7 Tiny Off-Grid Towns In Nevada
Nevada is famous for the neon-drenched chaos of the Vegas Strip and the high-desert energy of Reno. Just past the city limits, the landscape shifts into something far more raw and quiet. For travelers willing to trade crowds for space, Nevada’s remote, off-grid towns offer a different kind of appeal. These are not quick roadside stops, but communities shaped by vast horizons, dark night skies, and an independent spirit tied closely to the land.
From high desert plains to mountain-ringed valleys, these outposts reflect Nevada’s frontier past in ways that still feel present. Towns like Ely, with its railroad history, and Austin, a preserved silver boomtown, offer insight into how people once lived and worked in isolation. Travel here favors distance over convenience and stillness over noise. The journey itself becomes part of the experience.
Tonopah
Halfway between Reno and Las Vegas, Tonopah is a town built on silver and starlight. Its history is rooted in the Tonopah Historic Mining Park, where visitors can take self-guided tours around the site of one of the richest silver strikes in the West. ATV tours also provide access to the surrounding mining areas. After a day exploring the town’s past, Tonopah Brewing Company serves as a local gathering spot for craft beer and barbecue.
At night, Tonopah’s remote location and clear desert skies make it a notable destination for stargazing. The Clair Blackburn Memorial Stargazing Park offers open views of the Milky Way with minimal light interference. Lodging options include the World-Famous Clown Motel, known for its unusual theme and location next to the town’s historic cemetery.
Ely
Ely is a town where the past continues to move forward. The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is the centerpiece, a 56-acre site where visitors can ride historic steam locomotives along original routes. The experience offers a direct connection to the industrial history that shaped the region. Nearby, the Ely Renaissance Village features preserved cottages with artifacts representing the immigrant groups that once lived and worked in the area.
Outside the town center, the surrounding landscape offers additional points of interest. Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park contains six beehive-shaped ovens dating to the 1870s, along with hiking trails through the nearby hills. Eastern Nevada Adventures provides access to ATV routes that extend into the surrounding terrain.
Rachel
Rachel, Nevada, sits along the Extraterrestrial Highway and is widely known for its association with UFO lore. The town identifies itself as the “UFO Capital of the World,” a reputation tied to its proximity to the Area 51 military base. This connection has drawn visitors curious about reported sightings and conspiracy theories. One frequently referenced stop is the Black Mailbox, a roadside location where travelers have historically left messages. Though the mailbox has changed over time, the site remains a recognizable landmark.
The center of activity in Rachel is the Little A’Le’Inn, which functions as a motel, restaurant, and gift shop. Visitors can eat, stay overnight, and exchange stories with others passing through the area. While Area 51 itself is inaccessible, guided tours from Las Vegas travel to designated perimeter viewpoints.
Jarbidge
Often described as one of the most isolated towns in the lower 48 states, Jarbidge sits deep in northeastern Nevada and is reached by long stretches of unpaved road. The remoteness is central to its identity and appeal. The surrounding Jarbidge Wilderness offers access to hiking routes such as the Jarbidge River Trail, which follows the river through a narrow canyon. The river is also known for its quiet fishing opportunities.
The town itself is compact and historically intact. The mile-long townsite includes the Old Jail, the Community Hall, and several remaining structures from the mining era. Despite its isolation, Jarbidge maintains a small B&B, a motel, an RV park, a gas station, and a restaurant. Each August, the town hosts Jarbidge Days, a local event with music, a parade, and a community barbecue.
Pioche
Pioche is closely associated with its violent past during Nevada’s mining era. Once known as one of the roughest, toughest mining towns in the Old West, it is now a quieter place to examine frontier history. Nearby outdoor sites such as Echo Canyon State Park and Spring Valley State Park provide fishing access, camping areas, and preserved ranch structures from the 19th century. These locations offer context for the environment that early settlers encountered.
Within town, several historic landmarks remain intact. The Million Dollar Courthouse reflects the town’s turbulent early finances and now operates as a local museum. Above town, Boot Hill Cemetery contains graves dating to Pioche’s most lawless years, many marked with brief epitaphs that reference the town’s reputation.
Gerlach
Gerlach is a small town at the edge of the Black Rock Desert and serves as the final settlement before the open playa. It functions as a gateway to the Black Rock Desert, a vast, flat expanse known for land-speed records and the annual Burning Man festival. Outside of the event period, the scale and emptiness of the desert remain the primary draw.
One notable site near Gerlach is Fly Geyser, a man-made geothermal formation located on private land. Its layered shape and coloration result from mineral deposits and thermophilic algae. Access is limited to guided tours offered on select Saturdays. In town, the Miners Club acts as a central gathering place, offering food, drinks, and occasional live events.
Austin
Austin sits along U.S. Route 50, often referred to as the Loneliest Road in America. Once Nevada’s second-largest city during the silver boom, the town now has a population of around 200 residents. Its main street retains much of its original layout, with historic buildings, long-standing saloons, and small lodging options that reflect its past.
Austin was once called the “City of Churches,” a title that remains evident today. Three 19th-century churches still stand, including the Methodist Church, St. George’s Episcopal Church, and St. Augustine’s Catholic Church. Just outside town, Stokes Castle, a three-story stone structure, overlooks the Reese River Valley. Nearby Spencer Hot Springs offers a developed soaking area in a remote desert setting.
A Quieter Side of the Silver State
From the star-filled nights of Tonopah to the open desert near Gerlach, Nevada’s off-grid towns reflect a side of the state shaped by distance and self-reliance. These places appeal to travelers interested in history, isolation, and landscapes that remain largely unchanged. Life here moves at a different pace, defined more by geography than convenience.
For those planning a trip through Nevada, these towns offer alternatives to the state’s better-known destinations. Long drives, limited services, and quiet surroundings are part of the experience. Away from city lights and crowded highways, these communities reveal a Nevada that continues to operate on its own terms.
