Holiday Inn Express Ely
1505 East Aultman Street
Ely, Nevada 89301 United States
Front desk: 1 775 405-4577
There comes a point on a Nevada road trip when the desert stops feeling romantic and starts feeling long. That was Ely for us, after hours on the Extraterrestrial Highway, a stop near the Area 51 gate, and the dawning truth that the drive back to Washington State would ask plenty more of us before it was done.
We had mostly camping money left, plus a small stash of hotel points, so Holiday Inn Express Ely became our practical little mercy at the edge of evening. If you’re a roadtripper, long-haul driver, miner, or rockhound looking for solid lodging before dark, this place fits the bill. What follows is an honest take, with the dust still on the boots.
Ely makes sense as a stopping point because it sits where Highway 93 and the wider eastern Nevada crossing route meet up in a useful, no-nonsense way. If you’re coming back from the lonely reaches of “Area 51 country,” or simply cutting across Nevada on Route 50 and nearby highways, a decent bed starts to look like a grand civilizing force.
The hotel is at 1505 East Aultman Street, Ely, Nevada 89301, and the front desk number is 1 775 405-4577. We booked it because points helped soften the blow, though it still wasn’t cheap. Our night came out to $140 plus 8,000 points, which felt steep compared with some budget hotels in town, but after that drive, we were willing to pay for sleep and a little peace. Recent traveler feedback on KAYAK’s hotel listing also places it in the higher-rated group locally, which matched our first impression.
Room comfort, quiet, and the kind of sleep you need on the road
The room was spacious, plain in a good way, and easy to settle into. We had two queen beds, one for me and my son, the other for my ex-wife, and nobody felt cramped. After a long desert drive, that alone can feel like a sort of luxury, even when the hotel itself isn’t trying to be fancy.
What I liked most was the quiet. Holiday Inn usually gets the basics right, and this one did. The room felt comfortable rather than plush, which is often exactly what road people need. The beds were supportive, the shower helped knock the highway dust off body and soul, and I slept the kind of sleep that arrives fast and means business. For travelers comparing Ely lodging options, that comfort is the real selling point.
Pool, hot tub, steam room, and laundry, what helped and what did not
The indoor pool area looked inviting, and after a long day in the car, we were glad it existed. Still, the “heated” pool felt colder than these aging bones had hoped for. I gave it a try, but the hot tub was the true hero of the evening. It did what a good hot tub should do, which is to talk your shoulders down from their mutiny.
The eucalyptus steam room was also a welcome touch, especially in a town where many cheaper hotels keep extras to a minimum. My ex used the laundry room and got the job done, though she reported it felt too hot in there. So, the amenities weren’t perfect, but they were useful where it counted.
The amenities that make this hotel better than just a place to sleep
Some hotels are only a mattress and a keycard. This Holiday Inn is better than that, especially if you’re traveling with family or trying to recover before another long stretch of road. That’s why the higher rate made more sense by morning.
Free breakfast that actually feels worth getting up for
Breakfast added real value here. I went for the omelets, sausage, biscuits and gravy, yogurt, fruit, juice, and a cinnamon roll, and it felt like proper fuel instead of a sad continental shrug. My son made a devoted pilgrimage to the pancake machine and doubled down on cinnamon rolls, which felt exactly right for a kid on a road trip.
That mix matters because different people want different things at 7 a.m. Some want protein, some want sugar, and some want coffee before language returns. We all found something. Looking through recent IHG guest reviews, you’ll see similar praise for the breakfast, clean rooms, and friendly staff, and that lined up with our stay.
Easy parking, nearby food, and no need to get back on the road at night
Parking was easy, access off the highway was simple, and those details matter more when you’re tired than travel writers sometimes admit. We didn’t want to drive around Ely hunting dinner after dark, so the setup here worked in our favor.
There’s an off-site casino restaurant and lounge just steps away, and we grabbed dinner next door at the Mexican restaurant. Even if casino settings aren’t your thing, and they aren’t much ours, the convenience is hard to argue with. Nevada has a way of pairing motels, meals, and slot machines into one odd little package. After a punishing day on the road, convenience wins.
If you’re arriving late, this is the kind of hotel where you can park, eat, shower, and be done with the day in short order.
Is Holiday Inn Express Ely worth it for roadtrippers, miners, and rockhounds
I think it is, with one clear caveat: the price is higher than the rougher budget lodging around town. Still, this is one of Ely’s newer, more modern hotels, and that showed in the room, the common areas, and the overall upkeep. Recent review averages remain strong, often around 4.5 out of 5 or a bit above 9 out of 10 across major booking sites, which supports the sense that it’s one of the safer bets in town. A recent TripAdvisor review calling it a well-maintained, newer hotel captures the same impression.
Who will get the most value from staying here?
This hotel fits families, rewards travelers, and anyone who wants a reliable Holiday Inn experience in a remote part of Nevada. It also works well for miners, field workers, rockhounds, and drivers who need sleep, breakfast, hot water, and a few comforts before another hard day.
Pet-friendly rooms may also make it worth a look if you’re traveling with an animal. Most of all, this is good lodging for people who don’t want the very cheapest option and know that one decent night can reset an entire trip.
What to see around Ely if you stay an extra day
Ely works well as a base camp. The Nevada Northern Railway is a strong pick if you like local history and old iron. Rockhounds may want to head toward Garnet Hill, while the Ward Charcoal Ovens give the area some strange and handsome texture.
If you have more time, Great Basin National Park is roughly an hour away and worth the drive for mountain scenery, caves, and dark skies. That extra-day option makes this hotel more than a simple overnight stop.
The stay wasn’t cheap, and I felt that when I booked it. Still, it gave us the exact things we needed at the right moment: comfort, quiet, breakfast, and a few useful extras after a punishing desert drive.
My verdict is 3.75 out of 5 stars. For travelers who want dependable hotels in Ely, rather than the bare-minimum end of the lodging pool, Holiday Inn Express Ely is a good pick and a welcome one when the road has gone on long enough.
