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Trip from Elko, NV to Smith, NV

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 38m

Distance

319.9 mi

515 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$64

one way

EV Charging

Sparse

1 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 25m ★
6 AM
5h 38m
8 AM
6h 5m
10 AM
5h 48m
12 PM
5h 45m
3 PM
5h 49m
5 PM
6h 4m
8 PM
5h 30m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Elko County, Nevada, United States

Elko, NV

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Smith, NV, NV

Smith, NV

𝓢𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓮 𝓦𝓮𝓼𝓽 ™

Trip Overview

This 319.9-mile drive from Elko, NV to Smith, NV will take approximately 5 hours and 38 minutes, making it a manageable day trip for most travelers. You'll primarily navigate the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 95 ALT, and US 50 ALT, with about 14% of the journey on higher-speed roads. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $64, and with only one recommended stop, you can cover significant ground efficiently. This route offers a typical Mountain West driving experience, largely staying within Nevada.

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

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

159.9 miles from Elko, NV

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 38m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 249 mi 4h
US 95 ALT 30.6 mi 38m
US 50 ALT 13.1 mi 15m
Nordyke Road 11.4 mi 15m
Topaz Road 8.4 mi 12m
East Idaho Street 3.7 mi 7m
Cottonwood Lane 1.3 mi 2m
Truck Inn Way 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 249 mi, about 4h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elko, NV and Smith, NV.

1

Start on NV 227

62 ft · 9 sec · 5th Street
2

Turn left onto I 80 BUS; NV 535

3.7 mi · 7 min · East Idaho Street
3

Take the ramp onto I 80 BUS

0.4 mi · 25 sec · I 80 BUS
Toward I 80 West: Reno Use the left lane.
4

Merge onto I 80

249 mi · 4 hr · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5

Take the exit onto I 80 BUS; US 95 ALT

0.3 mi · 34 sec · I 80 BUS; US 95 ALT
Exit 48 Toward I 80 BUS West, US 95 ALT South: East Fernley, Yerington
6

Turn left onto I 80 BUS; US 95 ALT

0.8 mi · 1 min · Truck Inn Way
Use the left lane.
7

Continue on NV 828

341 ft · 9 sec · Farm District Road
8

Enter roundabout onto NV 828

171 ft · 4 sec · Farm District Road
9

Continue on NV 828

0.7 mi · 1 min · Farm District Road
10

Turn right onto Cottonwood Lane

1.3 mi · 2 min · Cottonwood Lane
11

At end of road, turn left onto US 50 ALT; US 95 ALT

13 mi · 15 min · US 50 ALT; US 95 ALT
Use the left lane.
12

Enter roundabout onto US 95 ALT

155 ft · 2 sec · US 95 ALT
13

Continue on US 95 ALT

31 mi · 38 min · US 95 ALT
14

Continue on NV 339

11 mi · 15 min · Nordyke Road
15

Continue on NV 208; NV 339

8.4 mi · 12 min · Topaz Road
16

Arrive at destination

NV 208

Trip Plan

With a duration of 5 hours and 38 minutes, this route is well-suited for a single day. Consider an early morning departure from Elko to maximize your daylight hours and allow for flexibility. While the longest stretch is 249 miles, factor in time for a brief stop to break up the drive. Given the $64 fuel cost, ensure your tank is full before leaving Elko, as services might be spaced out on the US 95 ALT and US 50 ALT portions.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 159.9 miles from Elko, NV, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 249 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 70 miles or 1h 11m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 159.9 miles or 2h 38m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smith, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Elko, NV

This is one driving day of about 319.9 miles and 5h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Elko, NV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 249 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Pershing County, Nevada, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lovelock, NV

160 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Battle Mountain, NV

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lovelock, NV

Meal break

The midpoint is around 159.9 miles from Elko, NV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 249 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

The HideAway | Restaurant & Bar

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Battle Mountain, Nevada

Early in the drive, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 68.5

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+17756355150

The HideAway | Restaurant & Bar

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 68.5

Battle Mountain, Nevada

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+17756355150

Electrify America Charging Station

2.4 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Elko, Nevada

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 256.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
3.7 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 80 BUS

Take the ramp onto I 80 BUS toward I 80 West: Reno

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 80 West: Reno
6
253.2 mi into trip | ~4h 8m in | I 80 BUS; US 95 ALT

Take the exit onto I 80 BUS; US 95 ALT toward I 80 BUS West, US 95 ALT South: East Fernley, Yerington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 48 Toward I 80 BUS West, US 95 ALT South: East Fer...
5
253.4 mi into trip | ~4h 9m in | I 80 BUS; US 95 ALT / Truck Inn Way

Turn left onto I 80 BUS; US 95 ALT / Truck Inn Way

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
254.3 mi into trip | ~4h 11m in | NV 828 / Farm District Road

Enter roundabout onto NV 828 / Farm District Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

7
256.4 mi into trip | ~4h 15m in | US 50 ALT; US 95 ALT

At end of road, turn left onto US 50 ALT; US 95 ALT

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$63.73 one way

$127.46 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 112 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $67.44 $134.89
premium $5.59 $70.42 $140.83
diesel $5.61 $70.63 $141.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$64

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$89–$114

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 111.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 96 1 $33.59 $15.36
Efficient EV 80 0 $27.99 $12.80
EV Truck/SUV 128 1 $44.79 $20.47

Gas CO2

112 kg

EV CO2

37 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Elko, NV

Evening in Elko on Saturday

Local time

7:44 PM

PDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Smith, NV

Evening in Smith on Saturday

Local time

7:44 PM

PDT

Current temp

31°F

Unavailable

Live 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

29 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

5h 38m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 319.9-mile journey. While 14% of the route involves highway driving, the majority consists of more winding, local roads. You'll experience a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 249 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, offering a chance to settle in. The character of the drive shifts as you transition between these different road types, demanding your attention more on the local segments.

Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 249 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

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 3.7 miles in near I 80 BUS.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 38m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles (I 80 BUS): Lane positioning matters here; at 253.2 miles (I 80 BUS; US 95 ALT): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 253.4 miles (I 80 BUS; US 95 ALT / Truck Inn Way): Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Elko, NV to Smith, NV, road signs begin pointing toward Yerington along the way.

Yerington

253.2 mi in | ~4h 8m | via I 80 BUS; US 95 ALT

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 38m. Total distance: 319.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (14%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 249 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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 3.7 miles (I 80 BUS): Lane positioning matters here; at 253.2 miles (I 80 BUS; US 95 ALT): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 253.4 miles (I 80 BUS; US 95 ALT / Truck Inn Way): Lane positioning matters here.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Smith, NV before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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