Nevada Road Trip
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, geology buff or simply want to see what all the hype is about, this is the park-packed road trip for you. The Great Basin Highway, which closely follows U.S. 93, will take you through several Nevada state parks, including the dazzling Valley of Fire, before ending at Great Basin National Park, home to 13,064-foot Wheeler Peak and the Lehman Caves system. On the road, you’ll pass through numerous intriguing landscapes and a few eccentric communities. Hike, bike, swim, and stroll in Nevada’s greatest outdoors and discover historic sites along the way. Adventure awaits on the Great Basin Highway!
Anything but lonesome, the Loneliest Road in America is your gateway to ghost towns, historic mining communities, stunning state parks, and now….you. Come chase some history while making plenty of your own. If it’s outdoor action you’re after, get ready for hiking, biking, camping, stargazing, hot springing, off-roading, wildlife watching, and Sagebrush Saloon-hopping. You’ll also encounter a few welcoming, far-flung (but just-close-enough) small towns, from farm-fresh Fallon to western history-packed Austin, Eureka, and Ely along the way
- 3 nights at Excalibur Hotel & Casino ★★★ in a Royal Tower
- 2 nights at Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Ely ★★★ in a Double Room with breakfast
- 2 nights at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino in a King Room
- 8 days AVIS Group C (Toyota Corolla or similar) car hire+
Marvel at red rock formations in Valley of Fire State Park
Navigate the slot canyons of Cathedral Gorge State Park
Discover why “half the park is after dark” at Great Basin National Park
Toast your travels in real-deal roadhouses and storied Sagebrush Saloons
Dip your toes in one of the crispest, clearest bodies of water on Earth
Soak up Nevada history at museums, old saloons, and hot spring resorts
Gaze up at vertical vehicles at the International Car Forest
Explore open air art at Goldwell Open Air Museum and trace footsteps of the past at the ghost town of Rhyolite
ITINERARY:
DAY 1: ARRIVAL LAS VEGAS
Arrive at Harry Reid International Airport, pick up your car and proceed to your hotel. Start your journey in Las Vegas, where you can wrap your senses around the dizzying sights and sounds of Nevada’s neon city before lighting out for the desert.
DAY 2: LAS VEGAS
Enjoy a day of leisure to discover all that is Las Vegas the 'Entertainment Capital of the World.' Take a selfie at the Las Vegas Welcome Sign or be mesmerised by the famous Bellagio Fountains.
DAY 3: VEGAS TO ELY
It’s time to hit the road starting east on I-15 to Valley of Fire State Park. Spend time in Valley of Fire taking short hikes to Atlatl Rock, Elephant Rock, the Fire Wave and White Domes, and checking out prehistoric petroglyphs etched into sandstone. Your journey continues along the beautiful stretch of Highway 93. Do not miss Cathedral Gorge State Park, where wandering the iconic slot canyons and sand castle spires are a Nevada rite of passage. Art, outlaws, and outdoor awesomeness await in the copper mining boomtown of Ely and where you will be stopping for the next two nights. Bustling Ely offers up tried-and-true comfy overnighters, along with a chance to hole-up in a historic hotel where gamblers, gunslingers, and speculators once roamed the halls.
DAY 4: ELY
Today you’ll take time away from the iconic road routes and get back to nature. Great Basin National Park in Nevada boasts some special features that are hard to come by these days: a lack of big crowds and an abundance of dark skies. Though it’s hard to believe with the lineup of scenic features this place offers, Great Basin is one of the least visited national parks, making your time at this high-elevation paradise even more special. Here, you can hike Nevada’s second tallest peak, only crossing paths with a handful of people or experience the darkest night skies in the lower 48 of the United States thanks to the park’s remote location
DAY 5: ELY TO NORTH LAKE TAHOE
Hit the road early as you travel along Highway 50, known as the Loneliest Road in America. The short, beautiful 1.25-hour drive from Ely to Eureka rewards you with plenty of time to fill your day exploring a mountain town built on art, history, and outdoor adventure. Stop at Garnet Hill to search the ground for ruby-like stones before rolling into town. Head for the old mountaintop mining town of Austin, and on your way to Fallon, see an ancient petroglyph site, a huge singing sand dune, an old-school roadhouse, and more. Continue along Highway 50 until you reach the small town of Fernley, then it’s on to Highway 80. Mountains start to show in the distance as your scenic view begins into North Lake Tahoe. They call Lake Tahoe the “Jewel of the Sierra Nevada,” and the moment you see it, you get why. Vast, crystal-clear, and encircled by towering alpine peaks, Lake Tahoe is a summertime paradise, a winter wonderland, and a year-round haven for magical mountain memories.
DAY 6: NORTH LAKE TAHOE
Spend the day soaking up the wonders of Lake Tahoe. North Lake Tahoe is a bit more easygoing than its southern counterpart, and that’s a lovely thing. But it sure doesn't mean there’s a shortage of things to do in North Lake Tahoe. Hike, kayak, or ski surrounded by the beauty of Lake Tahoe.
DAY 7: NORTH LAKE TAHOE TO VEGAS
Now it’s time to experience a psychedelic, open-air odyssey across the Silver State on the Free-Range Art Highway. This colorful road trip is the blank canvas for your next unusual adventure. Truckers may blast up the 500-mile stretch but with sights ranging from mural-draped districts and oddball open-air galleries to funky shops and historic “haunts” (like, literally), you’ll want to slow your roll and follow your curiosity on—and off—Nevada’s eccentric slice of US-95. End your art-tastic adventure in Downtown Las Vegas’ Fremont East District, where several hip, walkable blocks buzz with restored vintage neon signs, retro fonts, and out-of-this-world art.
DAY 8: LAS VEGAS - DEPARTURE
Return your car at the Las Vegas airport before your departure flight to end your tour
| 1 Nov - 14 Dec 23, 5 Jan - 31 May 24~ |
30 Nov 23,
unless sold out prior. Availability is limited.
| * Conditions apply. On sale until 30 Nov 23 for travel until 7 nights. ~Pricing for all accommodation in this package is based on check in on 24 Jan 24 and is correct at time of printing however is subject to change at the discretion of the Hotel operator. These prices should be used as a guide only. Please check all prices, availability and other information with your travel consultant at time of or before booking. Blackouts may apply during special events and fair periods. ^A compulsory resort fee of USD39.68 (approx AUD58.27) per room per day is payable direct to hotel on check-in, this amount is included in the advertised cost however it MUST be paid direct to the hotel at time of checkin. Resort inclusions are subject to change. Prices correct as at 26 Sep 23 but may be adjusted if surcharges, fees, taxes, or currency exchange rates are affected. Offers subject to availability. (All savings and bonus nights are included in the advertised price). Fees apply for direct payments made to Viva Holidays using a debit or credit card. Amounts payable to third parties not included. Bookings must be made directly with Viva Holidays or a travel agent, please confirm all prices, availability and details with your consultant before booking. Cancellation fees apply, offers may be withdrawn without notice and are not combinable with any other offers unless stated. The Viva Holidays General Booking Conditions apply vivaholidays.com.au/policies/booking-conditions. Viva Holidays Pty Ltd ABN 78 634 662 294. |