Skip to main content

Road Tripping

While Nevada’s biggest cities, like Las Vegas, Reno and Carson City, offer plenty to explore, the heart of the Silver State experience lies on the scenic roads in between. No matter your vibe, you’ll find a stretch of highway that speaks to your personal sense of adventure. Hit the road from bustling Las Vegas to Death Valley National Park to experience some of the most dramatic landscape changes the USA has to offer, then continue down U.S. Highway 95 to indulge your artistic side with a tour through roadside art installations and funky small towns. More cultural curiosities await along U.S. Highway 50, nicknamed the Loneliest Road in America, and around the mysterious Area 51, where extraterrestrial-themed lodgings and other curiosities beckon. Stop into the dive bars, haunting ghost towns and stunning state parks you’ll find along the way to chat with locals.

 

Dramatic Natural Beauty

One of Nevada’s most distinctive features is its wealth of natural hot springs. These naturally occurring basins offer a chance to slow down, take a relaxing dip and soak in some truly incredible views from the comfort of their warm waters. Luxurious spa experiences have cropped up around some springs, such as David Walley’s Resort at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Genoa and the wellness-focused Steamboat Hot Springs just south of Reno. Other hot springs require more off-the-beaten-path exploration to reach, promising a relaxing treat at the end of your excursion – and incredible views of remote mountain and desert locales. In addition to its natural water features, Nevada is the most mountainous state in the contiguous USA. Visit Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area outside Las Vegas for hiking, biking and climbing adventures. You'll find incredible sandstone formations at Valley of Fire State Park, thrilling zip lining in Boulder City and year-round golf courses across the state.

 

Cowboy Culture and City Lights

Past meets present flawlessly in Nevada, where even the most modern cities brim with Wild West charm. Las Vegas is perhaps Nevada’s best-known destination, delivering on its larger-than-life reputation with enthralling nightlife, diverse dining and glamorous accommodations around every corner. Nevada’s capital Carson City is anchored by its frontier heritage, with many attractions in the downtown Historic District paying homage to this storied past. Visit the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum, a former boarding school for Indigenous children that now works to preserve the complex histories and celebrate the traditions of the Great Basin Native American tribes. Head to Reno for daytime rafting down the Truckee River before exploring the foodie culture in Midtown. Take in some Old West hospitality in Elko with a visit to the Western Folklife Center, and make time for a trip to some of the region’s fascinating ghost towns.

Contact the Travel Trade Team

We inspire tourists to visit and work with the travel industry to promote this destination worldwide.
For general inquiries and travel information:

Fun Fact

Starry skies over Great Basin National Park near Baker, Nevada
View more

Nevada is home to two International Dark Sky Places that have been named among the best locales in the world to go stargazing: Great Basin National Park and Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area.

Participants pose for a photo with a sculpture during Burning Man in Black Rock City, Nevada
View more

Black Rock City, a community of participants attending the annual Burning Man festival, is one of the world's largest temporary cities.

Colorful displays at the Neon Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada
View more

Las Vegas has been nicknamed "The Neon Capital of the World."

Must see places

The famed Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada

The Las Vegas Strip

The city’s dazzling strip is known for many things, but an architecture or pop culture tour bring the glitzy strip’s iconic buildings into full relief. Learn about the design of famous resorts as well as the stories behind them on a guided bus or walking tour that fully explores the city’s architectural history. 

Learn more

Aerial view of the Hoover Dam near Boulder City, Nevada
Travel Nevada

Hoover Dam

Built 80 years ago, this massive construction marvel situated in Black Canyon is the highest concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere. Cross it via the walking bridge or take one of two excellent tours to learn about how the dam came to be and see its many parts in action.

Learn more

The beautifully barren landscape of U.S. Route 50 in Nevada
Travel Nevada

U.S. Route 50

Fuel up the car and take a jaunt down this highway dubbed the USA’s Loneliest Road, which runs coast-to-coast and passes through 11 states for a total of 5,100 kilometers. See mountains, deserts, forests and many more majestic landscapes as you navigate Nevada’s portion.

Lamoille Canyon stretches between the Ruby Mountains
Travel Nevada

Lamoille Canyon

Take the byway up the canyon for sweeping views of this remarkable landscape’s peaks and valleys, which includes staggering Ruby Dome (the highest of the peaks here). Hike, mountain bike, ski or simply picnic among wildflowers in this natural playground.

Learn more

Hiking in Great Basin National Park near Baker, Nevada
Travel Nevada

Great Basin National Park

Many visitors to Great Basin National Park are as thrilled by the lack of crowds as they are by the majestic mountain terrain, cascading streams and pristine lakes. The park is home to a number of 3,000-year-old bristlecone pine trees, which are among the oldest living organisms on the planet. Also see Lehman Caves, which can only be viewed on a guided tour; Wheeler Peak, the site of Nevada’s only glacier; and Lexington Arch, a massive rock formation.

Learn more

The crystal-clear waters of Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Travel Nevada

Lake Tahoe

Surrounded by the Sierra Nevada mountains, this alpine lake is the largest in North America and sets the stage for water recreation. Canoe, waterski or just jet across the deep blue expanse. Hike the Cascade Falls Trail or bike Flume Trail and spend all day exploring the wilderness around the lake.

Learn more

Visiting Virginia City, Nevada
Travel Nevada

Virginia City

This historic Boomtown city sprung up after discovery of the Comstock Lode in the mid-19th century and became a bustling silver mining town. See it as it was today, visiting museums, saloons and a historic walking trail and by embarking on a mine tour.

Resting on a hike through Valley of Fire State Park near Overton, Nevada
Travel Nevada

Valley of Fire State Park

Nevada’s oldest state park is in the middle of the Mojave Desert and is known for its vivid red sandstone formations and sparse cactus-studded landscape. Hike to the White Domes, Arch Rock or to the Beehives, all excellent representations of this natural wonder.

Art installation near the Rhyolite Ghost Town in Beatty, Nevada
Travel Nevada

Rhyolite Ghost Town

Near Death Valley, this Gold Rush ghost town set in the Bullfrog Hills takes its name from a native rock. Picture this desolate community as it once was as you learn about its history (which includes being featured in several films) and tour the open air museum at its entrance.

Learn more

The iconic rocky terrain of Cathedral Gorge State Park near Panaca, Nevada

Cathedral Gorge State Park

This series of spiky-looking ravines, grooves, caves and passageways can be explored through a variety of trails, from short to long, easy to challenging. Hike to Miller’s Point on the main trail for a sweeping view of the gorge as well as the vivid lands beyond.

Spencer Hot Springs near Austin, Nevada
View more

Experience Nevada

Travel Nevada

Ask a Local

Las Vegas local
View more
Las Vegas local
View more
View Transcript