Nye County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada.It is the largest county by area in the state and the third-largest county in the contiguous United States (thus excluding the boroughs of Alaska). Nicknamed "The Kingdom of Nye"  the county features several environmentally sensitive areas, including Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, the White River Valley, several Great Basin sky islands and a portion of Death Valley National Park. Visitors to Death Valley often stay at Beatty or Amargosa Valley.