7 Nevada Mistakes Families Make Driving Highway 50 That Cost Them A Full Day

A sand dune near Fallon rises about 600 feet, and it’s the largest single dune in the Great Basin. Most families blow right past it on the way to somewhere else.

I still can’t get over that.

The road it sits beside has a famous nickname: the Loneliest Road in America. That label makes people drive fast and stop rarely.

It’s an easy habit, and it can cost you a lot.

Along this stretch of Nevada, you’ll find steam trains, a 19th-century opera house, a granite tower on a hill, and caves you can tour with a ranger. Many of these stops are free or cheap.

Each one can fill a whole afternoon.

So the real question is simple. Which of these stops are you about to miss, and how much of your trip are you willing to leave on the shoulder?

1. Skipping Great Basin National Park

Some of the trees in this park were already old when the pyramids were new. Bristlecone pines rank among the oldest living things on Earth, and they grow right here in Nevada.

Families often treat Baker as a blip on the map. That’s the mistake, because Great Basin National Park sits just off Highway 50 and can easily fill a day.

Start underground with a ranger-guided tour of Lehman Caves. You’ll see stalactites, stalagmites, and other odd formations that look sculpted by a patient artist.

Tours can sell out, so book ahead and confirm times before you go.

Back in the sunshine, the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive climbs high into the mountains. The views stretch across valleys and ranges in a way that makes kids stop asking about snacks, at least briefly.

Trails come in several levels, so little legs and teen legs both get a workout. Pick a short walk or a longer hike to the bristlecone grove.

Then stay late. The park is an International Dark Sky Park, which means the stars can put on a show your city sky never could.

Entry to the park itself is free, which makes the whole day feel like a steal.

Address: 1 Lehman Caves Rd, Baker, NV 89311

2. Rushing Past the Nevada Northern Railway Museum

Real steam engines still chug out of a rail yard in Ely. Not replicas, not a theme park ride, but working locomotives with serious history.

The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is a National Historic Landmark spread across 56 acres. It holds 58 buildings and more than 100 historic rail cars.

Three steam locomotives have been restored here. Two of them, numbers 81 and 93, regularly pull excursion trains over more than 30 miles of track.

Hop aboard a 90-minute ride through Robinson Canyon. Interpreters share stories about the region’s copper mining past while the scenery rolls by your window.

Kids who love trains may lose their minds a little. Kids who think they don’t love trains often change their opinion after the first whistle.

Before or after your ride, tour the original 1907 depot, which now serves as a museum. Some programs even let visitors take a turn driving a historic locomotive, which sounds like a bucket-list item for grandpa too.

Schedules shift by season, so check ride dates before you plan your day around them. Trust me, you’ll want to plan your day around them.

Address: 1100 Avenue A, Ely, NV 89301

3. Overlooking Ely Renaissance Village

Old miners’ cabins in Ely got a second life, and each one now tells a different family’s story. That idea alone makes this stop worth slowing down for.

Ely Renaissance Village turns turn-of-the-century cabins into international theme homes. Each is furnished with period pieces, photographs, and little knick-knacks.

Together, they show daily life for the many ethnic groups who settled in White Pine County. The Spanish House honors families who came from New Mexico.

Over at the Slavic House, the focus shifts to immigrants from Serbia and Croatia. Walking between homes feels like flipping through a family album from the 1920s.

For kids, it’s a sneaky history lesson. They’ll compare kitchens and furniture without realizing they’re learning about Nevada’s copper boom.

The Ely Renaissance Society, founded in 1999, preserves these century-old buildings. The village also hosts special events, including themed teas that make a fun outing with grandparents.

Timing matters most here. The village typically opens seasonally from mid-May to mid-September, usually on Fridays and Saturdays, so confirm hours before heading over.

Pair it with the railway museum and Ely suddenly becomes a two-day town. Not bad for a place many drivers treat as a gas stop.

Address: 400 Ely Street, Ely, NV 89301

4. Treating Eureka Like a Pit Stop

Back in 1880, Eureka built an opera house, and it’s still open for business. Only two historic opera houses in Nevada remain in use today.

The Eureka Opera House has a horseshoe-shaped balcony that stands out right away. Today it serves as a cultural arts and convention center.

Its past is a fun one to share with kids. The building once hosted plays, dances, and masquerade balls before becoming a movie house.

From 1915 to 1958, it ran as the Eureka Theater. Audiences watched silent films there, and later the newfangled talkies.

Here’s the budget-friendly bonus. Free maps let families take a self-guided historic walking tour of town at their own pace.

The route points out preserved 19th-century buildings. Look for the 1879 Eureka Sentinel Museum, the 1876 Eureka County Courthouse, and the 1877 Jackson House Hotel.

A walking tour with free maps is a parent’s dream. Kids burn energy, you skip ticket costs, and everyone stretches after hours in the car.

Give Eureka a few hours instead of ten minutes. You may find it’s the most charming main street on the whole drive, and you nearly missed it.

Address: 31 S Main Street, Eureka, NV 89316

5. Driving Straight Through Austin

A three-story granite tower stands on a hillside outside Austin, and it was built as a summer home. Yes, someone wanted a castle in central Nevada.

Anson Phelps Stokes built Stokes Castle in 1897, modeling it after a medieval Italian tower. It was occupied only briefly, yet it still looks dramatic against the sky.

The town below is just as interesting. Austin’s Historic District covers 748 acres and appears on the National Register of Historic Places.

It preserves the feel of an 1862 silver mining boomtown. Folks call Austin a living ghost town, since people still call it home.

Three of the West’s oldest churches stand here. You’ll find St. George’s Episcopal from 1878, the 1866 Methodist Church, and St. Augustine’s Catholic Church from 1866.

The Methodist church now works as a community center. St. Augustine’s is undergoing restoration as a cultural center.

Don’t skip the 1871 Lander County Courthouse either. It’s a rare surviving Greek Revival courthouse in the state.

Stop at the visitor center first to get your bearings. Then let the kids pick which old building to explore next, and watch Austin quietly eat up your afternoon.

Address: Austin Visitor Center, 71-67 Lincoln Hwy, Austin, NV 89310

6. Missing Fort Churchill State Historic Park

Pony Express riders once counted on this spot for protection. Now your kids can walk the same ground and read the story on the signs.

Fort Churchill State Historic Park near Silver Springs preserves the adobe ruins of an 1860 U.S. Army fort.

It was built to protect early settlers and the Pony Express route.

The ruins are stabilized, so families can stroll among the walls safely. Interpretive signs explain what each building once was.

When history class wraps up, head outside the fort. Scenic trails follow the Carson River, and shady stretches can feel like a treat on a hot Nevada day.

A short drive away sits Buckland Station. This restored 19th-century stagecoach stop also served as a Pony Express home station.

Ranger-led programs are often available too. Options can include historical tours, campfire programs, and gold panning at Buckland Station.

Gold panning tends to win over even the most bored tween. Who doesn’t want a shot at striking it rich, even in a tiny way?

Program schedules change, so check ahead if you want a ranger tour. With ruins, river trails, and a stage stop, this park can stretch well past lunch.

Address: 10000 US-95A, Silver Springs, NV 89429

7. Passing Up Sand Mountain Recreation Area

Six hundred feet of sand, right off the highway. Sand Mountain is the largest single dune in the Great Basin, and kids spot it from far away.

The recreation area sits about 20 miles east of Fallon on US-50. It covers 4,795 acres and operates as a designated Off-Highway Vehicle fee site.

Off-road fans bring ATVs, motorcycles, and dune buggies. Miles of trails and open sand give them plenty of room to roam.

No motor? No problem.

Families can try sandboarding, sand skiing, or simply hiking up the slopes until legs give out.

Climbing a giant dune is a great equalizer. Teens, toddlers, and grownups all end up laughing and out of breath.

History buffs get a bonus too. The ruins of the Sand Springs Pony Express Station sit nearby.

Look for the Sand Springs Desert Study Area as well. It’s home to the rare Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly.

Dispersed camping lets you stay overnight under clear desert skies. Stargazing here can be the perfect finale to a long day of sand.

Bring water, sun protection, and patience for shoe-emptying. You’ll be finding sand in the car until well after you get home to Reno.

Address: Sand Mountain Recreation Area, US-50, about 20 miles east of Fallon, NV 89406