This is the loneliest route in the U.S.: 500 miles with no signal, no gas stations and no humans

It might not be the longest highway in the country (at 3,365 miles, US Route 20 has that honor) but US 50, which runs through Nevada, cutting deserts and mountains, is the loneliest stretch of road in the United States.

Nevada State Highway 50 route was proclaimed the “Loneliest Road in America” in an article published by Life magazine in July 1986: “It’s totally empty. There are no points of interest. We don’t recommend it… We warn all motorists not to drive there, unless they’re confident of their survival skills‚” was the American Automobile Association’s appraisal of the two-lane, 3,073-mile route which drivers can cross without seeing a single soul for miles and miles, days on end.

Where does US Route 50 start and end?

US 50 is a major east–west route which winds from Washington D.C. through Cincinnati, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Sacramento, to the remote mountains of the West Virginia Appalachians and Colorado’s Rockies, to the vast farming country of the Midwest and Ohio River Valley, and ultimately through the now-legendary loneliness of Nevada and Utah’s Great Basin Desert.

The highway was spawned from the Good Roads Movement of the early 1880’s. Like all east-west routes, it was designated an even number (50). Construction began at the start of the 20th Century and the route continued to be modified long after its completion in 1926.

Not everyone was happy with the Life article and the Loneliest Road in America tag - particularly in Nevada where state authorities hit back by promoting “I Survived Highway 50” kits, complete with maps, survival tips, descriptive information about scenic attractions and lists of services and facilities in the five towns. The Highway 50 Survival guide can be downloaded here.

According to the PR blurb: “This famous Nevada road trip is your gateway to ghost towns, historic mining communities, stunning state parks, unsurpassed recreational opportunities, and a handful of authenticity-packed Sagebrush Saloons... American Indians, the Pony Express, gold miners - and now, you”.

The Nevada section of the US 50 runs for 375 to 500 miles and takes four to five days to complete. From night stargazing at Great Basin National Park to quaffing a few beers in one of the classic Silver State saloons, there’s plenty to do and keep yourself entertained.

As the survival manual says: “A trip across Highway 50 is for people who want a little real-deal adventure in their travels. Those who hear folks say, ‘The journey is just as important as the destination’ and actually take it to heart".

Nature and US history along US 50

In a post detailing their US 50 road trip in 2019, Steve and Diane Owens, wrote: “U.S. 50 is an incredible road, and a driver should be prepared for long distances between towns, high mountain passes, and winding narrow roads with many hairpin turns and no shoulders or guardrails. There is just wild, beautiful high desert country.

“We are interested in the Nevada section known as the “Loneliest Road in America.” It is here we begin our new journey — the westward wagons on the Pony Express trail. There is nothing but an unwelcoming and harsh desert. The desert of central Nevada is unforgiving and remote yet has a silent grace, a peacefulness that remains unbroken but for historical sites and a two-lane highway that goes on and on.

“At the time we crossed the state, the road had little or no civilization or services and cellphone connections were far and few between. We realized we had no services of any kind for many miles and there was not a house to be seen. Yet along the way we found historic sites, alpine forests, dry desert valleys, ghost towns where mines have gone bust.

“We enter the tiny community of Eureka, a well-preserved old mining town that includes a newspaper publishing house and an unbelievable beautiful opera house. We rest among the townsmen and enjoy a hot meal. Tomorrow is another day, another day of exploration and adventure; but for now, we rest”.

Related stories

Travel

TSA gives lowdown on luggage wrap vitals

Society

She works 5 hours a week and earns more than $9,000 a month in a job that few people want: “I always say that the dirtier the better”

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.