U.S. Route 50 in Nevada
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 50 is a transcontinental highway in the United States, stretching from Sacramento, California
in the west to Ocean City, Maryland
on the east coast. The Nevada
portion crosses the center of state and was named The Loneliest Road in America by Life
magazine in July 1986. The name was intended as a pejorative
, but Nevada officials seized on it as a marketing slogan. The name originates from large desolate areas traversed by the route, with few or no signs of civilization. The highway crosses several large desert valleys separated by numerous mountain ranges towering over the valley floors, in what is known as the Basin and Range province of the Great Basin
.
US 50 has a diverse route through the state, traversing the resort communities of Lake Tahoe
, the state capital in Carson City
, historical sites such as Fort Churchill State Historic Park
, petroglyph
s, alpine forests, desert valleys, ghost towns and Nevada's only national park
, Great Basin National Park
.
The route was constructed over a historic corridor, first used for the Pony Express
and Central Overland Route
and later for the Lincoln Highway
. Before the formation of the U.S. Highway System, most of US 50 in Nevada was designated State Route 2. The routing east of Ely
has changed significantly from the original plans. The route change resulted from a rivalry between Nevada and Utah
over which transcontinental route was better to serve California
bound traffic, the Lincoln Highway or the Victory Highway
.
and exiting the east side near Great Basin National Park
. The route crosses mostly desolate terrain in the journey across the state; US 50 passes through several large desert valleys and basins
. The highway crosses 17 named mountain pass
es that break up the Nevada desert. To crest some of the passes along US 50 requires navigating steep 8% grades and hairpin turn
s through pine forests to reach altitudes of over 7000 feet (2,133.6 m).
In the stretch of highway between Fallon
and Delta, Utah
, a span of 409 miles (658 km), there are three small towns, Austin
, Eureka
and Ely
. This span is roughly the same distance as Boston, Massachusetts to Baltimore, Maryland or Paris, France to Zürich, Switzerland. Traffic along US 50 varies greatly. The average annual daily traffic in 2007 ranged from 52,000 vehicles per day in Carson City, to 530 vehicles per day near the Duckwater
turnoff.
magazine published an article that gave US 50 in Nevada the name "The Loneliest Road in America". The article portrayed the highway, and rural Nevada, as a place devoid of civilization. Officials from White Pine County
decided to make the best of the publicity generated from the article, and convinced state authorities to do the same. Jointly, they began to use the pejorative
article as a platform to market the area for visitors interested in desert scenery, history, and solitude. The Nevada Department of Transportation
adopted the name in official highway logs, and placed custom Highway 50 markers along the route.
In 1991, Stephen King
drove along US 50 as part of a cross country trip. He stopped at Ruth
, a ghost town
near Ely
. Studying the abandoned city, King fantasized about the fate of the last residents. King then heard a local legend about how the ghosts of Chinese miners, who died while trapped in a cave-in, can be seen crossing Highway 50 to haunt the city of Ruth. King merged these details into his own story, including references to The Loneliest Road in America, which became the novel Desperation.
The Nevada Commission on Tourism sponsors a promotion where visitors can stop at several designated locations along the route and have the passport section of a state issued "survival guide" marked with a stamp representing that location. Visitors can mail-in the completed passport and receive a certificate, signed by the Governor, certifying they "survived" The Loneliest Road in America. The word "survived" is a tongue-in-cheek
reference to the Life article, which quoted an American Automobile Association
spokesperson as saying, "We warn all motorists not to drive there unless they're confident of their survival skills."
In the 20 years that have passed since the article was published, US 50 has gained popularity among people desiring a scenic or less traveled alternative to Interstate 80
across Nevada. This increase in popularity has caused at least one writer to dispute whether US 50 still deserves the title of The Loneliest Road in America.
. The highway follows the eastern shore, squeezing between the lake and the crest of the Carson Range
. In one narrow spot the highway cuts through the mountains via the Cave Rock Tunnel
. Eventually, the route crests the Carson Range at Spooner Summit and then descends into Nevada's capital, Carson City
. Carson Street and Fairview Drive currently carry the highway through the city; however, the Nevada Department of Transportation has announced that, upon completion, US 50 will be moved to a freeway alignment being constructed for Interstate 580
.
After Carson City, US 50 follows the Carson River
towards the Lahontan Valley
. This portion is also mostly four lane, serving the commuter towns of Dayton
and Silver Springs
as well as passing by Fort Churchill State Historic Park
and Lahontan State Recreation Area
. In addition to the trails of the Pony Express and Lincoln Highway, this portion parallels the Carson River branch of the California Trail
. The Carson River forms the southern edge of the Forty Mile Desert. This desert, located between the termini of the Carson and Humboldt River
s, was the most dreaded part of the California Trail, where travelers had to endure 40 miles (64.4 km) of desert heat with no usable water.
At Silver Springs, U.S. Route 50 Alternate
splits from the main route. Both branches are sometimes called the loneliest road, although the official designation begins with the first passport stamp available at Fernley
, along the alternate branch. The two branches rejoin west of Fallon
. Fallon, home to the Naval Air Station Fallon
or TOPGUN, is an agricultural community along the last usable water of the Carson River. The town is located just south of the river's terminus at the Carson Sink
. Leaving Fallon, the highway passes by ancient petroglyph sites at Grimes Point and then Sand Mountain
, a 600 feet (182.9 m) sand dune.
topography. The summits start out small and gradually increase in altitude. The features in the first basins include Labou Flat, a dry lake
used by the US Navy for low level flight operations, and Dixie Valley, with several visible earthquake fault lines
that resulted from the magnitude 7.1 Dixie Valley/Fairview earthquake
in 1954. Dixie Valley is now a US Navy Electronic Warfare Range.
The next services are located in the single building settlement of Middlegate
, a roadhouse that has served as a restaurant, bar, hotel and refueling station since the Pony Express
era of the 19th century. The building features Lincoln Highway and Pony Express era artifacts as well as plaques from various historical societies confirming the station is authentic. The station is the modern turnoff to Berlin–Ichthyosaur State Park, a preserved ghost town
surrounded by dinosaur remains.
Nearby was the site of a relatively recent attraction, a cottonwood tree with thousands of shoes dangling from it. Patrons of the bar at Middlegate are unsure of the origins; however, most believe it started sometime in the mid 1980s. A legend has formed about how a young man was traveling to Reno
with his bride to be. When she balked and got out of the car, he threw her shoes in the tree so she couldn't get away. A reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle began to study the phenomenon of shoe trees after seeing the one at Middlegate, stating to his knowledge this was the biggest in the world. It was discovered on December 31, 2010, that the shoe tree had been chopped down, possibly by vandals.
East of Middlegate, the paths of the Pony Express, Lincoln Highway and US 50 diverge, using different passes to cross the Desatoya Mountains
. They rejoin west of Austin
. The first paved route of the Lincoln Highway is preserved as State Route 722
.
Austin lies 110 miles (177 km) east of Fallon. The city, founded by Pony Express riders that discovered silver, was a mining boomtown
that now describes itself as a living ghost town. In 1862, at the peak of the silver boom, Austin had a population of 10,000 people. Today, about 300 residents remain. Perched above the town and just to the south of the highway is Stokes Castle
, a long abandoned monument to a prominent eastern family with local mining interests. Passing Austin, travelers encounter hairpin turn
s and steep grades in the ascent up Austin Summit in the Toiyabe Range
. This area is inside the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
, the first part of US 50 to run inside a national forest since leaving Lake Tahoe. At Hickson Summit, about 20 miles (32.2 km) east of Austin, is a rest area
that features a walking tour of petroglyph
s.
The next town is Eureka
, which bills itself as the "Friendliest Town on the Loneliest Road in America". Eureka was similarly founded as a mining boomtown. Although mining has diminished, it remains a large component of the community and its economy. The centerpiece of the historical district of downtown
Eureka is the Eureka Opera House, built in 1880.
Past Eureka is Ely
, founded as a stage coach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route
. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper
in 1906. Though the railroads connecting the First Transcontinental Railroad
to the mines in Austin and Eureka have long been removed, the railroad to Ely is preserved as a heritage railway
by the Nevada Northern Railway
and known as the Ghost Train of Old Ely. Here US 50 departs the historical routes of the Lincoln Highway, Pony Express and State Route 2. These routes proceeded northeast towards Salt Lake City
, while US 50 continues due east towards the state line.
Ely is the last city along US 50 in Nevada. The next city is Delta, Utah
, 162 miles (261 km) to the east; there are only two gas stations along the stretch between Ely and Delta. Majors Place
(the name of the junction with U.S. Route 93) has a gas station and restaurant. The Border Inn, on the Nevada–Utah border, has a hotel, gas station and restaurant.
This portion of the highway is mountainous with the highest point along US 50 in Nevada at Connors Pass at 7729 feet (2,356 m). This section has been designated a Scenic Byway
by the Nevada Scenic Byways
program. Listed attractions include the Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park
and Nevada's only national park, Great Basin National Park
. The highway enters Utah northeast of Baker
in a remote portion of the Great Basin
desert.
In Nevada, US 50 was built mostly along the route of the Lincoln Highway
, the first transcontinental highway in the United States, formed in 1913. This route had been previously used by the Pony Express
, an early attempt at an express mail service, started in 1860. The Pony Express used the technique of riders changing horses at stations approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) apart to maximize speed. Some of the towns along US 50 were stops along the Pony Express. The original numbered designation of this route, which appeared on Nevada Highway maps as far back as 1919, was State Route 2. Route 2 had an alternate branch, Route 2A, corresponding to a split in the Lincoln Highway near Fallon. The main and alternate branches of Route 2 are reversed from the modern routings of US 50. Mainline Route 2, the Donner Branch
, terminated at Fernley along modern US 50 Alternate. State Route 2A, the Pioneer Branch, followed mainline US 50, terminating at Carson City. State Route 2, and the Lincoln Highway, used a different routing between Ely and Salt Lake City, Utah
from the modern routes. The original routing used what is now US 93 from Ely to the ghost town of Schellbourne and then dirt roads towards Tooele, Utah
.
In 1926, when the U.S. Highway system was announced, there was a gap in US 50 between Ely and Thistle, Utah
. At the time, the states of Utah and Nevada were feuding about which of the old auto trail
s would be paved and used for the new U.S. Highway system. Utah officials refused to pave the portion of the Lincoln Highway west of Salt Lake City. They perceived this route as being expensive to build, with no benefit for the state. Nevada officials, and the Lincoln Highway Association, pleaded with Utah authorities to change their position, even offering funds to help offset the additional cost of paving that route. However, the Lincoln highway directed travelers destined for both southern
and northern California
on a route away from Utah cities, towards central Nevada. Utah instead paved the Wendover Cutoff, part of the Victory Highway
(modern Interstate 80
), that only directed traffic for northern California out of the state. The choice not to pave the Lincoln Highway would direct travelers bound for southern California to use the Arrowhead Trail (modern Interstate 15
). This route serves numerous communities in Utah, but only Las Vegas
and a few other small towns in Nevada. The final blow to the original route of the Lincoln Highway was the formation of the Dugway Proving Ground
, a military base used for weapons testing, which closed the area to the public. The Lincoln Highway was re-routed to Salt Lake City along a circuitous route via Wendover
and the Bonneville Salt Flats. This route was initially numbered US 50 from Ely to Wendover and US 40
/50 across western Utah, but has been renumbered US 93, US 93 Alternate
and I-80.
Most of modern US 50 was pieced together from several routes designated as Nevada State Routes in the early 20th century. The portion from Lake Tahoe to Carson City was originally a portion of State Route 3
. The original designation for US 50 from Carson City to Ely was Route 2 and 2A. East of Ely was originally numbered Route 7 to the modern junction with US 93 and Route 14 from there to the Utah state line.
The modern route of US 50 has significantly changed since the highway was first commissioned in 1926. The biggest change is between Ely and Green River, Utah
. The first contiguous route of the highway between these cites followed the modified routing of the Lincoln Highway to Salt Lake City. The highway returned to Green River along what is now numbered UT 201, US 89, and US 6. The route was changed when the more direct route between these cities (via Delta, Utah
) was paved. The 1954 edition of the Nevada highway map was the first to show the new routing.
Previously, the road to Delta consisted of unpaved state routes. The paved route did not follow the exact route of the old dirt roads. The improved route bypassed the ghost town of Osceola
and entered Utah approximately 14 miles (22.5 km) to the south of the dirt road. The border crossing was moved to facilitate an easier route across western Utah. In Utah, the old road traversed a difficult route through Marjum Canyon, while the paved route followed a simpler path along the north shore of Sevier Lake
.
Three different routes have existed between Lake Tahoe
and Carson City
. The original, used by the Lincoln Highway, was previously known as Johnson's Cutoff or the Carson Ridge Emigrant Road. This route, which followed Kings Canyon to scale the Sierra Nevada, was severely damaged by a flood in 1997. The U.S. Forest Service still promotes this road for its historical value, but has announced that it will no longer be maintained and travel is only recommended by foot, horse or four wheel drive
vehicle. A portion in the lower part of the canyon inside Carson City limits is still maintained by the state as Kings Canyon Road (SR 512
). In 1923, while still known as State Route 3, the road to Lake Tahoe was changed to follow Clear Creek Canyon, along a path that had been used for a series of tunnels and flume
s, to transport timber from Lake Tahoe to the Virginia and Truckee Railroad
depot in Carson City.
The iteration is now known as Old Clear Creek Road. Only a small portion of Old Clear Creek Road is currently maintained by the state as unsigned SR 705
, the remainder is an access road for private residences in the canyon. The modern route, also using Clear Creek Canyon, was built in the late 1950s.
US 50 was rerouted through the eastern half of Fallon. The original route is not drivable as it runs through Naval Air Station Fallon
; portions are still in public use as Harrigan Road (SR 115
) and Berney Road (SR 119
). Around 1967, US 50 was improved between Middlegate and Austin, to bypass steep grades and sharp curves over Carroll Summit. The original route is now SR 722
. A freeway bypass, Interstate 580
, is under construction around Carson City. When finished, US 50 will be rerouted concurrent
with I-580 and the downtown route will be renumbered SR 529
and SR 530
.
{| class="wikitable"
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Junction
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=3|Douglas
DO 0.00-14.58
|Stateline
|0.7
|
|
|-
|
|1.9
| – Nevada Beach
|
|-
|
|12.3
|, Lake Tahoe – Nevada State Park
|-
|rowspan=6 colspan=2|Carson City
CC 0.00-16.60Mileposts reflect distance along a future freeway alignment, not currently signed route.
|7.60
0.00
|
|West end of US 395 concurrency
Mileposts reflect distance along SR 529
|-
|0.4
|
|
|-
|2.3
|
|
|-
|
|
|Temporary routing along Fairview Drive, pending completion of Interstate 580
|-
|
|
|East end of US 395 concurrency
Mileposts resume US 50 distance
|-
|13.5
| – Carson Airport
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Lyon
LY 0.00-35.36
|Moundhouse
|2.0
|
|
|-
|Dayton
|5.6
|Dayton Valley Road (SR 822)
|
|-
|Silver Springs
|29
|
|
|-
|rowspan=11|Churchill
CH 0.00-106.88
|
|11.4
|
|
|-
|rowspan=6|Fallon
|15.3
|
|
|-
|16.3
| – Soda Lake
|
|-
|16.5
|McLean Lane (SR 715)
|
|-
|20.4
|
|Runs concurrent with US 95 for one block
|-
|21.5
| – Naval Air Station Fallon
|
|-
|25.3
| – Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge
|
|-
|
|52.5
|Nevada Scheelite
Mine Road (SR 839
)
|
|-
|
|60.4
|
|
|-
|Middlegate
|67.6
|
|
|-
|
|70.8
|
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Lander
LA 0.00-56.53
|
|20.0
|
|
|-
|Austin
|23.2
|
|
|-
|
|35.9
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Eureka
EU 0.00-47.38
|
|33.6
|
|
|-
|Eureka
|36.9
|Eureka Mine Road (SR 780)
|
|-
|rowspan=6|White Pine
WP 0.00-68.43
37.96-101.88Mileposts east of Ely reflect distance along concurrent
US 6.
|
|49.7
|Strawberry Road (SR 892
)
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Ely
|66.45
|, Twin Falls
|West end of US 93 concurrency
|-
|68.43
37.96
|
|West end of US 6 concurrency
Mileposts reflect distance along US 6
|-
|rowspan=2|Majors Place
|64.2
|
|East end of US 93 concurrency
|-
|65.6
|Spring Valley Road (SR 893
)
|
|-
|
|93.9
|, Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park
|
Related routes
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in the west to Ocean City, Maryland
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on the east coast. The Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
portion crosses the center of state and was named The Loneliest Road in America by Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
magazine in July 1986. The name was intended as a pejorative
Pejorative
Pejoratives , including name slurs, are words or grammatical forms that connote negativity and express contempt or distaste. A term can be regarded as pejorative in some social groups but not in others, e.g., hacker is a term used for computer criminals as well as quick and clever computer experts...
, but Nevada officials seized on it as a marketing slogan. The name originates from large desolate areas traversed by the route, with few or no signs of civilization. The highway crosses several large desert valleys separated by numerous mountain ranges towering over the valley floors, in what is known as the Basin and Range province of the Great Basin
Great Basin
The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds in North America and is noted for its arid conditions and Basin and Range topography that varies from the North American low point at Badwater Basin to the highest point of the contiguous United States, less than away at the...
.
US 50 has a diverse route through the state, traversing the resort communities of Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
, the state capital in Carson City
Carson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
, historical sites such as Fort Churchill State Historic Park
Fort Churchill State Historic Park
Fort Churchill State Historic Park is a Nevada state park in Lyon County, Nevada, in the United States. Located south of the town of Silver Springs, it is in the Central Nevada Region of Nevada State Parks, and is one of seven National Historic Landmarks in the state of Nevada. The site is one...
, petroglyph
Petroglyph
Petroglyphs are pictogram and logogram images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, and abrading. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions of the technique to refer to such images...
s, alpine forests, desert valleys, ghost towns and Nevada's only national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
, Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park is a United States National Park established in 1986, located in east-central Nevada near the Utah border. The park derives its name from the Great Basin, the dry and mountainous region between the Sierra Nevada and the Wasatch Mountains. Topographically, this area is...
.
The route was constructed over a historic corridor, first used for the Pony Express
Pony Express
The Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 3, 1860 to October 1861...
and Central Overland Route
Central Overland Route
The Central Overland Route was a transportation route from Salt Lake City, Utah south of the Great Salt Lake through the mountains of central Nevada and the Basin and Range Province to Carson City, Nevada...
and later for the Lincoln Highway
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
. Before the formation of the U.S. Highway System, most of US 50 in Nevada was designated State Route 2. The routing east of Ely
Ely, Nevada
Ely is the largest city and county seat of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper in 1906...
has changed significantly from the original plans. The route change resulted from a rivalry between Nevada and Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
over which transcontinental route was better to serve California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
bound traffic, the Lincoln Highway or the Victory Highway
Victory Highway
The Victory Highway was an auto trail across the United States between New York City and San Francisco, roughly equivalent to the present U.S. Route 40.-History:...
.
Route description
US 50 crosses the central portion of Nevada, entering the west side of the state near Lake TahoeLake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
and exiting the east side near Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park is a United States National Park established in 1986, located in east-central Nevada near the Utah border. The park derives its name from the Great Basin, the dry and mountainous region between the Sierra Nevada and the Wasatch Mountains. Topographically, this area is...
. The route crosses mostly desolate terrain in the journey across the state; US 50 passes through several large desert valleys and basins
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
. The highway crosses 17 named mountain pass
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
es that break up the Nevada desert. To crest some of the passes along US 50 requires navigating steep 8% grades and hairpin turn
Hairpin turn
A hairpin turn , named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, is a bend in a road with a very acute inner angle, making it necessary for an oncoming vehicle to turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Such turns in ramps and trails may be called switchbacks in American English, by analogy...
s through pine forests to reach altitudes of over 7000 feet (2,133.6 m).
In the stretch of highway between Fallon
Fallon, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,536 people, 3,004 households, and 1,877 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,474.1 people per square mile . There were 3,336 housing units at an average density of 1,095.2 per square mile...
and Delta, Utah
Delta, Utah
Delta is a city in Millard County, Utah, United States. The population was 3,209 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Delta is located at ....
, a span of 409 miles (658 km), there are three small towns, Austin
Austin, Nevada
Austin is a small, unincorporated community located in Lander County, Nevada, in the United States. As of 2004, its population is approximately 340. It is located on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range at an elevation of . U.S...
, Eureka
Eureka, Nevada
Eureka is an unincorporated township in and the county seat of Eureka County, Nevada, United States. Eureka is by far the largest community in Eureka County...
and Ely
Ely, Nevada
Ely is the largest city and county seat of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper in 1906...
. This span is roughly the same distance as Boston, Massachusetts to Baltimore, Maryland or Paris, France to Zürich, Switzerland. Traffic along US 50 varies greatly. The average annual daily traffic in 2007 ranged from 52,000 vehicles per day in Carson City, to 530 vehicles per day near the Duckwater
Duckwater, Nevada
Duckwater is located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Nevada, at about the same latitude as Sacramento, California. It is in Nye County, on the eastern edge of the Duckwater Indian Reservation, near the Red Mountain Wilderness. The city of Las Vegas is about 200 miles to the...
turnoff.
Loneliest Road in America
In July 1986, LifeLife (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
magazine published an article that gave US 50 in Nevada the name "The Loneliest Road in America". The article portrayed the highway, and rural Nevada, as a place devoid of civilization. Officials from White Pine County
White Pine County, Nevada
White Pine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. Its population at the 2010 census was 10,030. Its county seat is Ely. It is the home of Great Basin National Park...
decided to make the best of the publicity generated from the article, and convinced state authorities to do the same. Jointly, they began to use the pejorative
Pejorative
Pejoratives , including name slurs, are words or grammatical forms that connote negativity and express contempt or distaste. A term can be regarded as pejorative in some social groups but not in others, e.g., hacker is a term used for computer criminals as well as quick and clever computer experts...
article as a platform to market the area for visitors interested in desert scenery, history, and solitude. The Nevada Department of Transportation
Nevada Department of Transportation
The Nevada Department of Transportation is a government agency in the U.S. state of Nevada. NDOT is responsible for maintaining and improving Nevada's highway system, which includes U.S. highways and Interstate highways within the state's boundaries. The department is notable for its...
adopted the name in official highway logs, and placed custom Highway 50 markers along the route.
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
drove along US 50 as part of a cross country trip. He stopped at Ruth
Ruth, Nevada
Ruth is a small town in White Pine County, Nevada, that was founded in 1903. It is a census-designated place, with a population in 2010 of 440.- History :Ruth began as a settlement for workers of the White Pine Copper Company in 1903...
, a ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
near Ely
Ely, Nevada
Ely is the largest city and county seat of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper in 1906...
. Studying the abandoned city, King fantasized about the fate of the last residents. King then heard a local legend about how the ghosts of Chinese miners, who died while trapped in a cave-in, can be seen crossing Highway 50 to haunt the city of Ruth. King merged these details into his own story, including references to The Loneliest Road in America, which became the novel Desperation.
The Nevada Commission on Tourism sponsors a promotion where visitors can stop at several designated locations along the route and have the passport section of a state issued "survival guide" marked with a stamp representing that location. Visitors can mail-in the completed passport and receive a certificate, signed by the Governor, certifying they "survived" The Loneliest Road in America. The word "survived" is a tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek is a phrase used as a figure of speech to imply that a statement or other production is humorously intended and it should not be taken at face value. The facial expression typically indicates that one is joking or making a mental effort. In the past, it may also have indicated...
reference to the Life article, which quoted an American Automobile Association
American Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
spokesperson as saying, "We warn all motorists not to drive there unless they're confident of their survival skills."
In the 20 years that have passed since the article was published, US 50 has gained popularity among people desiring a scenic or less traveled alternative to Interstate 80
Interstate 80 in Nevada
In the U.S. state of Nevada, Interstate 80 traverses the northern portion of the state. The freeway serves the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area, and also goes through the towns of Fernley, Lovelock, Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Elko, Wells and West Wendover on its way through the state.I-80 follows...
across Nevada. This increase in popularity has caused at least one writer to dispute whether US 50 still deserves the title of The Loneliest Road in America.
Western Nevada
US 50 enters Nevada from California as a busy four lane thoroughfare on the shores of alpine Lake Tahoe in Stateline, NevadaStateline, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,215 people, 510 households, and 245 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,803.3 people per square mile . There were 562 housing units at an average density of 834.1 per square mile...
. The highway follows the eastern shore, squeezing between the lake and the crest of the Carson Range
Carson Range
The Carson Range is a spur of the Sierra Nevada in eastern California and western Nevada that starts at Luther Pass and West Carson Canyon and goes to the Truckee River...
. In one narrow spot the highway cuts through the mountains via the Cave Rock Tunnel
Cave Rock Tunnel
The Cave Rock Tunnel is a dual bore highway tunnel on U.S. Route 50 along the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe approximately seven miles north of Stateline, in Douglas County, Nevada, USA...
. Eventually, the route crests the Carson Range at Spooner Summit and then descends into Nevada's capital, Carson City
Carson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
. Carson Street and Fairview Drive currently carry the highway through the city; however, the Nevada Department of Transportation has announced that, upon completion, US 50 will be moved to a freeway alignment being constructed for Interstate 580
Interstate 580 (Nevada)
Interstate 580 in Nevada is an unsigned Interstate Highway in northwestern Nevada. It runs concurrently with U.S. Route 395 in Reno, for approximately five miles between Interstate 80 and Neil Road. Two separate highway construction projects are currently underway along the US 395 corridor that...
.
Carson River
The Carson River is a northwestern Nevada river that empties into the Carson Sink, an endorheic basin. The main stem of the river is long....
towards the Lahontan Valley
Lahontan Valley
The Lahontan Valley is in Churchill County in the U.S. state of Nevada. The valley is a landform of the central portion of the prehistoric Lake Lahontan's lakebed of 20,000-9,000 years ago. The valley and the adjacent Carson Sink represent a small portion of the lake bed, and Humboldt Lake is to...
. This portion is also mostly four lane, serving the commuter towns of Dayton
Dayton, Nevada
Dayton is a census-designated place in Lyon County, Nevada, United States. The population was 5,907 at the 2000 census.-History:Dayton is at the western end of the Twenty-Six Mile Desert at a bend in the Carson River. Immigrants stopping there for water would consider whether to follow the river...
and Silver Springs
Silver Springs, Nevada
Silver Springs is a census-designated place in Lyon County, Nevada, United States at the intersection of U.S. 50 and U.S. 95A. The population was 4,708 at the 2000 census. Lahontan Reservoir, Lahontan State Recreation Area and historic Fort Churchill State Historic Park are all located nearby...
as well as passing by Fort Churchill State Historic Park
Fort Churchill State Historic Park
Fort Churchill State Historic Park is a Nevada state park in Lyon County, Nevada, in the United States. Located south of the town of Silver Springs, it is in the Central Nevada Region of Nevada State Parks, and is one of seven National Historic Landmarks in the state of Nevada. The site is one...
and Lahontan State Recreation Area
Lahontan State Recreation Area
Lahontan State Recreation Area is a state park unit of Nevada, USA, surrounding Lake Lahontan on the Carson River. Lahontan became a Nevada State Recreation Area on July 1, 1971...
. In addition to the trails of the Pony Express and Lincoln Highway, this portion parallels the Carson River branch of the California Trail
California Trail
The California Trail was an emigrant trail of about across the western half of the North American continent from Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California...
. The Carson River forms the southern edge of the Forty Mile Desert. This desert, located between the termini of the Carson and Humboldt River
Humboldt River
The Humboldt River runs through northern Nevada in the western United States. At approximately long it is the second longest river in the Great Basin, after the Bear River. It has no outlet to the ocean, but instead empties into the Humboldt Sink...
s, was the most dreaded part of the California Trail, where travelers had to endure 40 miles (64.4 km) of desert heat with no usable water.
At Silver Springs, U.S. Route 50 Alternate
U.S. Route 50 Alternate (Nevada)
In the U.S. state of Nevada, U.S. Route 50 Alternate is an east–west alternate route of U.S. Route 50. The highway splits from US 50 in Silver Springs, heading north to Fernley and then southeast to rejoin US 50 west of Fallon...
splits from the main route. Both branches are sometimes called the loneliest road, although the official designation begins with the first passport stamp available at Fernley
Fernley, Nevada
Fernley is a city in Lyon County, Nevada, United States, within Reno-Sparks-Lake Tahoe metropolitan. The city incorporated in 2001, including land in Washoe County; prior to that it was a census-designated place . The population of the CDP was 8,543 at the 2000 census; the city itself had an...
, along the alternate branch. The two branches rejoin west of Fallon
Fallon, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,536 people, 3,004 households, and 1,877 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,474.1 people per square mile . There were 3,336 housing units at an average density of 1,095.2 per square mile...
. Fallon, home to the Naval Air Station Fallon
Naval Air Station Fallon
Naval Air Station Fallon or NAS Fallon is the United States Navy's premier air-to-air and air-to-ground training facility. It is located southeast of the city of Fallon in western Nevada in the United States. Since 1996, it has been home to the Naval Fighter Weapons School , and the surrounding...
or TOPGUN, is an agricultural community along the last usable water of the Carson River. The town is located just south of the river's terminus at the Carson Sink
Carson Sink
Carson Sink is a playa in the northeastern portion of the Carson Desert that was formerly the terminus of the Carson River. The sink is currently fed by drainage canals of the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District...
. Leaving Fallon, the highway passes by ancient petroglyph sites at Grimes Point and then Sand Mountain
Sand Mountain (Nevada)
Sand Mountain is a Singing sand dune east of Fallon, Nevada along U.S. Route 50. The dune is two miles long and high.It lies on the edge of the ancient Lake Lahontan, that for the most part dried up 9,000 years ago. Sand Mountain Recreation Area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and is...
, a 600 feet (182.9 m) sand dune.
Fallon to Austin
The scenery and level of traffic changes upon leaving the Fallon area. The road narrows from four lanes to two and crosses remote terrain characterized by Basin and RangeBasin and Range
The Basin and Range Province is a vast physiographic region defined by a unique topographic expression. Basin and Range topography is characterized by abrupt changes in elevation, alternating between narrow faulted mountain chains and flat arid valleys or basins...
topography. The summits start out small and gradually increase in altitude. The features in the first basins include Labou Flat, a dry lake
Dry lake
Dry lakes are ephemeral lakebeds, or a remnant of an endorheic lake. Such flats consist of fine-grained sediments infused with alkali salts. Dry lakes are also referred to as alkali flats, sabkhas, playas or mud flats...
used by the US Navy for low level flight operations, and Dixie Valley, with several visible earthquake fault lines
Geologic fault
In geology, a fault is a planar fracture or discontinuity in a volume of rock, across which there has been significant displacement along the fractures as a result of earth movement. Large faults within the Earth's crust result from the action of tectonic forces...
that resulted from the magnitude 7.1 Dixie Valley/Fairview earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
in 1954. Dixie Valley is now a US Navy Electronic Warfare Range.
Middlegate, Nevada
Middlegate is an unincorporated community in Churchill County, Nevada, United States.The local bar, gas station and restaurant of Middlegate were the location for Black Road, Gregory Hutton's award-winning 2002 short film starring William Nilon....
, a roadhouse that has served as a restaurant, bar, hotel and refueling station since the Pony Express
Pony Express
The Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 3, 1860 to October 1861...
era of the 19th century. The building features Lincoln Highway and Pony Express era artifacts as well as plaques from various historical societies confirming the station is authentic. The station is the modern turnoff to Berlin–Ichthyosaur State Park, a preserved ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
surrounded by dinosaur remains.
Nearby was the site of a relatively recent attraction, a cottonwood tree with thousands of shoes dangling from it. Patrons of the bar at Middlegate are unsure of the origins; however, most believe it started sometime in the mid 1980s. A legend has formed about how a young man was traveling to Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
with his bride to be. When she balked and got out of the car, he threw her shoes in the tree so she couldn't get away. A reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle began to study the phenomenon of shoe trees after seeing the one at Middlegate, stating to his knowledge this was the biggest in the world. It was discovered on December 31, 2010, that the shoe tree had been chopped down, possibly by vandals.
East of Middlegate, the paths of the Pony Express, Lincoln Highway and US 50 diverge, using different passes to cross the Desatoya Mountains
Desatoya Mountains
The Desatoya Mountains are located in central Nevada in the western United States, approximately 117 miles east of Reno by road. The range runs in a southwest-northeasterly direction along the border of Churchill and Lander Counties, reaching a maximum elevation of 9,973 feet at Desatoya Peak...
. They rejoin west of Austin
Austin, Nevada
Austin is a small, unincorporated community located in Lander County, Nevada, in the United States. As of 2004, its population is approximately 340. It is located on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range at an elevation of . U.S...
. The first paved route of the Lincoln Highway is preserved as State Route 722
Nevada State Route 722
State Route 722 is a state highway in Churchill County and Lander County in the U.S. state of Nevada. The highway is an old routing of U.S. Route 50, and previously the Lincoln Highway. What is now route 722 crosses the Desatoya Mountains via Carroll Summit...
.
Austin to Ely
Boomtown
A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons,...
that now describes itself as a living ghost town. In 1862, at the peak of the silver boom, Austin had a population of 10,000 people. Today, about 300 residents remain. Perched above the town and just to the south of the highway is Stokes Castle
Stokes Castle
Stokes Castle is a three-story stone tower located just outside of Austin, Nevada. It was built by Anson Phelps Stokes, a mine developer, railroad magnate, and banker. Intending the building as a summer home, Stokes began building the castle in 1896, completing it in 1897.The castle is patterned...
, a long abandoned monument to a prominent eastern family with local mining interests. Passing Austin, travelers encounter hairpin turn
Hairpin turn
A hairpin turn , named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, is a bend in a road with a very acute inner angle, making it necessary for an oncoming vehicle to turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Such turns in ramps and trails may be called switchbacks in American English, by analogy...
s and steep grades in the ascent up Austin Summit in the Toiyabe Range
Toiyabe Range
The Toiyabe Range is a range of mountains in central Nevada in the western United States. It starts in northwestern Nye County north of Tonopah, Nevada and runs approximately 120 miles north-northeast through eastern Lander County, making it the second longest range in the state...
. This area is inside the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is the principal U.S. National Forest located in the U.S. state of Nevada. With an area of , it is the largest National Forest of the United States outside of Alaska...
, the first part of US 50 to run inside a national forest since leaving Lake Tahoe. At Hickson Summit, about 20 miles (32.2 km) east of Austin, is a rest area
Rest area
A rest area, travel plaza, rest stop, or service area is a public facility, located next to a large thoroughfare such as a highway, expressway, or freeway at which drivers and passengers can rest, eat, or refuel without exiting on to secondary roads...
that features a walking tour of petroglyph
Petroglyph
Petroglyphs are pictogram and logogram images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, and abrading. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions of the technique to refer to such images...
s.
The next town is Eureka
Eureka, Nevada
Eureka is an unincorporated township in and the county seat of Eureka County, Nevada, United States. Eureka is by far the largest community in Eureka County...
, which bills itself as the "Friendliest Town on the Loneliest Road in America". Eureka was similarly founded as a mining boomtown. Although mining has diminished, it remains a large component of the community and its economy. The centerpiece of the historical district of downtown
Downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
Eureka is the Eureka Opera House, built in 1880.
Past Eureka is Ely
Ely, Nevada
Ely is the largest city and county seat of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper in 1906...
, founded as a stage coach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route
Central Overland Route
The Central Overland Route was a transportation route from Salt Lake City, Utah south of the Great Salt Lake through the mountains of central Nevada and the Basin and Range Province to Carson City, Nevada...
. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
in 1906. Though the railroads connecting the First Transcontinental Railroad
First Transcontinental Railroad
The First Transcontinental Railroad was a railroad line built in the United States of America between 1863 and 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad of California and the Union Pacific Railroad that connected its statutory Eastern terminus at Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraska The First...
to the mines in Austin and Eureka have long been removed, the railroad to Ely is preserved as a heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
by the Nevada Northern Railway
Nevada Northern Railway
The Nevada Northern Railway was a railroad in the U.S. state of Nevada, built primarily to provide rail access to a major copper producing area in White Pine County, Nevada...
and known as the Ghost Train of Old Ely. Here US 50 departs the historical routes of the Lincoln Highway, Pony Express and State Route 2. These routes proceeded northeast towards Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, while US 50 continues due east towards the state line.
Eastern Nevada
Delta, Utah
Delta is a city in Millard County, Utah, United States. The population was 3,209 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Delta is located at ....
, 162 miles (261 km) to the east; there are only two gas stations along the stretch between Ely and Delta. Majors Place
Majors Place, Nevada
Majors Place is a community in White Pine County, Nevada. It includes a gas station and a restaurant....
(the name of the junction with U.S. Route 93) has a gas station and restaurant. The Border Inn, on the Nevada–Utah border, has a hotel, gas station and restaurant.
This portion of the highway is mountainous with the highest point along US 50 in Nevada at Connors Pass at 7729 feet (2,356 m). This section has been designated a Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often...
by the Nevada Scenic Byways
Nevada Scenic Byways
In 1983, a system of scenic byways was established in the U.S. state of Nevada. Currently there are 19 designated state scenic byways. Some of these overlap the three National Scenic Byways that have been designated in Nevada.-Federally designated scenic byways:...
program. Listed attractions include the Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park
Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park
Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park State Park is a Nevada state park in White Pine County, Nevada. Located 20 miles south of the town of Ely, it is in the Eastern Nevada Region of Nevada State Parks....
and Nevada's only national park, Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park is a United States National Park established in 1986, located in east-central Nevada near the Utah border. The park derives its name from the Great Basin, the dry and mountainous region between the Sierra Nevada and the Wasatch Mountains. Topographically, this area is...
. The highway enters Utah northeast of Baker
Baker, Nevada
Baker, Nevada is a small community and census-designated place in White Pine County, Nevada. It is located from Great Basin National Park on State Route 487. The town is named after an early settler, George W. Baker...
in a remote portion of the Great Basin
Great Basin
The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds in North America and is noted for its arid conditions and Basin and Range topography that varies from the North American low point at Badwater Basin to the highest point of the contiguous United States, less than away at the...
desert.
Mountain passes
From west to east US 50 crosses several mountain ranges using 17 passes and one tunnel.| Name | Elevation | Location | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cave Rock Tunnel Cave Rock Tunnel The Cave Rock Tunnel is a dual bore highway tunnel on U.S. Route 50 along the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe approximately seven miles north of Stateline, in Douglas County, Nevada, USA... |
6260 feet (1,908 m) | Between Zephyr Cove and Glenbrook Glenbrook, Nevada Glenbrook is an unincorporated community in Douglas County, Nevada, United States. The community is named after the Glenbrook House hotel and is at an elevation of... |
Cave Rock (Carson Range Carson Range The Carson Range is a spur of the Sierra Nevada in eastern California and western Nevada that starts at Luther Pass and West Carson Canyon and goes to the Truckee River... ) |
|
| Spooner Summit | 7146 feet (2,178 m) | East of SR 28 Nevada State Route 28 State Route 28 is a road that runs along the northeastern shore of Lake Tahoe. The road has been designated as the north piece of the Lake Tahoe–Eastshore Drive Scenic Byway as part of the National Scenic Byway program... |
Carson Range Carson Range The Carson Range is a spur of the Sierra Nevada in eastern California and western Nevada that starts at Luther Pass and West Carson Canyon and goes to the Truckee River... |
|
| Sand Springs Pass | 4631 feet (1,412 m) | West of SR 839 Nevada State Route 839 State Route 839 is an road that runs from the Nevada Scheelite Mine to U.S. Route 50. The road is also known as Nevada Scheelite Mine Road.... |
Stillwater Range Stillwater Range The Stillwater Range is a mountain range located in western Nevada in the United States. It is a SSW-NNE running ridge, approximately long. It cuts across the center of Churchill County and extends partway into Pershing County.... /Sand Springs Range Sand Springs Range The Sand Springs Range is a short mountain range located in western Nevada in the United States within the Great Basin. It is approximately long and is in Churchill County. It separates Salt Wells from Fairview Valley . To the north, it is separated from the Stillwater Range by Sand Springs Pass... |
|
| Drumm Summit | 4600 feet (1,402 m) | East of SR 121 | Fairview Peak | |
| Westgate | 4605 feet (1,404 m) | West of SR 361 Nevada State Route 361 State Route 361 is a state highway in central Nevada, USA. The highway serves the town of Gabbs following Gabbs Valley Road through the extreme northwestern tip of Nye County. Gabbs is isolated from the rest of the County, requiring travel on SR 361 through other counties in order to reach any... |
Clan Alpine Mountains Clan Alpine Mountains The Clan Alpine Mountains are located in west-central Nevada in the United States. The range lies in a southwest-northeasterly direction in Churchill County, and contains Mount Augusta, at 9,966 feet above sea level. The mountains lie to the west of the Desatoya Mountains and southeast of the... |
|
| Middlegate | 4605 feet (1,404 m) | East of SR 361 Nevada State Route 361 State Route 361 is a state highway in central Nevada, USA. The highway serves the town of Gabbs following Gabbs Valley Road through the extreme northwestern tip of Nye County. Gabbs is isolated from the rest of the County, requiring travel on SR 361 through other counties in order to reach any... |
Clan Alpine Mountains Clan Alpine Mountains The Clan Alpine Mountains are located in west-central Nevada in the United States. The range lies in a southwest-northeasterly direction in Churchill County, and contains Mount Augusta, at 9,966 feet above sea level. The mountains lie to the west of the Desatoya Mountains and southeast of the... |
Eastgate is along an old routing of US 50, now SR 722 |
| New Pass Summit | 6348 feet (1,935 m) | Lander Lander County, Nevada Lander County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 5,794. Its county seat is Battle Mountain.-History:... –Churchill County Churchill County, Nevada Churchill County is a county located in the western U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 23,982. As of July 1, 2007, the population of Churchill County was estimated at 27,190. The county, named after Mexican-American War hero brevet Brigadier General Sylvester Churchill,... line |
Desatoya Mountains Desatoya Mountains The Desatoya Mountains are located in central Nevada in the western United States, approximately 117 miles east of Reno by road. The range runs in a southwest-northeasterly direction along the border of Churchill and Lander Counties, reaching a maximum elevation of 9,973 feet at Desatoya Peak... |
|
| Mt. Airy | 6700 feet (2,042 m) | West of Reese River Reese River The Reese River is a tributary of the Humboldt River, located in central Nevada in the western United States. It rises in the southern section of the Toiyabe Range, on the flanks of Arc Dome... |
Shoshone Mountains Shoshone Mountains also located in Nye County.The Shoshone Mountains, in central Nevada, make up one of the longest mountain ranges in the state. The range runs in a north-south direction, mostly in Nye County, but also occupies part of Lander County... |
|
| Austin Summit | 7484 feet (2,281 m) | East of Austin Austin, Nevada Austin is a small, unincorporated community located in Lander County, Nevada, in the United States. As of 2004, its population is approximately 340. It is located on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range at an elevation of . U.S... |
Toiyabe Range Toiyabe Range The Toiyabe Range is a range of mountains in central Nevada in the western United States. It starts in northwestern Nye County north of Tonopah, Nevada and runs approximately 120 miles north-northeast through eastern Lander County, making it the second longest range in the state... |
|
| Bob Scott Summit | 7267 feet (2,215 m) | West of SR 376 | Toiyabe Range Toiyabe Range The Toiyabe Range is a range of mountains in central Nevada in the western United States. It starts in northwestern Nye County north of Tonopah, Nevada and runs approximately 120 miles north-northeast through eastern Lander County, making it the second longest range in the state... |
|
| Hickison Summit | 6546 feet (1,995 m) | East of SR 376 | Toquima Range Toquima Range The Toquima Range is a line of mountains in northwestern Nye County, in central Nevada in the western United States. From Hickson Summit on U.S. Route 50, the range runs for approximately 71 miles to the south-southwest. To its west are Big Smoky Valley, scenic State Route 376, and the large... /Simpson Park Range |
|
| Devils Gate | 5990 feet (1,826 m) | West of Eureka Eureka, Nevada Eureka is an unincorporated township in and the county seat of Eureka County, Nevada, United States. Eureka is by far the largest community in Eureka County... |
Mahogany Hills Mahogany Hills The Mahogany Hills are a mountain range in Eureka County, Nevada.... |
|
| Pinto Summit | 7376 feet (2,248 m) | East of Eureka | Diamond Mountains Diamond Mountains The Diamond Mountains are a north-south mountain range in east-central Nevada northeast of Eureka. The range is along the Newark Valley and is part of the drainage divide demarcating the Little Smoky-Newark Watershed.... |
|
| Pancake Summit | 6517 feet (1,986 m) | East of SR 892 Nevada State Route 892 State Route 892 is a state highway in White Pine County. It follows Strawberry Road from U.S. Route 50 to a terminus that is approximately north of Strawberry at the end of pavement.... |
Pancake Range Pancake Range The Pancake Range is located in east-central Nevada in the United States. The mountains lie in a generally north-south direction in Nye County and White Pine County. The Lunar Crater Volcanic Field lies at the southwestern end of the chain... |
|
| Little Antelope Summit | 7438 feet (2,267 m) | Near ghost town Ghost town A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters... of Illipah |
White Pine Range White Pine Range The White Pine Range is a group of mountains in southern White Pine County, in eastern Nevada. The range runs for approximately 51 miles from Beck Pass in the north to Currant Pass in the south. To the west of the range are the Duckwater tribal lands and the northern arm of large Railroad Valley... |
|
| Robinson Summit | 7607 feet (2,319 m) | West of Ely Ely, Nevada Ely is the largest city and county seat of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper in 1906... |
Egan Range Egan Range The Egan Range is a line of mountains in White Pine County, in eastern Nevada in the western United States. From Egan Creek near the historic community of Cherry Creek, the range runs south for approximately 108 miles , extending into the northern part of Lincoln County. To the east are the large... |
|
| Connors Pass | 7729 feet (2,356 m) | West of Majors Place Majors Place, Nevada Majors Place is a community in White Pine County, Nevada. It includes a gas station and a restaurant.... |
Schell Creek Range Schell Creek Range The Schell Creek Range is a linear mountain range in central White Pine County, in east-central Nevada. Its length is approximately in a north-south direction.... |
Highest point along US 50 in Nevada |
| Sacramento Pass | 7154 feet (2,181 m) | Near ghost town Ghost town A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters... of Osceola Osceola, Nevada Osceola, Nevada, is a ghost town in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The town was a placer camp devoted to mining gold. Gold was first discovered in 1872, followed by exploitation of the deposits using hydraulic mining techniques. Two ditches, the Osceola West Ditch and the Osceola... |
Snake Range Snake Range The Snake Range is a line of high mountains in eastern White Pine County, in east-central Nevada in the western United States. Typical of other ranges in the Basin and Range Province, it runs in a north-south direction, in this case for approximately... |
|
| Source: Benchmark Maps: Nevada Road and Recreation Atlas | ||||
Lincoln Highway
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
, the first transcontinental highway in the United States, formed in 1913. This route had been previously used by the Pony Express
Pony Express
The Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 3, 1860 to October 1861...
, an early attempt at an express mail service, started in 1860. The Pony Express used the technique of riders changing horses at stations approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) apart to maximize speed. Some of the towns along US 50 were stops along the Pony Express. The original numbered designation of this route, which appeared on Nevada Highway maps as far back as 1919, was State Route 2. Route 2 had an alternate branch, Route 2A, corresponding to a split in the Lincoln Highway near Fallon. The main and alternate branches of Route 2 are reversed from the modern routings of US 50. Mainline Route 2, the Donner Branch
Donner Party
The Donner Party was a group of American pioneers who set out for California in a wagon train. Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada...
, terminated at Fernley along modern US 50 Alternate. State Route 2A, the Pioneer Branch, followed mainline US 50, terminating at Carson City. State Route 2, and the Lincoln Highway, used a different routing between Ely and Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
from the modern routes. The original routing used what is now US 93 from Ely to the ghost town of Schellbourne and then dirt roads towards Tooele, Utah
Tooele, Utah
Tooele is a city in Tooele County in the U.S. state of Utah. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 22,502 at the 2000 census, and 30,708 as of the 2009 estimates. It is the county seat of Tooele County...
.
Thistle, Utah
Thistle is a ghost town in Utah County, Utah, United States, about southeast of Salt Lake City. During the era of steam locomotives, the town's primary industry was servicing trains for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad...
. At the time, the states of Utah and Nevada were feuding about which of the old auto trail
Auto trail
The system of auto trails was an informal network of marked routes that existed in the United States and Canada in the early part of the 20th century. Marked with colored bands on telephone poles, the trails were intended to help travellers in the early days of the automobile.Auto trails were...
s would be paved and used for the new U.S. Highway system. Utah officials refused to pave the portion of the Lincoln Highway west of Salt Lake City. They perceived this route as being expensive to build, with no benefit for the state. Nevada officials, and the Lincoln Highway Association, pleaded with Utah authorities to change their position, even offering funds to help offset the additional cost of paving that route. However, the Lincoln highway directed travelers destined for both southern
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
and northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
on a route away from Utah cities, towards central Nevada. Utah instead paved the Wendover Cutoff, part of the Victory Highway
Victory Highway
The Victory Highway was an auto trail across the United States between New York City and San Francisco, roughly equivalent to the present U.S. Route 40.-History:...
(modern Interstate 80
Interstate 80 in Utah
In the U.S. state of Utah, Interstate 80 runs east–west through northern part of the state, passing through the Bonneville Salt Flats, the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, the Wasatch Mountains and Echo canyon. In western Utah the highway was built along the corridor of the Victory...
), that only directed traffic for northern California out of the state. The choice not to pave the Lincoln Highway would direct travelers bound for southern California to use the Arrowhead Trail (modern Interstate 15
Interstate 15
Interstate 15 is the fourth-longest north–south Interstate Highway in the United States, traveling through the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and Montana from San Diego to the Canadian border...
). This route serves numerous communities in Utah, but only Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and a few other small towns in Nevada. The final blow to the original route of the Lincoln Highway was the formation of the Dugway Proving Ground
Dugway Proving Ground
Dugway Proving Ground is a US Army facility located approximately 85 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah in southern Tooele County and just north of Juab County...
, a military base used for weapons testing, which closed the area to the public. The Lincoln Highway was re-routed to Salt Lake City along a circuitous route via Wendover
Wendover, Utah
Wendover is a city in Tooele County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,537 at the 2000 census, with a 2006 estimated population of 1,632....
and the Bonneville Salt Flats. This route was initially numbered US 50 from Ely to Wendover and US 40
U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 is an east–west United States highway. As with most routes whose numbers end in a zero, U.S. 40 once traversed the entire United States. It is one of the original 1920s U.S. Highways, and its first termini were San Francisco, California, and Atlantic City, New Jersey...
/50 across western Utah, but has been renumbered US 93, US 93 Alternate
U.S. Route 93 Alternate (Nevada)
In the U.S. state of Nevada, U.S. Route 93 Alternate is an alternate route of U.S. Route 93 located in the northeast part of the state. It connects Lages Station to Wells via the town of West Wendover....
and I-80.
Route changes
Nevada State Route 3
State Route 3 was the original designation for SR 208, SR 266 and SR 429. It was also the original designation for sections of SR 430, US 50, US 95, Alternate US 95, and US 395....
. The original designation for US 50 from Carson City to Ely was Route 2 and 2A. East of Ely was originally numbered Route 7 to the modern junction with US 93 and Route 14 from there to the Utah state line.
The modern route of US 50 has significantly changed since the highway was first commissioned in 1926. The biggest change is between Ely and Green River, Utah
Green River, Utah
Green River is a city in Emery County, Utah, United States. The population was 973 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Green River is located at , on the banks of the Green River, after which the city is named. The San Rafael Swell region is to the west of Green River, while Canyonlands National Park...
. The first contiguous route of the highway between these cites followed the modified routing of the Lincoln Highway to Salt Lake City. The highway returned to Green River along what is now numbered UT 201, US 89, and US 6. The route was changed when the more direct route between these cities (via Delta, Utah
Delta, Utah
Delta is a city in Millard County, Utah, United States. The population was 3,209 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Delta is located at ....
) was paved. The 1954 edition of the Nevada highway map was the first to show the new routing.
Previously, the road to Delta consisted of unpaved state routes. The paved route did not follow the exact route of the old dirt roads. The improved route bypassed the ghost town of Osceola
Osceola, Nevada
Osceola, Nevada, is a ghost town in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The town was a placer camp devoted to mining gold. Gold was first discovered in 1872, followed by exploitation of the deposits using hydraulic mining techniques. Two ditches, the Osceola West Ditch and the Osceola...
and entered Utah approximately 14 miles (22.5 km) to the south of the dirt road. The border crossing was moved to facilitate an easier route across western Utah. In Utah, the old road traversed a difficult route through Marjum Canyon, while the paved route followed a simpler path along the north shore of Sevier Lake
Sevier Lake
Sevier Lake is an intermittent and endorheic lake which lies in the lowest part of the Sevier Desert, Millard County, Utah. Like Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake, it is a remnant of Pleistocene Lake Bonneville. Sevier Lake is fed primarily by the Beaver and Sevier rivers, and the additional inflow...
.
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
and Carson City
Carson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
. The original, used by the Lincoln Highway, was previously known as Johnson's Cutoff or the Carson Ridge Emigrant Road. This route, which followed Kings Canyon to scale the Sierra Nevada, was severely damaged by a flood in 1997. The U.S. Forest Service still promotes this road for its historical value, but has announced that it will no longer be maintained and travel is only recommended by foot, horse or four wheel drive
Four Wheel Drive
The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, more often known as Four Wheel Drive or just FWD, was founded in 1909 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, as the Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company by Otto Zachow and William Besserdich.-History:...
vehicle. A portion in the lower part of the canyon inside Carson City limits is still maintained by the state as Kings Canyon Road (SR 512
Nevada State Route 512
State Route 512 was a state highway in Carson City, Nevada. It connected Kings Canyon west of Carson City to the state capitol using various city streets. The route dates to the mid-19th century, as part of a wagon trail linking Lake Tahoe and Carson City that was later incorporated into the...
). In 1923, while still known as State Route 3, the road to Lake Tahoe was changed to follow Clear Creek Canyon, along a path that had been used for a series of tunnels and flume
Flume
A flume is an open artificial water channel, in the form of a gravity chute, that leads water from a diversion dam or weir completely aside a natural flow. Often, the flume is an elevated box structure that follows the natural contours of the land. These have been extensively used in hydraulic...
s, to transport timber from Lake Tahoe to the Virginia and Truckee Railroad
Virginia and Truckee Railroad
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad was built to serve the Comstock Lode mining communities of northwestern Nevada. At its height, the railroad's route ran from Reno south to Carson City, Nevada. In Carson City, the...
depot in Carson City.
The iteration is now known as Old Clear Creek Road. Only a small portion of Old Clear Creek Road is currently maintained by the state as unsigned SR 705
Nevada State Route 705
State Route 705, named Old Clear Creek Road, runs from the BIA Water Diversion Box along Old Clear Creek Road to U.S. Route 395 south of Carson City, Nevada....
, the remainder is an access road for private residences in the canyon. The modern route, also using Clear Creek Canyon, was built in the late 1950s.
US 50 was rerouted through the eastern half of Fallon. The original route is not drivable as it runs through Naval Air Station Fallon
Naval Air Station Fallon
Naval Air Station Fallon or NAS Fallon is the United States Navy's premier air-to-air and air-to-ground training facility. It is located southeast of the city of Fallon in western Nevada in the United States. Since 1996, it has been home to the Naval Fighter Weapons School , and the surrounding...
; portions are still in public use as Harrigan Road (SR 115
Nevada State Route 115
State Route 115 is a state highway outside the city of Fallon, Nevada in the United States. Known as Harrigan Road, SR 115 is from SR 119 to SR 720 to Stillwater Avenue, paralleling U.S. Route 95....
) and Berney Road (SR 119
Nevada State Route 119
State Route 119 is a state highway in Nevada, USA. It connects U.S. Route 95 east to NAS Fallon as part of Berney Road....
). Around 1967, US 50 was improved between Middlegate and Austin, to bypass steep grades and sharp curves over Carroll Summit. The original route is now SR 722
Nevada State Route 722
State Route 722 is a state highway in Churchill County and Lander County in the U.S. state of Nevada. The highway is an old routing of U.S. Route 50, and previously the Lincoln Highway. What is now route 722 crosses the Desatoya Mountains via Carroll Summit...
. A freeway bypass, Interstate 580
Interstate 580 (Nevada)
Interstate 580 in Nevada is an unsigned Interstate Highway in northwestern Nevada. It runs concurrently with U.S. Route 395 in Reno, for approximately five miles between Interstate 80 and Neil Road. Two separate highway construction projects are currently underway along the US 395 corridor that...
, is under construction around Carson City. When finished, US 50 will be rerouted concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with I-580 and the downtown route will be renumbered SR 529
Nevada State Route 529
State Route 529 is a state highway in Carson City, Nevada, USA. The route follows Carson Street, the principal north–south arterial through the city. The southern portion of the unsigned highway currently carries U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 395 through the city, while the remainder of the...
and SR 530
Nevada State Route 530
State Route 530 was a state highway in Carson City, Nevada. It followed a portion of William Street and was formerly signed as part of U.S. Route 50 . The route is no longer a state highway.-Route description:...
.
Major intersections
- Note: Mileposts in Nevada reset at county lines. The start and end mileposts in each county are given in the county column.
{| class="wikitable"
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Junction
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=3|Douglas
Douglas County, Nevada
Douglas County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. As of 2000, the population was 41,259. As of 2010, the population was estimated to be 46,997.- History :...
DO 0.00-14.58
|Stateline
Stateline, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,215 people, 510 households, and 245 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,803.3 people per square mile . There were 562 housing units at an average density of 834.1 per square mile...
|0.7
|
|
|-
|
|1.9
| – Nevada Beach
|
|-
|
|12.3
|, Lake Tahoe – Nevada State Park
|-
|rowspan=6 colspan=2|Carson City
Carson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
CC 0.00-16.60Mileposts reflect distance along a future freeway alignment, not currently signed route.
|7.60
0.00
|
|West end of US 395 concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
Mileposts reflect distance along SR 529
Nevada State Route 529
State Route 529 is a state highway in Carson City, Nevada, USA. The route follows Carson Street, the principal north–south arterial through the city. The southern portion of the unsigned highway currently carries U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 395 through the city, while the remainder of the...
|-
|0.4
|
|
|-
|2.3
|
|
|-
|
|
|Temporary routing along Fairview Drive, pending completion of Interstate 580
Interstate 580 (Nevada)
Interstate 580 in Nevada is an unsigned Interstate Highway in northwestern Nevada. It runs concurrently with U.S. Route 395 in Reno, for approximately five miles between Interstate 80 and Neil Road. Two separate highway construction projects are currently underway along the US 395 corridor that...
|-
|
|
|East end of US 395 concurrency
Mileposts resume US 50 distance
|-
|13.5
| – Carson Airport
Carson Airport
Carson Airport , also known as Carson City Airport, is a public use airport located three nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Carson City, the capital of the U.S. state of Nevada. It is operated by the Carson City Airport Authority...
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Lyon
Lyon County, Nevada
Lyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,980. Its county seat is Yerington.-History:...
LY 0.00-35.36
|Moundhouse
Moundhouse, Nevada
Mound House, Nevada is a small unincorporated community in Lyon County, Nevada on U.S. Route 50 that is situated between Nevada's capital, Carson City, and Dayton, Nevada. Its elevation is 4,974 feet...
|2.0
|
|
|-
|Dayton
Dayton, Nevada
Dayton is a census-designated place in Lyon County, Nevada, United States. The population was 5,907 at the 2000 census.-History:Dayton is at the western end of the Twenty-Six Mile Desert at a bend in the Carson River. Immigrants stopping there for water would consider whether to follow the river...
|5.6
|Dayton Valley Road (SR 822)
|
|-
|Silver Springs
Silver Springs, Nevada
Silver Springs is a census-designated place in Lyon County, Nevada, United States at the intersection of U.S. 50 and U.S. 95A. The population was 4,708 at the 2000 census. Lahontan Reservoir, Lahontan State Recreation Area and historic Fort Churchill State Historic Park are all located nearby...
|29
|
|
|-
|rowspan=11|Churchill
Churchill County, Nevada
Churchill County is a county located in the western U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 23,982. As of July 1, 2007, the population of Churchill County was estimated at 27,190. The county, named after Mexican-American War hero brevet Brigadier General Sylvester Churchill,...
CH 0.00-106.88
|
|11.4
|
|
|-
|rowspan=6|Fallon
Fallon, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,536 people, 3,004 households, and 1,877 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,474.1 people per square mile . There were 3,336 housing units at an average density of 1,095.2 per square mile...
|15.3
|
|
|-
|16.3
| – Soda Lake
Soda Lakes
The Soda Lakes are two lakes located northwest of Fallon, Nevada. They occupy two basaltic maar volcanoes which may have erupted in the last 1500 years. The larger lake is somewhat elongated, stretching in length, while the smaller one is across...
|
|-
|16.5
|McLean Lane (SR 715)
|
|-
|20.4
|
|Runs concurrent with US 95 for one block
|-
|21.5
| – Naval Air Station Fallon
Naval Air Station Fallon
Naval Air Station Fallon or NAS Fallon is the United States Navy's premier air-to-air and air-to-ground training facility. It is located southeast of the city of Fallon in western Nevada in the United States. Since 1996, it has been home to the Naval Fighter Weapons School , and the surrounding...
|
|-
|25.3
| – Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge
Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge
Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge is located in the Lahontan Valley, near the community of Fallon, Nevada, sixty miles east of Reno.The Stillwater wetlands are well-known to birders, as this area has been designated a site of international importance by the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve...
|
|-
|
|52.5
|Nevada Scheelite
Scheelite
Scheelite is a calcium tungstate mineral with the chemical formula CaWO4. It is an important ore of tungsten. Well-formed crystals are sought by collectors and are occasionally fashioned into gemstones when suitably free of flaws...
Mine Road (SR 839
Nevada State Route 839
State Route 839 is an road that runs from the Nevada Scheelite Mine to U.S. Route 50. The road is also known as Nevada Scheelite Mine Road....
)
|
|-
|
|60.4
|
|
|-
|Middlegate
Middlegate, Nevada
Middlegate is an unincorporated community in Churchill County, Nevada, United States.The local bar, gas station and restaurant of Middlegate were the location for Black Road, Gregory Hutton's award-winning 2002 short film starring William Nilon....
|67.6
|
|
|-
|
|70.8
|
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Lander
Lander County, Nevada
Lander County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 5,794. Its county seat is Battle Mountain.-History:...
LA 0.00-56.53
|
|20.0
|
|
|-
|Austin
Austin, Nevada
Austin is a small, unincorporated community located in Lander County, Nevada, in the United States. As of 2004, its population is approximately 340. It is located on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range at an elevation of . U.S...
|23.2
|
|
|-
|
|35.9
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Eureka
Eureka County, Nevada
Eureka County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 1,651. Its county seat is Eureka.Eureka County is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
EU 0.00-47.38
|
|33.6
|
|
|-
|Eureka
Eureka, Nevada
Eureka is an unincorporated township in and the county seat of Eureka County, Nevada, United States. Eureka is by far the largest community in Eureka County...
|36.9
|Eureka Mine Road (SR 780)
|
|-
|rowspan=6|White Pine
White Pine County, Nevada
White Pine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. Its population at the 2010 census was 10,030. Its county seat is Ely. It is the home of Great Basin National Park...
WP 0.00-68.43
37.96-101.88Mileposts east of Ely reflect distance along concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
US 6.
|
|49.7
|Strawberry Road (SR 892
Nevada State Route 892
State Route 892 is a state highway in White Pine County. It follows Strawberry Road from U.S. Route 50 to a terminus that is approximately north of Strawberry at the end of pavement....
)
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Ely
Ely, Nevada
Ely is the largest city and county seat of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper in 1906...
|66.45
|, Twin Falls
Twin Falls, Idaho
Twin Falls is the county seat and largest city of Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. The population was 44,125 at the 2010 censusTwin Falls is the largest city of Idaho's Magic Valley region...
|West end of US 93 concurrency
|-
|68.43
37.96
|
|West end of US 6 concurrency
Mileposts reflect distance along US 6
|-
|rowspan=2|Majors Place
Majors Place, Nevada
Majors Place is a community in White Pine County, Nevada. It includes a gas station and a restaurant....
|64.2
|
|East end of US 93 concurrency
|-
|65.6
|Spring Valley Road (SR 893
Nevada State Route 893
State Route 893 is a state highway in White Pine County, Nevada. The highway follows Spring Valley Road from U.S. Routes 6 and 50, which is approximately north to its terminus at a pavement change near Muncy Creek....
)
|
|-
|
|93.9
|, Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park is a United States National Park established in 1986, located in east-central Nevada near the Utah border. The park derives its name from the Great Basin, the dry and mountainous region between the Sierra Nevada and the Wasatch Mountains. Topographically, this area is...
|
See also
Other geographic features traversed by the highway- Big Smoky ValleyBig Smoky ValleyThe Big Smoky Valley is a landform of the Tonopah Basin between the Toiyabe and Toquima mountain ranges. It is about 100 miles in length, and is known by other names : including Great Smoky Valley, Smokey Valley, Smoky Valley, Wen-A-No-Nu-Fee Valley, and Won-A-No-Nu-Fee Valley. The U.S...
- Snake Valley (Great Basin)
Related routes
- U.S. Route 50 AlternateU.S. Route 50 Alternate (Nevada)In the U.S. state of Nevada, U.S. Route 50 Alternate is an east–west alternate route of U.S. Route 50. The highway splits from US 50 in Silver Springs, heading north to Fernley and then southeast to rejoin US 50 west of Fallon...
- State Route 2B, Former spur of US 50 (as State Route 2A), no longer part of the state highway system
- State Route 2C, Former spur of State Route 2A, no longer part of the state highway system
External links
- Highway 50 Revisited: America's Loneliest Road from the Las Vegas SunLas Vegas SunThe Las Vegas Sun is a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper. It is one of Las Vegas, Nevada's two daily newspapers. It is owned by the Greenspun family and is affiliated with Greenspun Media Group....
(August 2011) - Loneliest Road:US-50 by Road Trip USA
- The Blue Butterfly at the end of the Loneliest Road by Erik Gauger, Notes from the Road
- Nevada's "Loneliest Road in America" Celebrates 20 Years Ron Bernthal, Travel Writers Magazine