Elko to Moapa Town is 400.2 miles and takes about 7h 39m via Great Basin Highway, with a fuel budget near $77 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive traverses the Mountain West region of Nevada, offering a generally rural cruising experience. With the entire trip on surface roads, it's a straightforward path for those who prefer to avoid interstate highways. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct, no-frills connection between these two Nevada locations within a single day's travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
200.1 miles from Elko, NV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Great Basin Highway
188.2 mi
3h 31m
Sunnyside Road
109.4 mi
2h 4m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
47.7 mi
44m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
23.5 mi
26m
Glendale–Moapa Road
20.8 mi
30m
Moapa Road
1.7 mi
2m
North 4th Street
1.6 mi
4m
East Idaho Street
1.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Great Basin Highway
— 188.2 mi, about 3h 31m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~303 veh/hr typical
· worst 465
Quietest
2 AM
~49 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elko, NV and Moapa Town, NV.
1
Start on NV 227
62 ft·6 sec·5th Street
2
Turn right onto I 80 BUS
1.6 mi·4 min·East Idaho Street
3
Turn left onto I 80 BUS
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Jennings Way
4
Take the ramp onto I 80 BUS
0.4 mi·24 sec·I 80 BUS
Toward I 80 East: Salt Lake City
5
Merge onto I 80
48 mi·44 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 352Toward US 93: East Wells
7
Turn right onto US 93
78 mi·1 hr 23 min·Great Basin Highway
8
At end of road, turn right onto US 93
46 mi·49 min·Great Basin Highway
9
Continue on US 93
1.6 mi·4 min·North 4th Street
10
Continue on US 93
9.6 mi·15 min·Great Basin Highway
11
Continue on US 93
1.6 mi·3 min·Aultman Street
12
Turn left onto US 50; US 93
0.8 mi·1 min·Great Basin Boulevard
13
Turn right onto US 6
0.5 mi·1 min·Veterans Boulevard
14
Continue on US 6
24 mi·26 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
15
Turn left onto NV 318
11 mi·12 min·Sunnyside Road
16
Continue on NV 318
1.4 mi·1 min·Main Street
17
Continue on NV 318
99 mi·1 hr 52 min·Sunnyside Road
18
Turn right onto US 93
54 mi·1 hr 1 min·Great Basin Highway
19
Turn left onto NV 168
21 mi·30 min·Glendale–Moapa Road
20
Continue on NV 168
1.7 mi·2 min·Moapa Road
21
Turn left onto South Henrie Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·South Henrie Drive
22
Arrive at destination
South Henrie Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 7h 39m estimated drive time and 400.2 miles, leaving Elko in the morning is advisable to ensure you reach Moapa Town with ample daylight. Plan for your two stops strategically, perhaps around the halfway point to break up the 188.2-mile stretch on the Great Basin Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $77 estimated cost suggests a need for conscious refueling, especially in more remote areas. This route's surface-road profile means you'll be navigating local traffic and varying speed limits, so stay alert.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 200.1 miles from Elko, NV, or about 3h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 88 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 200.1 miles or 3h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Moapa Town, NV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elko, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Elko, NV
This is one driving day of about 400.2 miles and 7h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Elko, NV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Great Basin Highway for about 188.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 187.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.6 mi into trip|~4m in|I 80 BUS / East Jennings Way
Turn left onto I 80 BUS / East Jennings Way
Navigation decision point
4
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in|I 80 BUS
Take the ramp onto I 80 BUS toward I 80 East: Salt Lake City
Navigation decision point
Toward I 80 East: Salt Lake City
5
49.7 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the exit toward US 93: East Wells
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 352
Toward US 93: East Wells
4
127.8 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|US 93 / Great Basin Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 93 / Great Basin Highway
Navigation decision point
4
187.1 mi into trip|~3h 27m in|US 50; US 93 / Great Basin Boulevard
Turn left onto US 50; US 93 / Great Basin Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$80.61 one way
$161.21 round trip
$5.12/gal25.4 MPG avg140 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.43
$85.51
$171.01
premium
$5.67
$89.40
$178.80
diesel
$6.18
$97.36
$194.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$81
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$106–$131
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
120.1
1
$42.02
$19.21
Efficient EV
100.1
1
$35.02
$16.01
EV Truck/SUV
160.1
2
$56.03
$25.61
Gas CO2
140 kg
EV CO2
47 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Elko, NV
Afternoon
in Elko on Tuesday
Local time
4:33 PM
PDT
Current temp
35°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Moapa Town, NV
Afternoon
in Moapa Town on Tuesday
Local time
4:33 PM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
NW 2 mph2% chanceLive forecast
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.
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
23 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 39m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 400.2 miles, primarily on surface roads, with no segment on a highway. You'll experience a long stretch of 188.2 miles on the Great Basin Highway before transitioning to Sunnyside Road and then Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Expect consistent rural cruising for the majority of this drive, with minimal highway merging.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 188.2 mi on Great Basin 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 around 1.6 miles in near I 80 BUS / East Jennings Way.
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 7h 39m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 13 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (I 80 BUS / East Jennings Way): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 80 BUS): Navigation decision point; at 49.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 39m. Total distance: 400.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 39m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 188.2 miles on Great Basin Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 Moapa Town, 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 7 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: at 1.6 miles (I 80 BUS / East Jennings Way): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 80 BUS): Navigation decision point; at 49.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.7 hours each way, a round trip means 15.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Moapa Town, NV before the return drive.
