The Star Train is located one hour north of Great Basin National Park

The Great Basin Star Train is an hour's drive west of Ely, Nevada, and is one of the best ways to experience the Great Basin Desert as you stare into the heavens and stars above!

I consider riding the Great Basin Star Train one of the great National Park bucket list experiences, and it is one of the top things we have done exploring America's National Park System!

Here are my top finds for Great Basin & Ely Nevada (Closest sizable city):
🏨Hotels: La Quinta Inn & Suites Ely, Hidden Canyon Retreat
📍Tours: 2- Day Private Adventure of Great Basin NP, Lehman Cave Tours , Ride the Star Train!, Great Basin National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

Great Basin Star Train

The Great Basin Star Train is a joint partnership between the National Park Service and the Nevada Northern Railway Museum.

Interpretative Park Rangers, or as the locals call them, the Dark Rangers of Great Basin National Park, board the train and guide guests on a journey and adventure of a lifetime.

The trip starts by heading out into the majestic natural landscapes of the remote Great Basin Desert. As you head out of town, you have time to enjoy breathtaking views of the sunset as the Dark Rangers get everyone ready to experience the night sky, including trivia.

The train makes its way toward the viewing platform, but the rangers will first begin to point out a couple of constellations and possibly a couple of planets like Jupiter and Saturn.

Once you get to the viewing platform, it is time to step off the train. Telescopes will already be set up for everyone onboard to look into and explore the night sky!

It is an experience that is hard to put into words. The moment you look up and realize you are looking at the Milky Way and thousands of stars, it is truly breathtaking.

The Park Rangers and Guides onboard the Star Train go out of their way to ensure you have the best viewing opportunity.

Great Basin National Park

Great Basin NP is actually an hour from Ely, Nevada, and do not realize that the Star Train is an option when exploring this unique park. After all, most people think of Great Basin National Park as one of the summer-season national parks, with highlights including Lehman Caves, Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, Bristlecone Pines, Mather Overlook, and Nevada's Only Glacier.

Park Visitors may not know that Great Basin is an International Dark Sky Park with some of the darkest skies in the lower 48 United States. This is because Northern Nevada has magnificent dark skies because of a combination of factors. One big part is the remoteness of the rural inter-mountain west. It has low humidity and low population density, which creates minimal light pollution and higher elevations.

Great Basin also has several astronomy programs in the park amphitheater throughout the summer from approximately Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Programs are typically held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights. On a clear starry night, the opportunities are endless and one can see the Milky Way, the Andromeda galaxy, star clusters, meteors, meteor showers, and artificial satellites.

Additional astronomy events include the annual Astronomy Festival that celebrates our night sky on the weekend of the new moon in September. This event typically has guest speakers, photo workshops, tours of the Great Basin Observatory and more.

Tickets to the Great Basin Star Train in Ely Nevada

Great Basin Star Train tickets

Tickets for the Star Train are extremely limited (1,500/year) and typically go on sale around the first of September. They also usually sell out the first day but check in often, as I found tickets from a cancellation. If you can't get a ticket, ask if there is a waiting list to be placed on.

Another option is to take the Sunset, Stars, and Champagne trip. You will not have a Great Basin Park Ranger with you and will not stop at the platform with telescopes set up but you will get night sky viewing to see the stars and the train guides will help point out constellations along the way.

Make sure to check out all of their specialty train rides, walk through the Ely Depot which is a National Historic Landmark, vintage diesel locomotives, and the engine house.

2027 Star Train Nevada dates available

The Great Basin Star Train Nevada has been released for the 2027 season so hurry. Star train tickets are wildly popular and sell out fast!

Buy your tickets!

May

5/21/2027
5/27/2027
5/28/2027

June

6/4/2027
6/10/2027
6/11/2027
6/18/2027
6/24/2027
6/25/2027

July

7/2/2027
7/8/2027
7/9/2027
7/16/2027
7/22/2027
7/23/2027
7/30/2027

August

8/5/2027
8/6/2027
8/13/2027
8/19/2027
8/20/2027
8/27/2027

September

9/2/2027
9/3/2027
9/10/2027
9/16/2027
9/17/2027
9/24/2027
9/30/2027

October

10/1/2027

The Nevada Northern Railway Depot in Ely Nevada

Getting your night vision

The best way to enjoy this special night is to get your night vision and not ruin it with bright or artificial light.

Red lights will not ruin your night vision and the Star Train hands out Star Train necklaces that have a red light. You will also notice that the viewing platform is light up with red lanterns so that you can enjoy the starry skies while not tripping and falling.

The Great Basin National Park Star Train Experience

Let's just start off by saying this is an incredible trip, and what you can see with the naked eye alone is endless!

Then throw in the fact that the park rangers from the National Park Service come in from Great Basin on select Friday evenings with special telescopes and you are in for a treat.

We had a crystal clear view of the Milky Way as the train traveled through the Steptoe Valley of eastern Nevada through the darkest night skies on our first train ride.

Just remember that mother nature can change everything and block your view of this beautiful night sky.

I have had this happen also, you just have to appreciate what you get to see. On our second star train ride mother nature provided clouds and a bit of rain to enhance the experience.

On that trip, we did see a few stars and a couple of planets along whole riding the open air cars and enjoying the sunset and beautiful views of the surrounding area.

Beautiful Sunset on the Star Train in Ely Nevada

Park Ranger John Pro Tip

If this is your first time taking the Star Train, remember that this event is a great place to enjoy the beautiful stars without worrying about taking a lot of photography equipment.

Guests cannot take a tripod on this trip, as it poses a significant trip hazard when people walk in the dark. When the train is stopped, you must stay in the paved platform area to ensure nobody gets hurt or forgotten/left behind.

The train does have wheelchair accessibility, an on-board restroom, along with snacks and beverages available for purchase. I recommend using the restroom next to where you check in, as they are very clean.

Don't Forget to Pack

Insect Repellent

I always come prepared for biting insects when outdoors

Night Vision Flashlight

Some people use red automotive taillight tape over a flashlight they already have. It is very important only to use a red light so that you do not ruin your night vision.

Astronom y Guides

Get your guide to the stars chart to help you identify the constellations. You can also download several apps to your smartphone, such as Night Sky View and Star Tracker.

Astronomy Binoculars

Binoculars are not required but are nice to have. We had three telescopes set up, and there was plenty of time to look at the night sky before getting to look through the telescope.

How to get to Great Basin National Park

The closest major airport is Salt Lake City (SLC) in Utah. You can rent a vehicle and drive an additional 3 hours and 15 minutes (234 miles) to Great Basin National Park.

Some people fly into Las Vegas, Nevada, and add additional parks to visit like Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, and Bryce Canyon National Park.

By Car: From Great Basin National Park, take Highway 50 a little over an hour west to the town of Ely Nevada.

Getting ready to ride the Great Basin Star Train in Ely Nevada

Road Trips From Great Basin National Park.

You can take two different road trips from Great Basin National Park!

The first road trip is driving Highway 50, the loneliest highway in America. Also known as the Pony Express territory, this route is not to be taken lightly as you can be literally out in the middle of nowhere and without help or communication. There is beautiful scenery and lively old-west towns along this route! Make sure to check out their website for more information.

The second road trip is driving the Park to Park in the Dark route.

Also dubbed as the starriest route in America, this route takes you from Great Basin National Park to Death Valley National Park, both of which are International Dark Sky Parks.

This route also takes you through five Nevada towns that offer galaxy and outdoor recreation opportunities. Make sure to check out their website for more information.

Inside the Train walking out to the star viewing platform on the Great Basin Star Train

Where to stay when visiting Great Basin National Park

There are no National Park Lodges in Great Basin NP. There is lodging nearby in Baker, Nevada. The majority of lodging for Great Basin NP can be found in Ely, Nevada about an hour from the park.

⭐️ 4.9 of 5 Stars - Hidden Canyon Retreat - Click here for Rates and Availability.

The premier place to stay near Great Basin National Park, a one-of-a-kind retreat tucked 6.5 miles down a dramatic desert canyon just 30 minutes from the park entrance, rated Exceptional by nearly every guest who stays here!

The 11 apartment-style rooms and suites feature full kitchenettes stocked with cookware, large sitting areas, satellite TVs, private patios, air conditioning, and complimentary bikes for exploring the canyon. After dark, the property turns off all exterior lights at 9:30 PM so guests can experience some of the darkest and most jaw-dropping stargazing skies in the American West. Wild turkey, mule deer, golden eagles, and cutthroat trout call the canyon home year-round, and two orchards dating to the 1850s shade the property. A seasonal outdoor pool, hot tub, game room with ping pong and foosball, BBQ grills, picnic area, on-site minimart, and complimentary welcome drink round out the experience. Note that cell service and WiFi are very limited, making this the perfect place to truly unplug. Open year-round!

⭐️ 4.3 of 5 Stars - La Quinta Inn and Suites, Ely - Click here for Rates and Availability.

The cleanest, most comfortable full-service hotel in Ely and a refreshing smoke-free haven in a state full of casino smoke, sitting just 70 miles from Great Basin National Park on the Loneliest Road in America!

Start each morning with a free hot Bright Side Breakfast featuring fresh waffles, eggs, sausage, fruit, and more, and wind down each evening at the nightly free manager's reception in the lobby next to a cozy indoor fireplace. All 73 rooms and suites feature microwaves, mini-fridges, pillowtop beds, flat-screen TVs with premium channels, and free WiFi, with mountain views from select rooms. Additional amenities include a heated indoor pool, hot tub, fitness center, 24-hour business center, coin laundry, free parking, elevator, and ADA accessible rooms. Pet friendly with no pet fee, open year-round!

Click on this link or the map below to see additional hotels and vacation rentals near the Great Basin.

https://www.stay22.com/embed/6ad384d4dd2d6b34acd2c171

Great Basin National Park Guided Tours & Activities

Great Basin National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.7 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 5-7 Hours | 🚗🎧 Check Rates and Availability

Powered by Shaka Guide, this GPS-triggered audio tour is the ideal companion for independent visitors exploring one of America's least-visited and most underrated national parks. Narration fires automatically as you reach each stop, covering Lehman Caves, Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, the Bristlecone Pine Trail, the Baker Archaeological Site, the Alpine Lakes Loop, and more across 14 stops. Priced per group for up to 15 passengers and works fully offline once downloaded, which matters here since cell service inside the park is limited.

Great Basin National Park: 2-Day Private Adventure
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars (38 TripAdvisor reviews)| ⏳ Tour Length: 2 days | 🏔️🦇 Check Rates and Availability

The most thorough Great Basin experience available through Viator, this fully private two-day tour from BeUTAHful Tours departs from Salt Lake City and covers the park's crown jewels across two full days. Day one puts you on the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive with time for hiking and dark sky viewing at one of the most certified dark sky parks in the country. Day two goes underground with a guided visit to Lehman Caves, followed by the Baker Archaeological Site, one of the best-preserved ancient Fremont culture sites in the Great Basin. Pickup available throughout the Salt Lake City area.

Click here to find more tours and activities in Nevada.