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Ely
Reno & northern Nevada · from $85/night

Ely

Copper-mining town at 6,400 feet — home to the Nevada Northern Railway and gateway to Great Basin National Park. Ely sits at 6,437 feet in a broad valley in eastern Nevada, 250 miles from anywhere. Population 4,000. Aultman Street through downtown has a handful of casinos (Hotel Nevada, Prospector, Jailhouse), a good bookstore, and the murals of the Ely Renaissance Village — an outdoor art project of tin-work murals down the alleys. At 9pm Aultman Street is empty except for the Hotel Nevada bar. This is the base for Great Basin National Park (70 miles east), Ward Charcoal Ovens, and the Nevada Northern Railway steam trains.Ely rewards travelers who like small towns, wide skies and railroad history. It is a bad base for anyone wanting nightlife, restaurants after 9pm, or reliable cell coverage 30 minutes outside town. Rooms are cheap — $85-$140 — and the Hotel Nevada (built 1929) is a genuine landmark with 65 rooms decorated by celebrity theme. The Loneliest Road (US-50) passes through Ely; this stretch was named that in 1986 and locals sell you 'I survived US-50' passports at the visitor center.

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Good to know

Questions, answered

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Is Great Basin National Park worth the drive to Ely?

Yes — Wheeler Peak, Lehman Caves and the bristlecone pines are one of the least-crowded national park experiences in the country. Under 150,000 visitors a year vs 4 million at Zion. Combine Great Basin, the Nevada Northern railroad and Ward Ovens over two days and Ely justifies itself.

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Can I do Ely as a day trip from Vegas?

It's 245 miles one-way on US-93 — 8 hours round-trip driving with a 2-hour visit. Not worth it. Overnight in Ely if you’re going.

Where to stay

Where to stay — Ely

Live prices for every hotel and inn in the area — free cancellation, updated daily.

Ely

Ely

Live prices for every hotel and inn in the area — free cancellation, updated daily.

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