Ghost Towns & Aliens
Drive through Nevada and California visiting ghost towns, desert legends, and out-of-this-world highways.
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the wild deserts of Nevada and California, where history and mystery collide. This unique road trip takes you from the glittering neon of Las Vegas to the eerie charm of abandoned mining towns, along the legendary Extraterrestrial Highway, and deep into the rugged beauty of Death Valley National Park. Along the way, you’ll uncover stories of pioneers, outlaws, and UFO sightings, while driving some of the most atmospheric highways in the American West.
From the living ghost towns of Austin and Randsburg to the hauntingly preserved streets of Bodie, every stop reveals another chapter of the past frozen in time. Add in world-class stargazing in Tonopah, the silver boomtowns of the Sierra Nevada, and the stark landscapes of the “Loneliest Road in America,” and you’ve got a holiday like no other. This is more than a road trip — it’s a chance to chase legends, marvel at desert wonders, and return to Las Vegas with memories of ghosts, aliens, and the vast open road.
We can’t guarantee you’ll see any little green dudes along the Extraterrestrial Highway, but we’re sure you’ll find our itinerary out of this world.
Remember: We’re UK-based, and every holiday we create is fully flexible – you can add nights, upgrade hotels, or enhance your itinerary. We love designing tailor-made self-drive adventures just for you!
13 night self drive holiday from £2,349pp including flights, accommodation & car rental
Highlights
Drive the famous Extraterrestrial Highway and visit quirky Rachel near Area 51.
Explore authentic ghost towns such as Bodie, Randsburg and Calico.
Stargaze under crystal-clear desert skies in Tonopah.
Experience contrasting landscapes from Great Basin National Park to Death Valley National Park.
Your itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Las Vegas
Welcome to the Entertainment Capital of the World
Begin your adventure in glittering Las Vegas, where bright lights and endless entertainment await. Collect your car and take a stroll along the Strip to admire the city’s world-famous resorts and dazzling nightlife. Enjoy dinner at a top restaurant or simply relax after your flight — tonight’s just a taste of the excitement to come.
1 Night in
Las Vegas, NV
Arrival
Day
Days 2–3: Ely & Great Basin National Park
The Extraterrestrial Highway and Nevada’s hidden wilderness
Leave Las Vegas and head north onto the legendary Extraterrestrial Highway. Stop for photos at the iconic sign and visit Rachel — the closest town to Area 51 — where the Little A’Le’Inn serves stories of UFOs alongside hearty meals. Continue to Ely, once a vital mining and railroad town, now your base for exploring Great Basin National Park.
Spend the next day amid ancient landscapes of bristlecone pines, alpine lakes, and limestone caverns. Wander through Lehman Caves’ shimmering formations, hike to panoramic viewpoints, or simply enjoy the peace of this little-visited wilderness. Back in Ely, visit the Nevada Northern Railway Museum or dine in a cosy local saloon.
2 Nights in
Ely, NV
320 miles
Day 4: Austin on the Loneliest Road
Pony Express heritage and a living ghost town
Follow Highway 50, famously dubbed “The Loneliest Road in America,” as it winds through open desert and mountain passes. Trace the route of the Pony Express and stop at quiet outposts before reaching Austin — a 150-year-old mining town where crumbling stone buildings and historic churches still line the hillside. It’s a hauntingly atmospheric stop and a true step back in time.
1 Night in
Austin, NV
145 miles
Day 5: Carson City via the Loneliest Road
Ancient petroglyphs and Nevada’s mountain capital
Continue west on Highway 50, passing Grimes Point Archaeological Area to see prehistoric petroglyphs etched into desert rock. Later, arrive in Carson City, Nevada’s charming capital, nestled against the Sierra Nevada. Explore the Nevada State Museum, stroll historic streets, and enjoy dinner in a welcoming Western-style saloon.
1 Night in
Carson City, NV
175 miles
Day 6: Grass Valley & Gold Rush Country
Lake Tahoe’s beauty and California’s mining past
Drive the scenic northern rim of Lake Tahoe before crossing into California’s Gold Country. Your destination is Grass Valley, once a booming mining town. Visit Empire Mine State Historic Park, where restored buildings and gardens reveal the opulence of the Gold Rush era, or explore nearby Malakoff Diggins, the state’s largest hydraulic mine site, echoing with tales of fortune seekers.
1 Night in
Grass Valley, CA
100 miles
Day 7: Bridgeport & Bodie Ghost Town
California’s most authentic ghost town
Travel east toward the Sierra Nevada to Bodie State Historic Park — one of America’s best-preserved ghost towns. Once a thriving Gold Rush settlement of 10,000 souls, Bodie now stands eerily silent, its wooden buildings and dusty streets left in “arrested decay.” Continue to Bridgeport, a peaceful mountain community surrounded by lakes and rugged peaks.
1 Night in
Bridgeport, CA
205 miles
Day 8: Tonopah & Stargazing Skies
Silver mines, desert legends, and the Milky Way
Cross back into Nevada to Tonopah, a town born in the silver boom of the early 1900s. Discover its mining heritage at the Tonopah Historic Mining Park and enjoy dinner and a locally crafted beer before nightfall. As darkness descends, head to the Tonopah Stargazing Park — one of the best places in the USA to admire the Milky Way in pristine clarity.
1 Night in
Tonopah, NV
140 miles
Day 9-10: Death Valley National Park
Ghost towns, salt flats, and surreal desert beauty
Drive south through haunting desert terrain to Rhyolite, a photogenic ghost town near the edge of Death Valley. Once inside the park, marvel at its extremes — from Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, to the golden dunes of Mesquite Flat and the colourful badlands of Zabriskie Point. Spend the night in Furnace Creek, an oasis in this remarkable landscape.
2 Nights in
Death Valley NP, CA
235 miles
Day 11: Barstow & Route 66
Desert relics and the Mother Road’s nostalgia
Leaving Death Valley, stop at the ghost towns of Ballarat and Randsburg — echoes of mining days gone by. Arrive in Barstow, a key stop on historic Route 66, and visit the Route 66 Mother Road Museum or the beautifully restored Harvey House rail depot.
1 Night in
Barstow, CA
200 miles
Days 12–13: back to Las Vegas
Calico Ghost Town and the glitter of the Strip
Before heading back to Las Vegas, stop at Calico Ghost Town, a restored 1880s silver-mining settlement complete with old saloons and quirky shops. On the return drive, you can even glimpse Bonnie & Clyde’s bullet-ridden car before the bright lights of Las Vegas reappear.
Enjoy two final nights soaking up the city’s incredible entertainment, shopping, and dining. Wander through themed resorts like The Venetian or Caesars Palace, relax by the pool, or take a short trip to Red Rock Canyon for a taste of desert tranquillity. On Day 13 you'll return your car and head to the airport for your flight back to the UK. As the desert disappears beneath you, you’ll carry home memories of ghost towns, starry skies, and highways filled with history and mystery.
2 Nights in
Las Vegas, NV
160 miles
June - mid Sept: Many lodgings and transport links are only open during the Summer. Amazing wildlife including bears, bald eagles, whales, sea otters and seals can be spotted.
Daytime temperatures are usually cool but very comfortabl, generally in the 15-20°C range and even into the high 20s. Days are long during the with July being the peak month.
You’ll need a connecting flght from the UK, probably via Seattle or Vancouver, we highly recommend a couple of days to explore the connecting city. Alaska is 8 or 9 hours behind the UK.
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