#5 Ely, Nevada

Population: 5,000

Getting there: It’s not easy! No major airports are within a 3-hour drive (Las Vegas is approx. 3.5 hours) – this is a road trip destination, located in east, central Nevada, at the crossroads of U.S. 93 and U.S. 50.

Getting to Ely (pronounced “ee-lee”) isn’t easy, but if taking a road trip through the West, or looking for a truly off-the-beaten track gem to explore, it’s an unexpectedly great stop. What you’ll find are beautiful trails, riverboats, fishing, golf, rodeos, and even caves, alongside casinos, ghost towns, and a relatively active nightlife. Ely’s history is rich and well-preserved making you feel as if you’ve stepped right back into the Wild West. Kids will enjoy riding on the oldest running steam engine train, and for a little thrill, zip line over Bootleg Canyon.

Ely’s quirkiness comes out at the annual bathtub races at Cave Lake State Park, 14 miles outside of town. People come every summer to participate. There, you can also fly fish (they claim to hold the state record for a 27-pound German Brown Trout).

Where to stay: Hotel Nevada is the most convenient and comfortable of the options in town. Plus, it’s got the charm of a storied past. When it opened in 1929, Prohibition was still in effect and the hotel became a hot spot for bootleggers and gambling. At the time, it was the tallest building in the state of Nevada and the first one that was fire-proof. Concerned about the shenanigans taking place perhaps?

Side trip: Great Basin National Park

Driving time from Ely: 1.25 hours

Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy climbing Mount Wheeler (13,000 feet in elevation), and exploring the Great Basin National Park just over an hour drive to the east where you might find elk, antelope, hawks, deer, or badgers. You know you’ve gotten off the beaten track when you can drive on a stretch of road dubbed as “America’s loneliest highway” on the way to the Park. While there, visit Stella Lake and Lehman Caves.

More info: www.elynevada.net, www.nps.gov/grba

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