Nevada is packed with jaw-dropping landscapes just waiting to be explored from behind the wheel. From ancient rock formations to crystal-clear alpine lakes, the Silver State offers some of the most stunning road trips in the entire country.
Whether you are a seasoned traveler or planning your first big adventure, these drives will give you memories that last a lifetime. Pack your bags, charge your camera, and hit the open road.
Valley of Fire State Park – Moapa Valley, Nevada
Named for its blazing red sandstone formations that seem to glow like fire at sunset, Valley of Fire State Park is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park. Ancient petroglyphs carved by the Ancestral Puebloans can still be spotted on the rocks today.
Stop at Elephant Rock or the Wave formation for unforgettable photos. The drive through the park loops past formations so otherworldly that filmmakers have used the area as a stand-in for Mars in multiple Hollywood productions.
Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway – Spring Creek, Nevada
Locals call Lamoille Canyon the “Yosemite of Nevada,” and once you see it, you will understand why. This glacially carved canyon outside Spring Creek rises dramatically into the Ruby Mountains, packed with waterfalls, alpine lakes, and meadows full of color.
The 12-mile byway ends at a trailhead that leads deeper into the wilderness. Even if hiking is not on your itinerary, simply driving to the end and stepping out to look up at those granite walls is an experience worth the detour.
Scenic Loop Dr – Nevada
Sometimes the best drives are the ones without a famous name attached. Nevada’s Scenic Loop roads wind through landscapes that feel untouched and raw, giving you a front-row seat to the desert’s quiet drama.
Rolling hills, distant mountain ranges, and the occasional roadrunner darting across the pavement make these loops surprisingly entertaining. Bring snacks, slow down, and resist the urge to rush through.
The whole point of a scenic loop is to let the road take you somewhere unexpected.
Great Basin Hwy – Nevada
Stretching across one of the most remote regions in the entire United States, the Great Basin Highway is a road that makes you feel wonderfully small. Endless sagebrush flats give way to mountain ranges that rise out of nowhere, then disappear just as quickly.
Stop at Great Basin National Park along the way to see ancient bristlecone pine trees, some of which are over 4,000 years old. Wheeler Peak, standing at 13,063 feet, is visible for miles and makes for a stunning backdrop at any time of day.
NV-375 – Nevada
Officially nicknamed the Extraterrestrial Highway, NV-375 runs past the edge of the mysterious Area 51 and the tiny town of Rachel, Nevada. Whether or not you believe in little green men, the drive itself is genuinely surreal and unforgettable.
The highway is one of the darkest roads in the country at night, making it a legendary spot for stargazing. Pull over after dark and look up.
On a clear night, the Milky Way stretches across the sky in a way that feels almost unreal.
US-50 Sign – Ruth, Nevada
Back in 1986, Life magazine called US-50 through Nevada “the loneliest road in America,” and the name stuck. Near Ruth, you can snap a photo with the iconic highway sign that proudly wears that nickname like a badge of honor.
The road itself stretches over 400 miles across the state, passing ghost towns, pioneer trails, and mountain passes. Travelers who complete the full route can even get a special passport stamped at towns along the way as a quirky souvenir.
Angel Lake – Nevada
Tucked into the East Humboldt Range at nearly 8,500 feet, Angel Lake feels like a reward you earn just by driving up the winding road to reach it. The glacially carved cirque surrounding the lake is steep and dramatic, with walls that seem to close in around you in the best possible way.
Short hiking trails circle the lake and lead up into the peaks above. Bring a jacket even in summer, because the elevation keeps things refreshingly cool when the rest of Nevada is baking in triple-digit heat.
Hoover Dam Access Rd – Nevada
Completed in 1935, Hoover Dam is one of the most impressive feats of engineering ever attempted in the United States. The access road that leads down to it offers dramatic views of the dam, the Colorado River, and the sparkling blue waters of Lake Mead stretching into the distance.
Park and walk across the dam for a perspective that photos simply cannot capture. Standing on the edge and looking straight down into the gorge below is both terrifying and completely thrilling at the same time.
Goldfield Old School House – Goldfield, Nevada
Goldfield was once the largest city in Nevada, booming with gold rush money and wild ambition in the early 1900s. Today, the Old Schoolhouse stands as a haunting reminder of just how fast fortune can vanish from a place.
The crumbling brick building is a favorite stop for photographers and history enthusiasts driving through central Nevada. Walking the quiet streets of Goldfield feels like stepping into a time capsule, with old storefronts and historic buildings frozen somewhere between the past and the present.
Cathedral Gorge State Park – Panaca, Nevada
Cathedral Gorge looks like a place where ancient giants once carved a cathedral right out of the earth. Located near Panaca in southern Nevada, this state park features stunning bentonite clay formations that erosion has sculpted into spires, caves, and narrow slot canyons over thousands of years.
Walk the Miller Point Trail for sweeping views from above, or squeeze through the narrow canyon slots at ground level. Either way, the park delivers a sense of wonder that catches most first-time visitors completely off guard.