How long is US Highway 50?

How long is US Highway 50?

Usa, north-america

Length

4,800 km

Elevation

2,356 m

Difficulty

easy

Best Season

Year-round

U.S. Route 50 is the name of a major road in the USA. It runs through mostly rural areas in the western part of the country and includes the section through Nevada known as The Loneliest Road in America.

How long is US Highway 50?

The road is totally paved. It’s 3,000 miles (4,800 km) long. The road was created in 1926. US Highway 50 wasn’t built overnight. The history of US Highway 50 starts almost two hundred years ago. There were no established trails other than pathways left by the Native Americans.

Where does US Highway 50 start and end?

The road runs east-west from Ocean City (in Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean) to West Sacramento (in California, on the Pacific Ocean) through mostly rural desert and mountains.

It passes through a dozen different states (California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland) as well as the District of Columbia) and four state capitals, as well as the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

Running coast-to-coast through the heart of America on a 3,000-mile odyssey from sea to shining sea, US-50 From the Atlantic to the Pacific, is how one often describes the coast to coast trip across the United States.

Why is Highway 50 called The Loneliest Road in America?

The section across Nevada is known as “The Loneliest Road in America”, with few or no signs of civilization along many parts.

In Nevada, US 50 crosses several mountain ranges using 17 passes and one tunnel. The road tops out at

at an elevation of 7,729 feet (2.356m) above the sea level. There is a stunning absence of people across hundreds of miles of sandy, rocky terrain. The Nevada portion of the route, evokes the feeling of loneliness. You find miles and miles of little more than mountains, sand, hundreds of timeworn small towns, and blue sky. US-50 crosses more than 400 miles of Nevada’s countryside, climbing up mountain ranges while passing through four mining towns and the capital, Carson City. You can still find some old gas stations, motor courts and diners hidden between newer buildings and businesses – a glimpse to another time in America’s past. It runs through mostly rural areas in the western part of the United States.

Piilani Highway is a road with bad reputation in Hawaii

Mattole Road is a Lost Coastal Scenic Drive in California

Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our

to discover the most spectacular roads of the world

Drive Us to Your Road!

With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click

 to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Usa
Continent
north-america
Length
4,800 km
Max Elevation
2,356 m
Difficulty
easy

Related Roads in north-america

A tough desert road to Towne Pass in CAhard

A tough desert road to Towne Pass in CA

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, picture this: you're cruising through Death Valley National Park on CA-190, a completely paved road slicing through the west side. This is Towne Pass, peaking at a cool 4,970 feet in Inyo County, California. The road links Panamint Valley and Stovepipe Wells, serving up some seriously breathtaking views. But heads up, this isn't a Sunday drive. The road's windy with a ton of curves, so daylight is your friend here. Plus, it gets steep, with grades hitting 15% in spots. Keep your speed in check – even though the limit's 55 mph, you'll want to drop it down to 30 mph for those tight turns. Word on the street is they're even planning some road work to straighten out the twistiest parts and make it safer. Basically, Towne Pass is a stunning drive, just keep your wits about you and enjoy the ride!

Why is Cerro de la Cúpula famous for?hard

Why is Cerro de la Cúpula famous for?

🇲🇽 Mexico

Okay, fellow adventurers, picture this: You're cruising from Ensenada, Mexico, into the heart of Baja California, and aiming for the sky. Literally! You're headed for Cerro de la Cúpula, a killer peak soaring to a mighty 9,206 feet. This isn't just any mountain. Perched at the top, inside the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park, is the National Astronomical Observatory. Open for tours weekdays 10am-1pm, this is a must-see. We're talking about one of the top stargazing spots *in the world*. Forget light pollution – the views here are insane, so bring your camera! The road itself? It’s paved the whole 62 miles from Ensenada, but get ready for some steep climbs! Weather can be a real mood-killer, so keep an eye on the forecast. We’re talking snowstorms in winter (yes, snow!), and scorching desert heat in summer at lower elevations. Pack layers! This place is stunning, with views that stretch forever, but Mother Nature calls the shots.

Seven Mile Bridge is featured in some of Hollywood’s blockbustersmoderate

Seven Mile Bridge is featured in some of Hollywood’s blockbusters

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the Florida Keys, sun on your face, wind in your hair, and then BAM! You hit the Seven Mile Bridge. This isn't just any bridge; it's *the* Seven Mile Bridge, a total icon. Stretching seven miles long, and rising 65 feet above the water, it connects Knight's Key to Little Duck Key like a concrete tightrope. Seriously, it's one of the longest bridges *in the world* and part of the Overseas Highway. Think endless blue sea stretching out on either side as you drive along this two-lane wonder. Originally built in 1912 as part of a railway, it was converted after a nasty hurricane. Later, a new, sturdier bridge was constructed, and the old bridge became a path for walkers and bikers! While the bridge itself isn't that intimidating, the hurricane-prone location gives it a bit of an edge. The current bridge is built tougher with a 65-foot arch to let boats sail underneath! And you might recognize it! This beauty's been in tons of movies, from *Licence to Kill* to *Mission Impossible III*. Trust me, the Seven Mile Bridge is even more stunning in person than it is on the big screen. So, if you're ever in the Florida Keys, this drive is a must-do!

Blowhard Mountainhard

Blowhard Mountain

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, thrill-seekers, listen up! Blowhard Mountain in Utah's Iron County is calling your name! We're talking serious elevation here – 10,708 feet! This isn't your average Sunday drive. The road, FR #277 (aka Blowhard Station Road), is a rugged gravel track through Dixie National Forest. Expect a bumpy, tippy, rocky ride that'll test your off-roading skills. Heads up, this bad boy is usually snowed in from October to June, so plan accordingly. The trail is a steep climb, and summer thunderstorms can turn the road into a 4x4-only zone (or worse, totally impassable). At the top, you'll find a radar station humming away, but the real reward is the view – epic mountain scenery that'll make you forget all about the white-knuckle drive up.