Boulder City, NV to Fernley, NV is 428.4 miles and takes about 8h 25m via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $85 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, traversing Nevada on a route that primarily uses surface roads. While the main highway portion is substantial, much of this drive will feel like cruising through the state rather than a high-speed interstate haul. Consider this route if you prefer a more grounded travel experience with fewer exits and a focus on the open road.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
214.2 miles from Boulder City, NV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
298.4 mi
5h 31m
Silver Peak Road
45.6 mi
57m
Purple Heart Highway
38.9 mi
44m
Reno Highway
15.3 mi
18m
US 50 ALT
6.8 mi
8m
West Main Street
6.2 mi
8m
Boulder City Parkway
4.2 mi
6m
McLean Road
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 298.4 mi, about 5h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boulder City, NV and Fernley, NV.
1
Start on this road
177 ft·19 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Avenue G
324 ft·16 sec·Avenue G
3
Turn right onto Arizona Street
0.3 mi·58 sec·Arizona Street
4
Turn left onto Nevada Way
0.7 mi·2 min·Nevada Way
5
Continue on Boulder City Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·Boulder City Parkway
6
Continue on US 93 BUS
3.6 mi·4 min·Boulder City Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 11; US 93; US 95
39 mi·44 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 95
99 mi·1 hr 48 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 95
0.2 mi·46 sec·South 2nd Street
10
Turn right onto US 95
6.2 mi·8 min·West Main Street
11
Continue on US 95
60 mi·1 hr 4 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
12
Continue on US 95
0.4 mi·1 min·South Sundog Avenue
13
Continue on US 95
0.5 mi·1 min·East Crook Avenue
14
Continue on US 95
4.4 mi·5 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
15
Turn left onto 3457
25 mi·35 min·Silver Peak Road
16
Turn right onto Cinnabar Way
0.1 mi·28 sec·Cinnabar Way
17
Turn slight right onto Silver Peak Road
21 mi·22 min·Silver Peak Road
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; US 95
35 mi·37 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
19
Continue on US 95
1.2 mi·3 min·Front Street
20
Continue on US 95
7.8 mi·8 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
21
Continue on US 95
0.9 mi·2 min·Plymire Street
22
Continue on US 95
23 mi·25 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
23
Take the exit onto US 95 Truck
1.3 mi·2 min·US 95 Truck
24
Take the exit onto US 95 Truck
324 ft·12 sec·US 95 Truck
25
Merge onto US 95
69 mi·1 hr 21 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
26
Turn left onto Saint Clair Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Saint Clair Road
27
Turn right onto North Allen Road
1.0 mi·1 min·North Allen Road
28
Turn left onto NV 117
1.7 mi·2 min·Sheckler Road
29
Turn right onto NV 715
2.1 mi·3 min·McLean Road
30
At end of road, turn left onto US 50
15 mi·18 min·Reno Highway
Use the left lane.
31
Continue on US 50 ALT
1.8 mi·2 min·US 50 ALT
32
Continue on US 50 ALT
5.0 mi·6 min·US 50 ALT
33
Enter roundabout onto US 50 ALT
171 ft·4 sec·East Main Street
34
Continue on US 50 ALT
1.4 mi·3 min·East Main Street
35
Arrive at destination
I 80 BUS; NV 427
Trip Plan
With an estimated drive time of 8 hours and 25 minutes, splitting this trip over two days is a smart move, especially with only 2 planned stops. Aim to depart Boulder City in the morning to maximize daylight. Given the longest stretch is nearly 300 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway, plan your fuel stops accordingly, as services might be spaced out. Since the majority of the route is on surface roads, be mindful of speed limits and potential for slower-moving traffic.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 214.2 miles from Boulder City, NV, or about 4h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 298.4 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 94 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 214.2 miles or 4h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 214.2 miles or 4h 5m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fernley, NV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Boulder City, NV so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Boulder City, NV
Aim for roughly 214 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Fernley, NV
Aim for roughly 214 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from Boulder City, NV.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Highway for about 298.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 404.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Avenue G
Turn left onto Avenue G
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Arizona Street
Turn right onto Arizona Street
Navigation decision point
4
143.3 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|US 95 / West Main Street
Turn right onto US 95 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
260.3 mi into trip|~5h 3m in|US 6; US 95 / Veterans Memorial Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; US 95 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Navigation decision point
7
404.9 mi into trip|~7h 55m in|US 50 / Reno Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 50 / Reno Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$75.91 one way
$151.83 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg150 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$81.29
$162.59
premium
$5.04
$85.04
$170.08
diesel
$4.80
$80.89
$161.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$206–$316
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 149.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
128.5
1
$44.98
$20.56
Efficient EV
107.1
1
$37.49
$17.14
EV Truck/SUV
171.4
2
$59.98
$27.42
Gas CO2
150 kg
EV CO2
50 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Boulder City, NV
Late night
in Boulder City on Sunday
Local time
12:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
86°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 13 to 17 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:59PM PDT by NWS Elko NV
Destination
Fernley, NV
Late night
in Fernley on Sunday
Local time
12:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:59PM PDT by NWS Elko NV
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
21 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 25m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
Over the last ~570,000 years, water has transformed the Upper Las Vegas Valley. Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument is an urban park that preserves the unique story of this ever-changing enviro...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 44.3
Park Closure: South Unit temporarily closed south of Grand Teton Drive; Trailheads remain open.
Experience outdoor thrills, striking landscapes, and brilliant blue waters. This year-round recreation area spreads across 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons, valleys and two vast reservoirs. Vis...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip covers 428.4 miles, with about a third on main highways like Veterans Memorial Highway. You'll experience 298.4 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway, which represents the longest continuous stretch. After that, expect a shift to surface roads for the remainder of your drive. Given the profile is mostly surface roads, anticipate a more rural cruising pace for a significant portion of this trip.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 298.4 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Avenue G.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 25m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 17 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Avenue G): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Arizona Street): Navigation decision point; at 143.3 miles (US 95 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Boulder City is a city of 15,000 people (2021) in Southern Nevada, which was built for construction workers of the nearby Hoover Dam. It is one of only two cities in Nevada where gambling is prohibited.
Top landmarks
•Alan Bible Visitor Center — visitor center and botanical garden in Nevada, USA
Fernley is a city in Nevada located along Interstate 80 about 30 miles east of Reno. Fernley was best known in the United States as "that place most Amazon.com stuff ships from" due to the large depot the town had before Amazon moved their operations to Reno itself.
Top landmarks
•Fernley and Lassen Railway Depot — railway station in Fernley, the United States of America
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 25m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 298.4 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 214 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 11 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Fernley, NV before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through NV can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Avenue G): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Arizona Street): Navigation decision point; at 143.3 miles (US 95 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument and Lake Mead National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fernley, NV before the return drive.
