6 Friendliest Towns to Visit in Nevada in 2024
Beyond the famous Las Vegas Strip are plenty of friendly small towns in "The Silver State"—a name that reflects Nevada’s role in silver mining and the discovery of one of the richest silver deposits ever found. In Eureka, visitors will discover the "Friendliest Town on the Loneliest Road in America," while Virginia City offers guests a glimpse into the past with its landmarks, such as the Silver Queen Hotel and Old Washoe Club. Boulder City attracts visitors with Hoover Dam and the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. With a unique charm and warm welcome, uncover only a few of the friendly Nevada towns inviting travelers to explore its rich history in 2024.
Eureka
On US Route 50, Eureka, Nevada, welcomes visitors to the "Friendliest Town on the Loneliest Road in America." A historic mining town, Eureka boasts well-preserved architecture from the late 19th century, including the Eureka Opera House, built in late 1879 to 1880 and opened in time for a New Year’s Eve Costume Ball later that year. Like many opera houses of the era, it became a silent movie house, then a theater, but eventually fell into disrepair for over 30 years. Today, the opera house is the Cultural Arts Center of Eureka and is open for self-guided tours where visitors can see memorabilia from its glory days.
Keep strolling down memory lane with a visit to the Eureka Sentinel Museum just across the street in Eureka’s Historic District. Housed in the building that was the headquarters for the Eureka Sentinel Newspaper from 1879 to 1960, typophiles (lovers of printing and typography) will enjoy visiting the pressroom and seeing the historic typecases, typewriters, and Linotype machines. Another stop on the history tour is the Eureka County Courthouse, constructed in 1876. The elegant courthouse is one of the oldest working courthouses in Nevada. Stay overnight in Eureka at the late 1800s Jackson House Hotel, drink at the iconic Owl Club Bar and Steakhouse, or discover the cuisine of America and India at Urban Cowboy Bar and Grill.
Virginia City
A classic Nevada mining town, Virginia City, was founded in 1859 after the discovery of the Comstock Lode—a massive deposit of silver ore. Like most mining towns during the 19th century, Virginia City experienced a typical boom-and-bust cycle. The small town grew into a vibrant, bustling community with the arrival of prospectors, miners, and anyone attracted by the glint of silver. Today, the town welcomes over one million visitors annually who explore the town’s history, like the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. This historic railroad offers scenic train rides through the Comstock Lode mining district and includes narrated tours of historic sites and stunning views of the Nevada landscape.
A familiar landmark in Virginia City is the Silver Queen Hotel, with its iconic 16-foot-tall portrait of a woman (the “Silver Queen” herself) embedded with 3,261 silver dollars, the depth of the deepest silver mine in town. Stay overnight in one of the hotel’s restored rooms, tie the knot in the onsite wedding chapel, and celebrate in their Old West Saloon with a homemade Bloody Mary. Another must-see landmark in town is the Old Washoe Club, once an exclusive gentlemen’s club during the silver mining boom. The club closed in 1897, but today, the historic bar still serves drinks to paranormal enthusiasts drawn by its reputation as one of the most haunted locations in the US.
Boulder City
Boulder City is known for its proximity to Hoover Dam and offers a variety of attractions that showcase the area's natural beauty and historical significance. The engineering marvel on the Colorado River, Hoover Dam, draws millions of visitors each year who visit the dam’s historic tunnels and ride the original elevator to the top for breathtaking looks at the Colorado River, Lake Mead, and the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tilman Memorial Bridge—one of the highest concrete arch bridges in the world. Visitors can learn more about Hoover Dam and the story of the men and women who built a dam in the middle of the desert and settled in Boulder City in the Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum, which is open free of charge to the public 365 days a year.
The Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a year-round national park encompassing 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons, valleys, and two huge lakes: Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. Outdoor enthusiasts flock to the area to cool off from the summer heat and enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, and hiking the 3.7-mile Historic Railroad Trail. On the hills on the southern shoreline of Lake Mead, the rail trail is suitable for all ages. It offers panoramic views of the artificial lake as it winds through five railroad tunnels, with views of the surrounding desert landscape along the way.
Ely
The historic town of Ely is a gateway to Great Basin National Park, known for its stunning natural beauty, including the ancient Bristlecone Pine trees only found in the American Southwest. From September 5th to 7th, 2024, the park hosts the 15th Annual Great Basin Astronomy Festival with Telescope Viewing & Star Parties, Astronomy on Tap featuring pub trivia, astronomy talks, and food and drinks at local venues, and Art in the Dark, where visitors and park rangers will create an art piece in the Astronomy Amphitheater. Head underground at the park on a tour to visit the spectacular Lehman Caves, filled with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.
Downtown Ely is an art lover’s canvas with numerous impressive outdoor murals that showcase the area’s mining history, Native American culture, and natural surroundings. Be sure to wander around town to see the Nevada Northern Railway Murals and the Ghost Train Murals near the Nevada Northern Railway Museum, as well as the murals on Aultman Street, like the architectural mural that surrounds the iconic Richfield Gas Station and the Liberty Pit mural.
About 20 miles south of Ely, Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park has six beehive-shaped charcoal ovens. From 1876 through 1879, they produced charcoal for silver mines like those in Virginia City. Later, the ovens were rumored to be hideouts for stagecoach bandits. Today, visitors can camp, hike, fish, and picnic surrounded by deer, elk, and grouse who make the park their home.
Tonopah
Although historic Tonopah is another mining town with a rich history and a downtown filled with many of its original 19th-century buildings, the World-Famous Clown Motel put Tonopah on more recent maps. Dubbed “America’s Scariest Motel,” the Clown Motel opened its spooky doors in 1985 as a tribute by two siblings to their clown-loving father, who had a collection of over 150 pieces of clown memorabilia. Next to the motel, visit the Old Tonopah Cemetery because why not? For a less haunted overnight stay, the 1907 Mizpah Hotel was one of the earliest luxury hotels in the state and a social hub during the mining boom. Also known as the “Jewel of the Desert,” the hotel is famously haunted by numerous ghosts and supernatural phenomena. Book one of their paranormal tours, then have dinner and drinks in the Jack Dempsey Room, named after the boxer who once worked as a bouncer in the hotel.
The Tonopah Historic Mining Park preserves the history of the “Queen of the Silver Camps” and is on the site of the original mining claims in Tonopah. Bring walking shoes, as the park encompasses more than 100 acres of mining history in restored buildings, full of historic exhibits and video presentations. Visitors can take a self-guided or guided tour on an ATV.
Winnemucca
Located in northern Nevada, Winnemucca is known for its Basque culture, with the Basque people arriving in the small town from Spain and France during the California Gold Rush. It also hosts a Basque Festival, celebrated annually every June. Visitors who want to learn more about the history of the area can stop by the Humboldt County Museum to see a turn-of-the-century parlor, an early model horseless carriage, bones from a wooly mammoth, and other artifacts from its eclectic collection. Built in 1907, the museum was once a downtown church. Celebrate the history of cowboy culture at the Buckaroo Hall of Fame and Heritage Museum, then enjoy a family-style Basque feast and a Picon Punch at the 1898 Martin Hotel.
Just ten miles north of town, the Winnemucca Sand Dunes are the largest in Nevada, with the main dunes reaching around 4,400 feet in elevation. Adventure seekers will love off-roading or sandboarding over 40 square miles of desert landscape. A stark contrast to the dunes is the Water Canyon Recreation Area, which offers nature lovers camping, hiking, and biking along a scenic stream at the canyon bottom.
Nevada's friendliest small towns are steeped in rich mining history and full of activities. In 2024, visitors can explore well-preserved 19th-century architecture, historic railroads, and cultural landmarks. Many towns feature unique attractions like haunted hotels, scenic outdoor recreation areas, and vibrant art scenes. These towns provide a charming blend of historical exploration and modern hospitality, making them perfect for day trips or overnight stays away from the bright lights of Sin City.
