11 Most Scenic Road Trips To Take In Nevada
An amazing constellation of worlds, Nevada is a vast, scenic, wild, and whimsical state probably unlike anything you have ever seen. Taking a road trip through the Silver State will take you through a whirlwind of emotions that will travel the whole gamut: from spine-chilling anxiety and sheer unbelief to raw, open-mouthed wonder. Give yourself some days in Nevada and cruise through some of the most surreal landscapes on Earth, from suntanned Wild West weirdness to improbably rugged wilderness. So fill your gas tank at every chance you have, have one or two spare tires, and then explore these scenic road trips in Nevada we highlight below.
Las Vegas Strip Scenic Byway
We will start with a spoiler alert. This stretch of road is short. It spans just about 5 miles, give and take. Yet despite this, the Las Vegas Strip Scenic Byway is among the most picturesque road trips you can treat yourself to in Nevada. For starters, this is the only night-time scenic byway — not in Nevada — but in the entire country. A revered icon, the Las Vegas Strip Scenic Byway will see you gliding through a world of casinos and inhaling some of the finest Las Vegas sights, including the famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" landmark, whose neon signs, intriguing history, and retro-look, have enticed first-time visitors and made it something of a rite of passage. This road trip will also take you to the Eiffel Tower, a half-scale replica of the historic Paris landmark and a staple of France for decades.
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon needs no introduction. Although this Nevada landmark is not the deepest canyon on Earth, a title that rightly belongs to the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon in Tibet, which in some sections can go deep by as much as 17,490 feet, the Grand Canyon is still reputed for its wondrous appearance, its overwhelming scale, and its intricate and colorful terrain. Then again, this is the only feature — among the Seven Wonders of the Natural Word — that is in the United States. But be prepared. The distance between Vegas and Grand Canyon is a staggering 274 miles. That is a distance of about 4 hours. This means you should either start your journey quite early or — to have a meaningful experience — plan with at least two days. Despite the distance, however, this trip is among the most rewarding.
Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway
The name "pyramid" makes us think of Egypt, the Pyramid of Giza, and intricate burial chambers whose construction still baffles present-day engineers and architects. Yet if you want to see pyramids but do not have the time (or money) to visit the Land of Pharaohs, Pyramid Lake could just be the next best thing. This is because Pyramid Lake plays host to natural pyramids, which were brought into view when a larger ancient lake receded. To have a close-up encounter with Pyramid Lake, an eye-catching blue curtain in the middle of a sunbaked landscape, take a 30-minute drive from the town of Reno. The distance from Reno to Pyramid Lake is about 25 miles.
Reno To Black Rock Desert (The Burner Byway)
While the Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway should be perfect if you want something short, quick, and not too much energy-sapping — with enough time in your hands — there is just no excuse for not going all the way. The trip from Reno to the Back Rock Desert is a 141-mile adventure that will take you through some of the finest landscapes in America. From Reno, the gateway for the annual Burning Man festival, your first stop should be Pyramid Lake. After gasping at the honey-combed pyramids that define Nevada's largest water body, your next stop should be Gerlach. This weird Nevada town arguably hosts the best welcome sign in the United States. From here, do not miss Planet X, a family-run intergalactic oasis that sells porcelain and other hand-crafted artworks. The next attraction will be the mile-long Guru Road, an odd outdoor art installation no one ever misses. Finally, the Playa in the Black Rock Desert will be waiting — one of the largest, flattest, driest surfaces on Earth.
Red Rock Canyon
Another super-quick road trip adventure worth experiencing is the Red Rock Canyon. You can take this out from Las Vegas, especially if you are in the area. The distance from Vegas to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is an easy 16 miles — give and take. This means in about 20 minutes, you will be treating your eyes to a geologic marvel whose vivid colors and spellbinding beauty will not allow you to make a quick return. A much-sought-after landmark, the Red Rock Canyon, according to geologists, was formed by extreme tectonic forces about 65 million years ago. A trip to this dramatic natural feature will involve cruising on the 13-mile Scenic Drive, a jaw-dropping stretch dotted with several well-placed overlooks. These include High Point Overlook, Calico Hills, and Red Rock Overlook.
Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway
Whether social distancing has stuck with you, or you have fallen in love with wide-open spaces with landscapes that stretch to the dim horizon, Nevada's northeasternmost corner will tickle your fancy. As a heads-up, however, you will need to carb-load, if that is your thing, in Elko, a Nevada treasure known for its Basque heritage and culture. Make no mistake. This may just be your last interaction with restaurants and human beings for a while. From here, the 12-mile Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway will whip you through Instagram-worthy vistas, spectacular alpine scenery, and blazing wildflowers. You will zigzag along the base of the 11,387-foot Ruby Dome in a mountain range reputed to be the wettest in Nevada.
Highway 50
For even more loneliness, which has a therapeutic side to it especially if you are behind the steering wheel chasing ever-receding horizons, Highway 50 is likely what the doctor will recommend. From the time Life magazine called Highway 50 the "loneliest road in America" and warned readers not to risk traveling it unless they were sure of their survival skills, this vast stretch of emptiness has been quite an object of curiosity and awe. So why not check it off the bucket list? Following some of the most historic routes in the United States, including Poony Express, Highway 50 is a massive 5-hour stillness that begins from Fallon, Nevada, to Great Basin National Park — and takes trippers through intriguing ghost towns, austere landscapes, and historic mining communities.
Lake Tahoe Scenic Drive
Lake Tahoe is partly in Nevada and partly in the Golden State. Still, a decent third of the lake lies in the Silver State. While you may want to restrict yourself to the Nevada side and savor the beauty of several under-the-radar towns such as Incline, North America's largest alpine lake boasts a delicious shoreline that deserves to be completely circled. As you circuit this sparkling blue-space gem, probably from Carson City, you will understand why many trippers swear that this 72-mile eye candy is the most beautiful drive in America. From the Nevada side, some luscious stops you want to pull over at include Crystal Bay, Incline Village, Spooner Summit, the appropriately named Zephyr Cove, and of course, Heavenly Village.
Wheeler Scenic Drive
Another stretch of road that will make you experience goosebumps and will feel like driving right into high-hanging fluffy clouds — is the Wheeler Scenic Drive, also known as the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. You will begin your adventure at the park boundary on Nevada Highway 488 and for about 12 miles, cross several ecological zones, gain more than 4,000 feet, and peer down at low-lying sagebrush, groves of Curleaf Mountain Mahogany as well as ponderosa pines. Besides, this drive features a number of pullouts, many of which will provide excellent photography opportunities. Some heart-melting landmarks you will not want to miss on the Wheeler Scenic Drive include Mount Moriah, Lehman Creek, and Wheeler Peak.
Mount Rose Highway
Mount Rose Highway, also known as Mt. Rose Scenic Drive, is a road that spans 25 miles from Lake Tahoe to Reno and is encircled by views that look nearly extra-terrestrial. If you love gliding on serpentine roads that feature hairpin turns, high-desert terrain, and all sorts of drops, Mount Rose Highway is the perfect answer. To figure out the kind of views you will inhale, it is worth noting that Mount Rose Highway is arguably the highest road that is open all through the year. If you want to enjoy the surreal vistas that sandwich this Nevada stunner, you need to keep your eyes peeled for the scenic overlooks — many of which are steps out of Incline Village, from where you will gasp at the neck-straining peaks of California's Sierra Nevada — as well as the whole heart-ravishing Tahoe Basin.
Virginia City Scenic Drive
Capping this list is Virginia City Scenic Drive, a 20-mile-long route between Reno and the historic US Highway 50, once called the "Loneliest Road in America." As you start your trip from Reno, the Virginia City Scenic Drive will look a bit humdrum — anything but scenic. However, as you begin to gain elevation, your patience will soon start to pay off. The surreal views of the 10,776-foot Mt. Rose, the heart-melting Washoe Valley, and the picturesque peak of Slide Mountain — will have you pull over so you can take in the awe-inspiring beauty in a slow, unhurried style. Fortunately, you will find several scenic overlooks on this stretch that give the best views of the natural landmarks. But that said, perhaps the most exciting feature of Virginia City Scenic Drive is that it will take you through the historic Virginia City, a time capsule of history that plays host to some of the best-preserved homes in the country.
The Takeaway
No words can describe the experience of filling your gas tank, throwing a bottle of water in your backpack, hopping behind the steering wheel, and cruising on roads that meander through one of the most surreal landscapes on Earth. Considered among the most beautiful states in the country, Nevada plays host to quite a number of scenic drives where wanderlust-hungry trippers can get just such an experience. Among these are the Lake Tahoe Scenic Drive, Highway 50, and Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway — just to name a few.
