As Halloween approaches, people may be looking for some spooky exploring to do in the Silver State. Luckily for Nevadans, their home state has hundreds of ghost towns perfect for a scare or historical appreciation.

Whether visitors are looking for a quick drive or a daylong road trip from Reno, the list below includes a variety of abandoned settlements within three hours or less of the Biggest Little City. Also below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Nevada's ghost towns.

Why does Nevada have so many ghost towns?

Nevada’s large number of ghost towns exists largely because of the boom-and-bust cycles that shaped a state built and sustained by the mining industry. People moved into new towns in search of riches when a mine opened, then left once the ore was gone.

Some to

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