9 Unique Things To Do in Beatty, Nevada

Besides the raw beauty of Nevada, the best thing about the Silver State is its incredible history and the places that tell those stories. Beatty, a tiny historic mining town just about two hours northwest of Las Vegas, is one of those places.

Often overlooked, Beatty is a true hidden gem, filled with reminders of its colorful past – from the silver rush to nearby ghost towns and rugged desert landscapes. These are the best things to do in Beatty to start exploring it all.

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Things to do in Beatty, Nevada

Long before gold prospectors arrived, this area of Nevada was home to the Western Shoshone people, who thrived in the desert landscape. When the silver rush began in the early 1900s, miners and settlers transformed the area, but Beatty managed to hold onto its roots and its mining history.

Not as much mining goes on these days – there is some gold mining in the area – but Beatty remains a fun little town and makes a good stopping-over point for longer Nevada road trips to Lake Tahoe or Carson City. It can also be included as an easy day trip from Las Vegas for those who want to get off the Strip and check out rural Nevada.

1. Explore Death Valley National Park

The town of Beatty prides itself on being the “Gateway to Death Valley National Park”. Rightly so since the park entrance is only seven miles from town. The close proximity makes it an ideal place to overnight for those who don’t want to stay in the park or who just want more a few more amenities.

Plus, the eastern side or the park – closest to Beatty – offers plenty of things to do. It’s convenient to enter Death Valley National Park at Beatty, visit places of interest like Ubehebe Crater, Furnace Creek and Badwater Basin before exiting and returning to Las Vegas through Pahrump.

If you lucky enough to have a high clearance four-wheel vehicle, the popular Titus Canyon Road is nearby and the ghost town of Chloride City is also located on the eastern side of the park. Either of those sites make a great day trip from Beatty.

Death Valley National Park is prone to flooding in the summer season. To be safe, always check nps.gov/deva first for park closures and alerts and Caltrans for current road conditions in and around the park.

Southerner Says: as you enter the park from Beatty, try to spot Corkscrew Peak on the right. It gets its name from its shape that looks like, you guessed it – a corkscrew.

2. Gamble at the Stagecoach Casino

While Beatty certainly doesn’t offer the glitz of Las Vegas, it does provide a bit of Nevada’s famous gaming scene. Try your luck at the poker tables and slot machines inside the Stagecoach Hotel + Casino, one of several small resorts and hotels in Beatty.

After a scorching day in the park, take a refreshing dip in the hotel pool or unwind at the 24-hour restaurant. With Beatty’s small size, you can park your car and explore the town on foot, enjoying the convenience of easy access to restaurants and saloons.

3. Stuff Yourself With Candy

One of the best things to do in Beatty is a candy shopping spree from Death Valley Nut & Candy – Nevada’s largest sweets store and supplier of candies across the state. It has quickly become one of my must-stops on Nevada road trip.

Located within the same building as the Stagecoach Casino, this paradise offers a huge selection of candies for any craving. From mouthwatering fudge and peanut brittle to chocolate-covered nuts, jelly beans, an assortment of Mexican candy and a variety of gummy flavors – they have it all.

4. Wander Around Rhyolite

Just over a hundred years ago, the town of Rhyolite had some of the most productive mines in Nevada’s Bullfrog Mining District. By 1907, it was a thriving town with modern conveniences like banks, grocery stores, a hospital and over fifty saloons!

It even offered electricity and running water. The economy was so good that the mines even supported a local stock exchange. Sadly, in less than a decade after it began, it was all over. The mines were depleted. As production dwindled, people made the difficult decision to move on and look for work elsewhere.

Gone but not forgotten, the ghost town of Rhyolite is public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and offers a glimpse into what life would have been like in this bygone era. It’s surreal to see the train station that brought thousands – to what they hoped was a better life – in the middle of the desert.

5. See the Goldwell Open Air Museum

Just outside Rhyolite, check out the public art and sculptures at Goldwell Open Air Museum. This outdoor art museum – of sorts – surrounds the ghost town and is one of the very unique things to do in Beatty. Some of the sculptures are a bit strange but that just adds to the character of this part of the desert.

6. Visit the Tom Kelly Bottle House

One of the most surprising structures in Rhyolite is the Tom Kelly Bottle House – yes, a house made entirely of bottles from the aforementioned saloons in Rhyolite. Built in 1905, the story goes that since wood was hard to come by in this area, Mr. Kelly decided to build his house with bottles.

Due to the popularity of the saloons in town, it’s rumored that he was able to collect enough bottles to build the house in less than six months. Once completed, Mr. Kelly sold $5 raffle tickets and raffled the house off. The winning family lived there until 1914.

7. Search For Donkeys

As the highest producer of gold, silver and barite in the United States, there are approximately 200k mines in the state of Nevada. Workers relied heavily on burros or donkeys to help move their products.

Once the mines ran out, the miners moved on and many of the donkeys were left behind. Descendants of those working donkeys still roam Nevada. It’s not unusual to see some of them in Beatty or even in Rhyolite if you are lucky.

Beatty’s warm desert climate is the perfect location for the burros to live all year long. If you happen to spot them and stop to take photos, be warned, they are very curious and friendly. In fact, they’ll come right up to the car.

From time to time the Bureau of Land Management steps and takes some of the wild burros to adoptions centers throughout the western states. So if you’ve ever wanted to own a wild donkey from Nevada, here’s your chance.

8. Snap a Photo of an Abandoned Airplane

Nevada is no stranger to odd roadside attractions and you’ll encounter one of the weirdest ones right north of Beatty. The significance of this abandoned airplane on the side of Hwy 95 in not completely clear but it might have something to do with an infamous – or famous – house of ill repute.

With prostitution being legal – in some form – in the state of Nevada, who knows if it’s true. Whether or not, it’s still one of the oddest things to do in Beatty and it makes a cool photo op of an airplane in the desert.

9. Stop by the Beatty Museum

The Beatty Museum & Historical Society – open every day 10am to 3pm with free admission – offers a chance to learn more about Beatty. This small but informative museum showcases artifacts, photographs and exhibits that showcase the rich heritage of the area.

Learn about the mining boom that shaped Beatty, explore displays on the early pioneers and Native American history and gain insights into the unusual challenges of desert life. The Beatty Museum is perfect for history buffs and anyone interested in the interesting stories about this part of the desert.

How to Get to Beatty, Nevada

From Las Vegas, the best way to get to Beatty is by car. Take US-95 North and continue for approximately 100 miles until you reach Beatty. The drive typically takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. And how many times you stop.

From Death Valley National Park, take Highway 190 to Daylight Pass Road east (the road is called Highway 374 in Nevada, outside the park) and travel approximately 18 miles into Beatty. Don’t forget to stop by the official Death Valley National Park sign.

Check car prices below:

Where to Stay in Beatty

Besides the Stagecoach Casino, Beatty has several other hotels and RV parks in town. The Atomic Inn is a newer, more modern small hotel. For camping or RV’s stays, check out the Death Valley Inn & RV Park with both a hotel and camper spots for short and long-term stays.

Where to Eat in Beatty, Nevada

Beatty may be a small but it offers a surprising array of excellent dining options. Kick off your culinary tour of at Happy Burro Chili & Beer, where you can try their secret family chili recipe while sitting on a patio made from a relocated Rhyolite building.

For Mexican-inspired cuisine, Gema’s Cafe is a must. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner – we stopped in for breakfast – Gema’s is locally owned and has a tempting taco truck outside on some weekends throughout the year.

Y’all know I always brake for BBQ – so don’t miss out on some delicious smoked pork – or ribs – and mouthwatering jalapeno mac-n-cheese at Smokin’ J’s Barbeque. The slaw was good too!

Best Things to do in Beatty, Nevada

Beatty may be small, but it packs in a surprising amount of history, character and Old West charm. Whether you’re visiting as a day trip from Las Vegas or pairing it with a Death Valley adventure, this quirky desert town is worth the stop.

If your travels continue on to Las Vegas, be sure to check out my guides to free things to do in Las Vegas and everything you need to know about Las Vegas – with a complete guide on where to stay in Las Vegas coming soon.

See you on the road!