Where to Stay Near Great Basin National Park: Hotels and Lodges in Baker and Ely
Remote desert highway leading toward the mountains near Great Basin National Park
Plan your visit to one of Nevada's most remote national parks with our guide to comfortable accommodation options in nearby Baker and Ely.
Why Great Basin National Park Deserves Your Nevada Itinerary
Great Basin National Park stands as one of Nevada's best-kept secrets, offering ancient bristlecone pines, the stunning Lehman Caves, and some of the darkest night skies in the United States. Located in eastern Nevada near the Utah border, this remote park rewards visitors with uncrowded trails, alpine lakes, and the dramatic 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak rising from the high desert.
While most Nevada travellers flock to Las Vegas, Paradise Valley, and Enterprise, those who venture to Great Basin discover a completely different side of the state. The park sees far fewer visitors than Nevada's urban attractions, making it ideal for anyone seeking solitude and natural beauty. Your accommodation base will be either the tiny gateway town of Baker (population around 70) just five miles from the park entrance, or Ely, a larger former mining town located about an hour's drive west.
Staying in Baker: Closest to the Park Entrance
Baker serves as the immediate gateway to Great Basin National Park, and staying here puts you within minutes of the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and trailheads. The town offers a handful of small lodges, motels, and bed-and-breakfast options that cater specifically to park visitors. The Stargazer Inn and the Hidden Canyon Guest Ranch are the two names most visitors recognise: the Stargazer sits right in the village with a small restaurant on site, while Hidden Canyon Guest Ranch lies a few miles up Snake Creek Road for anyone who wants more seclusion. There are only a few dozen beds in the whole town, so reserve well ahead in summer.
Because Baker is so small, plan around its limits. There is no chain hotel, no big-box store, and cell service is patchy, so download maps and confirm your reservation by phone before you arrive. One or two small restaurants handle most meals, and the closest full grocery run is back in Ely. What you get in return is unbeatable proximity: you can drive from your room to the Lehman Caves tour or the Wheeler Peak trailhead in a matter of minutes, and step outside at night into some of the darkest, most star-filled skies in the Lower 48.
Staying in Ely: More Rooms, More Services, One Hour West
If Baker is full or you want more choice, Ely is the practical base. About 70 miles west on US Highway 6/50 — the stretch marketed as the 'Loneliest Road in America' — Ely has the region's largest concentration of hotels, restaurants, and fuel. The historic Hotel Nevada, open since 1929, is the landmark downtown option, and you'll also find familiar mid-range chains such as La Quinta and a Holiday Inn Express alongside the long-running Prospector Hotel & Casino. Rooms here typically run cheaper than in Baker and rarely sell out.
The trade-off is the drive: budget roughly an hour each way to the park entrance, and remember there is no fuel between Ely and Baker, so fill up before you leave town. Many visitors split the difference — sightseeing in the park by day, then returning to Ely for dinner, a wider choice of rooms, and a walk past its old railroad depot and mining-era murals. It also makes a natural overnight stop if you're driving the Loneliest Road across Nevada.
Before you book
What people ask before booking Ely.
About five miles. From Baker it is a short drive to the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and the trailheads, which is why the town is the closest place to sleep. Ely, the larger alternative, is roughly 70 miles — about an hour — to the west.
Yes, especially for Baker in summer. The town has only a few dozen rooms across a handful of small inns and lodges, and they fill quickly from June through September. If Baker is sold out, Ely has far more rooms and rarely does.
Baker has one or two small restaurants but no large grocery store and limited fuel, so top up your tank and supplies before you arrive. Ely has full services — grocery stores, several restaurants, and gas stations. There is no fuel on the 70-mile stretch between Ely and Baker.
