When people think of Nevada, they think of Las Vegas, Reno and maybe Lake Tahoe. You may also think “it’s just a lot of desert.” And yes, a roadtrip in Nevada does mean spending your fair share of time exploring the desert, but it also means stopping in at bars that feel like you’ve stepped back into the Wild West, finding art you can interact with and exploring mountains of sand and snow. Nevada has a lot to offer if you’re willing to go out and explore it.
As someone who recently drove 2,300 miles for 9 days doing a full loop around Nevada with Noble Studios and the Travel Nevada team (for work! I’m a lucky gal.), I am uniquely positioned to share what you need to pack for a roadtrip in Nevada.
Packing List for a Nevada Roadtrip
Hats
- Baseball cap
- Beanie
- Cowboy or wide-brim hat
Pants
- Leggings
- Sweatpants
- Shorts
- Jeans (for fancy occasions)
Jackets and Outwear
- Light puffer coat
- Vest
- Sweatshirt or fleece
- Leather or denim jacket
Tops
- Tank tops
- Long-sleeve shirts
- A “going out” top or two
Shoes
- Sandals (Tevas or Birkenstocks)
- Hiking boots/shoes
- Booties/Cowboy boots
- Comfy sneakers
- Socks (more than you think you need because it gets dusty out there)
Accessories
- Deoderant
- Thigh Chafe Stick
- Sunscreen
- Chapstick
Safety Essentials
- Bottles of water
- Snacks
- Shovel
- Blanket
- Spare tire (especially if you’re going on dirt roads)
- Downloaded map (like on Google Maps)
- External battery
Some Pro-Tips to Pack on Your Nevada Roadtrip
- Plan your gas stops. There are a lot of long, beautifully uninhabited sections of highway. They’ll wow you. But that also means you need to make sure to fill up where you can along the route. Just be smart, and you’ll be fine.
- Keep water bottles in your trunk. Chances are you won’t get in a bind, but better safe than sorry. Have extra water (as well as blankets and a snow shovel depending on the time of year). Extra tires—and tools to change it—are great if you’re going to be offroading.
- Leave room for souvenirs—like if you pick up a bottle of whiskey at Frey Ranch or a cowboy hat in Elko, Nevada or rocks from rockhounding (yes, it’s a real and cool activity). You’ll want some extra room.
- Going out in Nevada isn’t like going out in Las Vegas. Leave the heels and short skirts at home if you’re headed out into the heart of Nevada. If you have a pair of jeans, cute boots and a clean top, you’ll be ready to party your heart out at The Star or another sagebrush saloon. You can keep it casual out there.
Until next time, here goes nothing.
