10 Overlooked Towns In Nevada Worth Visiting

Nevada, although a landlocked, arid state, offers compelling reasons to visit. In addition to the vibrant nightlife and casinos of Las Vegas, the state’s rich mining and railroad history, wild west cultural heritage, interesting formations, and awe-inspiring architectural features are worth getting on the next flight. But while visiting, most tourists often settle for usual favorites like Las Vegas and Carson City, and being a state with a massive landmass and a small population, dozens of towns are often overlooked. Surprisingly, these off-the-beaten-path towns are the best places to witness the unique side of the Silver State, where its raw natural splendor, historic essence, and cultural heritage glow unobstructed. Without further ado, uncover 10 towns in Nevada worth visiting on your next getaway.

Lovelock

Lovelock might not be a hot spot, but it is full of surprises, one of which is the Lovelock Cave. Located around 20 miles outside town, this 150-foot-long and 35-foot-wide cave is of high significance and was the first major cave to be excavated in the Great Basin. Upon discovery and excavation in the early 1900s, thousands of artifacts were discovered on the site, including baskets, duck decoys, textiles, and human remains estimated to be up to 4,000 years old. While the cave is now largely empty, visitors are welcome to tour the site and learn more about the lives of prehistoric Native Americans.

Back in town, off-the-beaten-path travelers can explore the Marzen House, originally built in 1875 in the Italianate style and once the most majestic in the area. Today, it serves as a museum with artifacts that showcase the area’s history, including its earliest American Indian settlers, pioneers, and ranching industry. On the quirky side, this town is home to Lovers Lock Plaza, a small park where people can picnic, walk, and see or add to over a thousand locks left behind by lovers worldwide, who believe the act strengthens love.

Eureka

Eureka sits along US Highway 50, also known as The Loneliest Road in America. It is for this reason that the town is now nicknamed "The Friendliest Town on the Loneliest Road." Staying true to its alternate name, Eureka is a friendly stop for travelers along Route 50 as it is home to the Owl Club Bar & Steakhouse, which offers delicious steak, burgers, fries, salad, seafood, and cold drinks all day long. For history buffs, the Eureka Sentinel Museum is a great place to learn about the area’s past, as it contains interesting exhibits such as original press equipment, mining tools, and personal items from miners.

Across the street from the museum, travelers will find the impressive Eureka Opera House, which was built in 1880 and now hosts occasional events. The opera house is also open for free tours. Additionally, the Raine’s Market in Eureka is a great place to shop for a wide range of things, including fresh produce, baked items, food, and camping gear.

Beatty

Beatty is a tiny town on the Amargosa River, around 100 miles north of Las Vegas. This town is famous as a gateway to Death Valley National Park, the hottest place on earth, where summer temperatures often exceed 120 degrees. From this town, one can easily explore Titus Canyon, the most popular backcountry road in the park, featuring rugged mountains, unique rock formations, petroglyphs, a ghost town, and the narrow canyon.

Away from Death Valley, tourists to Beatty will be met with the Beatty Museum. This museum offers a glimpse into the history of the Bullfrog mining district, a once-booming gold mining region that includes the nearby ghost town of Rhyolite, which is also a must-visit. The Goldwell Open Air Museum is another cool attraction in the area, full of interesting sculptures and ruins of the ghost town of Bullfrog. In the interim, Death Valley Nut & Candy Co. is in town for some sweet tooth indulgence. The store has so much to offer, from ice cream to nuts, popcorn, and a ton of candies.

Overton

Overton is a scenic town in the Moapa Valley, and one of the best places to explore the unique landscapes of Nevada. From this town, it is easy to access Valley of Fire State Park, a massive area characterized by fiery red sandstone formations, ancient petrified trees, and petroglyphs dating back over 2,000 years. Adventurers in this park can camp or picnic amidst the stunning geological formations, or hike one of its trails. The White Domes trail, particularly, is a must-hike as it is just one mile long and offers close-up views of some of the park’s colorful formations, including a slot canyon.

Additionally, Overton is near Lake Mead Recreation Area, where a myriad of adventures, including boating, swimming, camping, and hiking, await. Meanwhile, in ancient times, the Overton area was occupied by Ancestral Puebloans, and today, the Lost City Museum preserves the history of this Native American culture. The museum includes a reconstructed Puebloan house and artifacts excavated from the actual Puebloan village, such as pottery, shells, and jewelry.

Panaca

Panaca is an overlooked town that is surprisingly full of things to delight travelers, especially those who love Nevada’s outdoors. Most notably, this town is the closest to Cathedral Gorge State Park, an outstanding natural wonder defined by slot canyons, columns, and spires. Visitors are invited to camp in this park, picnic, crawl through its narrow and cool canyons, or hike one of its trails, like the 0.5-mile Miller Point Trail, which leads to impressive views of the area. Panaca is also near Panaca Charcoal Kilns, one of Nevada’s quirkiest attractions.

Off-the-beaten-path travelers will absolutely love this hidden gem, which is made up of two charcoal kilns built in the 1870s and used to produce charcoal for nearby silver mines of Pioche and Bullionville. In downtown Panaca, one will find Panaca Market, a great place to shop for products, such as fresh meat, seafood, fruits, and vegetables. Furthermore, the Panaca Warm Springs is nearby, offering relaxing soaks and great scenery.

Pioche

Pioche is a small but interesting town that often goes unnoticed. Located in Southeastern Nevada, 180 miles from Las Vegas, this town is significant for hosting the Million Dollar Courthouse, an Italianate structure built in 1872. Officially known as the Lincoln County Courthouse, the structure was given the nickname because it cost today’s equivalent of a million dollars to build. Visitors are invited to check out this interesting structure, which cost so much yet was never fully utilized for its original purpose.

For a more detailed history, one can visit the Lincoln County Historical Museum to see exhibits covering everything from the area’s earliest American Indians to its mining industry and immigrants. Later, outdoor buffs can head out of town to Echo Canyon State Park for some adventures, as the park features scenic trails and a 65-acre reservoir ideal for boating, swimming, fishing, and bird watching. The Ash Canyon trail in the park is particularly exciting as it offers a 2.5-mile adventure through a dramatic canyon. Additionally, the park has campsites and picnic areas.

Genoa

History buffs cannot afford to overlook this adorable small town in Douglas County, founded in 1851 as the first settlement in Nevada. As a town older than the state itself, Genoa is full of history, and even hosts the Genoa Bar and Saloon, Nevada’s oldest bar. First established in 1853, this bar remains a fine spot to drink and interact with locals while admiring the meticulously decorated interior. Nearby, the Genoa Courthouse Museum preserves and showcases the area’s history from its earliest inhabitants to the Mormon pioneers who first established the town.

Also on Genoa’s main street is the Mormon Station State Historic Park, which preserves the original site of Nevada’s first permanent settlement. Visitors are invited to picnic or walk through the park and see a 1908 blacksmith shop and a replica of the 1851 trading post that marked the settlement’s establishment. Away from the history, the nearby River Fork Ranch Preserve invites adventurers to hike through meadows and wetlands, and spot wildlife such as sandhill cranes, raptors, and mule deer.

Incline Village

In a state where arid landscapes are dominant, Incline Village is like an irresistible oasis as it is right on Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America. This lake is the town’s highlight attraction, and the Sand Harbor State Park is the perfect place from which to access the lake’s turquoise water. This park hosts the gorgeous Sand Harbor Beach, which has soft white sand and is ideal for swimming and fishing. Plus, the beach has boat ramps from where travelers can launch kayaks and canoes into the lake. The park also has a few trails, such as the 0.5-mile Sand Harbor Overlook Trail, which presents impressive views of the lake.

Several trails surround Incline Village, including the Tahoe East Shore Trail and the 1.5-mile Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Trail, which winds through meadows, lush trees, and along interpretive signs highlighting the area’s history and ecology. Notably, the three-mile paved Tahoe East Shore Trail connects Incline Village with Sand Harbor State Park and is a must-experience for bikers. Back in town, the Tunnel Creek Cafe is the perfect place to relax before and after all the adventures, with delicious meals and cold beer or coffee.

Boulder City

Boulder City is one of the towns often overshadowed by the popularity of Las Vegas, which is just 26 miles away. Still, the town hosts some of Nevada’s signature natural and artificial attractions, including Hoover Dam, one of the world’s most captivating architectural wonders. Visitors are invited on a tour of this concrete arch-gravity dam to learn about its history and enjoy 360-degree views of the area, which includes the Colorado River and Lake Mead.

Notably, Lake Mead, formed by the dam, now offers fishing, swimming, and boating activities at the nearby Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This recreation area even has hundreds of campsites, alongside lots of trails, including the paved River Mountains Loop Trail, which stretches for 34 miles and offers impressive views of the Las Vegas Valley, Lake Mead, and the River Mountains.

Meanwhile, plant lovers in the Lake Mead area can stop by the Alan Bible Visitor Center to explore a desert botanical garden. As for antique lovers, Sherman's House of Antiques in town is a great place to shop for a wide range of items, including toys, vintage clothing, and antique furniture.

Ely

Ely is a quintessential Nevada town, considering its arid landscape and mining industry. Although lesser-known, this town will delight history buffs with attractions like the Nevada Northern Railway Museum, arguably the best place to delve into Nevada’s railroad history. This museum is one of the few places where guests can operate a steam locomotive train, plus it offers a variety of train rides. The White Pine Public Museum is another cool historic attraction in Ely, focused on the area’s natural, American Indian, ranching, and mining history. Exhibits in the museum include baskets, arrowheads, gold, silver, and a replica of a prehistoric giant bear said to have roamed the continent millions of years ago.

Furthermore, Ely is around 20 miles from Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park, where six 19th-century beehive-shaped charcoal ovens are preserved. Like others around Nevada, these ovens produced charcoals used to process silver ore in the area, and are now open for tours. The park also provides opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, and wildlife watching.

The Silver State promises unparalleled natural beauty in some of the world's driest landscapes alongside unsullied history and exciting attractions. However, one can best experience these pleasures by looking beyond the usual hot spot and its numerous casinos and bright lights. From Boulder City and its monumental features to Incline Village and its beautiful lake, visit these overlooked towns in Nevada today and enjoy the best of Nevada without the crowds.