Community Forums

astrnmrtom · 03-06-2020, 03:14 PM

Thinking about going from Reno to Big Basin this Sept and rather than going East on 80 then down, we are considering going via 50. Anyone take this route, and if so how was the drive?

Thanks.

Agesilaus · 03-06-2020, 03:21 PM

We went that way, its a long drive thru mostly empty county. Keep your fuel tank at or above half way since fuel stops can be few and far between. We enjoyed the drive, the one diversion we made was the Berlin Ichthyosaur State Park which has a ghost town and fossil diggings. No campground tho. The road is a good two lane highway mostly flatish with I think a climb at the eastern end near the Utah border.

BillandLiz · 03-06-2020, 03:27 PM

Great highway one of our fav's Camp at Bob Scott campground lots of stars and if you want to take a day tour stop and camp in Ely and do the dinner train ride very nice

twogypsies · 03-06-2020, 03:31 PM

It's a very pleasant, easy-going drive in pretty country. Good highway. Fuel up in the towns.. don't let it get low.

Sacramento Pass BLM Campground just west of Great Basin Nat'l Park is a great place to spend a night or two... good for big rigs. In the park take the Lehman Cave tour - very nice.

https://www.campendium.com/sacrament...ecreation-area

NevadaNick · 03-06-2020, 03:40 PM

Drove from Reno to Baker and back yesterday. Its a great highway and there is fuel in every town along the way. The station in Austin just finished with an expansion of there pumps.

EdInArk · 03-06-2020, 04:22 PM

I rode it on a motorcycle last August. I remember the road to be fine with an occasional town. As others have said, don't get too low on fuel.

Melvo · 03-07-2020, 09:16 AM

Highway 50, called the Loneliest Rd is a great drive, only one steep curvy climb rest is easy. We have stayed a couple of times at Great Basin National Park. Several campgrounds to choose from don't think any full service but few people. really don't need a reservation. Store and even a cave tour.

Alan_Hepburn · 03-07-2020, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melvo

Highway 50, called the Loneliest Rd is a great drive, only one steep curvy climb rest is easy. We have stayed a couple of times at Great Basin National Park. Several campgrounds to choose from don't think any full service but few people. really don't need a reservation. Store and even a cave tour.

Last summer we found a road even lonelier than Hwy 50. On Hwy 50 you see other vehicles pretty regularly, at least one vehicle every 5 minutes or so. We took SR21 from Beaver, Utah up to where it connects to Hwy 50 near the Utah/Nevada line - over 100 miles and we saw exactly 3 other vehicles the entire time! Lots of great scenery, uninterrupted by farm houses, shacks, plowed fields, or anything.

We drove Hwy 50 from Dodge City, Kansas to Reno, Nevada - with the exception of that little jaunt on SR21 - and it was an enjoyable drive.

NevadaNick · 03-07-2020, 01:35 PM

Between Milford and Garrison there is one visible ranch and an old dot station. I was on that road and there were a dozen or so semi’s unloading sheep from the highway.

astrnmrtom · 03-07-2020, 05:52 PM

Great info everyone thanks! I've bookmarked some of the info. Looks like Hwy 50 is a go!

Leftys · 03-07-2020, 07:09 PM

It’s a nice drive. When we did it we didn’t see another vehicle all day. Real cold and windy at night.

EdInArk · 03-08-2020, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan_Hepburn

Last summer we found a road even lonelier than Hwy 50. On Hwy 50 you see other vehicles pretty regularly, at least one vehicle every 5 minutes or so. We took SR21 from Beaver, Utah up to where it connects to Hwy 50 near the Utah/Nevada line - over 100 miles and we saw exactly 3 other vehicles the entire time! Lots of great scenery, uninterrupted by farm houses, shacks, plowed fields, or anything.

We drove Hwy 50 from Dodge City, Kansas to Reno, Nevada - with the exception of that little jaunt on SR21 - and it was an enjoyable drive.

Arizona 191 from Alpine to Clifton is 93 miles of the twistiest nothing I've ever seen. I've ridden it on a motorcycle a few times just for scenery and the challenge. The last time was in 2014, and I met one vehicle, an old farm truck.

Busskipper · 03-08-2020, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrnmrtom

Thinking about going from Reno to Big Basin this Sept and rather than going East on 80 then down, we are considering going via 50. Anyone take this route, and if so how was the drive?

Thanks.

It's FIne! - Called the loneliest Road for a reason - but the road is fine and the drive is easy - would certainly be My preference.

JMHO,

snxwmxn · 03-08-2020, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agesilaus

We went that way, its a long drive thru mostly empty county. Keep your fuel tank at or above half way since fuel stops can be few and far between. We enjoyed the drive, the one diversion we made was the Berlin Ichthyosaur State Park which has a ghost town and fossil diggings. No campground tho. The road is a good two lane highway mostly flatish with I think a climb at the eastern end near the Utah border.

Actually there is a campground at Berlin Ichthyosaur State Park. We stayed there last May. It's a nice stop on the way to Great Basin NP. Kerouac's Restaurant in Baker is a nice restaurant with good food.