Ghost Town Trails and Hidden Wonders

Arrive in Las Vegas and collect your rental car before settling in for your first night. The real adventure begins tomorrow, but for now, soak up the energy of this neon-lit city before heading off the beaten path.

Set off along the Free-Range Art Highway, one of Nevada’s most eclectic and scenic drives. Your first stop is Rhyolite Ghost Town, once a thriving mining boomtown and now home to fascinating ruins and the nearby Goldwell Open Air Museum, where colossal sculptures rise unexpectedly from the desert. Continue to Gold Point, a photogenic living ghost town with well-preserved wooden structures, and Goldfield, once Nevada’s largest city and now full of character, crumbling grandeur, and roadside oddities. Don’t miss the International Car Forest of the Last Church, a surreal roadside attraction in Goldfield featuring upended, painted vehicles transformed into open-air art. Arrive in Tonopah by late afternoon and settle in for a three-night stay.

Use Tonopah as your base to explore central Nevada’s ghost town corridor. Spend your days wandering through Belmont Ghost Town, where remnants of the 1800s mining rush remain frozen in time, or venture out to Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, where a ghost town and prehistoric marine fossils share the desert stage—truly a one-of-a-kind Nevada experience. By night, don’t miss Tonopah Stargazing Park, renowned for some of the darkest skies in the Lower 48. Whether you’re spotting constellations with the naked eye or peering through a telescope, the night sky here is unforgettable.

Continue north on the Free-Range Art Highway, transitioning from the stark beauty of the desert to the alpine landscapes of Carson Valley and Lake Tahoe, where you’ll spend the next four nights. Cruise the scenic Lake Tahoe Loop, stopping at four pristine Nevada State Parks including Sand Harbor and Spooner Lake, perfect for picnicking, hiking, or kayaking. Step back in time with a day trip to Virginia City, a lively living ghost town steeped in mining lore and Old West charm. While in the region, visit Reno for a taste of arts and culture, or take an evening drive to Fort Churchill State Historic Park, where the historic ruins and designated Dark Sky status create an atmospheric setting for stargazing.

Today, you’ll experience a legendary stretch of highway known as The Loneliest Road in America (US-50), heading east toward Austin, an authentic mining-era town nestled in the Toiyabe Range. Along the way, stop to admire quirky roadside attractions like Middlegate Station, the Shoe Tree, or ancient petroglyphs etched into the rock. Spend the night in Austin, where you can stroll through its historic streets and admire the nearby Stokes Castle at sunset.

Leave Austin behind and wind your way through the scenic and serene Big Smoky Valley, a road less travelled that offers wide-open vistas, remote ranches, and mountain backdrops. Return to Tonopah for one more night—ideal for enjoying a final round of ghost town exploration, local dining, or another look up at those sparkling desert skies.

Buckle up for an unforgettable drive down Nevada’s iconic Extraterrestrial Highway (NV-375) and take your time exploring all things alien. Pose with the mural-clad walls at E.T. Fresh Jerky, shop quirky souvenirs at the Alien Research Center, and stop for lunch at the famed Little A’Le’Inn in Rachel, where you can swap UFO stories over Saucer Burgers and Alien Beers. Enjoy desert landscapes, remote vibes, and keep your eyes peeled—you never know what you might see. Arrive back in Las Vegas for the final stretch of your journey.

Spend your final two nights unwinding (or recharging) in Las Vegas. Explore a different side of the city by visiting the Neon Museum, Mob Museum, or venturing to the nearby Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area for a striking natural escape. Reflect on your journey through Nevada’s highways, ghost towns, state parks and star-filled skies before preparing for your journey home.

Your itinerary concludes when you return your rental car at the designated drop-off location. If you’d like to extend your adventure, speak with your Discover North America Travel Specialist about adding extra destinations or nights to your trip.