The Loneliest Road In America

If you happen to be in Northern Nevada traveling eastbound my suggestion would be to take the Loneliest Road in America, otherwise known as route 50. While I80 will get you where you're going quickly, and the scenery is nice there's more interesting things to do and see on route 50. Click on the brown words - these are links to more information.

You can start Route 50 in Carson City or pick up route 50 off of I80 in Fernley, Nevada heading east. Cell signals are spotty on this road. Take an audio book or music CDs if you need something to listen to while you drive. If you start in Carson City keep the camera out and look at all the overpasses on the highway! Some of them are amazing! My favorite is the one where the supports are painted like Birch trees. Keep an eye out for wild horses as well! In less than an hour you will reach Fallon Nevada which is basically a Navy base town. My suggestion would be to fill up your gas tank here as the next several hundred miles the gas stations are few and far between.

Not far east of Fallon is an interesting place to stop to get out and stretch your legs. It's called Grimes point. This is a very easy walk through a bunch of rocks that have a lot of petroglyphs on them. There are also facilities there if you need them. It's fun to learn to train your eyes to see the petroglyphs because they are not all pointed out. Plan on about 30 minutes to walk through the trails.

As you travel east on 50 the next sight to look for is Sand Springs where there is the remains of a Pony Express Station and Sand Mountain. Click here for more info on this stop. This is a great big pile of sand that people have fun taking their ATVs on. You'll see it long before you get to it.

After the town of Middlegate keep an eye out for Cold Springs. Here is one of the Pony Express Stops. Learn a little more here. You can take a 4 mile round trip hike to the ruins of the station or have a quick meal at Pony Express Gift Shop and Restaurant.

Up next is the small town of Austin. Here you might want to take a 1 mile detour and take a gander at Stokes Castle.

After Austin is Eureka. There is gas here. Look for buildings with no backs and keep an eye out for the Eureka Opera House! Drive on the slower side as there may be pictures you want to take as you drive through a town from another place in time!

The eastern most end of the Loneliest Road is Ely, NV. This is the largest town you will have driven through in hours! Check out this website for more information.

Whew! You made it! Now you can brag you've driven the Loneliest Road in America! Not far from here is Great Basin National Park. Make sure to stop there if you are like me and want to get to all the National Parks. You're almost to Utah so plan the next leg of your trip well! Utah is a treasure trove of places to go and things to see.

After this trip tell me what you're drinking! If you find a good coffee shop in Ely please let us all know!