MileCheckThe loneliest road in America: US-50 across Nevada
In 1986, Life magazine called US-50 across Nevada "The Loneliest Road in America" — as a warning. Nevada leaned in, and it's now one of the most memorable drives in the country. Here's what to know before you go.
Where it got the name
A 1986 Life magazine article dubbed the Nevada stretch of US-50 the loneliest road in America, warning of "no points of interest" and saying drivers needed "survival skills." Nevada turned the insult into a tourism campaign — complete with a survival guide and passport stamps at the towns along the way.
What the drive is actually like
US-50 crosses the wide-open Great Basin — long, straight stretches over one mountain range and valley after another, with small towns (Fallon, Austin, Eureka, Ely) spaced far apart and almost nothing in between. It's beautiful in a stark, big-sky way, and genuinely remote.
Come prepared
Treat the remoteness seriously: fuel up at every town (the gaps between gas can be long), carry water, and don't count on cell service for miles at a stretch. Tell someone your route. Because signal is spotty, know your route and watch the mile markers — a paper map or an offline app beats a dead phone.
Knowing where you are out there
On an empty highway, your mile marker is how you tell anyone where you are — a tow, a ranger, a friend. MileCheck shows your exact mile marker even offline, so on a road this empty you always know your spot. How to report your location →
Know exactly where you are — live
MileCheck shows your nearest mile marker in real time as you drive, plus live DOT alerts and the nearest camera on your route. Free to start, works offline, runs on CarPlay and Android Auto.
Questions, answered
What is the Loneliest Road in America?
US Route 50 across Nevada, named "The Loneliest Road in America" by Life magazine in 1986 for its long, remote stretches through the Great Basin, with small towns far apart and little in between.
Why is US-50 in Nevada called the loneliest road?
Because of how remote and empty it is — long straight stretches across desert basins and mountain ranges, with towns spaced far apart and almost no services between them. A 1986 Life article gave it the nickname.
Is it safe to drive the Loneliest Road?
Yes, with preparation. Fuel up in every town, carry water, don't rely on cell service, and tell someone your route. The main challenge is the remoteness, not the road itself.
How long is the Loneliest Road?
The Nevada section of US-50 runs roughly 400 miles across the state. US-50 overall is a coast-to-coast route, but the "loneliest" nickname refers specifically to the Nevada stretch.