Nevada

Understand

Nevada achieved statehood in 1864, becoming the 36th state, despite its tiny population. The primary purpose of this early grant of statehood was to pack Congress with two more senators and thus help preserve Northern/Republican dominance in the post-Civil War era. At the time, Nevada's economy was dominated by the mining industry, thus tying the state to the industrialized North. Nevada was also seen as a counterbalance to the more agrarian and Confederate-sympathizing California.

Over the years, Nevada's economy has diversified somewhat into agriculture, light industry, distribution, and gaming. However, over 87% of the land in Nevada is still owned by the Federal Government.

There are fairly large cultural differences between urban and rural areas, and therefore they are treated separately here.

Urban

The urban areas, consisting of the Reno and Las Vegas areas, are heavily dependent on tourism and thus very welcoming to outsiders. In addition, these areas have seen a huge influx of immigration from other states and countries and thus have a cosmopolitan feel. In a gambling town, everyone's your friend as long as you have money. Recent immigrants from California are widely complained about (especially by the less recent immigrants from California), but that's about the extent of it.

Rural

Rural folk in Nevada are about like rural folk in the rest of the U.S., except more so. Although they are mostly conservative and highly individualistic, you'll be surprised by their helpful, easygoing nature and tolerance of people that they don't feel threatened by. As the entire rural economy of Nevada is dependent on access to Federal lands for mining and grazing, environmental activists and Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service employees may be viewed as a threat. Young and hip people, especially from the Northeastern U.S., may be assumed to belong to one of those groups.

Some rural areas have significant populations of Native American peoples, mainly Paiute and Shoshone. Reservations are found at Fort McDermott on the Oregon border, in the Reese River Valley between the Toiyabe and Shoshone Ranges, around Pyramid Lake and at the northern end of Walker Lake. Local tribes were traditionally identified by their dietary mainstays, which were cutthroat trout at Walker Lake, cui-ui (a large type of sucker) at Pyramid Lake, and even a type of caterpillar in the mountains near Lake Tahoe. Pine nuts from single-leaf pinyons were a staple in most locations and can sometimes be found for sale in rural stores.

Holidays

Nevada observes all the federal holidays, except Columbus Day, and adds 'Nevada Day' on the last Friday in October (which will occasionally be on the same day as Halloween). However, some cities and towns that have a large population of federal workers or military personnel may observe Columbus Day anyway.

Tourist information

• Travel Nevada website

Regions

Cities

• Carson City – the state capital, located nearby Lake Tahoe and named after Kit Carson, a famous frontiersman.
• Boulder City – home of the iconic Hoover Dam.
• Ely – Features ghost towns and is near the Great Basin National Park.
• Henderson – the second largest city in the state, often considered part of the Las Vegas valley and home to many educational institutions.
• Las Vegas – Known as "The Entertainment Capital of the World", Vegas is known internationally for its adult entertainment venues including extravagant casinos and nightclubs, world class restaurants, golf, gambling, and its history with the Manhattan Project.
• Pahrump – Wineries and legal brothels.
• Primm – Known for its lottery store and home of the state's largest roller coaster.
• Reno – Known as "The Biggest Little City in the World," it is famous for its extravagant casinos and entertainment venues, also the birthplace of Harrah's.
• Sparks – The "twin" city of nearby Reno.

Other destinations

• Great Basin National Park
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area
• U.S. Route 50 "Loneliest Highway"
• Area 51 – situated in the village of Rachel, Area 51 is a military installation that has intrigued conspiracy theorists with tales of extraterrestrial activity.
• Nevada State Route 375, "The Extraterrestrial Highway" – perhaps the only inviting part of the village of Rachel.
• Black Rock City – A city of 70,000 people during the annual Burning Man festival at the end of August, wide open desert during the rest of the year.

Get in

By car

Two interstates serve both the north & south part of the state. Interstate 15 runs through Las Vegas and has connections to Los Angeles in California and Salt Lake City in Utah. Interstate 80 traverses through Reno and has connections to San Francisco, and eventually Salt Lake City, Omaha, Chicago, Cleveland, and New York.

By train

Amtrak's California Zephyr services Reno, Winnemucca and Elko as it crosses northern Nevada (along I-80 corridor) between Sacramento and Salt Lake City on its way to/from Chicago on one end and Emeryville on the other. While Las Vegas does not have scheduled train service, there are Thruway buses that connect the city from the Southwest Chief in Kingman, Arizona, and Barstow, California, and from the Gold Runner in Bakersfield. Plans for an interstate high speed rail service are a perennial issue in state politics, possibly connecting to the Californian system that is under construction.

By plane

Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) and Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) are the most popular entry points to the state from all over the U.S. There are also direct international flights from Europe, Mexico, Canada, South Korea and Central America into Las Vegas. There are also alternative airports which may be closer to your final destination in:

* Elko Regional Airport (EKO) serves as a general aviation airport in the town of Elko, in north Nevada, with twice daily commercial service from Salt Lake City with Skywest operating as Delta Connection as the only airline serving this airport. * Henderson Executive Airport (HSH) is the other airport near Las Vegas, in the town of Henderson. Henderson Executive Airport is a major general aviation airport with a FBO terminal for VIP flights. * Wendover Toole County Airport (ENV) just over the state line in Utah, in the south side of town. This airport is a general aviation airport for private pilots (and their passengers) and airlines chartered by the local casinos. *Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) is the next nearest airport to access Wendover and the northeastern part of the state with regularly scheduled commercial flights. The airport is 117 mi east of Wendover in the west side of Salt Lake City.

By foot

• The American Discovery Trail connects Nevada with California, Utah and both coasts.

Get around

Desert travel

There's an awful lot of desert to explore in Nevada, and it's very easy to leave civilization behind. While that is a worthy goal, common sense is necessary to avoid life-threatening situations. Here are some tips for traveling to the more remote desert areas of Nevada:

• What to drive: Vehicle breakdown and getting stuck are the easiest ways to get into serious trouble in the desert. Don't travel far from the pavement in a low-clearance vehicle. Four wheel drive is strongly recommended for the winter months, and is advised for unpaved mountain roads anytime. It is best to travel in a convoy of multiple vehicles, so that one breakdown will not strand you. Gas stations are few, far between, and often not open around the clock, so it is a good idea to carry extra fuel. If you do break down or run out of fuel, your best bet is to stay with the vehicle unless you're within 10 miles or so of civilization - Odds are that someone will come by in a day or two.
• Roads: Nevada is criss-crossed with unpaved roads, some of which are maintained, most of which are not. Due to the slow growth rate of vegetation, once a road is established it can remain passable for decades with no maintenance and little traffic. Few roads have culverts, so be on the look-out for washed out areas. These generally aren't a problem if traversed slowly, but can cause serious damage if you don't slow down in time.
• Fences: The boundaries between grazing allotments are fenced as are the boundaries between public and private land. On higher volume roads there will be a "cattle-guard" on the road which is passable by vehicles but not by cattle. Lower volume roads will have a gate across the road. Always leave the gate in the same condition as you found it - if open leave it open, if closed make sure you close it behind you. Gates leading into private land will sometimes be locked or marked with a "No Trespassing" sign, in which case you should respect the property owner's wishes and find another way to get where you want to go.
• Livestock: In open rangeland (just about everywhere in Nevada), cattle have the right-of-way. It is not uncommon for ranchers to leave hay and water for their stock close to a road, and thus it is not uncommon to encounter herds of cattle on or near the road. You should always slow way down for these herds, as the calves especially have a nasty habit of running out in front of cars. You break it, you buy it. Cattle are half-wild, often ornery. Don't approach them closely on foot.
• Navigation: Navigation in Nevada is fairly easy if you keep your wits about you. The poverty of vegetation gives astonishingly long sight distance, and mountain ranges are ubiquitous for reference. Large-scale topographic maps of the entire state are available in bound form at most bookstores and many gas stations. These should be sufficient for most purposes. Smaller scale topographic maps are published by the US Geologic Survey (USGS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and can be purchased at outdoors-oriented stores (such as the REI in Reno) or photocopied at the University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) library. The BLM maps tend to be more up-to-date with regards to roads, but are more difficult to find. Due to the small scale of these maps, they are not practical for long-range vehicle travel, but can be very useful on hiking trips.
• Weather: Most of Nevada is cold desert above 4,000 ft (1,300 m) elevation with summer daytime temperatures around 85°F/30°C and nights cooling sharply to 50°F/10°C. Winter temperatures are more variable and can drop far below zero (Fahrenheit or Celsius). Lower elevations in the Las Vegas area create hot desert with summer daytime temperatures consistently above 100°F/40°C and little nighttime relief, but pleasant winters. Carry extra clothing, sleeping bags and tire chains between October and April and remember that occasional snowstorms are possible above 4,000 ft (1,300 m) as late as June. Summer thunderstorms can be locally intense, causing flash-floods where roads cross normally-dry washes. Wear a hat, long shirt, long pants, sunblock; and drink plenty of water to avoid heat stroke and sunburn in the summer.
• Water: Away from municipal water districts, water supplies are few, far between, and usually contaminated by livestock except in the highest mountains. Bring enough in your vehicle for your entire trip, plus a few days reserve, with extra for your vehicle's radiator in case it starts leaking. When hiking, seek local knowledge about water supplies on multi-day trips. Don't rely solely on maps.
• Rail crossings: When travelling along the dirt roads of Nevada, you will undoubtedly need to cross a railroad which has no warning signs or lights. If you can see or hear a train wait for the train to pass. In the open range distance is very deceiving and the trains travel exceedingly fast compared to what you may be used to in built up areas. The reflections from the sun and shifting heat waves can easily disguise a moving train to look far away in the distance. That train which looks "miles away" may in fact be within moments of passing through the crossing you are waiting at.

By plane

Frontier and Southwest Airlines offer direct intrastate flights between Reno/Carson City and Las Vegas. Other airlines do offer flights between the two major Nevada cities but usually with connections in California (Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest and United); Salt Lake City, UT (nearest to Wendover)(Delta); and Phoenix, AZ (American Airlines).

By bus

Information on transit can be found from APTA.

Stay safe

Nevada is generally safe to travel in.

Extreme weather

Being the driest state in the United States, the climate can be extremely harsh, especially during the summers.

The following suggestions may come in handy:

• Fill up your vehicle's fuel tank before leaving the main cities. Even while on the interstate, long stretches between fuel stations can strand a motorist with few options except to wait for someone to drive by. On rural roads or two lane highways, this could be a long wait.
• Always take extra water with you. at least 2 liters of water per person for a short trip, 3-4 liters per person for an all day excursion. Many locals in the region use inexpensive hydration packs, similar to a camels hump, which hold water for several hours of activity. The "CamelBak" is also a great place for your emergency blanket, map, first aid kit and snacks in case you are injured.
• Always check the weather before you go. Weather can change quickly in Nevada. In summer during the North American Monsoon, powerful thunderstorms often build up near the crest of the Sierra Nevada, particularly during late afternoon. Soaring summer temperatures can quickly drop 20 - 30 °F when the sun goes down. Even in the height of summer, rain or snow can occur when very cold air drops down off the Sierra Mountains. It is unwise to be in a high, treeless place during a thunderstorm. Always bring a jacket, sweatshirt, or other warm clothing in the car. A pocket sized "Emergency Blanket" made of silver foil will keep you warm and can also shade you from the sun if you are injured and must wait for rescue.
• During winter you should always carry tire chains in your car and know how to use them when crossing The Sierra Nevada Range from California to Nevada. This is a high mountain environment containing some of the snowiest places in the US with unpredictable heavy snow coming in late summer/early fall.
• Outdoor 10 essentials If you decide to enjoy the great outdoors below is a suggested list of minimal equipment you should have if you leave sight of your car. Entering the desert unprepared is trusting Lady Luck with more than just your money.
• Water Be sure you always have a liter or two of water with you when you leave the car.
• Energy bar or snack Great for on the trail, but also in case you get lost or injured.
• Emergency blanket Silver foil blanket which keeps you warm, and can shade you from the sun.
• Pocket knife Generally Useful.
• Eye drops Keep those eyes moist!
• Cough Drops Soothes a parched dry throat
• Bandages, first aid kit Nothing too fancy. Large bandages, medical tape, 4x4 gauze pads, cleaning pad.
• Map and compass or GPS device You need a way to find your way back to your car.
• Flashlight A small LED flashlight is fine, just in case it gets dark.
• Whistle When your throat is dry, you can't yell for help. This works. Many include a small compass and tube for supplies.

Drugs

Recreational marijuana use is legal in Nevada. Adults aged 21 and over are allowed to purchase, possess, and use up to one ounce (28 g) of marijuana or up to one-eighth of an ounce of concentrated marijuana. Additionally, residents are allowed to cultivate small amounts of marijuana. Similarly to alcohol, marijuana is not allowed to be consumed in public and you should not drive after smoking it. Legal dispensaries have been established. Marijuana is still illegal under federal law, so do not carry marijuana past state lines - even to another state where it is legal - as this will be considered drug trafficking and subject to harsh punishment.

Respect

Brothels

Nevada is the only state in the U.S. where prostitution is not outlawed at the state level, except in the counties around Las Vegas, Reno and Carson City. Other counties are free to allow or outlaw prostitution in licensed brothels. This is a controversial subject with some Nevadans, especially in mixed company. Tread lightly.

Mormons

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (more commonly known as "Mormons") settled in the Salt Lake valley in Utah in 1847, and soon thereafter began to settle various different areas throughout Utah and Nevada (which was part of the proposed state of "Deseret" at the time). A few of these settlements include Mormon Station (modern day Genoa) and Mormon Fort (modern day Las Vegas). These settlements were very active in trade with pioneers migrating west to California for the gold rush after 1849. After the state of Deseret was segregated to help form Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming, some of the members of the church left, but many stayed. Today Nevada has a significant Mormon population, particularly in Las Vegas, Reno and the lightly populated eastern part. Mormons, if they strictly follow church teachings, don't drink, are socially conservative and tend to have large families. They even abstain from some other beverages such as coffee if they are particularly observant. They can also be well-travelled and fluent in foreign languages because many men (and some women) are sent as missionaries to nations all around the world. The doctrine of polygamy has been officially disowned since 1890, but there are splinter groups that broke away because of that, some of them still practicing polygamy.

Go next

• California - America's most populous state shares an extensive border to the west of Nevada, offering easy access to destinations such as Los Angeles, San Diego, Lake Tahoe and Death Valley National Park.
• Utah - Nevada's eastern neighbor is worth visiting for the mind-blowing rock formations found in places like Arches National Park and Zion National Park, as well as the winter recreation opportunities found around Salt Lake City, host of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
• Arizona - Home to the Grand Canyon, Arizona borders Nevada to the southeast across the Colorado River. If you don't have time to visit Zion National Park, the Virgin River Gorge (from 95 mi on the I-15 freeway up to the Utah border) is an excellent substitute, and completely free.
• Idaho - Nevada's northeastern neighbor is a rugged state, with snow-capped mountains, whitewater rivers, forests, high desert, and plenty of wilderness.
• Oregon - Sharing a border to the northwest, Oregon is home to impressive mountains and extensive forests. Note though, the distance to Portland from Las Vegas is about 1,000 mi.