The Loneliest Road

[robotland]

Have you travelled this route to BM from the east? I'm eager to try a new stretch of road and it seems like 50 is the one...So far, I've located a Good Place To Get Pie and The Suicide Table (in Virginia City) and overall, it looks pretty durn scenic. Got some intel to share?

[Ranger Genius]

I've driven a stretch of 50. It's scenic if you like desolate desertscapes. Which I do.

[Ugly Dougly]

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[LostinReno]

Have you travelled this route to BM from the east? I'm eager to try a new stretch of road and it seems like 50 is the one...So far, I've located a Good Place To Get Pie and The Suicide Table (in Virginia City) and overall, it looks pretty durn scenic. Got some intel to share?

Once you hit Nevada, get gas whenever possible. Period.
Not sure what your driving but if your towing anything, I wouldn't advise towing it up to Viriginia City unless you have more than enough reliable engine power to get it up there and trust your brakes enough to get back down . The road from 50 to VC has a very steep incline and some good curves. IMHO the whole drive is beautiful!

[Just_Joe]

Have you travelled this route to BM from the east? I'm eager to try a new stretch of road and it seems like 50 is the one...So far, I've located a Good Place To Get Pie and The Suicide Table (in Virginia City) and overall, it looks pretty durn scenic. Got some intel to share?

Great Basin Desert- 20 miles of flat, 5 miles up a "range" and then 5 miles down a "range"l. Repeat.

If you're looking for the shortest route to the Playa, you'll pass through Ely, Eureka, Austin, Middlegate (a bar), Fallon and then Fernley. Each of the towns has gas. Eureka and Austin are "Quaint". Have a beer at the Owl Club in Eureka. VC/Reno are a slight detour, but worth seeing if you've never been.

There is a Nevada Hwy program where you can pick up a Passport thingie, get it stamped at the five towns and then get a "Loneliest Highway" certificate and maybe some other piece of schwag.
Bring an old pair of shoes, you'll want to add to the "shoe tree" a couple miles before Middlegate.
Don't drive stupid. The Hwy Patrol guy that works out of Eureka is a nice enough fella but he WILL give you a ticket if you go 81mph.

[Sail Man]

I've driven a stretch of 50. It's scenic if you like desolate desertscapes. Which I do.

Thats cool, because he is driving a Lunar Landing Module

[Thecatman]

The Toiyabe Cafe in Austin is a damn good eatin place. kinda small but good mom and pop type place. Not a "box store" restaraunt. Be on your left as you motor west.

Not sure what your driving but if your towing anything, I wouldn't advise towing it up to Viriginia City unless you have more than enough reliable engine power to get it up there and trust your brakes enough to get back down . The road from 50 to VC has a very steep incline and some good curves.

If you were to go to VC from highway 50 out of Mound House, make sure you remain on the truck route, eapecially if you're driving a motor home and/or towing something. you will avoid some nasty curves. Between Gold Hill and VC there is aproxamatley a 10% grade with a blind S curve.

[Playa Foot]

I'm planning to drive my Miata across 50 sometime this summer. It is one of my very favorite drives and one can drive from Ely to Reno, Fernley or Black Rock City in a day without pushing yourself. 50 roughly follows the route of the Pony Express and there are remains of stations still visible. It also follows the route of the Lincoln Highway, the first transcontinental highway

Get gas in Ely where it is only costly, it is expensive in Eureka and precious in Austin. It is affordable again in Fallon and Fernley.
Ely is the only town of any size, it has gas, food, motels a supermarket and the only bordellos on hwy 50.
Eureka is a prosperous little town, check out the opera house and the museum.
Austin is cool, there is not too much there but it is an interesting place to stop. Check out the Stokes Tower it was built in the 1800's by two brothers and used for one summer. To find it turn left just past the last (of two) gas stations and follow the road for half a mile. The road is dirt but graded and there is a good turn around at the tower.
Hwy 722 past Austin is an alternative to the traffic on 50. There is less traffic and it is more scenic. It follows the route of the old Lincoln Highway. 722 rejoins 50 near Eastgate.
Middlegate is a good place to stop for a cold beverage and a burger. The establishment and the denizens are colorful and entertaining. In the area between Middlegate watch for jet fighters Top Gun trains at Fallon NAS and you can orten see them on training flights.
Past Middle gate is Sand Mountain which is a huge sand dune, a Pony Express Station and the ugliest mud flat in Nevada.
Fallon and Fernley are good places to get your last things. Both have supermarkets, WallyMarts, casinos. gas stations, and places to eat

[Thecatman]

Hwy 722 past Austin is an alternative to the traffic on 50. There is less traffic and it is more scenic. It follows the route of the old Lincoln Highway. 722 rejoins 50 near Eastgate.
Middlegate is a good place to stop for a cold beverage and a burger. The establishment and the denizens are colorful and entertaining. In the area between Middlegate watch for jet fighters Top Gun trains at Fallon NAS and you can orten see them on training flights.
Past Middle gate is Sand Mountain which is a huge sand dune, a Pony Express Station and the ugliest mud flat in Nevada.
Fallon and Fernley are good places to get your last things. Both have supermarkets, WallyMarts, casinos. gas stations, and places to eat

Don't forget the shoe shoe tree and the "story" behind it. The tree is between the junction with 722 and Middlegate.
When we go to Orem on July1st, I'm gonna make a contribution to it. A pair of worn out New Balance shoes that I wore on the play last year.


That "ugly mud flat" is also a salt mine

[StevenGoodman]

I drove US 50 last Monday. The road is quite drivable, there seemed to be only one long upgrade/downgrade; near Austin. Lots of other grades, but none seemed severe. Not many cars, and lots of motorcycles.

It reminded me a lot of 447 from Fernley to Gerlach.

Make sure to get gas in Delta UT and again in Ely NV. If you aren't sure you can get from Ely to Fallon, get gas again in Eureka. There is also gas in Austin, and I think in one other spot, but who knows what the hours would be.

"Rest Stops" consist of a couple of picnic tables and a trash can!

Martini Steve