What is the “Loneliest Road in America?” Life Magazine claimed that it was the stretch of U.S. Route 50 running through Nevada, in a 1986 article. I don’t know if anyone still claims that today, or if it was even true twenty-five years ago. Additionally, there are probably far lonelier roads in Australia and Canada but so be it. I still have lonely roads on my mind after my recent journey to the desert and I’m going to talk about the one in Nevada.
It’s Long
It’s not lonely along the great length of Route 50, coast-to-coast. Where I live on the eastern side in Virginia, in fact, it’s rather busy. Indeed, the same road passing near my home then proceeds to cross the preponderance of the North American Continent. This includes the veritable emptiness of Nevada.
Thus, it’s one of the longest roads in the United States. In fact it already made an appearance in the 12MC comments for that very reason. Specifically, I referenced the obnoxious sign at the beginning of the route in Ocean City, Maryland. There they brag about a terminus in Sacramento, California some 3,073 miles (4,946 kilometres) away. A guy drove the length of it a few years ago and wrote a book, including a chapter on the Nevada segment. He remarked, “very seldom do we meet an oncoming vehicle and there is virtually nothing along the road”. That’s pretty grim.
It’s Quiet
The route through Nevada isn’t entirely devoid of life or attractions, of course. It’s just that what a driver can see besides the haunting terrain itself is scattered and infrequent. America’s Scenic Byways says,
“Far from lonely, Highway 50 actually has a number of attractions that make traveling the byway a worthwhile trip. Many ghost towns and historical cemeteries dot the area. Fishing abounds at Iliapah Reservoir, Cave Lake State Park, and Comins Lake. Travelers will not want to miss the variety of unusual sites such as the Charcoal Ovens State Park or Hickison Summit Petroglyphs. Beautiful historic mining towns are scattered across the byway.”
The downside: this will require a journey of 400 miles (645 km).
I started wondering about superlatives. Every mile can’t possibly be exactly the same; some miles have to be more extreme than others. What might be the loneliest segment on the loneliest road in the United States?
A good candidate might be somewhere in the vicinity of the turnoff to Duckworth. Only 530 vehicles per day pass this point, the lowest traffic volume anywhere along Nevada’s Route 50.
But Not Always
Then I flipped towards the opposite direction and wondered about segments that couldn’t possibly be considered lonely. One could make a strong case that it falls within Carson City, perhaps where the road runs directly past the Nevada State Capitol building.
However, I picked a different location.
I love the way casinos rise magically from the asphalt in Stateline, NV, directly across the border from better-known South Lake Tahoe, California (map). I have an odd fascination with casinos placed strategically along borders, as those who have read Twelve Mile Circle for awhile undoubtedly know. So my choice isn’t surprising.
A Highpoint Too
Then, just for the heck of it, I decided to find the highest point of elevation along the highway.
That occurs east of Ely, at Connors Pass where the road rises to an elevation of 7,729 feet (2,356 m), requiring 8% grades and numerous switchbacks.
Historically the corridor across Nevada follows the famous Pony Express route, portions of the old California trail used by pioneers traveling west through relentless terrain, and the Lincoln Highway from early automotive days. It crosses mountains, flats, forests and deserts. Loneliest place in America? Far from it. I’d love to drive its length someday.
Where, really, is the loneliest spot?
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