Getting a little out there? You’ll need a place to call it a night. While there’s no shortage of top-notch hotels in Nevada, countless one-of-a-kind destinations await across the state. If you’re looking for lodging that’s as bold as your itinerary, take your pick of some truly uncommon accommodations and make your night-in a far-out adventure.
Unique Places to Stay in Nevada
Uncommon Overnighters in Nevada
From castles and cabooses to haunted hotels and high-country yurts, the Silver State is packed with unique places to stay—both on and off the grid—that blur the line between lodging and legend.
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Alien, Clown & Other Themed Stays
Rest your head at some of the most wonderfully weird destinations in Nevada. When you spot two-story jesters and a polka dot paint job in Tonopah, you’ll know you’ve arrived at The Clown Motel. In the lobby, peruse thousands of clown figurines and memorabilia. Naturally, the theme continues in every motel room, where you’ll spot clown paintings created by the property’s ringleader (aka CEO). For a double dose of clowns and ghosts, ask to stay in one of the haunted rooms. After all, The Clown Motel is next door to the historic (and equally fascinating) Old Tonopah Cemetery.
Need a little space? You’ll find plenty at the Little A’Le’Inn in the otherworldly outpost of Rachel—the closest community to Area 51. Chase the World Famous Alien Burger with a slice of homemade alienfruit pie, then check into one of the multi-room units and borrow an extraterrestrial flick from the free VHS library. Don’t forget to do some pre-bedtime UFO gazing—maybe some of the best on Earth.
Booking a night aboard Ruby the Red Caboose, a beautifully restored railcar, puts you just a few footsteps from Virginia City’s still wildly Western attractions. Or get the royal treatment at Paradise Ranch Castle, a friendly fortress outside Austin with rooftop stargazing, home-cooked breakfast, and a basement rec area—known as The Dungeon—that features a juke box, poker and pool tables, and a cash-only bar.
Outside Beatty, wild peacocks roam the grounds of the Shady Lady Bed & Breakfast. Once a legal bordello, the property has been renovated into four themed rooms. Take a dip in the pool outside the Willow Tree Cabin, or soak your cares away in the Paradise Room’s heart-shaped tub. And if you’ve ever wanted to spend the night in a ghost town, Gold Point Ghost Town Bed & Breakfast lets you bunk in century-old miner cabins surrounded by old-timey buildings and Wild West relics.
Haunted Hotels
Nevada’s past comes to life at haunted hotels found in famous boomtowns across the Silver State. In the 1870s, Pioche’s gunslinging scene blew Dodge City and Tombstone’s off the map, with more than 70 people laid to rest before a single person died of natural causes. While the entire town is “active,” the Overland Hotel & Saloon is such a paranormal magnet that “Ghost Adventures” has filmed multiple episodes here, especially zeroing in on shadowy figures in Rooms 8, 10, and 15.
Open since 1861, Gold Hill Hotel & Saloon is Nevada’s oldest—and maybe eeriest—hotel. Room 4 is believed to host a former lady of the night (named Rosie) who loves to trick guests by misplacing personal items or filling the space with a rose scent. Visitors who stay in Room 5 have reported smells of tobacco, attributed to a spirit named William. Ask for the Miner’s Cabin, if you dare: It’s said to be one of the most haunted rooms in the Silver State.
In 1907, the Mizpah Hotel was dubbed “the finest stone hotel in the desert.” It was true then and still is: The historic property dazzles Tonopah travelers with velvet drapes, lavish fixtures, and a good deal of ghostly gossip. Among the Mizpah’s eternal guests, a former “hostess” known as the Lady in Red has been known to wander the halls and whisper to male guests. Embrace a little opulence in her namesake Victorian suite, or toast her memory over cocktails at the masterfully restored bar.
Travel Nevada Pro Tip
If you encounter something strange during your stay at the Mizpah, ask the staff to see their official sightings logbook so you can add your own tale and read about other guests’ odd encounters.
Restored to its former glory in 1998, Jackson House Hotel—located in Eureka—blends 1880s elegance with the unearthly echoes of residents past. Guests have reported footsteps in empty hallways, doorknobs rattling, lights flicking on in the middle of the night, and apparitions in the forms of a little girl, a cowboy, and another Lady in Red. Of the eight boutique rooms, the Jackson Suite is said to be the most active.
Yurts, Cabins & Off-Grid Getaways
In the Silver State, rustic can also mean refined—especially at Elko’s Ruby Yurts. At nearly 10,000 feet elevation, Ruby High Yurt commands sweeping views and starlit silence, while the lower Conrad Creek Yurt cozies up beside a babbling brook. Both blend wilderness with luxury—solar power, Wi-Fi, full kitchens, and even optional catering—proving you can still get a little out there without having to full-on rough it.
In Nevada’s northwestern corner, the Bureau of Land Management maintains a first-come, first-serve cabin at Soldier Meadows, a legendary spot for hot spring soaks under dazzling dark skies. On the eastern edge of Lake Tahoe, two backcountry cabins are available seasonally at Spooner Lake & Backcountry State Park. The Wildcat Cabin sleeps two, the Spooner Lake Cabin sleeps four, and both come with cot beds, wood-burning stoves, and incredible views.
The friendly, funky community of Baker—gateway to Great Basin National Park—is home to the Stargazer Inn, equal parts old-school motel and cosmic crash pad. Step outside cozy, modern rooms, and the Milky Way feels close enough to touch. Pick up trail snacks, goods from local artisans, and more at the adjoining Bristlecone General Store, then check out free astronomy programs led by Great Basin’s Dark Sky Rangers.
Like your stars served up with a side of ranch? Get to the living ghost town of Vya, where two open-range retreats await. The Rockin’ TD Ranch offers both a two-bedroom home and cozy four-person bunkhouse, while the particularly pet-friendly Old Yella Dog Ranch invites dogs, horses, and up to six humans to its comfortable wood cabin. Both are perfect basecamps to explore Massacre Rim Dark Sky Sanctuary, which joins Great Basin National Park on the list of Nevada locales with some of the least light pollution and wildest starscapes you may ever see.
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