Mineral County is a tiny county, located about halfway between Reno and Las Vegas. Hawthorne is the largest city in the county, thus making it a popular stop when making a road trip between Nevada's 2 largest gambling cities. The town’s nickname is “America’s Patriotic Home.” The city is most well-known for being home to the largest Army Depot.
El Capitan is a small, local casino which offers blackjack tables, slot machines, a 24 hour café, and free live entertainment. Connected to the casino is a small motel complete with a swimming pool and 24 hour coffee.
This annual event, held each summer in Hawthorne to honor our troops, includes a weekend filled with fun activities such as a parade, live entertainment, a fireworks show, a small carnival, and a flag ceremony.
The Mineral County Museum is an interesting free museum to stop at while traveling. Enjoy looking through all of the old artifacts and pictures.
Walker Lake is a large natural lake located about 10 miles outside of Hawthorne. Plenty of recreational opportunities exist such as fishing and camping. Also be on the lookout for annual events. Walker Lake is also a great place for jogging because of the many hills in the area.
Cinadome is a unique vintage style theater. One of the unique aspects of this theater is that it is located in a Quonset hut. Movie ticket prices are only $5, however, showings are limited.
One unique aspect of the surrounding mountains is that they all have a letter in them for the name of the town. You will notice this while driving through different cities in Mineral County. The mountains and low traffic levels make for a truly peaceful drive through the desert.
The Mineral County Serpents’ home basketball games are an event that the whole town comes out to watch. If you find yourself in the area you should attend one of the home games!
Watching a home football game on a Friday night is a fun thing to do in an area with not much going on in terms of evening entertainment. Make sure to bundle up as the desert nights get cold! Nice mountain views in the background too!
The Hawthorne Ordinance Museum is a great free museum to visit if you are interested in exploring old ammunition.
The hills in Walker Lake are a great spot to do some running. It is quiet and there is no traffic around. Plus, you get to take in some great views of the lake!