I-80 or US-50? (Reno, Elko, Winnemucca: hotel, home, taxi)

[Gxl35]

I'll be driving across Nevada on a roadtrip from the East Coast to the West Coast in a few months. Should I take route 50 or I-80 across? Which is the more scenic/more stuff to do road?

Thanks for your input!

[NVDave]

Originally Posted by Gxl35

I'll be driving across Nevada on a roadtrip from the East Coast to the West Coast in a few months. Should I take route 50 or I-80 across? Which is the more scenic/more stuff to do road?

Thanks for your input!

If you come across US-50 when there is still snow possible, you could be delayed for a day here or there.

Personally, I think that US-50 is more scenic in that you see some of the last areas of the west where there is nothing. Zippo, nada, nothing. Just huge, open valleys with no development at all.

[jlawrence01]

It really depends on what interests you most.

I-80 runs along the Humboldt River and is a bit quicker. You can stop at Wendover on the border and see the old Air Force base where the Enola Gay was based.

You can stop at Elko, home of the Northeastern Nevada Museum, which is a great little museum with a lot of local exhibits and a great taxidermy wing. There is also a great western museum in the downtown area and a shop where they make handmade saddles. Nearby in Lamoille Canyon in the Ruby Mountains and the Ruby Meadows, one of the most remote and least visited wildlife reserves.
Also, there are some GREAT Basque restaurants.

Winnemucca also has a small museum. And of course, you will hit Reno and Truckee, CA.

The freeway is pretty much 80 mph the entire way and is mostly rural.

US-50 is promoted by the Nevada Tourism Department as the "world's loneliest road." Personally, while there are a few scenic towns in the area and some ghost towns nearby, I have been on a number of roads in Nevada that are far more remote and lonely.

You can have a blast on either road as long as you keep your gas tank full and carry plenty of water and a little food should your vehicle break down.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Snow won't be a problem in a "few months." Take U.S. 50 for sure!! Make sure you stay in ELY at the Hotel Nevada. Touristy but awesome. Free margarita upon checkin. Hundreds of miles of gorgeous scenery and nothing else.

Also, further East, try highway 24 through Utah - simply stunning.