9 Cutest Small Towns In Nevada For 2025

With spring underway and summer just around the corner, it is only natural to start thinking about your next vacation. While some may be planning cross-country or international travels, Nevadans do not need to go far. These nine towns offer nearly everything you could want in a summer escape, including lakeside resorts, wildlife refuges, historic saloons, and summertime cultural festivals. Each one of these nine small towns promises a memorable trip close to home.

Ely

Sitting along “Nevada’s Loneliest Highway”, the remote mountain town of Ely is a great place to spend the weekend outdoors. Cave Lake State Park is just a 20-minute drive from town and is home to a 32-acre reservoir for fishing, swimming, hiking, and camping. Mountain bikers can head over to Ward Mountain, where they will find the Murray Summit Trail System, a 20-mile network of trails that wind through pinyon-juniper forests and sagebrush. If you want to embark on a scenic rail ride, consider hopping aboard the Nevada Northern Railway, a historic railroad that dates back to 1905. Each trip lasts 90 minutes!

Virginia City

Once a haven for silver and gold mining, Virginia City has a rich mining heritage that it continues to preserve today. Travelers can explore this mining history at places like Chollar Mine, a historic mine from the 19th century that offers 45-minute guided tours of the facilities to visitors year-round. Comstock Gold Mill is another mine to add to your itinerary, the last fully operational stamp mill that dates back to the 1860s. Open from May through October, the mill offers visitors a narrated tour, guiding them past historical mining equipment. After experiencing mining life, hungry visitors can head over to one of Virginia City’s saloons, such as Red Dog Saloon, which hosts live shows and offers pub fare like sandwiches, chicken wings, and pizzas.

Elko

Located near the Ruby Mountains, Elko is a culturally rich community known for its Basque heritage and artistic traditions. Each Fourth of July weekend, visitors can attend the National Basque Festival in town, which features dances, music, athletic competitions, and food that celebrates Basque culture. With deep Western roots, visitors should spend an evening at the Western Folklife Center, which preserves the town’s frontier legacy through concerts, workshops, and events. Around town, visitors should keep their eyes out for Elko’s Centennial Boots, a collection of painted, six-foot-tall boots that are scattered around town.

Gardnerville

With a charming main street, travelers should spend a day in Gardnerville exploring its antique stores and galleries. Cheshire Antiques Inc. is one of the most beloved antique shops in town, featuring over 12,000 vintage items and antiques for sale. If you are seeking a new piece of art for your home, make sure to stop by East Fork Gallery, which sells oil paintings, pastels, watercolors, stained glass, photography, and pottery from regional artists. Afterwards, drive about 25 minutes southeast to Topaz Lake, which sits along the California and Nevada border and is popular for fishing, water recreation, and camping.

Genoa

With a history dating back to the mid-19th century, Genoa has several significant historic landmarks to visit today. Mormon Station State Historical Park is located in town, home to the state’s first non-native permanent settlement. Today, visitors can explore a reconstruction of the original 1851 trading post in the park. After exploring Mormon Station, travelers can head over to the Genoa Courthouse Museum, which is open from April through October and has various exhibits on the town’s earlier years. To unwind after a day of exploration, consider grabbing a drink at the Genoa Bar & Saloon, the oldest bar in Nevada.

Incline Village

Located along the northern shores of Lake Tahoe, Incline Village is a gorgeous lakeside resort with all kinds of recreational activities. Travelers looking to get on the water can easily rent kayaks or paddleboards from local outfitters like Alpha One Watersports, Kayak & Paddleboard Rental & Delivery. If you prefer to rent a boat, consider companies like Tahoe Blue Boat Rentals, a family-owned company that has operated in the community for over 10 years. About a mile from town, visitors will find Hidden Beach, a scenic, 750-foot-long beach with stretches of sandy shores and rocky alcoves.

Fallon

With wildlife refuges, prehistoric rock carving sites, and sand mountains, Fallon has a truly diverse range of natural attractions. Just 20 minutes east of town, travelers will arrive at the Stillwater Wildlife Refuge, a 79,570-acre refuge home to over 280 bird species. Sand Mountain Recreation Area, meanwhile, is one of the most unique mountains in the state, spanning roughly 3.5 miles long, one mile wide, and 600 feet high, making it the Great Basin’s tallest sand dune. Travelers interested in history can finish their trip at the Grimes Point Prehistoric Rock Art Site, where Native Americans left petroglyphs and other historic artifacts several thousand years ago.

Mesquite

Just over an hour from Las Vegas, Mesquite is the perfect weekend destination for those hailing from the city. Visitors can unwind and connect with nature at one of the town’s parks, such as Hafen Park, which features a two-acre pond stocked with channel catfish and rainbow trout. There are also several highly rated golf courses in the area. Conestoga Golf Club is a favorite, an 18-hole course uniquely located between canyons and rock outcroppings. For a relaxing place to lodge, consider staying at the Casablanca Resort and Casino, which has several restaurants, a spa, a golf course, and a pool on the premises.

Laughlin

Sitting along the Colorado River, Laughlin, a riverside resort town, is a great alternative to Las Vegas if you are looking for something a little slower. Travelers wanting to enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the river can reserve a cruise with Laughlin River Tours, which offers narrated river cruises and dinner cruises, among other specialized experiences. Visitors can also appreciate views of the Colorado River along the Laughlin Riverwalk, a paved walking path that stretches next to the river for about a mile. For a waterfront resort experience, consider staying in Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort Hotel and Casino, a family-operated resort that offers entertainment 24 hours a day.

Final Thoughts

While venturing to other states or countries can be exciting, it is worth remembering the getaways close to home. Nevada, in particular, is rich in both natural beauty and cultural variety. Sometimes, a river cruise, a paddleboard excursion on Lake Tahoe, or a visit to a quirky antique shop is all it takes to get into vacation mode. If any of these experiences sound appealing, consider making them part of your 2025 plans.