellar cloud of the Lagoon Nebula 4,100 light years away (aka 24,600,000,000,000,000 miles from Earth)!

Astronomy programs are held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from May to September, with the grand finale being the Great Basin Astronomy Festival during the September new moon.  For more photos from Great Basin National Park, see our Instagram gallery.

Continuing 62 miles along the jagged Snake Range and sea of sagebrush, the town of Ely emerges. Founded as a stagecoach stop and trading post in the 1870s, it became a mining boomtown with cooper riches and a railroad that put it on the map in the early 1900s. Upwards of 100 nationalities flocked to Ely and the town still prides itself on its multicultural heritage with the motto, “Ely, where the world met and became one.”

It was the 2023 Great American Eclipse that brought us to Ely, Nevada, for their multi-day festival and perfect viewing of The Ring of Fire ! Watching the moon slowly creep across the sun as the air chilled, the sky grew darker, dogs howled, and new friends gasped in unison was sheer magic! After the hour-long viewing, the merriment continued with a Punkin’ Chunkin’ medieval festival, town-wide cocktail crawl, and events all weekend long. For fun, any day of the year, try these top things to do in Ely:

Ely Renaissance Village

Honoring their diverse community, the Ely Rennaissance Society has renovated 11 homes of a former mining camp and designed each one to reflect a different ethnicity of Ely’s early residents. Wandering between the villages of Basque, Slavic, Chinese, German, Italian, and many more styles of home, with their respective antiques and everyday items, gave an intimate window into each family’s cultural identity and version of the American dream. We highly recommend this museum and a tour from Glen, one of the people who has committed decades 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 short line and a complete rail facility! The railway workers were in period costumes and using tools from the days as a mining boomtown. Today it’s not prospectors, but train-fans from around the globe that come for this bucket-list ride. To hear the whistle, feel the chug, smell the soot, and step back in time as you move from this 70-building train complex to the mining ghost town a few miles down the tracks, is unforgettable. Watch the video above for more on our short-line rail ride and check out their website for more of their themed experiences, from the Roaring 20s to their Haunted Ghost Train.

Ely Mural Walk

Learn about the history of Ely as you stroll through downtown, admiring their 20+ vibrant murals, touching on everything from the evolution of Ely’s transportation to the plight of its indigenous people. (“The Miss is Missing,” painted by a mother-daughter team from the Ely-Shoshone tribe is so moving!) Check out this free audio-guided tour or dial up the hotline below each mural and punch in the respective number to hear more about each piece. 

Hit the Strip

With Hotel Nevada’s origins as a gambling getaway to Hollywood Stars, the strip has a retro-fabulous vibe. Follow the sidewalk stars to the hotel that started it all (if you’re staying there, the first drink is on them), and try your luck! Pop across the street to Jailhouse Lounge for mid-century cool vibes and cocktails, then end your night out at The Space at Taproot, Ely’s hottest new music venue.

OHV Ward Mountain

The Ely area has 11.4 million acres of BLM land, which means infinite recreation opportunities and OHV heaven. We rented a side-by-side from Eastern Nevada Adventures (right downtown) and within a mile of The Strip we were scaling mountain trails. We took a bite out of the Ward Mountain Adventure Loop, through sagebrush and mixed Pinyon juniper forest, and fantastic vistas of the Egan Range. Watch this awesome adventure!

We pulled into the “Friendliest Town on the Loneliest Road,” and felt the good vibes immediately! Discovered in 1864 by silver prospectors, Eureka became Nevada’s second-fastest-growing mining town, with a very international population (notably Cornish, Chinese, Italian, and Basque). Their 50 mines and 17 smelters processed 700 tons of ore per day and enough wealth to create the fine architecture that still stands today.

Pick up a self-guided tour map to read about each of the marked buildings, like the European American Resources Building and the Eureka Opera House…among the Silver State’s best-preserved 19th-century theatre! We also loved that some buildings haven’t been renovated and just left to nature, with apple trees growing up through the middle!

Austin : Halfway on The Loneliest Road in America

It’s a 70-mile stretch between Eureka and Austin, and while there might not be other towns in between, there are a ton of points of interest in the roughly 20 miles leading up to Austin, so don’t miss these pitstops!

Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area

The Western Shoshone people have been in this area for over 10,000 years with impressive rock art to show for it. Right along Nevada Route 50 you’ll see the big wooden BLM sign for Hickison Petroglyphs , leading you to the start of the 1.6-mile interpretive trail (and a lovely free camping area). These ancient paintings quickly reveal themselves, but keep going so you can discover more scenes and 360-degree views of the Big Smoky Valley and Toiyabe Mountain Range. 

Travel Tip: Want more of Nevada’s vibrant Native American History? Head 26 miles south to Toquima Cave for some of the most vibrant pictographs left in North America.

Lucky Spur Saloon

Named “Best Bar in the Middle of Nowhere” by Men’s Health , Lucky Spur Saloon is straight out of a Western movie. About 18 miles off Nevada Route 50 and down a long dusty road, you’ll think you’re lost until you see a tall, tin windmill, emblazoned with ‘’Lucky Spur.”  Order a bloody mary, pull up a saddle barstool, take in the views to Kingston Canyon, and try to hustle some cowboys at a game of pool.

Spencer Hot Springs

Did you know Nevada has more hot springs than any other state in the USA? For the most consistent and scenic on The Loneliest Road in America, you’ve gotta soak up Spencer Hot Springs. We took the six-mile detour down a dirt road and saw the steam rising over the four pools. The sun was setting so we did a quick change and hopped into the “cowboy tub” to soak up the 110-degree waters and sunset. For a more natural tub and even hotter water (up to 130 degrees), most people head to the lower pools, but we loved the privacy and the wildlife viewing at the top. After sitting still in the moonlight for a while, six wild burros tiptoed to the water’s edge for a drink with us!

Little Blue Bird Turquoise and Jason’s Art Gallery

Civilization emerges again in the town of Austin, with a pretty church, general store, a couple of inns, and the gem of town… Little Blue Bird Turquoise & Jason’s Art Gallery. We walked into this false-front building from 1870 and the owner Duane looked up from polishing a stone to greet us. He and his wife are the silversmiths behind this rock-to-gem jewelry studio of 38 years. We got chatting and the next thing you know, Duane invited us to the back to see how they tumble, polish, and cut the stones into art. So cool!

Stokes Castle

On the cliff at the western edge of town, Stokes Castle stands testament to Austin’s lucrative silver mining past. Built as a vacation home and display of wealth by railroad mining magnate Anson Stokes, it was inspired by a Roman tower from his travels and made with hand-hewn local granite. The family lived here for less than a month, but 130 years later the public can still enjoy the striking exterior and scenic lookout point over Reese River Valley.

Middlegate Station

Sixty miles later, the road cuts through a series of mountain passes that the early land surveyors and Pony Express teams called Uppergate, Middlegate, and Lowergate. You’ll know when you hit Middlegate Station , because it looks like a time capsule, with its wagon wheels, antique cars, telephone booths, old-time gas pumps (still working!), and big BAR sign. We walked in and it just got better, with hundreds of dollar bills pinned to the ceiling and decades of Western knickknacks on the walls. A place this unique doesn’t even need to have good food or service to warrant a visit, but to our surprise, they had both! We got chatting with the co-owner of 38 years, and she said five generations of her family still work here and live on the premises. Her short-order cook made us one of the best veggie burgers with onion rings! and we left with the biggest 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 younger sister. Legend has it that a newlywed couple was camping under the cottonwood tree and got in a tiff. She threatened to leave him, but he replied with something to the effect of “If you do, you’ll have to go barefoot,” and threw her shoes in the tree! He sped off to Middlegate Station and the bartender convinced him to go makeup. A year later, when they had their first child, they returned to the tree and threw the kid’s shoes up there too. So began a tradition of thousands of travelers chucking their kicks into the boughs. Sadly, vandals cut down the original Cottonwood, but the tradition continues in a neighboring tree. Go ahead, hurl yours up there, and join the legacy!

Travel Tip: Middlegate Station allows you to camp for free, for as many days as you’d like! With great food, the occasional band, and stories for miles, it will make for a memorable overnight.

By Loneliest Road in America standards, Fallon is a metropolis! There are 9,000 people spread across this verdant valley (largely due to the naval airbase). Set in what was an ancient lake, the Fallon area still has important wetlands and nutrient-rich soil for farming, uncommon in the surrounding desert. These resources made it an important area to early Native Americans, who left behind more noteworthy art and relics. So whether it’s historic art, good restaurants, wildlife watching, ATV adventures, or craft whiskey, the Fallon area has a lot to keep you busy.

The Grid Market & Brewery

The popular Grid restaurant opened up a new brewery and expanded the space with a whiskey and wine tasting room, poke eatery, bar games, and boutique shops. It’s an unsuspecting mashup of businesses that draws locals and out-of-towners for a unique night of eating, shopping, and playing. We got a fantastic vegan poke bowl, drank a flight of craft beers, and played shuffleboard for a great night.

Travel Tip: For more great restaurants in Fallon, try The Slanted Porch, Maine Street Cafe, and Telegraph Coffee.

Sand Mountain

Twenty-five miles southeast of Fallon, a little Sahara Desert appears. When ancient Lake Lahontan dried up 9,000 years ago it left behind thousands of acres of sand dunes. Renowned in the ATV community, this BLM recreation area is an off-roading paradise. Buddy the Camper is far from a 4×4, so we walked the dunes at sunset and thoroughly enjoyed the sand between our toes and watching the parade of headlights zigzag down the soft mountain.

Frey Ranch & Distillery

Distilleries are popping up around the country, but it’s rare to find one that is a true estate distillery that can boast ground-to-glass whiskey, with all the ingredients grown on-site. The Frey family are fifth-generation Nevada farmers who have put their skills together to create the state’s first official distillery . Driving under the tunnel of trees, surrounded by waves of grain, we could already tell this place was special, then the mansion of a former Nevada Senator and a beautiful distillery appeared! The Freys’ right handyman Sam gave us an excellent tasting of their top-notch spirits (ever tried oat whiskey or Irish-peet smoked single malts before? So good!) Then he walked us around the distillery to see their Vendome copper still on full roar, their vats of mashes bubbling away, and 1000s of white oak barrels aging their whiskeys to perfection. We left with a bottle of their straight rye , flipped it over, and saw their slogan ”Be good to the land and the land will be good to you.”

Grimes Point & Archaeological Area

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Nevada’s first National Recreation Trail, Grimes Point and Hidden Cave offer incredible insights into the area’s earliest inhabitants, the Paiute-Shoshone. We walked the path between desert-varnished boulders and marveled at the remarkably intact petroglyphs on the shiny sunbaked rocks. Continuing a little down the road, we hiked up the mountainside and into the series of caves carved by ancient Lake Lahontan and used as primitive shelter and storage. To see the famed Hidden Cave, which was used as a cache 3,500 years ago, and discovered with unbroken and perfectly arranged artifacts, join the BLM’s free public tours on the second and fourth Saturday of each month.

Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge

A few miles east of Fallon, the Stillwater wetlands draw so many migratory birds (hundreds of thousands across 290 different species!) that it’s listed as an area of International Importance by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. We arrived just after sunrise and drove the roads between the canals and ponds. We hopped out to explore their boardwalk and series of short trails and saw egrets, tundra swans, and countless ducks. Come at sunrise or sunset to see the most bird activity and don’t forget to read the interpretive signs for more about the bird migrations and the ways the Paiute people used these natural resources to thrive.

Virginia City (Loneliest Road in America…Essential Detour!)

On its very own scenic highway, 20 miles off of Nevada Route 50, lies our favorite and one of the best-preserved Western towns in the USA…Virginia City! When prospectors struck the Comstock silver lode of 1859, this place went from a remote mountain outpost to a cosmopolitan city with opera houses, state-of-art schools, hospitals, 100+ saloons, and leading newspapers (with Mark Twain on staff!) Like many old western towns, Virginia had a massive fire, but when their blaze hit in 1875, they were rolling in 7 million tons of silver, so they just built back better. Today the town still shines with grand Victorian architecture, wooden boardwalks, and buckets of Western charm. 

Historic Fourth Ward Museum

To get a grand overview of the history of Virginia City in a beautiful and authentic setting, head to the Historic Fourth Ward Museum . When this Victorian Second Empire-style building opened in 1876, it was amongst the most advanced schools in the West, with state-of-the-art heating, ventilation, and sanitation systems. When mining faded away, their population of 1,000 students whittled to a few dozen, and by the 1930s the school closed and the building remained shut for 50 years. With a grant from the Nevada Humanities community, it has been restored as an excellent museum. Learn about the town’s mining history, advanced city planning, educational system, and its famous residents with an hour wandering these hallowed halls.

Looking for more museums and a taste of the 1860s opulence? Try the Mackay Mansion down the street.

Virginia City Hat Maker & Bootmaker

@honeytrek Fourth-generation hatmaker, Pascal Baboulin, shows us the sophisticated side of cowboy style at his atelier in Virginia City…Nevada's most iconic western boomtown. #hatmaker @Virginia City #nvroadtrip @Travel Nevada #partner #travelnevada ♬ original sound – HoneyTrek

Wandering the shops along South C Street is a step back in time, but no place upholds the craftsmanship of the Old West like Pioneer Emporium & Virginia City Hat Maker . Pascal Baboulin is a fourth-generation hatmaker from Switzerland who fell in love with a Virginia City girl and she encouraged him to bring this art back to town. On the fly, we watched Pascal sculpt beaver felt with steam, massaging, and finesse into a gorgeous headpiece. To further nurture the art of Western fashion, he shares the space with Jake Houston, a custom cowboy bootmaker . The list of country stars waiting in line for his bedazzled kicks is as impressive as the shoes themselves!

Saloon Crawl

While there may not be 100 saloons left in Virginia City, a dozen of the finest remain. Don’t miss the Bucket of Blood for mid-day live music and glorious sunsets over the mountains. The Silver Queen’s name proves true with a towering lady made of 3,261 silver dollars and the tallest back bar in the world! (If you’re into the paranormal, this hotel and bar has been on Ghost Adventures three times for the murdered mistress who still haunts the building.) The Old Washoe Club doesn’t look the grandest on the ground floor, but it was home to the Millionaires Club and members like Ulysses S Grant frequented their lavish and exclusive lounge upstairs. For an atmospheric bar with good grub, The Red Dog serves pizza with their suds.  

Priscilla Pennyworth’s Old-time Photos

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Sure getting dressed up in Western garb and taking black-and-white photos is a totally touristy thing to do, but we’re so glad we did! The gals at Priscilla Pennyworth’s were fantastic in helping pick out costumes and poses to strut our stuff like John Wayne and Vera Miles. We hopped into the Virginia City Bath House tub with just the essentials (hat, whiskey, and shotgun) and had some good clean fun, plus three beautifully printed photos to take home. Click through the gallery above for more photos from Virginia City.

Carson City

The road was lonely no more, we made it to the capital of Nevada! Just 15 miles from Virginia City, this accessible valley became the hub for transporting and minting this wealth in the 1800s. During the Civil War, Lincoln saw the area as a valuable partner in the Union’s fight and granted Nevada statehood with Carson City as its capital. Today it’s one of the quaintest little capitals with some impressive sites.

Nevada State Museum

Set in the Historic Carson City Mint, the Nevada State Museum has all your essential topics covered (Native American history, geology, geography, mining, and art of all kinds). Here, you won’t just be wandering stark galleries but exploring a ghost town, mine shaft, coin-making operation, and more. Highly recommend! 

Kit Carson Trail

To bring this tiny town to state-capital status, grand homes were built for the new government officials and Comstock millionaires of the 19th century. Follow this curated 2.5-mile route through the historic West Side district to learn about the Victorian homes, museums, churches, and the people behind them. Use the interactive audio guide, download the map, join a Nevada State Museum docent walk to bring Carson City’s earliest and finest buildings to life. 

Carson City Triathlon: Drink, Dine, Dip

From the Washoe Native Americans to the California Gold Rush miners, Carson City Hot Springs has been a staple for the area’s recreation and relaxation. In recent years they’ve leveled it up with the help of some new neighbors and a little humor at the tourism board. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, the Carson City Triathlon involves the low-impact sports of drinking, dining, and soaking. We started at the mining-themed springs, with some of the purest hot spring water in the world (no chemicals, heat, or tap water added), and took in the waters flowing from the pick axe waterfall and the tipping miner’s trolley. Just across the parking lot was Shoetree Brewing (of Middlegate Station fame), where we had fantastic IPAs and Sour beers brewed by this brother team. The final stretch was at Sassafras restaurant to enjoy their global-inspired, vegan-friendly menu and art-filled space. Best triathlon you can do without breaking a sweat!

Brewery Arts Center

Housed in the oldest commercial building in Nevada (est 1865), the Carson Brewery has gone from making suds to printing news to nurturing artists. For the past 40+ years, this community art center has hosted classes, performances, exhibitions, and parties that bring creativity and connection to the capital. We popped in just as they were closing, but volunteer Patricia Best couldn’t help but tell us about the first annual Mural Festival that was storming the town. Clearly, their creative expression extends beyond the brewery walls. Check out their events calendar to see what’s on while you are in town and what creative-types you might meet.

Lake Tahoe: The End of Route 50 Nevada

Nevada’s Route 50 ends along the shores of the stunning Lake Tahoe. It’s such a popular place that it doesn’t exactly qualify as a part The Loneliest Road in America, but being among the largest alpine lake in the country, with thousands of acres of wilderness areas, you can still find that serenity and solitude to round out your road trip! Hug the shore to Cave Rock trail where you can get sweeping views of the Sierra Nevadas and a turquoise lake that extends beyond the state line. While we didn’t make it to Lake Tahoe this trip (we headed south to Genoa, Nevada’s Oldest Town ), the Tahoe area is where I spent every fall and spring as a kid, so we can wholeheartedly recommend a couple of days relaxing on this stunning lake for your Route 50 finale!

Where to Stay on the Loneliest Road in America (east to west)

While you could happily stay in any of the towns above, Ely, Fallon, Virginia City, and Lake Tahoe offer the most things to do and are nicely spaced apart. That said if you have an RV or camping setup, Nevada is a dream for fantastic free campsites. The state is more than 80% public land (for reference, Texas is 4% public land) and the Bureau of Land Management and National Forest do a great job maintaining campgrounds, often with bathrooms, picnic tables, and firepits, without charging fees. As RV owners, we did a mix of both city hotels and remote camping and thought it was the perfect blend. Here are the best places to stay on the Loneliest Road in America: 

Stargazer Inn, Baker/Great Basin National Park 

Great Basin National Park has great campgrounds, but for more amenities and lots of small-town charm, stay in nearby Baker at The Stargazer Inn . They have nicely updated rooms and are expanding their offerings in 2024. The Bristlecone General Store is the heart of the property with gourmet foods, charming gifts, and handy information to plan your adventures around Great Basin National Park. 

Hotel Nevada, Ely

Ely’s most iconic hotel and gambling hall, Hotel Nevada has been a fixture on the strip since 1928. For Hollywood stars en route to Sun Valley Ski Vacations, Hotel Nevada was the most fashionable midway point. Rooms give a nod to their star-studded ties, with suites themed to different old-time actors. Before we checked into “Hoot Gibson’s” room, we were welcomed with a complimentary margarita and craft beer of our choice that set the tone for a night of fun. If you like retro vibes and a piece of history, Hotel Nevada is your Ace of Spades.

Spencer Hot Springs Camping, Greater Austin

With four hot spring pools to choose from and big mountain vistas, this wild camping area is a delight. It’s a true boondocking experience so know that there are no facilities (ie bathrooms, picnic tables, etc) and to come prepared. To help preserve this precious place, follow hot springs etiquette and park at least 100 yards from the water. Cost for camping and springs access? Free.

Holiday Inn Express, Fallon

Fallon doesn’t really have boutique hotel options, so The Holiday Inn Express is the best of the mainstream lodging. The clean room and complimentary breakfast made it a solid launchpad for our greater Fallon adventures. 

Sand Mountain Camping, Greater Fallon

If you’re looking for natural beauty, have the gear to camp, and dig ATVing, this dune area is an incredible option outside of Fallon. FYI there is a bit of a party scene here with happy-go-lucky ATVers, but it’s a huge camping area so you can easily tuck away or join the merriment. You need to buy a recreation pass in advance to use the area, but $40 for up to seven days is a pretty darn good deal. 

Tahoe House Hotel, Virginia City

Set right on the main drag of Virginia City and in a building built in 1859, the Tahoe House Hotel has recently been restored with contemporary amenities, while maintaining its historic charm. Love their new bar and that their rooms have balconies to take in the ambiance of town.

Edgewood Tahoe Resort

This 150-year-old lakefront ranch,  Edgewood Tahoe has been reimagined to meet LEED-certified and five-star standards. Stay in the lodge or their luxe cabin suites, dine at their top-notch restaurants, and enjoy the best of lake life!

Loneliest Road in America/ NV Hwy 50 Survival Guide & Passport

To help you navigate to the best stops and commemorate your bold journey, Travel Nevada has created the Loneliest Road in America Survival Guide and Passport. Pick up a guide at the visitor center in any of the towns or have one sent to you before your trip . And keep your eye out for the signs that say “Official Stamp Location” in store windows. Get inked in at least 5 of the 8 towns and send in the back page to receive an official Highway 50 Survivor souvenir and certificate to commemorate your fantastic journey across the Loneliest Road in America!

Many thanks to Travel Nevada for believing we could survive the Loneliest Road in America and do its story justice. To show our appreciation and help preserve the cultural and natural value of the region, we’ve donated to the Nevada chapter of the Trust for Public Land and the Lincoln Highway Association. For more information on the route and inspiration for all your Nevada adventures, be sure to check out TravelNevada.com and our big IG Nevada Highlights reel .

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19 Comments

Discovering the hidden tales of Nevada’s historic Route 50 journey. Epic!

There are so many stories and legends to uncover on this road. We loved the Native American offerings and tales of the Pony Express.

The road might be lonely, but this looks like an amazing road trip! I’ve been to Lake Tahoe before but not to any of the rest of the stops on your trip. We’ve been wanting to get to Great Basin National Park, and now you’ve given me even more reason!

So glad this offered some more reasons to make it past Lake Tahoe! Great Basin is such a gem…gets barely any visitors. Be sure to get there outside of winter so you can have full access to the incredible trails up near Wheeler Peak.

Wow, this looks like a fun drive. I drove Route 66 years ago, so I know what it’s like to go on a roadtrip like this. Great photors.

Awesome you did Route 66. Isn’t it amazing the linclon highway is even more historic?! Not too much Americana on this road but plenty of interesting sights.

That’s a beautiful area! I have to say, with a nickname like the loneliest road in America, I’d definitely be sure I had ALL my safety gear triple checked. LOL

It is beautiful, right! Couldn’t believe how amazing Great BAsin National Park was. As for lonely roads, Always a good idea to be prepared but all the towns have what you need and plenty of friendly road trippers are on the route too so you don’t need to be too worried 🙂

Look like you had a lot of fun and I love all the images. My husband use to drive Nascar’s around the world and we use to always drive through Nevada Route 50. Next time we need to make a stop and venture out.

haha, it’s a great road to beat the traffic! Also so many cool detours. Don’t miss the Spenser Hot Springs and Hickison Petroglphys…gret for camping too!

This would be a really neat road trip! So many unique and interesting things along the way. I went to school in Arizona for about a year, and I have wanted to go back to that area for a while now.

Definitely add Nevada to your next AZ road trip. It’s true desert wilderness with all the Western lore.

I didn’t know that there has a loneliest place in America. But these photos and stories make dream of going there!

Lonely doesn’t sound great but NV Route 50 is full of life and things to do!

your comprehensive guide to Nevada Route 50 is truly enlightening. The vivid descriptions and practical tips make it an invaluable resource for travelers. I appreciate the effort put into highlighting the loneliest road’s unique charm and the adventure it promises.

nevada Route 50 is such an underrated road trip. So glad we could share it with you in a helpful way!

Northern Nevada Railway is so cool, we can feel the history in the train. Thanks for sharing your experience with us via this blog guys I appreciating guys….

Is it recommended to take this trip in mid March? I ask wondering about road conditions Thank you

You can totally do it in mid-March Nat. The only thing you would have to put in some extra effort is if you want to get to the Bristle Cone Pines in Great Basin National Park…as that road is pretty high elevation and they close it for part of the winter. But other than that, you are 100% good to go. What an awesome road trip it is brother! Have fun!

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Coast to Coast on Route 50

Posted by hotelcoupons | Aug 12, 2018 | Road Trips | 0

You’ve heard of Historic Route 66 . But, have you heard of Route 50? It spans all the way from Sacramento, California to Ocean City, Maryland. And it makes for one of most epic road trips. In this post, learn all about the stops you won’t want to miss!  

Before you get going in California , check out the State Capitol, the California State Railroad Museum , and the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. Then, grab a friend for your drive through Nevada. The stretch of road that runs through the state is known as “The Loneliest Road in America.” Route 50’s passage through Utah offers much of the same: rural areas and desolate—yet beautiful—landscapes. Once you hit Grand Junction, Colorado , head to the world’s largest flattop mountain, Grand Mesa . Or, explore the shops and restaurants in the downtown area.

In the Midwest, you’ll first pass through Kansas City, Missouri.  There you can peek into the past at one of the living history museums like Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm and Missouri Town 1855 . You will also find the National World War I Museum and Memorial. It is considered one of the city’s most recognizable structures. St. Louis, of course, is home to its famous Gateway Arch, as well as the Missouri Botanical Garden . Press on to Cincinnati, Ohio.  You will find the American Sign Museum and the Great American Ball Park . After, enjoy some of the most picturesque views you’ll ever want to see in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia .

Toward the end of the trip, Washington, D.C. combines history, culture, and politics into one unique city. Not only is it home to the White House and U.S. Capitol Building, but it also boasts incredible museums. The Smithsonian Institution , Newseum , National Law Enforcement Museum , are only a few. In addition, there are astounding monuments, including the Washington Monument , Lincoln Memorial , and Vietnam Veterans Memorial . Finish the journey in Ocean City , Maryland. It is known for beautiful beaches, a bustling boardwalk, fishing, and water sports. Sun, sand, and sea? Not a bad place to end up.

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• THE JOURNEY

How To Prepare For The US Route 50 Road Trip

Road trips in America  are on the rise, representing 39% of vacations taken by US travelers in 2016 compared to 22% the year before. One of the most challenging and beautiful road trips that you can do is the US Route 50, which is the east-west highway linking Ocean City, Maryland and West Sacramento, California. The trip also includes a section through Nevada, which is dubbed as the ‘loneliest road in America.’ But before driving off, make sure that you are  thoroughly prepared for the journey .

Prepare Your Vehicle

The  trip will take you  through 12 states and 4 state capitals, including Washington, DC, which boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, such as the Appalachian, the Sierra Nevada, the Great Plains, and stunning deserts in Utah and Nevada. Hence, it is important that you prep your vehicle to ensure that it can handle the 3,007-mile trek.

You might want to get an all-weather vehicle that will take you through mountains, deserts, and long stretches of highways. A ride that is comfortable, safe, roomy, and has good fuel economy is ideal. Moreover, get your vehicle serviced before departure, and check the brakes , fluids, wipers, lights, tire pressure, and tire tread.

Gather Your Papers And Documents

It’s also recommended to verify that your papers are in order before driving away. Make sure that your driver’s license and registration are up to date. Carry the car’s manual with you, as well as the proof of insurance to  protect yourself in case of unexpected events , injuries, and accidents.  Most US states require  auto liability insurance before anyone can drive on the road to cover for medical, vehicle repair, and other costs.

On top of your documents, buy a roadside assistance membership such as AAA. Some credit card companies also include this type of assistance – make sure to check if your issuer includes the service. There’s nothing worse than breaking down in the middle of nowhere or getting into trouble and not having anyone to come to your rescue. Also, bring maps of the area, as there’s no telling when your GPS might give up on you or when there is no signal in desolate areas.

Put Together An Emergency Kit

Not to be forgotten is an emergency kit in case unexpected events happen. This may include a spare tire, compressor, flashlights, blankets, first aid kit, and luminous vests.

There should be enough food and water for everyone in your party. If gasoline stations are few and far between, consider carrying a small jerry can in case your car is a gas-guzzler.

Being well prepared for a road trip matters. It not only enhances your safety and security, but also increases your enjoyment of the journey, allowing you to concentrate on the landscapes and the views.

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U.S. Highway 50

Twelve days across america.

“What is more beautiful than a road? It is the symbol and the image of an active, varied life.” — George Sand

U.S. Highway 50 is 3,073 miles long. It connects Ocean City, Maryland, and Sacramento, California. For much of its distance it is a two-lane highway serving local residents, while drivers from distant locations race along nearby Interstates. Nonetheless, it is clearly marked and ready for a cross-country traveler.

Route 50 is thus an anachronism: There is no longer a need for a national highway routed over mountains and rivers, along rural roads, around small-town squares, and through suburban streets and city blocks. But that is Route 50, and here is a romantic notion: The many people with houses on Route 50 can pull out of their driveways, turn east to Ocean City or head west to Sacramento, and never leave the road that passes home.

I’ve traveled the entirety of Route 50 many times, and this book is about places and things located within roughly 10 miles on either side of the highway. Since Route 50 extends more than 3,000 miles, that adds up to over 60,000 square miles. It’s a lot of territory to cover, and I don’t pretend to have covered it all. I hope, though, that some of the places I’ve visited will interest you.

Twelve days is a good length of time for a civilized trip across America. It allows interesting stops, plus restorative dining at the end of each day. This is not a guidebook, though, so you will find no evaluations of hotels, and you’re on your own choosing places to eat. Though if you’re in a town that’s a county seat, and you’re looking for lunch, head for the courthouse square and look for the place that’s full of lawyers and judges. You’re likely to get some good soup and a fine piece of pie there.

The photos here are mine unless otherwise noted, and the information and stories are largely based on my understanding of park signs, historical markers, web pages, Wikipedia articles, and other similar sources. Although I think my work is accurate, it should not be construed as authoritative rigorous research, and you should not be footnoting it in something you write. Rather, imagine yourself riding along with a person who is interested and full of stories. Unintentional mistakes may be made.

And one more thing: The content of this book has been assembled over a number of years. Each piece was current when it was written, but over time things may have changed.

Of course, on a real road trip, you’re stuck if you don’t like the other person’s conversation, but in this case you’re free to hit the road yourself. You could choose Route 50 — there’s lots more to find beyond what’s covered here. Or you could choose one of the other non-interstate highways that cross the U.S., some from east to west and others from north to south.

But enough talk. We’ll make a brief pause to honor the first person to drive across America and then begin our own road trip.

Enjoy the ride!

“The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.” — G. K. Chesterton

ps. You might want to know how roads such as Route 50 came to be. Connections between the U.S. Highway system and bicycles, the Good Roads Movement, and auto trails are explored here .

Except where noted, all text and photos copyright © 2008-2023 Scott A. Seely. All rights reserved.

Horatio Nelson Jackson

At the beginning of any cross-country road trip, it is only right to recognize the first person who drove a car across the United States: Horatio Nelson Jackson. That’s him at the top, driving the Winton Motor Carriage Company automobile he used to make the trip.

He did it to win a $50 bet made at San Francisco’s University Club in 1903. At the time he didn’t own a car and had little driving experience. Even so, he suspected that the lack of paved roads, especially in the western parts of the country, might prove difficult, so he hired a mechanic, Sewall K. Crocker, to travel with him. They set out from San Francisco on May 23, 1903.

They passed through Sacramento (Route 50′s current western end) and then veered north, in part because attempts by others had foundered in the deserts of Nevada and Utah. For guidance, Jackson borrowed maps from bicyclists he met along the way.

Challenges encountered and overcome included flat tires, car breakdowns, cooking gear falling (unnoticed) off the car, the need to cross streams using a block and tackle, lost money, and near starvation.

Jackson was consoled on the journey by the presence of his dog, Bud, who wore goggles because the dust from unpaved roads bothered his eyes. Driver, mechanic, and dog reached New York City on July 26, 1903, sixty-three days after leaving San Francisco.

Horatio Nelson Jackson then resumed his career as a successful businessman. His car, which he named “The Vermont” after his home state, is now in the Smithsonian Institution.

Photos of Horatio in the Vermont and his dog Bud are in the public domain and not copyrighted.

Let’s Get Started

Eastbound? Westbound?

Let’s go west.

We’ll begin at Route 50’s eastern starting point in Ocean City, Maryland …

… and head for its western end in West Sacramento, California.

The lights are green, so let’s get going.

Photos by the author.

Route 50 in Maryland

In 1632, King Charles of England gave the territory that became Maryland to a man named George Calvert, the first Baron Baltimore. Calvert was Catholic, and he wanted to establish a place where Catholics could escape the religious persecution they were suffering in England. King Charles’ queen, Henrietta Maria, was also Catholic, and the king named the the new colony for his wife. He called it Terra Mariae, or Mary Land.

In 1649, the Maryland colonial government passed an act banning religious persecution, but that didn’t prevent it. The Puritans were strongly anti-Catholic, and they brought this outlook to the American colonies. In the 1650s, religious violence proliferated in Maryland, during a period called “the Plundering Time,” and in 1688, Catholicism was outlawed. Formal religious persecution in Maryland continued off and on for almost 100 years, until after the American Revolutionary War.

Maryland was involved in military action well before that war, though, in a conflict with the neighboring colony of Pennsylvania. Land grants creating the two colonies differed on the precise location of their border. This led to a dispute over who had the right to ferry people across the Susquehanna River, which ran through the border area.

In 1730 a man named Thomas Cresap, a Marylander, was attacked on his ferry boat by two Pennsylvanians who threatened to murder him. Cresap defended himself with his oars, but he ended up stranded on a rock in the river. He was eventually rescued by a passing Native American.

This incident invigorated the border dispute, and it continued for several years, including an occasion when a crowd of some twenty men forced their way into Cresap’s house. His wife drove them out with gunfire.

Maryland and Pennsylvania both called militias into action, and the resulting conflict was called Cresap’s War. It ended in 1738, when King George II of England forced the colonies to negotiate a cease-fire. The drawing of the Mason Dixon Line in the 1760s finally defined the official border. The Mason Dixon Line was regarded as the divider between states to the south, which embraced slavery, and those to the north, which did not. Maryland was the exception. It was a slave state, but it was north of the line, and when the American Civil War began it remained in the Union. This ambivalence is reflected in some of Maryland’s history during that war. For example, an 1861 riot, triggered when Baltimore citizens attacked Union troops marching through the town, is regarded as the first Civil War bloodshed. Overall, some 115,000 people from Maryland served in armed forces during the war: 85,000 for the Union, 30,000 for the Confederacy.

In more peaceful news, Maryland has more than 4,000 miles of shoreline, along both the Atlantic Ocean and the meandering edges of the Chesapeake Bay. However, it has no natural lakes, only man-made ones.

Route 50 covers 144 miles in Maryland, from Ocean City to Washington, D.C. It first crosses the DelMarVa peninsula (the states of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia each occupy parts of the peninsula). It then follows Maryland’s Eastern Shore along the Chesapeake Bay and crosses the bay, passing Annapolis, Maryland’s state capitol.

The map was generated using Google Maps.

Ocean City, Maryland

Route 50 begins in Ocean City, Maryland, just a few blocks from the Atlantic Ocean.

Assateague Island, Maryland

Turn south on Maryland 611 shortly after leaving Ocean City, and in ten miles you’ll cross Sinepuxent Bay and enter Assateague Island.

Assateague is 37 miles long, north to south, divided between Maryland and Virginia. The northern part of the island — the Assateague Island National Seashore — is in Maryland, while the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge at the southern end is in Virginia.

Assateague is a barrier island, a formation of sand dunes lying between the ocean and land. Such islands change and move due to weather and tides. Big storms can reshape them, and in 1933 a hurricane drove a channel between Assateague Island and Ocean City.

The Ocean City government saw the new passage’s potential for navigation and built jetties to make it permanent. Today the channel remains, and Assateague, in its character as a barrier island, has moved. It is now west of Ocean City, which can easily be seen in the satellite view of an Internet map.

Assateague is home to wild ponies. They are feral, which means they are the descendants of once-domesticated ponies that have returned to the wild. Romantics among us prefer to believe that the ponies’ ancestors survived a shipwreck and swam to safety, but they probably were brought to the island from the mainland by their owners, to avoid taxes.

Why are they called ponies, and not horses? The distinction depends in part on their height. Ponies are generally regarded as having a genetic makeup that results in them being less than 14.2 hands in height. This requires some explanation.

The “hand” is a unit used to measure horses in the United States and a few other countries. Over time it has been standardized at four inches, so fourteen hands means four times fourteen, or 56 inches, in height.

But wait — isn’t there a decimal in 14.2? Actually, no. It’s a number that represents quarters of a hand, so “.2” is two quarters of a hand, or two quarters of four inches, or two inches. Therefore, a pony is a horse-like animal standing less than 14 hands plus two inches, or 58 inches, or four feet ten inches, tall.

There’s more. Horse and pony heights are measured, not to the top of the head, but to the “withers,” which is a point between the animal’s shoulder blades. Why? Because a horse’s head moves up and down, but the withers (a singular, not plural, noun) is a constant distance from the ground.

And there’s yet more, but here I’ll just quote a relevant Wikipedia article: “Miniature horses, but not miniature ponies, are measured at the base of the last true hairs of the mane rather than at the withers.” Hmmm. Let’s leave it at that.

PONY POPULATION CONTROL

South of the Maryland-Virginia state line, ponies living on Assateague Island are called Chincoteague ponies. Fencing at the border of the Chincoteague National Wildline Refuge keeps the ponies in two separate populations.

Because Assateague is a barrier island of limited size, the number of ponies living on the island is an issue, and population control is necessary. The northern Assateague ponies live under a contraception regime, but on the Chincoteague side, keeping the population at 150 ponies resulted in the most famous pony activity going.

Each year since 1925, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department, which administers the Chincoteague refuge, conducts an annual event called pony penning. And the book Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry, published in 1947, has brought this activity to the attention of generations of children. As recounted there, the Chincoteague ponies are rounded up by “saltwater cowboys” and encouraged to swim across a channel to the town of Chincoteague, where some of them are auctioned off.

Is this a cruel thing to do to wild ponies? Apparently not. The ponies are actually feral, not wild, and many years of experience have shown that they re-domesticate quickly.

FLYING CREATURES

Assateague also hosts populations that are not so easily managed. For example, over the course of a year a dedicated birder on the island might observe some 320 bird species. The casual summer visitor, though, is more likely to notice the astounding number of mosquitoes. Be sure to carry lots of genuinely effective mosquito repellent when you visit, or you may have an experience such as mine.

One summer, after setting off down a trail from the parking lot, I happened to look down at my legs. I was wearing shorts, but I couldn’t see the skin of my legs, because mosquitoes covered almost all of it. I fled back to my car, swatting madly. Such occasions have caused the website Wikivoyage to call Assateague the “biting insect hell hole of the Mid-Atlantic.”

So, Assateague Island: Ponies. And insect repellent.

The image at the top of the page is from the Assateague Island National Seashore. It is in the public domain and may be used without a copyright release from the National Park Service.

Berlin, Maryland — Stephen Decatur and the Intrepid

A little less than ten miles west of Ocean City, Route 50 passes Berlin, Maryland. In 1779, a man named Stephen Decatur was born near what is now Berlin. He was a daring and famous American naval hero. Here is one of his exploits.

On the night of February 16, 1804, the two-masted U.S. Navy ketch Intrepid sailed into Tripoli harbor, in what is now Libya, on the Barbary Coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the ship’s crew hid beneath closed hatches as the lights of the city and the castle on the bluffs above grew closer. On deck, the ship’s officers were disguised as Mediterranean sailors. Stephen Decatur, their captain, stood with them, his hair pulled back and dark sideburns framing his face and its prominent nose.

Decatur directed his crew to steer the Intrepid through the night toward the largest docked ship, a captured frigate that had once belonged to the U.S. Navy. In the the middle of the harbor, voices called out across the water. The Tripoli harbor patrol had discovered them.

Decatur and his crew were in Tripoli Harbor because pirates from Tripoli, an Ottoman regency, had been capturing merchant ships and enslaving their crews for more than two centuries. During that time, the United States and European nations paid tribute to the pirates so ships could pass safely. As a result, Tripoli had collected enough booty to fortify the city and build a castle to guard its harbor.

In 1801, the Pasha of Tripoli increased the required tribute. European nations continued to pay, but the U.S. found the new amount unacceptable. In 1803, it dispatched a naval squadron to cow the Pasha and resolve the problem. The squadron included a 40-gun frigate, the Philadelphia .

And thus, one sunny day when the Tripolitan pirates were happily pillaging, they were unpleasantly surprised to see the Philadelphia and its 300-man crew bearing down on them. The pirates fled for the safety of Tripoli harbor. The Philadelphia gave chase, but the waters near the harbor were treacherous, and the Philadelphia ran aground on a sandbank.

The reprieved pirates surrounded the grounded ship. As more and more pirates arrived, the Philadelphia ’s captain ordered his crew to push the ship’s cannon overboard, hoping to lighten her enough that she would float off the sandbank. It didn’t work, and when pirate gunboats fired at her, the Philadelphia couldn’t fire back. Her captain surrendered.

The pirates sent the Philadelphia ’s crew away to prison and slavery. They hauled the Philadelphia off the sandbank and towed her into the harbor. Then they fished her guns up from the bottom of the bay, remounted them, loaded them, and ran them out ready to fire.

As a result, the Philadelphia represented a potent new pirate threat that the U.S. could not tolerate. The commander on the scene ordered up a raiding party to go into Tripoli harbor and destroy her. The idea was simple enough, but there were a few troublesome details:

A 25,000-man army defended Tripoli, and from the walls of the city and its castle 115 cannon overlooked the harbor. The Philadelphia was anchored well within range of those guns. A fleet of 24 vessels, ranging from galleys to sailing ships, patrolled the harbor itself. Those ships carried another 83 guns and an additional 1,000 men. Assessing the prospects, the U.S. commander said, “It will undoubtedly cost us many lives. But it must be done.”

Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, who commanded a ship in the American squadron, offered to lead the raid. He gathered his ship’s crew on deck and asked for men willing to go with him into Tripoli harbor. Every man volunteered.

Decatur and his men loaded a captured Tripolitan ship, renamed the Intrepid , with “combustibles,” 19th century naval terminology for things that burn fiercely.

On February 3, 1804, they set sail, but a gale blew up before they reached Tripoli. The direction of the wind prevented them from entering the harbor, and they had to wait for the storm to blow itself out. Their ship was about 50 feet long and, at its widest point, 15 feet wide. If you stand on a street corner today and look diagonally across the intersection to the other corner, that’s roughly 50 feet. Fifteen feet is approximately the length of one of today’s passenger cars. Seventy-five men were packed into that 50-by-15 foot space.

During the storm, waves rose above the level of the deck and crashed on board. Anything larger than the smallest scrap of sail quickly blew away, forcing the men to steer using only the pressure of the wind on the ship’s bare masts. For nine days, the ship rocked and pitched with every wave.

Decatur and his four officers shared a single tiny cabin with a ceiling so low they couldn’t stand upright. The midshipmen and the marines had only a crude shelter on deck, and they, too, risked banging their heads on the ceiling — when they sat up. The common sailors slept on top of barrels stored down in the hold. The barrels held the ship’s store of salt meat, but the meat turned out to be rotten, so Decatur and his men ate bread and water.

But in their hours of trial these men were not alone. Before it was captured, their ship had carried enslaved people of poor hygiene, and so they suffered from what one officer called an “attack of innumerable vermin.”

The gale finally subsided on February 16th, and that night Decatur and his men sailed into Tripoli harbor.

When the harbor patrol hailed the Intrepid , Decatur and his ship were already headed for the Philadelphia . Decatur’s pilot, a Sicilian who knew the harbor, replied in Arabic, saying they were from Malta and had lost their anchors in the storm. Could they tie up next to that big ship over there? The harbor patrol approved. The Intrepid ’s crew had passed lines to the Philadelphia when the guards on its deck raised the alarm.

The Intrepid ’s raiding party immediately swarmed up from their hiding places. With Decatur in the lead, they scrambled up the side of the larger ship and attacked the Tripolitan guards with cutlasses, pikes, and hatchets. Knots of men fought hand to hand across the deck, grunting and shouting amid the bang of pistols, the clang of edged weapons, and spurts of blood. Twenty guards were killed, and the rest ran for the railings and jumped overboard into the night.

Decatur’s men then handed up the combustibles from the Intrepid . To place and light them, the men climbed down steep ladders inside the Philadelphia and raced along low passageways through the dark, lower decks. Soon fire coursed through the ship. Orange flames leapt out of her hatches and climbed her masts, and acrid smoke choked the raiding party. The fire was so fierce it threatened to burn the Intrepid. The men tumbled back down off the Philadelphia on to their own ship, Decatur the last man off.

As the men pushed the Intrepid away from the Philadelphia and hoisted sail, ships guarding the harbor began to fire. Shore batteries opened fire, too, and cannon balls plummeted about the ship, sending up cascading fountains of water.

To the raiding party’s surprise, heavy guns also opened fire from close behind them. They looked back for this new threat and saw … the Philadelphia . Her guns, primed and shotted, were ready for action, and the heat of the fire set them off one by one, sending cannon balls whistling past the Intrepid and her crew.

Soon, though, the Philadelphia ’s cables burned through, and she drifted ashore near the castle. When the flames reached her powder room, she blew up with a huge, deafening explosion. One of the Philadelphia ’s captured crew, held prisoner in Tripoli, wrote, “Tumult, consternation, confusion, and delay reigned in every section of the town and castle.”

Decatur and the Intrepid sailed through the uproar and away into the night. Only one Tripolitan shot scored, and they only knew of it when a hole suddenly appeared in a sail above their heads. The total American casualty list: one man wounded.

The story of Decatur’s raid was told around the world. England’s Lord Nelson, the greatest fighting sailor of the time, called it “the most bold and daring act of the age.” When the news reached the United States, it caused a sensation. Decatur was promoted to captain, the youngest ever in the U. S. Navy. Congress awarded the Intrepid ’s men an extra two-month’s pay — thirty-four dollars each.

As the country celebrated, a young man was inspired to take a popular English drinking song called “To Anacreon In Heaven” and write new words for it, commemorating Decatur’s feat. A few years later, this same man watched the British bombard Fort McHenry, and he revised his lyrics. And so Francis Scott Key took a song about Stephen Decatur and wrote “The Star Spangled Banner.”

The images on this page are in the public domain.

Southern Maryland — Harriet Tubman

As Route 50 proceeds east across the DelMarVa Peninsula, it crosses a part of Maryland that was quite familiar to one of the most remarkable women in American history, Harriet Tubman.

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery near Cambridge, Maryland in 1822, but in 1849 she freed herself by escaping to Philadelphia. Shortly after, an advertisement offering $100 for her return was placed in a Cambridge newspaper. We know this because copies of the ad still exist today.

She returned to Maryland frequently, but not as an enslaved person. Instead, on thirteen separate occasions she led members of her family and other enslaved people to freedom. She took her charges through the night in secret, using the resources of the Underground Railroad. She preferred to take those dangerous trips in the winter, when nights were longer, and she often began them on Friday evenings, knowing the local newspapers wouldn’t report the escape until Monday. Her identity as the person leading these escapes was not known at the time, but stories of her successes circulated, and she became known as “Moses,” for leading her people to freedom.

Her summary of that time: “I was conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can’t say – I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.”

During the Civil War, Tubman worked for the U.S. Army in various capacities, including as the leader of scouting patrols in the Confederate state of South Carolina. On one memorable occasion, she became the first woman to lead an armed assault in the Civil War, guiding troops on an expedition to the Combahee Ferry. That raid freed more than seven hundred enslaved men, women, and children.

After the war, she struggled to receive a pension such as those awarded to male soldiers, and her activism, including in the campaign for women’s suffrage, kept her impoverished. Supporters had to raise money to help her.

Harriet Tubman died in 1913, at a home for aging African-Americans in Auburn, New York. She had helped to found it, years before.

In the photo below, Route 50 crosses southern Maryland between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. This section of the highway is dedicated to Harriet Tubman.

The photo of Harriet Tubman at the top of this page is in the public domain. The photo of Route 50 was taken by the author.

Fine Dining in St. Michaels, Maryland

Turn off Route 50 at Easton, Maryland, and head ten miles east on Maryland Route 33 to St. Michaels. Find a table next to the water at The Crab Claw restaurant.

Order up a mess of blue crabs .

Ply your mallet and paring knife (you can see them in the photo below).

In the end, you will have a genuine mess, but you will have eaten happy.

All photos above are by the author.

This is a blue crab, named for its strikingly blue legs. The blue crab’s scientific name, callinectes sapidus , celebrates a combination of color, ability, and tastiness. “Calli” means beautiful in Greek, a tribute to the crabs’ color. “Nectes” is swimmer in Greek, for, by using their rear legs as paddles, these crabs swim very well. “Sapidus” is savory in Latin, because people like to eat them (see fine dining ).

The savoriness of blue crabs means they are widely fished and eaten everywhere they live, from Nova Scotia in the north to Uruguay in the south. One of their favorite places is Chesapeake Bay, where in 2018 an estimated 147 million adult female blue crabs made their homes. Females have reddish tips on their pincers, and thus we know the crab posing for us at the top of the page is a female.

On the way from birth to adulthood, blue crabs molt several times. This means they outgrow their shells, shed them, and grow new ones. They typically live for one to three years, if they aren’t scooped up for dinner, and during that time they must deal with two things important to all living creatures, food and sex.

First, food: Blue crabs are not picky eaters; they will eat just about anything they can find. This means the tasty blue crab you just consumed in its turn likely consumed clams, oysters, mussels, smaller crustaceans, dead fish, and plant and animal debris. Your crab may also have been a cannibal, having happily eaten smaller blue crabs, as well as fellow crabs who chose a bad time to molt and so were not protected by shells.

And now, let’s address matters of sex. Male blue crabs mate frequently, probably as often as they can. To attract a female, they wave their legs as though dancing. A female blue crab, however, mates only once during her lifetime. Could this difference demonstrate superior female morality? Maybe not. Perhaps it’s just the result of simple fatigue, since, after she mates a female blue crab produces from 750,000 to 2,000,000 eggs.

The photo at the top of the page is in the public domain from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Route 50: Nevada’s Hidden Gem for Adventure Seekers – 4 Day Road Trip

Route 50 in Nevada, otherwise known as “The Loneliest Road in America” opens up a vast expanse of endless desert, mountains and so much in between that will find you utterly enchanted by what you see. Think ghost towns, historical communities, state parks, alpine National Parks, traditional sagebrush saloons and unrivalled views at every turn. Through Nevada, Route 50 is just over 400 miles and can be completed in around 4 days.

Why is it called “The Loneliest Road in America”? The story goes that in a 1986 issue of Life Magazine, it was dubbed as having nothing of interest to explore and warned readers not to risk it unless they were confident in surviving. The road is wide open, you must plan your fuel stops and time wisely, but it’s one of the best adventures you can take through some of the United States most iconic landscapes.

Editor’s Note: This article is in partnership with Travel Nevada, all opinions are our own.

Table of Contents

The allure of route 50.

If you’re planning to head out on a road trip like Nevada’s Route 50, you can expect to have an incredibly unique experience, and in many ways unlike anything else you may have done already. One of the most significant things is that you’ll experience the desert changing on a grander scale. You’ll experience vast basins, areas which become much greener, alpine mountains and everything in between. Here are some of the key factors that make Route 50, Nevada so appealing to adventure seekers.

Natural Beauty & Scenery

Set in the Great Basin, the scenery is vast. However, seeing desert landscapes that reach off into the distance further than you can imagine is only the start of things on Route 50. Great Basin National Park is a treat at the end of your journey that you likely didn’t even know existed and has some of the most stunning alpine scenery we’ve ever encountered. Then you have areas like the Stillwater Refuge, near Fallon which is a hidden gem of biodiversity and well worth exploring.

You also can’t discount the fabulous petroglyph hike, near Fallon which provides a fascinating understanding of the Native American roots in the area. You’ve got so much more in-between, such as Groves Lake and Kingston Canyon as well as Spencer Hot Springs. There is so much to explore here, you’ll wish you had longer (and you can, if time allows).

Historical Significance

Following on from above, the Native American history is very clear in many places along Nevada’s Route 50. Petroglyphs present themselves in the landscape, as well as nods to traditions still very active in the area. Route 50 also follows the general route of various historical wagon roads and pony express routes – it’s been described as a ‘corridor’ and the gateway to the west.

Furthermore, Ward Charcoal Ovens, just outside of Ely are rich in history. The area has six beehive shaped charcoal structures or ovens that were used from 1876 until 1879 to process the silver discovered in the area. They were also known to be used as hideouts for stagecoach bandits when they finished being used. You’ll also get to explore a wealth of historical towns and small cities, such as Austin, Eureka, and Ely.

Solitude and Tranquility

If you’re into your solitude, then Nevada’s Route 50 is certainly going to be for you – it doesn’t get lonelier than this! Whilst you’ll go through small towns and communities with friendly welcomes and see other people on your way, you’ll also spend vast amounts of time out on the open road. There is something incredibly special about this, and the sense of quiet and vastness you experience. Within a day or so, you’ll realize just how infrequently you see other people! It does mean that resources such as fuel and water are valuable, and you’ll get a greater sense of appreciation for the bare necessities.

See Nevada’s Route 50 in motion

Bring Route 50 to life and watch how we experienced this iconic road trip:

4 Day Itinerary Travelling Nevada’s Route 50

Nevada’s Route 50 can easily be completed over 4 days and that gives you plenty of time to take things in at a relaxed pace and gives enough opportunity to enjoy Great Basin National Park at the end. Of course, there are plenty of other opportunities to stop along the way, and this Route 50 road trip itinerary is designed to have room for spontaneity too (one of the best things about road trips we think!). We’ve linked to each day of the trip below and outlined points of interest along the route, as well suggested places to stay and eat, hikes and other things to do. The Loneliest Road in America can be divided into the four days as follows:

• Day One: Carson City to Austin
• Day Two: Austin to Eureka
• Day Three: Eureka to Baker
• Day Four: Baker to Great Basin National Park

The map below gives you an overview of the road trip for each day to complete historical Route 50 in Nevada: 

Day 1 – Carson City to Austin

The first day of the Route 50 itinerary is in many ways the most jam packed, but also one of the most fun and varied. Seeing the landscape change when you leave Carson City, where things become wilder and open all the way through to Austin (or alternatively staying just outside) is unlike anything you’ll have experienced before.

You’ll get to experience the desert proper on day one of your trip, with a whole load of cultural and natural spectacles along the way. For example, just outside Austin, you’ll get to take in Stillwater Refuge, which is incredibly varied in terms of the plant and bird life the area sustains. Sand Mountain is also truly spectacular to see. One of the real highlights of the day is a visit to Middlegate Station, an iconic sagebrush saloon with some of the warmest locals – you’ll want to stay for hours. Plus, they do some of the best burgers you’ll try (and they even have vegan and plant-based options too). Day one of Route 50 will have you soaking in that true Wild West feel.

Read our full guide to Day One of Nevada’s Route 50 here.

Day 2 – Austin to Eureka

The second day of driving Route 50, Nevada actually has you covering a much smaller distance than you did yesterday (or at least it feels that way) and is much less jam packed than the other days on this road trip. So, take in the experience as you go! Day 2 has you experiencing the heart of central Nevada with some of the loneliest places on the loneliest highway from Austin to Eureka.

At the heart of the geothermal activity in the area, you’ll find canyons carved out, hot springs which are reliably some of the best in the area, historic, still lived in ghost towns and further sage brush saloons in the form of the Lucky Spur Saloon. This area is frequented by locals and isn’t really on the way to anywhere, so the nature-based experiences here are sought out because people yearn for the peace and quiet provided by dark night skies and far-reaching landscapes. Soak in the views and relaxed pace today, you’ll enjoy the rest – a true backcountry gem awaits you with endless mountain peaks soaring above you.

Read our full guide to Day 2 of Nevada’s Route 50 here.

Day 3 – Eureka to Baker

The last day of full driving on the Nevada Route 50 road trip takes you from Eureka, where you’ll have stayed the previous night to Baker, just outside of Great Basin National Park where you’ll spend day 4. There is so much to see and do on this day, that if you wanted to make your trip longer, you could extend by staying in Ely to spend more time around Cave Lake State Park to check out the many adventure opportunities there. Day 3 really has it all – time outdoors and in nature, whilst also getting to check out small towns and slightly bigger cities with an incredible amount of history and pride for their place on the map.

Eureka, where you will have stayed at the end of day 2 starts the day off with discovering local treasures such as the Eureka Opera House, the Eureka Sentinel Museum and ghost tour, amongst others. Whilst Ely, a vibrant city and your next stop, presents old fashioned soda, the Nevada Northern Railway Museum, Cave Lake State Park, Garnet Hill and Ely Renaissance Village, and more. After exploring Ely and Cave Lake, you’ll discover Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park, home to six beehive like structures that have been fantastically preserved. You’ll then head to Baker, where you can rest and recuperate amongst stunning mountain views before your destination of Great Basin National Park the next day.

Read our full guide to Day 3 of Nevada’s Route 50 here.

Day 4 – Exploring Great Basin National Park

Once you’ve completed Nevada’s Route 50 up to Baker, exploring great Basin National Park is a real treat, and not something you’re going to expect. Great Basin National Park is a really special place and could very well be a National Park that you’ve never heard of that’s just waiting to be explored. What makes Great Basin National Park so special is its unique position as an alpine oasis amidst Nevada’s arid landscape, and this will be really, strikingly obvious to you after the last few days exploring through the desert.

Great Basin National Park, which is situated halfway between the Sierra Nevada and the Wasatch Mountain ranges really does show what Nevada has to offer and presents some of the state’s tallest mountains and peaks. Due to its unique offering, it has a wealth of ecosystems and diversity. For a start, alpine lakes, streams, and ancient bristlecone pines will keep you captivated, but it is also home to the state’s only remaining glacier and the Lehman Caves and cave system.

Adventure lovers will be excited to explore Great Basin National Park, and this would be a great opportunity to even extend your trip, spending a couple of days at the end of driving The Loneliest Road in America exploring all this area has to offer. You can technically visit at any time, but around fall or autumn is particularly stunning due to the colors contrasting against the alpine mountains and offers the best experience for hiking.

Read our full guide to Day 4 of Nevada’s Route 50 here.

Things to Consider when Travelling Route 50 in Nevada

Of course, over time, The Loneliest Road in America otherwise known as Route 50 in Nevada has developed a persona as being for the adventurous. However, the main things you really need to consider are just common sense – book your accommodation in advance and plan your journey for each day. Make sure you take enough food, drink, clothing and sunscreen and you’ll be able to focus on the adventure. One thing to consider is that due to its remote location, if you have certain dietary requirements, you’ll want to research which places have those options. We’ve tried to be as helpful as possible in listing places that will offer vegetarian and vegan options, but they can be few on the ground in Nevada. That said, many things can be made vegan easily, and you’ll generally find restaurants are able to do this no problem.

You’ll want to make sure that your car is in good working order too, as there are not so many fuel stops along the way. When a sign says ‘no gas for 50 miles’, believe it! Always make sure your tank is as full as possible – it’s worth just topping up along the way as you go.

Gas Stops on Route 50, Nevada

As mentioned above, there aren’t a huge amount of gas stations on Route 50, so you will want to plan accordingly and based on where you’ll visit, we’ve outlined the current gas stations you’ll find below on the route:

The Best Time to Visit

You might think that given Nevada’s Route 50 is in the desert, that any time of the year would be a good time to visit, however its actually important to consider how the landscape changes throughout the year. Because the majority of The Loneliest Road in America through Nevada is in the high desert, it can get considerable snow in winter. Great Basin National Park is also much harder to visit in winter. It’s not impossible, but the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, which connects most of the hiking trails will be closed in winter, from November through to May.

You can also expect it to be much colder in winter, especially at nighttime – the desert is always cooler at night – but in the winter this increases. That said, Route 50 can look spectacular in winter with snow high up in the mountains and being surrounded by desert. In the summer, it can become very hot, in fact somewhat unbearable for some of the journey. It is still possible, but you’d need to plan accordingly. Of course, sitting at a higher elevation, Great Basin National Park would be very doable and open in full swing at this time.

As you can see there are pros and cons and climate considerations to take into account when visiting and taking on this road trip at any time of the year, however we believe that late summer and fall/autumn (from August to early October) gives the best opportunity to catch everything at a manageable heat, and to see Great Basin National Park at its best.

Ethical and Sustainable Exploring

Of course, much of the landscape you’ll be exploring is sacred land and has been home for thousands of years to Native Americans. Route 50’s more recent history has seen the area used heavily as a Pony Express route, and even though this is much newer, it still holds a great hand in the history of the area. With this in mind, it’s important to consider ethical and sustainable exploring for your trip. Here are some pointers on how you can take care of and respect the landscape in the best possible way on your trip, to help preserve it for years to come.

Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace refers to a simple set of ways in which we can look after the outdoors and the best practices we can all take for doing so. Within Route 50 in Nevada, you’ll come across delicate ecosystems, through to wilderness areas, and it’s important to help preserve them. Leave No Trace is set out as a series of 7 key principles that you can take on board for your visit – you can find out more about these here.

How to be a Sustainable Visitor

One thing that is really important on any trip we make is to be as sustainable as possible and respect the local areas we visit. Some key ways you can do this, and that are especially apparent on Nevada’s Route 50 is to support local businesses wherever possible. Many of the locations you’ll drive through are small and are sustained by small communities, your dollars matter when keeping these communities thriving. As above, you should also make sure you adhere by Leave No Trace principles when exploring to lessen your impact on the landscape, especially in some of the delicate ecosystems you’ll find on Route 50.

Learn About Native Culture

There is an incredibly big influence of native culture in the area, and you’ll see this evidenced in many of the places you visit, from petroglyphs to cherished areas and mythology. Take the time to learn about the areas you visit – many of the trails you’ll find will have information on native history and the visitor centers on route will have even more. It’s also important to learn about and consider the absolute devastation inflicted on native Americans, and something that cannot be shied away from, which can give a better sense of perspective and compassion. The Stewart Indian Cultural Center, in Carson City at the start of your trip, is a good location to find out more on this side of history, which is often missed.

How long does it take to drive Nevada’s Route 50?

You can easily drive Nevada’s Route 50 in 3 days, with one day at the end to enjoy Great Basin National Park, so 4 days in total. If you want to make your trip longer, we would suggest spending more time around Carson City or Lake Tahoe at the start, and more time at Great Basin toward the end. You could very comfortably extend the road trip to a week and not run out of things to do!

How accessible is Nevada’s Route 50 ? 

If you’re new to road trips, Nevada’s Route 50 could very well be a great starting point, as we found the route relatively accessible and easy enough to plan. You’ll also have cell service in pretty much all areas except for Baker and around Hidden Canyon, so making any last minute changes should be no problem. If you have specific accessibility needs, Nevada’s Route 50 could well be a good option for you too.

In most locations, there are options with wheelchair accessible rooms, and motels in the area often have drive up rooms. If this is a concern, it’s always advisable to call and check with the staff at your chosen accommodation before you book to stay. Many of the stops along to way on Route 50 can be enjoyed from the car, and some shorter trails may be suitable if you’re looking for routes that are simpler to follow with less elevation gain. Great Basin National Park may be a little trickier if your physical mobility is your main concern, as most of the activities in the park are at higher elevations and the hikes more difficult because of this.

Is Carson City worth visiting ?

Carson City, at the start of Nevada’s Route 50 may seem like any other city in Nevada, however it has a lot going for it. From museums, restaurants and a thriving scene to nature and outdoors activities a plenty in nearby Lake Tahoe for example, Carson City is a great place to spend some time.

How tough is the hike to the top of Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park?

The hike is considered challenging and is not classed as a beginner hike, even though it may be appealing due to the fact that it’s the second tallest mountain in Nevada, and the tallest mountain in Great Basin National Park. We’ve outlined the hike in Day 4/article 4 , and you should only attempt it if you feel ready with your hiking abilities – it is at altitude, with significant distance and ascent and descent.

Is it best to drive eastbound or westbound on Nevada’s route 50?

You can do Route 50 in either direction, but we would recommend driving eastbound, starting in Carson City and finishing in Baker. Having Great Basin National Park to explore at the end of the trip is a really memorable experience and leaves you on a certain high, so to speak.

Is the road surface good on Nevada’s route 50?

The entire of Route 50 itself is incredibly good quality – it is all paved road. It is also, in many parts, long and straight; you can see the road straight out in front of you (which is a wonderful thing to see). You’ll only encounter dirt roads and gravel roads when you go off the main road to some of the locations we’ve outlined, and they are mostly graded and well looked after too, so long as you use caution, you should be fine in a normal road car.

Route 50 in Nevada, otherwise known as The Loneliest Road in America presents something different to what you’ll likely be expecting. The vastness and sheer scale of the trip and the fact that it’s doable in roughly 4 days will be enough to blow you away. Those open roads beg to be explored and it’s the perfect opportunity to experience some thinking time and solitude away from it all.

There is so much to be explored on Nevada’s Route 50, from high altitude desert landscapes to sand dunes and alpine oasis, not to mention almost ghost towns and warm, characterful sagebrush saloons. Whilst Life Magazine may have said there is nothing of interest on this route in their article in 1986, we think they got it really wrong. You certainly can survive, and it’s a welcoming adventure that will stay in your memories for a long time. With a little bit of planning, this trip is extremely doable and a sure highlight throughout Nevada.

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Are you ready for a Road Trip? Explore these eleven incredible cross-country road trip routes across the U.S.!

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Classic American Road Trips

Pacific Coast Highway

Starting at the northwest tip of the United States at Washington’s Olympic National Park and remaining within sight of the ocean all the way south to sunny San Diego, this 1,650-mile, mostly two-lane road trip takes in everything from temperate rainforest to near-desert.

Highlights along the Pacific Coast Route: Olympic National Park (WA), Three Capes Loop (OR), Redwood National Park (CA)

Historic Route 66

The romance of traveling along historic Route 66 from where it starts in Chicago and ends in Los Angeles continues to captivate people around the world. If you’re looking for great displays of neon signs, rusty middle-of-nowhere truck stops, or kitschy Americana, do as the song says and “get your kicks on Route 66.”

Highlights along Route 66: Chicago (IL), Meramec Caverns (MO), Tucumcari (NM), Painted Desert (AZ), Santa Monica (CA)

• Barnes & Noble
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Running coast-to-coast from San Francisco to Ocean City, Maryland, “The Loneliest Road in America” is a 3,200-mile odyssey from sea to shining sea. US-50 passes through a dozen different states, four state capitals, and the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

Highlights along the Loneliest Road: South Lake Tahoe (CA), Moab (UT), The Million Dollar Highway (CO), Washington D.C.

Following in the footsteps of pilgrims and pioneers, US‑20 takes in a little of everything during its two-lane trek from Oregon’s rugged coast to the glorious sea and sand of Cape Cod.

Highlights along the Oregon Trail: Cannon Beach (OR), Fort Boise (ID), Yellowstone National Park (WY), Mt Rushmore & Carhenge (NE)

Dubbed the Great Northern in memory of the pioneer railroad that parallels the western half of the route, US‑2 is truly the most stunning and unforgettable, not to mention longest, of all the great transcontinental road trips.

Highlights along the Great Northern: Tumwater Canyon (WA), Glacier National Park (MT), Lake Michigan (MI), Acadia National Park (ME)

The Appalachian Trail

This driving route of the Appalachian Trail parallels the epic hike. From the top of New England to the heart of Dixie, it takes you through continuous natural beauty—without the sweat, bugs, or blisters.

Highlights along the Appalachian Trail: Mt. Washington (NH), The Poconos (PA), Shenandoah National Park (VA), Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NC)

Old Man River, Father of Waters, “body of a nation,” Big Muddy: By any name, the mighty Mississippi River cuts a mythic figure across the American landscape. Tag along from its headwaters in Minnesota to where it meets the sea in Louisiana via the GRR.

Highlights along the Great River Road: Main Street USA (WI), St. Louis (MO), Natchez Trace Parkway (MS), New Orleans (LA)

Starting at the Statue of Liberty and ending with a drive across the Overseas Highway to free-wheeling Key West, these almost 2,000 miles of roadway run within earshot—if not sight—of the Atlantic Ocean.

Highlights along the Atlantic Coast: The Statue of Liberty (NJ), Assateague Island National Seashore (MD), Savannah (GA), Cocoa Beach (FL)

Starting at Canada’s Jasper National Park, and winding down in the Sonora Desert, this route traverses some of the wildest and most rugged lands imaginable: mighty mountains, glaciated valleys, raging rivers, and two very different deserts.

Highlights along the Border to Border Route: Columbia Icefield (AB), Bitterroot Mountains (MT), The Extraterrestrial Highway (NV), Joshua Forest Parkway (AZ)

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Highlights along the Road to Nowhere: Sitting Bull Memorial (SD), Nebraska Sand Hills (NE), Monument Rocks (KS), Paint Rock Pictographs (TX)

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Highlights along Southern Pacific: The Desert View Tower (CA), Tombstone (AZ), Roswell (NM), Civil Rights Movement National Historic Trail (AL)

US 50 bridge closed west of Gunnison due to safety concerns

Travel advisory.

Gunnison and Montrose Counties  — A safety closure is in place for a bridge on US Highway 50 located west of Gunnison. The Colorado Department of Transportation is closing the bridge at the urging of the Federal Highway Administration and state bridge engineering experts due to the findings of an ongoing safety inspection, which identified anomalies in the bridge on Thursday, April 18. The closure is in place between US 50 Mile Point 131 (intersection with Colorado Highway 92) and MP 138. Local traffic will be allowed through the closure point to reach residences. Motorists should use COtrip to plan an alternate route. See below for more information about the northern and southern recommended alternate routes. CDOT has set up an incident command and will coordinate with local, state and federal agencies in order to respond as quickly and effectively as possible. CDOT has been conducting a special inspection for high-strength steel bridges for the Blue Mesa bridges as required by the Federal Highway Administration. This inspection was required because of known issues with similarly constructed bridges elsewhere in the country. A defect was observed during an early investigation of the bridge at approximately Mile Point 136.3. CDOT immediately brought in a second inspection crew with resources to perform another method for testing whether the defect posed a safety hazard on the bridge. The second inspection took place on Thursday, April 18.  CDOT is continuing to assess the safety of the bridge and to quickly determine options for interim and permanent fixes – and will keep the public informed as soon as more information is available. The bridge closure is located between Gunnison and Montrose. It is located east of the US 50 Little Blue Creek Canyon project, which is currently in a planned winter shutdown.

Recommended Alternate Routes

This closure will create a significant detour for commuters between Montrose and Gunnison. The recommended detour route for through traffic is via Interstate 70 to the north or US 160 to the south. CDOT understands the inconvenience that this creates and is rapidly evaluating options to improve options for residents, businesses, and travelers on the western slope. The northern route is 354 miles and requires approximately six hours of travel time. The southern route is 331 miles and requires nearly 7 hours of travel time. CDOT and local partners are exploring whether it is feasible at this point in the season to clear local seasonal routes that may be able to significantly reduce the detour time for local travelers. 

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

• Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org
• Download the COtrip Planner app: bit.ly/COtripapp
• Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COnewsalerts
• See scheduled construction lane closures: bit.ly/laneclosures
• Connect with @ColoradoDOT on social media: Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and YouTube

Remember: Slow For The Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

• Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
• Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
• Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
• Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
• Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
• Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
• Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
• Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
• Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
• Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
• Be patient!

Download the COtrip App!

The new free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!