The Loneliest Road in America - A Two Day Drive From Fallon to Baker

Recently we had a chance to take a trip on Highway 50 in Nevada, the Loneliest Road in America from Fallon, NV to Baker, NV (Great Basin National Park). The Loneliest Road, which follows along the Lincoln Highway and the route of the Pony Express, is one of the most famous drives in the United States. We did the drive over two days in September 2020.

In this video we drive from Fallon to Great Basin National Park, stopping at Sand Mountain, Middlegate Station, Austin, Hickison Petroglyphs, Eureka, Ely, and Great Basin National Park.

[Sarasdad]

If you think that the loneliest road in america is a bad thing, try living in a noisy city till you've almost been driven crazy, then that road starts to seem like bliss....No noise...No traffic jams...No

[birdman]

We visited GreatBasinNP a few years ago. Bristlecone Pines were unforgettable👍

[damonwade]

I've been on Hwy 50 in Utah and Nevada and have been to every place in this video. You can definitely see how it gets its name. Very spooky and eery, especially in Eastern Utah and Nevada. I live in Western Colorado and Hwy 5 goes through my town, it is not very lonely at all in most of Colorado and 4 lanes in many parts!!

[danbgt]

My wife and I have toured all 49 states that have a road to them and all but three Canadian Provinces. All on a trike. Three wheeled motorcycle. 2020 was our 50th wedding anniversary and for that, we had planned to fly to Hawaii and rent a motorcycle to complete our all 50 states motorcycle adventure. Well. COVID squashed that! So plan B was to ride highway 50 all the way from the east coast to the west coast. But several health problems with my 94 year old mother kept us close to home. Looks like Hawaii may still be out of the picture. Hopefully we will get to do highway 50 this year.
Thanks for the video. I love road trip videos.

[Skymedc]

I moved from North California to Fallon, Nevada, in 2006 for work. I thought I'd miss the trees, but I got to where I love the solitude of standing on a mountain and being able to see for a hundred miles. Fallon is where the real "Top Gun" Navy school is located. Love those jets when they fly by.

[socalregion]

US 50 is almost urban compared with US 6. 165 miles with no gas stations or towns between Tonopah, NV and Ely, NV. US 50 has the moniker of "Loneliest Highway" but US 6 takes it in spades.

[eagleviewhd]

After I retired from the USAF in 1992, I sold my home and we moved from Sacramento, Ca to Olathe, Ks in February, 1993. We were going to take Interstate 80, but when we got to Reno, NV, I decided to take Highway 50, because we wanted to get to Interstate 70. I was towing a VW Squareback behind my Isuzu Trooper and we were averaging 80 MPH along that road. We went for hours without seeing another car on the road going in either direction. We also made sure we filled up at every gas station along the way, which are few and far apart. We passed through I think five or six passes over 7, 000 feet high. The road is straight as an arrow and you can see fifty miles distance many places along the way! It was quite an adventure! There was snow on the top of the passes.

[ralphwallace]

I traveled the loneliest road in America in 1984 - Before Great Basin was designated by Congress. Lehman Caves was a separate place from Wheeler Peak which was just part of a National Forest. One thing left out about Wheeler Peak is that there are amazing groves of Bristlecone Pines. It’s a hike to get to them, but some of them are among the oldest living things in the World. Camping at the highest campground is a real experience. The cold winds in the course of the night are a real experience. You cannot miss it.

[marinegunny]

My wife and I took route 50 from Winchester VA. to Sacramento CA. in 2015. Great trip! It definitely is the loneliest road! A shout out to the KOA in Ely! Friendliest people there and a beautiful campground. Watching the sun set over the desert hills next to a campfire was the highlight. If you like road trips with little traffic and beautiful scenery, 50 is for you!

[ericroe]

My wife and I drove US 50 the entire way from West Sacramento, CA to Ocean City, MD. It was a wonderful road trip, but we did it over a week, but if we had the time we could have taken several weeks to do the drive and explore.

[h.p.oliver]

Back in the days when Californians all thought Nevada was just a giant racecourse, two college friends died out on Highway 50. It was late at night and a cow wandered on to the road. The cow didn't survive, either. A little after that, I was driving to Fallon in my brand new Plymouth Barracuda when I made the mistake of passing eight Hell's Angels on their bikes. They finally got tired of thee game, but not before we found out the Plymouth really could go 120 like the speedometer said (assuming the dang thing was accurate). That day I was more than willing to believe it really was the loneliest road in America.

[mattgaudio]

I travelled this highway just before Covid. This was an amazing solo trip. And the people I met along Hwy 50 were the best.

[johnnyfreedom]

It's so wonderful you're able to bring your family along with you and they get to see the country as well. I didn't get along with my parents as I had long hair and it was the 1960s. But they gave us all the love of travel, we cross country a few times ourselves! I think the gift of travel is the most important thing a parent can give a child! Expand their world and show them there's more than just their neighborhood! You're raising a great family!

[nmdakini]

LOVE this drive! Can go an hour or more without seeing another vehicle. Camping under the Milky Way is stellar🤓

[RogueReplicant]

Ah, to drive on that road in a Grand Marquis, ice-cold AC, suspension like a flying carpet, moon roof, smooth jazz playing on the custom sound system...

[knotbumper]

I have never found the highway to be very lonely. In many parts of the West, you can drive for hours and never see another sign of "civilization" be it cars. towns or people. Having said that, it is one of the most scenic and interesting roads to take. The side roads out into the weeds are great. I would avoid the side roads in the rain though.

[cynthiarenfroe]

My mother in law lived in Ely Nevada, ,the historic places were interesting but, ,the road to get there was a long and lonely trip and not many places to get gas so you need to be well prepared for the journey, , , always enjoy the video Steve, ,,thanks a lot as I don't travel any more, , happy trails to you and your family

[richardweaver]

Some interesting stops along the way... Wunder Hussy did a multi-part serise on this road last year also but I think she stops in Austin.

[richardleetbluesharmonicac]

I saw a sign low flying aircraft so I parked. A Stealth and the B1 flew by about 100’ over my head

[fairweatherbird]

Denver to San Francisco on Hwy. 50 in February 1974. Butt-ass cold and not a lot of gas stations. We were just trying to make it to Carson City or Reno and not be left to freeze to death out there. Definitely the loneliest road I've been on. Made it to SF in time to see Bob Dylan and The Band at Oakland Coliseum.