One of the Inferno Hotel's carpets is the same pattern as the one from The Overlook Hotel in The Shining.
In episode 4, when Nick and Tom are running away from Julie, Stephen King has a small cameo as one of the people on the Hemmingford Home poster.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Josh Boone revealed that he had discussions with Marilyn Manson about playing the role of The Kid (a character who first appeared in the 1990 unabridged reissue of the novel). When Manson was unable to appear because of scheduling, the character was removed from the show. Boone also revealed that Manson and Shooter Jennings had recorded a cover of The Doors song "The End," but it ended up being too expensive to use.
On the road to Las Vegas, Ray (a Native American) refers herself jokingly as the "injun girl". In the book, Ralph, the workhorse of the group, says to Mother Abigail about his companions that "All those chiefs orta have at least one injun to order around."
At the end of Episode 5 you can hear the song "Don't fear the Reaper". The same song was played at the beginning of the 1994 TV Series of The Stand.
Bryan Cranston: A voice-only appearance as the President of the United States in episode 1, giving an address to the people about the virus. Cranston agreed to the role after being asked by co-creator Benjamin Cavell.
Mick Garris: The director of the 1994 mini-series adaptation of the book is seen in episode 9 at the 4th of July BBQ, holding a beer while being talked to by Norris.