Best desert drives in Nevada, ranked
Empty desert highway stretching to Nevada mountains
Nevada has 12 scenic byways and 3 of them are among the best in the American West — here they are in order.
The top three
1) Highway 50 across central Nevada — the Loneliest Road, 287 miles from Fernley to Ely with 5 towns and a lot of sagebrush. Two days minimum, sleep in Austin (Cozy Mountain Motel, $95) or Eureka (Jackson House, $110). 2) Valley of Fire Highway east of Vegas — 40 miles of red sandstone, do it as a day loop, $15 park entry. 3) Extraterrestrial Highway (SR 375) past Area 51 — 98 miles of nothing, one gas station in Rachel, and the Little A’Le’Inn for a burger and a photo.
The runners-up
Great Basin loop from Ely to Baker (US 6 to SR 487) — mountains, aspen, the state's only national park, and the highway peaks near 7,000 feet. Vegas to Laughlin via SR 163 through Christmas Tree Pass — 55 miles, Joshua trees, weird rock formations. Reno to Virginia City on SR 341 — 25 miles, hairpin turns, silver-rush history. Skip: I-80 across the north (functional, not scenic) and I-15 south of Vegas (Mojave landscape but a boring driving experience).
Before you book
What people ask before booking Reno.
On Highway 50, top up at every station — Fallon, Austin, Eureka, Ely. Ranges between towns can hit 110 miles. On the ET Highway, fuel in Alamo or Tonopah before entering; the Rachel station is unreliable.
No. Plan on dead zones for hours on Highway 50, the ET Highway, and most of eastern Nevada. Download offline maps. AT&T covers I-15 and I-80 reliably; interior highways are patchy.
