Last Updated on February 7, 2025
A day trip to Nelson Ghost Town from Vegas will give you a chance to escape the city lights of Sin City, and explore what’s left of a wild west boom town of the past.
On my most recent trip to Nevada, I went on a day trip to Nelson Ghost Town from Las Vegas. This is one of the most popular ghost towns near Las Vegas, and it did not disappoint! My partner had so much fun wandering the area, taking eclectic photos, and learning about its mining history.
This Nelson Ghost Town guide covers everything you need to know for planning a day trip to Nelson from Vegas, including entry fees, and things to do – like going on a tour of a real mine!
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Brief History of Nelson Ghost Town
Nelson is known for being the site of the most successful gold mining boom in southern Nevada history. In the late 1850s, prospectors discovered gold. In 1861, Nelson’s most well known mine, the Techatticup Mine, was established.
Nelson Ghost Town’s history is especially interesting because of its reputation for being one of the most lawless mining towns of its time. Violence and lawlessness were so prevalent in Nelson that allegedly, law enforcement avoided the town completely.
Mining in Nelson ended in the 1940s. After that, the town was abandoned until 1994, when Tony and Bobbie Werly purchased Nelson. The family restored many of the old buildings, opened the property up as a ghost town, and opened up the Techatticup Mine for public tours.
Nelson Ghost Town is an easy day trip from Vegas. Whether you’re spending 3 days in Vegas and want just a quick taste of what’s beyond the city, or you’re spending 5 days in Vegas and want to road trip around, Nelson Ghost Town, which is one of the most popular ghost towns near Las Vegas, is worth including in your itinerary.
How to Day Trip to Nelson Ghost Town From Vegas
First thing you’ll need to day trip to Nelson Ghost Town? A car! If you’ve got your own vehicle with you in Vegas, you’re all set. Otherwise, you’ll need a car rental. Luckily, most hotels in Vegas have cars on site, and I find driving in Vegas and around Nevada is pretty stress-free.
I recommend Discover Cars for reserving a car in Las Vegas. It compares the prices for a vehicle from a variety of suppliers to ensure you get the cheapest rate, and you can reserve your car rental in advance. Reserve a car rental here!
How to Drive to Nelson Ghost Town From Vegas
The drive from Las Vegas to Nelson Ghost Town takes about 45 minutes from the Las Vegas strip. The route is straightforward: You’ll get on the US-95 N, and then exit onto NV-165 E. Follow NV-165 all the way to the town.
The address for Nelson Ghost Town is: Nelson Cutoff Rd, Searchlight, NV 89046, USA.
What to See at Nelson Ghost Town
The best thing to do in Nelson Ghost Town is to wander around and see what you find! You can spend well over an hour exploring the property. While you wander, keep an eye out for these popular sites within the town.
Nelson General Store
The Nelson General Store is an old 1800s building. Inside the store is a counter where you can purchase drinks and snacks.
Around the store you’ll find lots of antiques that you can admire and buy. There’s also lots of memorabilia, pictures, and posted information that covers the history and interesting facts about Nelson Ghost Town.
Chevron Gas Station
Wandering around Nelson Ghost Town you’re sure to come across the old gas station. You’ll find some rundown, no longer working gas pumps.
Around the gas station, and inside its old building, there’s a lot of cool, vintage vehicles that make for fun photo opps! We especially liked taking pictures with the old school bus.
Vintage Motel Sign
On the outskirts of the property you’ll find a massive, vintage motel sign. It’s reminiscent of the motel signage you still see today on the streets of Old Vegas. The sign is positioned on the ground in a way that makes for very fun photos!
Nelson Ghost Town Barn
The old barn is cordoned off from most visitors, but you can still peer inside from the door. It’s filled with old antiques and furniture, like jukeboxes and vintage sinks.
We were permitted to go inside the barn because we’d paid at the store to take photos. Only enter if you’ve been explicitly told that you’re allowed to.
Nelson Ghost Town Church
There’s an old wooden church in Nelson Ghost Town that’s been renovated and is quite beautiful. This is where they hold wedding ceremonies (more on that later in this guide!), but it’s nice to pop into and have a look around.
Plane Wreckage at Nelson
On the property at Nelson Ghost Town you’ll come across two wrecked planes. These planes didn’t crash here… They were actually movie props for the film 3,000 Miles to Graceland. The planes were blown up on site for scenes in the movie.
When you’re in the Nelson general store, take a look behind the counter. There’s a TV there that plays the scenes where the planes explode. Or, you can watch the scene right here!
Nelson Ghost Town Mine Tour
If you visit Nelson Ghost Town, it’s worth going on the Techatticup Mine tour. This is the oldest and most prosperous mine in the area. The 1 hour tour takes you through the tunnels to see where gold and silver were extracted.
The mine tours usually take place at 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 2:00 PM. There needs to be enough people registered for the tour for it to run, so it’s best to call ahead to see when it will run on the day you’d like to go. Call +1 702-291-0026 to make a reservation.
There is an extra fee for the Techatticup Mine Tours. It costs $15 per adult, $10 for children aged 5 to 12, and kids under 5 can go on the tour for free.
Weddings at Nelson Ghost Town
Nelson Ghost Town hosts wedding ceremonies. It’s a unique place to tie the knot, and you’ll have fun, eclectic photos of your special day.
You can book a wedding ceremony package that includes round-trip transportation from Las Vegas by limousine, as well as a wedding cake, champagne, flower bouquet, an officiant to oversee the ceremony, and a professional photographer to take pictures.
You can book your wedding at Nelson Ghost Town, right here.
Tips for Visiting Nelson Ghost Town
It used to be that you could wander freely around Nelson Ghost Town. But with an influx of visitors in recent years, the owners of the property have listed some rules that they ask visitors to follow.
Respect Nelson Ghost Town Opening Hours
Nelson Ghost Town is open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. All visitors should have left the property by sunset time. Nelson Ghost Town is closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (after 12:00P PM) and Christmas Day.
Check In On Arrival
When you arrive at Nelson Ghost Town, you’ll park either in the small parking lot in front of the large general store (you’ll see it from the road), or in the parking lot across from it, on the other side of State Route 165 (SR 165).
Enter the general store, and you’ll be greeted by someone standing behind the bar. They’ll ask you the purpose of your visit (if you’re shooting photos, you’ll pay a small fee), and they will walk you through some safety points and rules for visiting.
If you arrive at Nelson Ghost Town after dark, or you arrive and the general store is closed, turn back. This means the property is closed to the public.
Beware of Snakes and Cacti
When you day trip to Nelson Ghost Town from Vegas… Watch where you walk! There are rattlesnakes and jumping cholla cacti in the area that believe me – you don’t want to come in contact with!
When we checked in the general store before wandering the property, one of the owners pulled out from behind the counter a book of photos. First, he showed us a photo of a rattlesnake. He warned that they sometimes are found around the property, and if we spot one, come back and tell him.
He then flipped through the book to a photo of a man covered in prickly looking pieces of cactus. He told us that this cactus is called “jumping cholla” because they “jump” onto you if you get too close.
Jumping cholla don’t actually jump. They have super sharp spines with a lot of barbs that easily detach from the parent plant, and onto whatever poor person (or animal) gets too close.
Seeing pictures of the jumping cholla was helpful, because we were able to carefully avoid them as we wandered Nelson Ghost Town.
Pack Water, Snacks, and Sunscreen
Nelson Ghost Town is a ways out into the desert, and so there aren’t shops or restaurants nearby. It’s best to be prepared with everything you need for a comfortable day trip!
Bring snacks or a packed lunch, plenty of drinking water, and sunscreen. Don’t underestimate the strength of the sun in the desert!
Prepare for Limited Cell Coverage
Don’t expect to have access to your cellular data on your day trip to Nelson Ghost Town from Vegas. Mobile phone coverage out in the desert is spotty at best. The drive from Vegas isn’t far, so don’t worry, you’ll be online again once you start driving back into the city.
Wander Nelson Ghost Town Responsibly
The owners of Nelson Ghost Town have a cheeky reminder on a sign when you enter the town, which reads, “This is not Disneyland and it’s not a playground.” Keep this in mind as you wander around the town. It is a private property, and the family that owns it lives there full time.
Pay attention to signage around the property, especially signage indicating areas that you can’t go. If you have kids or pets with you, don’t let them stray away. As with visiting anywhere, be sure to follow the rules and be a responsible tourist.
Nelson Ghost Town FAQ
Planning a day trip to Nelson Ghost Town from Vegas? Here are some helpful FAQs for your visit!
Is Nelson ghost town free?
Nelson Ghost Town is a private property that charges a varying fee to visit. If you are walking around without taking any photos, you’ll pay just a few dollars. If you plan to shoot photos, you’re asked to pay a 10$ fee.
How far is Nelson Ghost Town from Las Vegas?
Nelson Ghost Town isn’t far from Vegas, it’s just a 45 minute drive from the city. The town is located at Nelson Cutoff Rd, Searchlight, NV 89046, and the route to drive there is straightforward and quick.
When is Nelson Ghost Town open?
Nelson Ghost Town is open every day from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Visitors are not permitted on the property outside of those hours under any circumstances, and the owners of the property ask that all visitors have left after sunset. Nelson Ghost Town is closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (after 12:00P PM) and Christmas day.
Are there bathrooms at Nelson Ghost Town?
Yes, there are outhouses available for use at Nelson Ghost Town. There isn’t running water to wash your hands, but when we visited, hand sanitizer was provided.
What movie was filmed at Nelson Ghost Town?
Nelson Ghost Town has been the setting of several movies over the years. You might recognize Nelson as the setting of 3,000 Miles to Graceland, Brain Games, Eye of the Beholder, and Breakdown. All of these were filmed within the ghost town, and in the surrounding area. You’ll find old props from the movies scattered around the town.
Why is Nelson Ghost Town important to Nevada?
In its heyday, Nelson was a booming gold mining town. In the late 1850s, prospectors discovered gold, and its most well-known mine, the Techatticup Mine, was established in 1861. The town had a reputation for being one of the most lawless mining towns of its time. Violence and lawlessness were so prevalent in Nelson that allegedly, law enforcement avoided the town completely. Nelson was abandoned some time in the 1940s, when mining ended.
Final Thoughts: Day Tripping to Nelson Ghost Town From Vegas
Our day trip to Nelson Ghost Town was a highlight of our most recent trip to Las Vegas! The drive takes you through beautiful desert landscapes, and once you reach the town you’ll get to experience the old wild west history that this part of the USA is famous for. And, you’ll get some very cool pictures to take home with you!
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Erin has been traveling for over a decade, both solo, and with her partner. She’s now traveled to countries across 6 continents, and has lived in 2 countries abroad. Erin also hosts the travel podcast, Curious Tourism, where she interviews travel industry thought leaders and experts about responsible tourism. Learn more about Erin, and get in touch with her, here.
