Nevada's desert highways hide a treasure trove of bizarre, beautiful, and downright bewildering roadside attractions that make the journey as memorable as any destination. Beyond the neon lights of Las Vegas and the casinos of Reno lies a landscape dotted with alien-themed outposts, massive art installations, and eccentric monuments that capture the independent spirit of the Silver State.
Southern Nevada's can't-miss oddities
Let's start with the attractions that'll have your Instagram followers wondering if you've discovered a portal to another dimension. Southern Nevada serves up a perfect blend of contemporary art and conspiracy theories, all baked under that relentless desert sun.
Seven Magic Mountains: A neon dream in the desert
Just 10 miles south of Las Vegas on Las Vegas Boulevard, you'll find what looks like a toddler god's abandoned toy blocks. Seven Magic Mountains consists of seven towering stacks of painted limestone boulders reaching 30 to 35 feet into the sky. Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone created this day-glo installation that makes the beige Mojave Desert look like it's hosting a rave.
The installation was supposed to be temporary when it opened in 2016, but it turns out people really love giant colorful rocks. Who knew? The overwhelming popularity earned it an extension through 2027, giving you plenty of time to make the pilgrimage.
Here's what you need to know for your visit:
- Open 24/7 with free admission
- Ample parking available
- 500-foot walk on flat dirt
- Zero shade whatsoever
- Tour buses swarm between noon and 2 PM
Pro tip: Visit during early morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds and catch that magical desert light. And seriously, bring water. The desert doesn't care about your hydration habits.
Alien Research Center: Your gateway to the truth
Head northeast on Highway 93 toward Hiko, and you'll spot Fred before you spot the building. Fred's the 25-foot metallic alien standing guard outside the Alien Research Center, a Quonset hut designed to look like it might take off at any moment.
Inside this extraterrestrial emporium, you'll find the original Extraterrestrial Highway sign that had to be removed from the actual highway because people kept stealing it. Apparently, aliens are cool with abductions but draw the line at vandalism. The gift shop stocks everything from Storm Area 51 memorabilia to alien-themed shot glasses, because nothing says "I believe" like doing tequila shots from a grey's head.
The place is officially open 9 AM to 5 PM daily, though recent reports suggest they're closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Maybe that's when they're conducting the real research? They accept credit cards and Apple Pay, because even alien enthusiasts have embraced the digital age. Best of all, the owners will happily give you directions to the Area 51 back gate, though what you do with that information is entirely up to you.
The Extraterrestrial Highway experience
State Route 375 earned its official designation as the Extraterrestrial Highway in 1996, and it's been weird ever since. This 98-mile stretch of asphalt serves as the yellow brick road for UFO enthusiasts, conspiracy theorists, and anyone who's ever looked at the night sky and thought, "Yeah, we're definitely not alone."
E.T. Fresh Jerky: More than just dried meat
At the junction of highways 318, 375, and 93, E.T. Fresh Jerky makes a bold claim: they have the "cleanest restrooms in Area 51." In this desolate stretch of Nevada, that's not just marketing… it's a public service.
The exterior features life-size alien murals perfect for those "I was abducted" vacation photos. Inside, you can sample their "alien jerky" (spoiler: it's beef) and purchase Martian Poop soda, because apparently extraterrestrials have questionable dietary habits.
Open Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 6 PM and until 7 PM on weekends, this place offers more than sustenance. Interactive fortune-telling machines predict your alien encounter probability, and there's a signature wall where thousands have left their mark. It's like a intergalactic bathroom stall, but classier.
The Black Mailbox: UFO central's postal service
Between mile markers 29 and 30 on State Route 375, you'll find what might be the world's most famous mailbox. The Black Mailbox belongs to rancher Steve Medlin, and despite its name, it's actually white. This is the kind of logic that makes perfect sense in UFO country.
The mailbox features two compartments: one labeled "Steve Medlin" and another simply marked "Alien." The alien mail slot started as a joke but now regularly receives letters from believers worldwide. The site gained fame in the 1990s through connections to Bob Lazar's UFO claims, and it's been a pilgrimage site ever since.
Fair warning: the mailbox gets stolen so often that finding it there is like spotting a UFO… possible, but don't count on it. The location offers 360-degree desert views and some of Nevada's darkest skies, making it popular for overnight UFO watching. Just remember to bring everything you need, because the nearest convenience store might as well be on Mars.
Little A'Le'Inn: The UFO hunter's headquarters
Welcome to Rachel, Nevada, population 54 (on a good day). The Little A'Le'Inn has been operating since 1989 at 9631 Old Mill Street, making it the closest business to Area 51 at just 12 miles away. If aliens ever decide to grab a beer, this is where they'd go.
The restaurant serves up "Saucer Burgers" and "Alien Amber Ale" from 8 AM to 10 PM daily (kitchen closes at 9 PM). The walls are plastered with UFO photos, alien memorabilia, and thousands of signatures from visitors who've made the trek. It's like a yearbook for people who want to believe.
Accommodation options at the Little A'Le'Inn:
- 12 motel rooms (converted mobile homes): $100/night for two
- RV hookups available
- Free boondocking permitted
- Time capsule from "Independence Day" movie cast
- Complimentary UFO sighting stories from locals
The 1996 "Independence Day" time capsule adds Hollywood cred to this authentic slice of UFO culture. Just don't expect the Ritz… this is about the experience, not the thread count.
Desert art that defies explanation
Nevada's desert serves as the world's largest outdoor gallery, where artists with more vision than sense have created installations that make you question everything you thought you knew about art, cars, and sanity.
International Car Forest: Where vehicles go to die standing up
Near Goldfield, you'll find 40-plus vehicles buried nose-down in the desert like mechanical prairie dogs that gave up mid-emergence. Created between 2002 and 2011 by Mark Rippie and Chad Sorg, this installation aimed to beat Nebraska's Carhenge for a world record. Because apparently, that's a thing people compete for.
Each vehicle sports unique graffiti art that evolves as new artists add their contributions. It's like a collaborative art project where the canvas happens to be a 1987 Buick. Now owned by the Goldfield General Store, the site remains open 24/7 via rough dirt roads that will make your rental car company very nervous.
The experience offers two viewing options: explore on foot or drive among the installations if your vehicle has decent clearance. Just avoid visiting after rain unless you want to become a permanent installation yourself.
Thunder Mountain Monument: One man's concrete legacy
Near Imlay stands one of Nevada's most emotionally powerful attractions. Frank Van Zant spent 20 years (1969-1989) creating over 200 concrete sculptures depicting Native American history, struggles, and spiritual beliefs.
Built entirely from salvaged materials including car parts, typewriters, and wagon wheels, the 5-acre monument features a three-story concrete structure constructed over an old travel trailer. Van Zant used bottle windows and car windshield skylights because regular building materials are for people without vision.
Designated a Nevada State Historical Monument in 1992, the site remains open 24/7 with free admission. It's maintained through donations and volunteer efforts by Van Zant's son Dan, who ensures his father's powerful message continues to speak to visitors. This isn't just roadside art… it's a spiritual experience wrapped in concrete and chrome.
Goldwell Open Air Museum: High art meets ghost town
The Goldwell Open Air Museum near Beatty proves that sometimes the middle of nowhere is exactly where art belongs. This 7.8-acre sculpture park features installations that look like they were beamed down from an alien art school.
The star of the show is Albert Szukalski's "Last Supper," ghostly white plaster figures recreating da Vinci's masterpiece in the desert. There's also Hugo Heyrman's "Lady Desert: The Venus of Nevada," a giant pink pixelated sculpture made from cinder blocks that looks like a Minecraft fever dream.
Founded in 1984 when Belgian artists decided the American desert offered ultimate creative freedom, the museum formalized as a nonprofit in 2000 after Szukalski's death. Open 24/7 with free admission, visit during golden hour when the sculptures cast long shadows and the light transforms everything into magic.
Where weird meets sleep
Sometimes you don't just want to see the weird… you want to sleep in it. Nevada's got you covered with accommodations that range from creepy to castle-like.
The Clown Motel: Sweet dreams are not made of this
Tonopah's Clown Motel at 521 North Main Street proudly claims the title of "America's Scariest Motel," and with 6,500-plus clown figurines, paintings, and memorabilia staring at you from every corner, they've earned it.
The motel's 31 themed rooms, some named after horror movies, offer a unique sleeping experience for those who find regular hotels too… peaceful. The property sits adjacent to the historic Tonopah Cemetery, because apparently clowns alone weren't creepy enough.
Started by the original owners in 1985 and renovated in 2019 by Vijay Mehar, the motel maintains its extensive clown collection while adding modern amenities. Rates range from $75 to $150 per night, depending on how much terror you can afford. Day visitors can explore the free clown museum in the lobby, though "enjoy" might be too strong a word.
Stokes Castle: Nevada's misplaced European dream
Along Highway 50 near Austin, Stokes Castle rises from the desert like someone played SimCity with the wrong expansion pack. Railroad magnate Anson Phelps Stokes built this three-story granite tower in 1897, recreating an Italian design he admired because why not bring a piece of Rome to Nevada?
Constructed from hand-hewn native granite blocks, the castle commanded views stretching 60 miles across the Reese River Valley. Stokes occupied it for exactly one month before financial difficulties forced abandonment, making it history's most expensive camping trip.
Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, visitors can explore the exterior from sunrise to sunset. The interior remains closed for safety reasons, probably because adding "fell through a castle floor in Nevada" to your obituary raises too many questions. A gravel road marked from Highway 50 leads to the site, offering a surreal glimpse of European ambition meets American desert reality.
Hidden gems worth the detour
Not every attraction needs neon lights or alien themes to earn a spot on your Nevada road trip itinerary. These lesser-known stops prove that weird comes in all sizes.
Republic of Molossia: A nation of one (point three acres)
In Dayton, President Kevin Baugh runs his own country on 1.3 acres of suburban Nevada. The Republic of Molossia, founded in 1999, maintains its own currency (poker chips), post office, and customs checkpoint. It's like playing civilization, but in real life.
Tours by appointment only (typically weekends) offer visitors the chance to get their passports stamped and learn about micronational governance from the President himself. The free hour-long tours provide genuine entertainment and education about sovereignty, international relations, and how to start your own country when HOA regulations get too restrictive.
The Shoe Tree: A cobbler's nightmare
Near Middlegate on Highway 50, a cottonwood tree wears hundreds of pairs of shoes like the world's weirdest Christmas ornament collection. Legend says it started with a newlywed couple's argument, where the husband threw his bride's shoes into the branches. They returned annually to add more pairs, and somehow this became romantic rather than concerning.
After vandals destroyed the original tree in 2010, locals quickly designated a replacement because Nevada doesn't give up its weird without a fight. Located 2.4 miles east of Middlegate Station with a pull-off area for parking, the tree continues collecting footwear from passing motorists who understand that some traditions don't need to make sense.
The Neon Museum: Where Vegas signs go to retire
Back in Las Vegas at 770 Las Vegas Boulevard North, the Neon Museum preserves the city's luminous history through 250-plus vintage signs dating to the 1930s. This "neon boneyard" houses iconic signs from demolished casinos including the Stardust, Sahara, and Moulin Rouge.
The visitor center occupies the restored 1961 La Concha Motel lobby, a prime example of Googie architecture that looks like The Jetsons designed a motel. Evening visits prove most popular for seeing select signs illuminated, while the "Brilliant! Jackpot" augmented reality experience adds digital magic to non-functioning signs.
Adult evening tours cost $28, and tickets must be purchased online up to 60 days in advance. It's like a retirement home for neon, where every sign has stories about the high rollers, heartbreaks, and hangovers it witnessed.
Planning your Nevada road trip adventure
Ready to experience Nevada's weird side? Here's everything you need to know to make your journey through the Silver State's strangest attractions smooth… or at least memorable.
Start with the route. The classic Southern Loop takes you from Las Vegas to Seven Magic Mountains, then north through the alien corridor on Highways 93 and 375 to Rachel and Tonopah. For the full experience, continue on Highway 50 to hit Stokes Castle and the Shoe Tree before reaching Reno. The Extraterrestrial Highway alone offers 98 miles of alien-themed adventure.
Timing matters in the desert. Visit during April-May or September-October for comfortable weather that won't melt your camera. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F in southern regions, making early morning and evening visits essential unless you enjoy feeling like beef jerky. Winter brings possible snow to higher elevations but offers crystal-clear nights perfect for UFO spotting.
Essential supplies for the weird road:
- Full gas tank always
- Water (lots of it)
- Snacks (alien jerky optional)
- Offline maps downloaded
- Camera with extra batteries
- Sense of humor
Most attractions remain free or request small donations, making this an affordable adventure compared to Vegas's casinos. The real investment is time and gas money, but the stories you'll tell are priceless.
Embrace the weird
Nevada's roadside attractions offer something you can't find anywhere else… genuine, unfiltered American weirdness. Whether you're posing with Fred the alien, adding shoes to a tree, or sleeping under the watchful eyes of 6,500 clowns, you're participating in a tradition of desert dreamers who decided normal was overrated.
These attractions exist because someone looked at the empty desert and thought, "You know what this needs? Forty cars buried vertically." Or "Let's build a castle here for no reason." That spirit of creative absurdity makes Nevada's backroads worth exploring.
So load up the car, queue up your best road trip playlist, and prepare for adventure. The desert's calling, and it sounds suspiciously like a UFO. Or maybe that's just the wind through the car forest. Either way, Nevada's weirdest attractions await, ready to blow your mind and your Instagram followers' feeds.
Plan your route with Travel Nevada's road trip resources and don't forget to share your own bizarre discoveries along the way. After all, in a state where aliens have their own highway, anything's possible.
