Nevada

The urban areas, consisting of the Reno and Las Vegas areas, are heavily dependent on tourism and thus very welcoming to outsiders. In addition, these areas have seen a huge influx of immigration from other states and countries and thus have a cosmopolitan feel. In a gambling town, everyone's your friend as long as you have money. Recent immigrants from California are widely complained about (especially by the less recent immigrants from California), but that's about the extent of it.

Rural folk in Nevada are about like rural folk in the rest of the U.S., except more so. Although they are mostly conservative and highly individualistic, you'll be surprised by their helpful, easygoing nature and tolerance of people that they don't feel threatened by. As the entire rural economy of Nevada is dependent on access to Federal lands for mining and grazing, environmental activists and Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service employees may be viewed as a threat. Young and hip people, especially from the Northeastern U.S., may be assumed to belong to one of those groups.

Some rural areas have significant populations of Native American peoples, mainly Paiute and Shoshone. Reservations are found at Fort McDermott on the Oregon border, in the Reese River Valley between the Toiyabe and Shoshone Ranges, around Pyramid Lake and at the northern end of Walker Lake. Local tribes were traditionally identified by their dietary mainstays, which were cutthroat trout at Walker Lake, cui-ui (a large type of sucker) at Pyramid Lake, and even a type of caterpillar in the mountains near Lake Tahoe. Pine nuts from single-leaf pinyons were a staple in most locations and can sometimes be found for sale in rural stores.

Nevada observes all the federal holidays, except Columbus Day, and adds 'Nevada Day' on the last Friday in October (which occasionally will be on the same day as Halloween). However, some cities and towns that have a large population of federal workers or military personnel may observe Columbus Day anyway.

• Travel Nevada website

Two interstates serve both the north & south part of the state. Interstate 15 runs through Las Vegas and has connections to Los Angeles in California and Salt Lake City in Utah. Interstate 80 traverses through Reno and has connections to San Francisco, and eventually Salt Lake City, Omaha, Chicago, Cleveland, and New York.

Amtrak's California Zephyr services Reno, Winnemucca and Elko as it crosses northern Nevada (along I-80 corridor) between Sacramento and Salt Lake City on its way to/from Chicago on one end and Emeryville on the other. While Las Vegas does not have scheduled train service, there are Thruway buses that connect the city from the Southwest Chief in Kingman, Arizona, and Barstow, California, and from the San Jaoquins in Bakersfield. Plans for an interstate high speed rail service are a perennial issue in state politics, possibly connecting to the Californian system that is under construction.

See also: Air travel in the United States

🌍 Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO ^IATA) and 🌍 Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS ^IATA) are the most popular entry points to the state from all over the U.S. There are also direct international flights from Europe, Mexico, Canada, east Asia and Central America into Las Vegas. There are also alternative airports which may be closer to your final destination in:

• 🌍 Henderson Executive Airport (HSH ^IATA) is the other airport near Las Vegas, in the town of Henderson. Henderson Executive Airport is a major general aviation airport with a FBO terminal for VIP flights.
• 🌍 Wendover Toole County Airport (ENV ^IATA) just over the state line in Utah, in the south side of town. This airport is a general aviation airport for private pilots (and their passengers). It is also a major airport for the Wendover Resorts Flight Program with chartered flights operated by XTRA, Allegiant and/or Sun Country Airlines from multiple cities in the U.S. on a regularly scheduled basis.
• 🌍 Salt Lake City Airport (SLC ^IATA) is the next nearest airport to access Wendover and the northeastern part of the state with regularly scheduled commercial flights. The airport is 117 mi (188 km) east of Wendover in the west side of Salt Lake City.

• The American Discovery Trail connects Nevada with California, Utah and both coasts.

There's an awful lot of desert to explore in Nevada, and it's very easy to leave civilization behind. While that is a worthy goal, common sense is necessary to avoid life-threatening situations. Here's some tips for traveling to the more remote desert areas of Nevada:

• What to drive: Vehicle breakdown and getting stuck are the easiest ways to get into serious trouble in the desert. Don't travel far from the pavement in a low-clearance vehicle. Four wheel drive is strongly recommended for the winter months, and is advised for unpaved mountain roads anytime. It is best to travel in a convoy of multiple vehicles, so that one breakdown will not strand you. Gas stations are few, far between, and often not open around the clock, so it is a good idea to carry extra fuel. If you do break down or run out of fuel, your best bet is to stay with the vehicle unless you're within 10 miles or so of civilization - Odds are that someone will come by in a day or two.
• Roads: Nevada is criss-crossed with unpaved roads, some of which are maintained, most of which are not. Due to the slow growth rate of vegetation, once a road is established it can remain passable for decades with no maintenance and little traffic. Few roads have culverts, so be on the look-out for washed out areas. These generally aren't a problem if traversed slowly, but can cause serious damage if you don't slow down in time.
• Fences: The boundaries between grazing allotments are fenced as are the boundaries between public and private land. On higher volume roads there will be a "cattle-guard" on the road which is passable by vehicles but not by cattle. Lower volume roads will have a gate across the road. Always leave the gate in the same condition as you found it - if open leave it open, if closed make sure you close it behind you. Gates leading into private land will sometimes be locked or marked with a "No Trespassing" sign, in which case you should respect the property owner's wishes and find another way to get where you want to go.
• Livestock: In open rangeland (just about everywhere in Nevada), cattle have the right-of-way. It is not uncommon for ranchers to leave hay and water for their stock close to a road, and thus it is not uncommon to encounter herds of cattle on or near the road. You should always slow way down for these herds, as the calves especially have a nasty habit of running out in front of cars. You break it, you buy it. Cattle are half-wild, often ornery. Don't approach them closely on foot.
• Navigation: Navigation in Nevada is fairly easy if you keep your wits about you. The poverty of vegetation gives astonishingly long sight distance, and mountain ranges are ubiquitous for reference. Large-scale topographic maps of the entire state are available in bound form at most bookstores and many gas stations. These should be sufficient for most purposes. Smaller scale topographic maps are published by the US Geologic Survey (USGS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and can be purchased at outdoors-oriented stores (such as the REI in Reno) or photocopied at the University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) library. The BLM maps tend to be more up-to-date with regards to roads, but are more difficult to find. Due to the small scale of these maps, they are not practical for long-range vehicle travel, but can be very useful on hiking trips.
• Weather: Most of Nevada is cold desert above 4,000 ft (1,300 m) elevation with summer daytime temperatures around 85°F/30°C and nights cooling sharply to 50°F/10°C. Winter temperatures are more variable and can drop far below zero (Fahrenheit or Celsius). Lower elevations in the Las Vegas area create hot desert with summer daytime temperatures consistently above 100°F/40°C and little nighttime relief, but pleasant winters. Carry extra clothing, sleeping bags and tire chains between October and April and remember that occasional snowstorms are possible above 4,000 ft (1,300 m) as late as June. Summer thunderstorms can be locally intense, causing flash-floods where roads cross normally-dry washes. Wear a hat, long shirt, long pants, sunblock; and drink plenty of water to avoid heat stroke and sunburn in the summer.
• Water: Away from municipal water districts, water supplies are few, far between, and usually contaminated by livestock except in the highest mountains. Bring enough in your vehicle for your entire trip, plus a few days reserve, with extra for your vehicle's radiator in case it starts leaking. When hiking, seek local knowledge about water supplies on multi-day trips. Don't rely solely on maps.
• Rail crossings: When travelling along the dirt roads of Nevada, you will undoubtedly need to cross a railroad which has no warning signs or lights. If you can see or hear a train wait for the train to pass. In the open range distance is very deceiving and the trains travel exceedingly fast compared to what you may be used to in built up areas. The reflections from the sun and shifting heat waves can easily disguise a moving train to look far away in the distance. That train which looks "miles away" may in fact be within moments of passing through the crossing you are waiting at.

Allegiant, Spirit and Southwest Airlines offer direct intrastate flights between Reno/Carson City and Las Vegas. Other airlines do offer flights between the two major Nevada cities but usually with connections in California (Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, JetBlue, Spirit, Southwest and United); Salt Lake City, UT (Delta); and Phoenix, AZ (American Airlines).

Information on transit can be found from APTA.

Gambling is the major industry in Nevada, directly responsible for about 20% of total employment. Gambling establishments range from huge casinos boasting slot machines, table games and sports books to small bars and convenience stores, with a few video poker games apiece.

Las Vegas is the epicenter for gambling, and people from around the globe come to try their luck at winning big in Vegas' plethora of expansive casinos. If you can bet money on it, you will find a location within one of any of the casinos to do so. Keep in mind that strict restrictions are placed upon casinos concerning where minors may be present within a casino, and these rules are harshly enforced.

You must be 21 years of age to gamble or be present whatsoever in a gaming area, such as a casino.

Nevada is the only state within the United States in which prostitution is legalized. Exceptions are Clark County (where many tourists fall victim to the "prostitutes", since they forget that prostitution is illegal in Las Vegas), where it is prohibited by state law, and four jurisdictions where local or municipal law bans it — Washoe, Douglas, and Lincoln Counties, and the independent city of Carson City. Brothels with a Carson City address are actually outside the city limits. Some of the state's most popular brothels are near Carson City and in Pahrump; policies and prices vary. Condom use is mandatory at all establishments where sexual activities are conducted, and you must be at least 18 years of age to participate.

Burning Man The Burning Man festival, held annually in northwestern Nevada at Black Rock City in late August is a festival of "radical self-expression". Black Rock City could be considered one of the most environmentally unpredictable cities in Nevada: travelers going there should be prepared for absolutely anything.

Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) EDC is a 3-day electronic dance festival with its flagship event held in either May or June at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway annually. The event is themed as a carnival, with performers roaming the festival grounds, and amusement rides checkered throughout the venue. Multiple stages featuring the most popular electronic and dance music artists, coupled with hundreds of thousands of festival-goers in attendance make it one of the largest "raves" in the world. You must be 18 years or older to attend.

Most of Nevada is federal land managed by the BLM (U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management) or by the Forest Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service). Self-sufficient campers can camp free of charge on land under the management of either agency as long as camping doesn't interfere with other legitimate uses. Both federal agencies also have developed campgrounds where fees are usually charged. Fees vary by location, averaging about $5 at BLM campgrounds and $10 at Forest Service campgrounds.

There are two National Parks (U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service) in Nevada: Great Basin N.P. in east-central Nevada and Death Valley N.P. straddling the California-Nevada state line. The Park Service offers developed campgrounds where fees are charged and no-fee primitive campgrounds.

Recreational marijuana use is legal in Nevada. Adults aged 21 and over are allowed to purchase, possess, and use up to one ounce (28 g) of marijuana or up to one-eighth of an ounce of concentrated marijuana. Additionally, residents are allowed to cultivate small amounts of marijuana. Similarly to alcohol, marijuana is not allowed to be consumed in public and you should not drive after smoking it. Legal dispensaries have been established. Marijuana is still illegal under federal law, so do not carry marijuana past state lines - even to another state where it is legal - as this will be considered drug trafficking and subject to harsh punishment.

Nevada is the only state in the U.S. where prostitution is not outlawed at the state level, except in the counties around Las Vegas, Reno and Carson City. Other counties are free to allow or outlaw prostitution in licensed brothels. This is a controversial subject with some Nevadans, especially in mixed company. Tread lightly.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (more commonly known as "Mormons") settled in the Salt Lake valley in Utah in 1847, and soon thereafter began to settle various different areas throughout Utah and Nevada (which was part of the proposed state of "Deseret" at the time). A few of these settlements include Mormon Station (modern day Genoa) and Mormon Fort (modern day Las Vegas). These settlements were very active in trade with pioneers migrating west to California for the gold rush after 1849. After the state of Deseret was segregated to help form Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming, some of the members of the church left, but many stayed. Today Nevada has a significant Mormon population, particularly in Las Vegas, Reno and the lightly populated eastern part. Mormons, if they strictly follow church teachings, don't drink, are socially conservative and tend to have large families. They even abstain from some other beverages such as coffee if they are particularly observant. They can also be well-travelled and fluent in foreign languages because many men (and some women) are sent as missionaries to nations all around the world. The doctrine of polygamy has been officially disowned since 1890, but there are splinter groups that broke away because of that, some of them still practicing polygamy.