Quirky Nevada Road Trip
This quirky Nevada Road Trip is the first in a series of three on ”Road Trips Done Right Through Unbelievably, Weird, Wild Nevada”. All three Nevada road trip ideas first appeared in issue 5 of Family Holiday Destinations’ digital magazine but you can read the other two on the website.
Nevada has never been ordinary and as a result of being founded by gold miners and cowboys, frequented by those seeking freedom and built by casino heavyweights … it contains a lot of quirky features.
From a forest of junk cars to a haunted clown-themed motel to the Extraterrestrial Highway, exploring Nevada’s weird and wonderful side from bottom to top (or vice-versa) on a road trip will certainly create some great family memories and Insta worthy photos.
The Weird & Wonderful of a Nevada Road Trip From Bottom to Top
Seven Magic Mountains
South Nevada – Las Vegas
Visible across the desert landscape along Interstate 15 just south of Las Vegas, Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone has created Seven Magic Mountains, a fun, neon-coloured art installation.
According to Rondinone, the location is both symbolically and physically mid-way between the natural and the artificial with the natural expressed by the landscape and the artificial expressed by the constant flow of traffic on the highway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Las Vegas is a great place to start your Nevada road trip!
Credit – Sydney Martinez/TravelNevada
The Neon Museum
South Nevada – Las Vegas
Las Vegas and Neon signs go hand in hand right? But where does all that Neon go when it’s no longer needed? The Neon Museum, a non-profit dedicated to collecting, preserving and exhibiting the most iconic neon signs of Las Vegas.
Although you can visit during the day, it’s best to visit at night with a guided tour to get the full effect of the neon.
Credit – Sydney Martinez/TravelNevada
The Clown Motel
Central Nevada – Tonopah
Dubbed ‘’America’s Scariest Motel’’ due to its clown theme and proximity to the cemetery where many miners were laid to rest after the Tonopah-Belmont Mine Fire of 1911, The Clown Motel is a unique experience.
According to The Clown Motel website, ‘’We’ll do everything to make your stay comfortable, but what happens after dark is out of our hands … ‘’
Uh … maybe skip staying overnight here on your Nevada road trip if you think creepy clowns might give the kids nightmares.
Credit – Sydney Martinez/TravelNevada
Alien Research Centre
Central Nevada – Hiko
The Alien Research Centre is the gateway to Area 51 and the Extraterrestrial Highway, a road trip in its own right! Enter the silver Quonset hut with the giant two-story silver alien at the door to get the inside scoop on where to spot a UFO, chat with locals and of course, get your mitts on some alien-themed souvenirs.
Credit – TravelNevada
International Car Forest of The Last Church
Central Nevada – Goldfield
Found just outside Goldfield, the International Car Forest of the Last Church is a quirky sculpture garden of various cars, vans and trucks. If you have spray paint, bring it along as the vehicles invite new paint jobs from visiting ‘’churchgoers.’’
Families will marvel at how some cars have been forced into the ground while others are carefully balanced atop each other. This is a great Insta-worthy stop on your family Nevada road trip!
Credit – Sydney Martinez/TravelNevada
Goldfield Historic Cemetery
Central Nevada – Goldfield
Goldfield was one of the largest mining communities in the Western US and as a result, the Goldfield Cemetery is chock full of some of Nevada’s most interesting history. It even drew in famed westerners such as Virgil and Wyatt Earp!
For families who aren’t directly connected to Goldfield’s history, there are plenty of noteworthy graves to check out in the historical section, which can be found all the way at the back on the left. Marked by large white stones used as grave markers, expect to find some interesting causes of death inscribed on the grave markers such as ‘’Man Died Eating Library Paste.’’
The cemetery is still in use today so visitors should take care to be respectful.
Credit – Sydney Martinez/TravelNevada
Coffinwood
Central Nevada – Pahrump
Coffinwood is a genuine weird and wonderful experience on a Nevada road trip! After experiencing tragedy himself, owner Bryan decided to take up coffin making, starting the business ‘’Coffin It Up’’. An artist and a cabinetmakerprofessi onally, he also has a passion for working with Obsidian and creates coffin furniture, jewelry, storage boxes as well as actual burial coffins.
Being that Coffinwood is also a private home, tours of Coffinwood are strictly by appointment only.
Credit – Sydney Martinez/TravelNevada
E.T. Fresh Jerky
Central Nevada – Hiko
Quirky character, clean restrooms and Alien jerky … only in Nevada! E.T. Jerky is not the only treasure to be found at this iconic rest stop though. Expect to find a range of quirky souvenirs, candy, dried fruit, nuts, gourmet olives and even Martian Poop flavoured soda.
Don’t miss the great family photo oppurtunities with the life-size alien murals!
Credit – Sydney Martinez/TravelNevada
Thunder Mountain
Northern Nevada – Winnemucca
Created by the late Fran Van Zant, aka Chief Thunder, Thunder Mountain will leave you scratching your head on your Nevada road trip. The oddly shaped, hand-made structure was created over several decades using artifacts and other items found in the Nevada desert, including bottles and hubcaps all patched together with concrete.
Chief Thunder believed the Great Spirit was keeping him there and that building and running Thunder Mountain was his destiny. It’s unsafe to explore the interior but families can peruse the grounds and any donations help to maintain the quirky structures that have called Nevada home for decades.
Credit – Sydney Martinez/TravelNevada
Republic of Molossia
North Central Nevada – Dayton
Just 30 minutes north-east of Carson City, a weird and wonderful sovereign nation can be found. The Republic of Molossia has been an official independent, sovereign nation for forty years!
President Kevin Baugh and his wife declared a micronation back in 1977 and as a result of its 6.3 acre land size, it’s the smallest of the Molossia Territories. The other territories are located in Pennsylvania, Southern California, the bottom of the Pacific Ocean and apparently, even on a small chunk of the planet Venus.
Although lacking a hospital or airport, the Republic of Molossia has currency and laws. Visitors must make an appointment to visit and go through customs just like anywhere else!
Official holidays in Molossia include the Moonpie Festival in September and Kickassia Invasion Victory Day in April.
Credit – Sydney Martinez/TravelNevada
Looking for More Nevada Family Holiday Inspiration?
For more information on great places and awesome activities to do as a family in Nevada, head on back to our Nevada page. Head back to the home page for inspiration world-wide.
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Resources for Booking Your Getaway to Nevada Road Trip
Getting to Nevada
Search for a great deal on flights to Nevada across different airlines on Jetradar.
Getting Around Nevada on a Road Trip
Nevada is built for road-trippin’ but if you don’t have your own RV, try RVShare, a company that connects RV owners with renters.
Prefer to hire a car and stay in accommodation? Find a great deal on car hire with DiscoverCars .
Where to Stay in Nevada
If getting around in an RV, check out the Travel Nevada website for a great list of RVParks.
If you’re planning on staying at hotels, use the search widget below to get a great deal.
Booking.comCovid-19 and Nevada
Know before you go! Covid-19 information can be found on the Travel Nevada website.
