Medium security (men) since 2024 — houses the state execution chamber · State Prison · NDOC

Ely State Prison

Ely, White Pine County, Nevada

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (775) 977-5348 Info last verified: June 2026

A men's prison in Ely, in rural eastern Nevada — it houses the state execution chamber. Since a 2024 reorganization it operates at medium security, and the men's death row is now held at High Desert State Prison.

Statewide rules that apply at every NDOC prison

These rules are set by NDOC and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Nevada.

Dress code

No blue denim (it resembles inmate clothing); no shorts, midriff or halter tops, or other revealing clothing; dress conservatively.
Each institution enforces its own visiting dress code and may turn away a visitor who is dressed out of code, so confirm the specific institution's rules before traveling.

ID: Every visitor must be on the incarcerated person's approved visitor list — the person applies to add each visitor, and a list holds up to five people (with an exception for the person's minor children). Adult visitors show a valid government-issued photo ID at each visit.
What to bring: Bring only what the institution allows — phones, bags, and most personal items are not permitted in the visiting room. Money for the person's account is sent through the NDOC vendor, never handed over at a visit.
Scheduling: Visits are arranged with each institution (Nevada has no single statewide online scheduler), and visitors check in ahead of the visit slot; days, hours, and contact or non-contact rules vary by institution and custody level. Nevada also offers video visits through GettingOut. A newly committed person is processed at an intake center first — High Desert (southern Nevada) or Northern Nevada Correctional Center (northern Nevada) for men, and Florence McClure for women — before transfer.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Nevada

Overview

Ely State Prison, in Ely (White Pine County), is in rural eastern Nevada and houses the state’s execution chamber. In a 2024 reorganization it was changed from maximum to medium security, and the men’s death row was moved to High Desert State Prison; the execution chamber remained at Ely. Nevada has not carried out an execution in many years. Because Ely is far from the state’s population centers, families travel a long distance to visit.

What Makes Ely State Prison Different

It houses the state execution chamber (the men’s death row is now at High Desert, not here).
It operates at medium security following the 2024 reorganization that moved it from maximum custody.
It is in a remote eastern-Nevada location, a long drive from both Las Vegas and Reno.

Visiting

The statewide NDOC rules above — the approved visitor list, the dress code, ID, and item limits — apply at Ely State Prison. The institution’s own arrangements:

The full visitor process is in Visiting in Nevada.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on State Route 490 in Ely, in rural eastern Nevada.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

Ely has limited services; the town has some gas, food, and lodging, but the full range is sparse in this rural area. The nearest 24-hour emergency room is in the Ely area.

Mail

Nevada delivers incoming personal mail to the institution — state law requires NDOC to deliver physical mail, so it does not use an off-site mail-scanning vendor. Address it with the person’s committed name and NDOC inmate number and the institution’s address. NDOC has proposed tightening what may be enclosed, so confirm the current rules on cards, photos, and publications before sending; books and publications generally must come from an approved source. Money is not enclosed in mail — it is sent through the NDOC vendor. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in a Nevada state prison:

Visiting in Nevada — the approved visitor list, dress code, and scheduling
Mail & Packages — addressing mail to the institution and what may be enclosed
Phone & Video Calls — ViaPath calls and GettingOut tablets and video visits
Sending Money — depositing through the NDOC vendor
Medical & Mental Health — sick call and state-run care
Transfers & Finding Someone — reception, finding someone, and the inmate search

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.