We've all seen a movie set in Nevada where the characters travel down a two-line highway that seems to stretch endlessly, with nobody else in sight. Whether it's a road trip film or a tale of some creepy hitchiking serial killer, this image is one of the most iconic when it comes to Nevada.
Yet many drivers don't know the story behind this famous byway, U.S. Route 50, which is officially known as "The Loneliest Road in America." Originally used as a Pony Express trail, the long road cuts across the Nevada desert, offering some truly spectacular sights along the way.
Traveling alone through a desert may not sound like fun, but there are few roads in the country where a driver can simply be alone with nature. In fact, Readers Digest named this one of their Most Scenic Drives In America.
The road also isn't as barren as some people make it out to be. Old mining towns like Austin, Ely and Eureka are all well worth a visit. And the end of the road eventually leads to Carson City and Lake Tahoe, two hot vacation destinations. At the other end, the road stretches into Utah and eventually Colorado, where it gets a bit more busy.