Updated 4/30/24
Great Basin National Park is the only national park located entirely in Nevada (Nevada’s other national park, Death Valley, is shared with California). Because it’s so isolated from large cities and interstate highways, it’s one of the least visited parks in the United States.
But, if you’re willing to make the trip, you’ll be rewarded with some beautiful views, both underground in the caves and above ground with views of the great basin, mountain heights, and even a glacier! After dark, the remoteness of the park rewards you again with views of some of the darkest skies in the United States, where you can see the stars in all of their splendor.
The park runs from the desert floor up to mountains over 13,000 feet, so the temperature can vary dramatically as you drive up into the park. Summer is the busiest season, because everything is open, from the caves up to the peak, without getting snowed in up high. Fall is also a great time to visit, as the park experiences an explosion of fall colors. In winter and spring, the road to the highest campgrounds and trailheads is closed, but winter activities are possible. It’s best to plan a visit during a full moon if at all possible to get the best view of the stars.
Pets are only allowed where cars are allowed (roads, parking lots, campgrounds). If you want to go on trails or in the caves, you can leave pets at a kennel in nearby Baker, Nevada.
Getting There In An EV
Quick Tips and Facts:
- The park itself does not have any EV charging or campgrounds with power.
- The nearest EV fast chargers to the park are both slower 50 kW units once run by Greenlots, now owned by Shell ReCharge. They are located in Baker, Nevada and Ely, Nevada.
- Unfortunately, both of these chargers are less reliable than they should be. So, you’ll want to check Plugshare and make sure there are some recent good reports for them.
- There is one Level 2 EV charger and a campground with power at the Whispering Elms Motel & RV Park in Baker. The Stargazer Inn also has some 50-amp plugs that can be used for EV charging. Be sure to call ahead and verify these stations before relying on them, as rules can change.
- There are several RV sites in Ely, Nevada that can be used for charging, but again call ahead to make sure rules haven’t changed at any of these sites.
- Whether you’re coming in from Nevada or Utah, be sure to use trip planning software to avoid running out of charge.
According to permitting documents, this situation should improve in the near future. Tesla plans on adding a V3 or V4 supercharger in Ely, Nevada that should be compatible with all EVs once adapters and access are available.
Links For Further Park and Nearby Information
- Official Park Website
- Ely, Nevada Tourism
- Baker, Nevada Tourism
- Discover Great Basin (Baker, Nevada Tourism Website)
Here are some videos with more information about visiting the park!
Featured image by National Park Service (Public Domain).