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Most outsiders view Nevada as simply Las Vegas and Reno with not much in between. And while the state’s two most densely populated areas attract much of the attention, it’s the collection of small towns and wild road trips that are the most memorable.
We like to brag that Nevada boasts some of the most incredible landscapes in the American Southwest. It’s true, after all.
While northern Nevada and the Reno area are great for mountain exploration, while Death Valley and Great Basin national parks, along with Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire, are all close enough to Las Vegas and make for some amazing adventures under the sun and stars. Here, we highlight some of Nevada’s most unique rentals.
Related Read: 8 Amazing Day Trips From Las Vegas, Nevada
1. Desert Gold
Why you should stay: Modern living in complete seclusion.
- Location: Beatty
- Minimum stay: 2 nights
- Sleeps: 6
- Rates from: $500/night
Isolated might be an understatement. Advertised as being in the middle of nowhere, the Desert Gold is exactly that, so don’t expect to go borrowing milk from a neighbor. Sitting on 80 acres, roughly 20 miles from Death Valley National Park, this modern, modular home beckons as an oasis in the desert.
The thoughtfully designed 1,200-square-foot, three-bedroom house takes every aspect of the landscape into account. In order to keep guests comfortable and temperatures down, the home is lifted off the ground, bedroom windows face north to avoid the midday sun and large sliding glass doors open to take advantage of common wind patterns while providing access to a large deck with a sunken hot tub.
Inside, floor-to-ceiling windows offer up stunning views. Pops of red and a green tiled bathroom provide the only color among the home’s white-washed walls.
Check AvailabilityRelated Read: 6 Epic National Parks Near Las Vegas, Nevada
2. Conrad Creek Yurt
Why you should stay: Wilderness glamping minutes away from Ruby Mountain recreation.
- Location: Lamoille
- Sleeps: 4
- Minimum stay: 1 night
- Rates from: $175/night
Cozy camping next to the cascading Conrad Creek. Nestled in an aspen grove near a rambling creek, this remote yurt in northern Nevada — a half hour from Elko — has privacy and space (120 acres of it). Yet, you can be among the pointed peaks and alpine lakes of Lamoille Canyon within 10 minutes.
From your Conrad Creek Yurt basecamp you’re ready to explore the Ruby Mountains. Whether mountain biking or hiking directly from the yurt, heading out to fly fish for trout or tackling the Ruby Dome Trail and its 11,366-foot peak, it’s all nearby. Winter brings heavy snow but also the opportunity to snowmobile or cross-country ski.
Check AvailabilityRelated Read: 8 Wildly Scenic Drives in Nevada to Explore this Year
3. The Peacock
Why you should stay: Experience a tiny house on a working dude ranch.
- Location: Sandy Valley
- Sleeps: 3
- Minimum stay: 1 night
- Rates from: $110/night
This isn’t your ordinary house trailer on the edge of the desert. Not at all. The Peacock in Sandy Valley is big on character and old west adventure. An hour south of Las Vegas, this tidy home is expertly crafted of wood giving it a country cabin feel.
A full kitchen, sleeping loft and rooftop deck for stargazing add charm, while its roots on a dude ranch make it memorable, especially for kids when they wake up and see farm animals like pigs, chickens, goats and horses foraging nearby.
If you want to stay close to home and channel your inner cowboy, the Sandy Valley Ranch serves meals, offers horseback riding, manages cattle drives and hosts rodeo events. But whatever your plans entail, be sure to visit the Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings before leaving the valley. The old-timey saloon has a rich history dating to 1913.
Check AvailabilityRelated Read: 11 Best Hot Springs in Nevada That Promise Nature-Based Relaxation
4. Tipi in the Mojave
Why you should stay: Ranch living while sleeping in a tipi.
- Location: Sandy Valley
- Sleeps: 3
- Minimum stay: 1 night
- Rates from: $115/night
Another option on Sandy Valley Ranch is the Tipi in the Mojave. It’s a fun way to rough it (outdoor shower and kitchen) while being close enough to access the ranch’s food hall and horseback rides.
The authentic tipi is glamping at its best with a comfortable bed and cozy reading nook. Enjoy evenings by the firepit and don’t forget to look up, the stargazing here is out of this world.
Check Availability5. Mt. Rose Cabin
Why you should stay: Well-appointed cabin close to the great outdoors.
- Location: Reno
- Sleeps: 6
- Minimum stay: 3 nights
- Rates from: $150/night
For skiers and those planning to explore the Reno/Lake Tahoe area, the Mt. Rose Cabin is ideally situated. Built in the 1950’s, the quaint cabin has been completely modernized. Exposed wood beams draw the eyes up while western artwork and animal skin rugs tie the contemporary design back to the woods.
The four-season rental includes a children’s outdoor play area for the warm summer months, plus it’s just 15 minutes from Mt. Rose Ski Resort and 30 minutes from Lake Tahoe.
Check Availability6. Designed to Death
Why you should stay: Eclectic stay close to Death Valley National Park.
- Location: Beatty
- Sleeps: 7
- Minimum stay: 1 night
- Rates from: $218/month
Designed to Death is what happens when a reality TV producer and an HGTV personality get together. It’s whimsy. It’s quirky. It has all the comforts you crave (even baking pans) while including those you never knew you needed — like the buffalo mirror.
Each room, from the Cape Cod cottage kitchen to the antique tea room sitting area with pink wingback chairs, has a style all its own. An outdoor patio and picnic area connect you to nature and this desert hideaway is in the thick of it, minutes away from the northeast entrance of Death Valley National Park.
Check Availability7. Living Large in a Tiny House
Why you should stay: Escape The Strip and hunker down in Red Rock Canyon.
- Location: Las Vegas
- Sleeps: 2
- Minimum stay: 1 night
- Rates from: $99/night
You know what they say about a book and it’s cover? This propped-up, metal storage container in a backyard may not look like much, but you’ll be living large inside this Las Vegas tiny home.
The cutesy exterior, flagged with plants, is welcoming enough, but once you fling open the glass door you enter an affordable unique, industrial space close enough to explore Red Rock Canyon and the ritzy Summerlin side of Las Vegas.
Check Availability8. Casa de Rosa
Why you should stay: Fit for a king, this Spanish mission is ideal for groups.
- Location: Las Vegas
- Sleeps: 14
- Minimum stay: 1 night
- Rates from: $695/night
Keep your crew together. Able to sleep 14, Casa de Rosa is a massive 3,865-square-foot Spanish ranch meant for entertaining.
Just three miles from the Las Vegas Strip you’re a rideshare away from the excitement should you choose. And while you may not use the underground wine cellar during your brief stay, you might pop a cork or two while enjoying the courtyard, casita and covered bar area near the swimming pool.
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Seen in: Nevada, Southwest, Where to Stay
