The Open Road Travel

U.S. route 50, otherwise known as ‘The loneliest road in America’, is an uninterrupted route that starts in west Sacramento, California, and eventually leads to Ocean City, Maryland.  

Officially, The Loneliest Road moniker refers to the Nevada portion, which crosses from the west in Carson City, to Baker in the East. In this guide, we will be walking you through the full route, which takes a traveller along the open road, east through west, spanning the entire continent.  

The combination of a lack of populus areas, and the apparent never-ending landscapes would likely be to blame for Route 50 not exactly being on everyone's radar for a US road trip. 

Don’t let this put you off though, as this 3019-mile (4858 km) journey is rich with history, charm, and more than enough natural beauty for you to gaze at!  

So, if you follow U.S. route 50 in its entirety with no deviations from the road, the overall distance puts you at 3019 miles (4858 km) through 12 states to traverse. In order from west to east: California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland.   

This journey will lead a potential traveller through lush green woodlands, wide open farmlands, to vast dusty plains with mountainous horizons. 

If you plan on relying on Google maps for your road trip, you will be disappointed due to some stretches of road slowing you down and Google’s insistence on following the fastest route. Therefore, you will need to mainly rely on signs and road markings for the traditional route.  

Because of the smaller roads and towns, this could take upwards of 100 driving hours. For the sake of a stress free, more seamless road trip, we will be showing you a different route which includes some unmissable stop-offs, and just a few deviations from your road west.  

Our guide takes you 2934 miles (4722 km) and will take anywhere from 40 to 60 hours to drive, depending on traffic. Of course, this epic road trip will require some stops for the night (Or two!), and we will be showing you the best places to stay along the way.  

Of course, you can plan a road trip along ‘The Loneliest Road’, for any time of year; with plenty to see regardless of the season. Due to your drive passing directly through tornado alley, we would recommend avoiding tornado season, which is roughly March to June, and going instead in the later summer months.  

It is also worth noting that, due to heavy snowfall, some of the roads and attractions may be closed through winter, so be sure to check ahead if you plan to go outside of our suggested time. 

Starting at Ocean Gateway in Ocean city, head west over Harry W. Kelley Memorial Bridge, and begin following US-50. You will remain on this until you reach exit 21, at which point you will use the two right lanes and leave US-50 for now. 

Join I-97 N and then merge onto I-695 and follow it to exit 16-16A 16-B, which you will need to take to merge onto I-70 W toward Frederick. Follow I-70 W towards Pittsburgh, then join the I-76, before merging onto I-80 W in Ohio. 

Stay on this until you pass Wanship, Utah,  and then take US-189/US-40 E. Carry on along this road for 17 miles (27 km), where you will then need to turn right onto US-189 S. Remain on this until you reach the slip road to I-15/Las Vegas, then merge onto I-15 S.

Keep heading south on I-15 S for 35 miles (56 km), then take exit 228 for UT-28 towards I-15 BUS/N Main St, then turn right onto State Route 41/UT-28 S. After 2 miles (3 km), turn right onto UT-132 W. Follow UT-132 W for 33 miles (53 km), before turning left onto US-6 W. After 5 miles (8 km), turn right onto UT-174 S.  

Keep driving for 7 miles (11 km), and then turn left onto N Jones Rd. Drive south for 9 miles, and turn left onto W 1500 N Rd. Continue onto 1000 W for 2 miles (3 km), where you will finally rejoin US-50 W/US-6 W. This road now carries us the rest of the way to our destination in Sacramento.  

Though the road may have ended, your trip doesn’t have to; as Sacramento is certainly worth a visit, and a great place to rest up from your adventure! Read on to hear our pick of great things to see along ‘Americas Loneliest Road’.  

Buchanan State Forest will make a perfect first stop for you on your road trip. Located in the Ridge and Valley Province of Pennsylvania, with historical ties to trails that played a part in the French Indian War.  

This forest consists over 70,000 acres of beautiful woodland. There are plenty of trails for you to hike or ride along, places to stop for a picnic, and campsites to make your own. Don’t give this area of natural beauty a miss!  

Located along the south shores of Lake Eire, music fans will not want to miss out on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where you can learn more about the icons of music throughout the ages, and even play your own music in the garage museum.  

If music isn’t your thing, perhaps check out ‘Cleveland Botanical Garden’, and be amazed at the exotic plants and animals that you won’t find anywhere else! 

The Cultural centre of Iowa, Des Moines, suffered a catastrophe over 20 years ago in the form of a great flood. Great care was taken in the renovations and rebuilding, and now the city is a hub that thrives in the arts. 

You can check out the Des Moines Art Centre or catch some live performances at The Playhouse. Also be sure to pay the Downtown Farmers Market a visit, if you happen to be in town on a Saturday.  

Cheyenne is Wyoming’s capital city and a great place to get a feel for the American west. Watch one of the rodeos that are hosted regularly or visit the Terry Bison Ranch, where you can have the rare opportunity of seeing one of these beautiful beasts up close. 

If that doesn’t quite satiate your cowboy desires, if you happen to be in town in late July; the 19th to the 28th, you can experience the world's largest outdoor rodeo and western celebration in the Annual Cheyenne Frontier Days. Believe us, you do not want to miss this!

You can’t help but get a feeling of wonder of the vast, wide-open expanses set out before you on all directions at the Great Basin National Park.  

It brings you back to a time, many generations ago; when there was a few less stars on the flag of the United States of America, and the west really was wild. It’s impossible to put into words the beauty and magnificence of this place. See it for yourself!  

This next entry is a bit of a cheat, as you’ll need to take a short detour off your main route to see it, but believe us, it’s worth the extra travel time! 

This small 1800s mining town is a living time capsule into the old west. Learn about the history of the town in a museum, dine in some old saloons, or even go on a stagecoach ride. This blast into the past is certainly worth a visit, as it is one of the best wild west towns remaining in the United States. 

Lake Tahoe is a stunning freshwater lake and a common destination for tourists who hope for a bit of skiing or snowboarding during winter, and with these views, who could blame them! 

People visiting in the warmer months will not be disappointed though, as the now lush green woodlands will invite you in, to explore and wonder. Rent a bicycle and ride around the lake, or even a paddleboard or canoe and see the lake up close. 

With a road trip from Ocean City to Sacramento taking upwards of 40 hours to drive, you are going to want to break it up into a few more manageable chunks. Below we have added a list of the three best places to make an overnight stay along the route, to give you maximum value for your time. 

Your first city stop on a road trip from Ocean City to Sacramento should be Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Located where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet to combine into the Ohio River, this city is filled with history, and was an integral part of the U.S. steel industry. 

You’ll be spoilt for choice if educational activities are your thing. There are 4 distinct Carnegie museums for you to enjoy: The Museum of Art, Museum of Natural History, The Science Centre, and The Andy Warhol Museum.  

Be sure to check out the stunning Cathedral of Learning while you’re here. This 42-story skyscraper is the tallest educational building in the western hemisphere, and the gothic architecture is truly something to behold! 

If you plan on staying the night at Pittsburgh, we recommend the CozySuites Trendy 1BR. Located downtown, this hotel offers a full apartment with a fully functioning kitchen, free WIFI, and a fitness centre fully at your disposal.  

Being downtown, you’ll find plenty of activities and points of interest within walking distance of the hotel, such as the Duquesne incline, which offers a fantastic view of the city's skyline once you reach the summit.

Don’t miss out on a visit to ‘The Windy City’. Situated on the southwest of Lake Michigan, one of the larger of the “Great Lakes”, this populous city, voted best big city in America 7 years in a row, is certainly worth a visit. 

If the accolades aren’t already enough to tempt you into stopping by; then maybe the huge list of activities available to you might. From the iconic Millennium Park, with its stunning sculptures, to the Adler Planetarium, to the free admission Lincoln Park Zoo; Chicago has something for everyone. 

Chicago can keep you busy. Why not slow it down and take in the views? At the 360 Chicago Observation Deck, you can get a stunning 360-degree view of Chicago at over 1000 feet. Not one for the faint of heart!  

Being in Chicago, why not spend the night along the ‘Magnificent Mile’? The Warrick Allerton Hotel finds itself smack bang in the middle of Chicago’s premier commercial district, with plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance.  

This 4-star hotel will suit all your needs. It is fitted with luxurious rooms, free WI-FI, and afternoon tea, presented by Executive Chet Ralph Villalovos. As of writing, staying here works out very good value too!  

Next up we have Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah. No visit to Salt Lake City would be complete without a visit to the Great Salt Lake, or the Bonneville Salt Flats, with unique biomes and environments found nowhere else.  

Keeping to the city limits, you’ll find plenty of activities to keep you busy. Be sure to pay a visit to Tracy Aviary and Botanical Gardens, where you’ll find many exotic bird species, or ‘The Leonardo’: a fascinating museum that shows how art, science, and technology can connect in amazing ways.

If you’re looking for more excitement and an adrenaline rush, look no further than Lagoon Amusement Park, a family-owned amusement park with over 50 rides to get your heart racing.  

Of course, Salt Lake City has plenty of quality hotels to stay at, and our pick would be the ‘Little America’. This fairly priced, highly rated hotel comes with free WI-FI, indoor and outdoor pools, and great service to suit. 

The Little America is conveniently located as well. You can find multiple parks, museums, and the aforementioned Botanical Gardens and Aviary all within a 15-minute walk of the hotel. 

A road trip from Ocean City to Sacramento is an underrated journey that takes you almost the entire width of the entire United States. Though this route doesn’t follow US-50 the whole way from start to end, we hope we might have convinced you in taking this epic adventure which includes some unmissable stops along the way.

You should now have everything you need when planning your journey. The ‘Loneliest Road in America’ sure gets our approval for an amazing road trip that we think you’ll love!