I distinctly remember planning this road trip, even though it was a little spontaneous!
We stayed in Lake Tahoe after watching the spectacular Labor Day fireworks and we were deciding which route to take to our next destination. We got to wondering what "The Loneliest Road in America" would be like and had to try it!
Having driven a lot around Australia, I had a decent idea, but this was honestly next level!
I set out early from Lake Tahoe, which sits on the border of California and Nevada (which I should add has some gorgeous little towns around it as well as some GREAT skiing areas on the Nevada side), and spent a good 10 hours on the road. There were a few small towns along the way, but I definitely recommend a stop at Eureka.
It is the quintessential "western" US town and has a very cute opera house. Of course, I had to poke my head into the bar to get a feel for a real Western local, and knew I was in the heart of the USA when I came across a gentleman wearing a cowboy hat, cowboy boots and a gun holstered on his hip. I'm not sure if he saw my wide-eyed look ... this was my first time seeing someone so openly carry a firearm who wasn't law enforcement! 
Eureka, Nevada.
There was still a long way to go to get to Elko, my destination for that evening, so I had a quick refreshment and headed out, pausing only to get a photo of the horse made from horseshoes (pictured above). 
I did end up stopping a couple of times along the way to take some Highway snaps in the middle of the Loneliest Road in America, which was easy enough to do because it was a very quiet road! From memory, I passed maybe ten cars and a handful of trucks along the entire route!
HIGHWAY 50 TRAVEL TIP:
I would strongly urge anyone who is planning on taking Highway 50 across Nevada to know how far your vehicle can go on one tank of fuel, plan your route out in advance, and know where you will stop along the way for fuel and refreshments. It is a little like driving in outback Australia; failing to plan can have serious consequences, particularly if you are travelling in the height of summer. I also encourage you have someone to share the driving with and know your limits in terms of how far you can realistically drive in one day.
We did make a few other stops along the way to Elko, including a little fun at Sand Mountain and a brief pit stop at the Hickson Petroglyph Recreation Area.
If you're planning to stop at Elko, I found it a cute little place, but I would say it is more of a rest stop and perhaps not a destination in itself. However, it does offer comfortable accommodation options, restaurants and a few casinos to keep you entertained for the evening. Driving Reno to Elko is also known as the 'Cowboy's Corridor' road trip, and while this was not the route I took, it is another option to see some more of the great state of Nevada.
I would thoroughly recommend self-drive and road trips in Nevada as you get to see so much country that is vastly different from anything you will find elsewhere. However, please, always keep in mind that it is a lonely road and make sure you are prepared if you are going to take on Highway 50.
Driving Highway 50 was something I will never forget!
