Spanning 285 miles across the heart of Nevada, this journey from Ely to Fernley takes approximately 5 hours and 34 minutes of pure driving time. You will navigate a path primarily defined by the Lincoln Highway, Austin Highway, and Reno Highway. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, it functions best as a focused one-day trip rather than a multi-day excursion. Budgeting about $57 for fuel should cover your transit across the Mountain West. Since you are staying within the same region, the drive maintains a consistent high-desert character throughout the day. It is a straightforward, manageable trek if you are prepared for the time commitment required to navigate these specific local roads.
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
142.5 miles from Ely, NV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
167.9 mi
3h 12m
Austin Highway
85.4 mi
1h 33m
Reno Highway
17.8 mi
21m
US 50 ALT
6.8 mi
8m
East Williams Avenue
2.5 mi
6m
South Main Street
2 mi
4m
East Main Street
1.4 mi
3m
Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 167.9 mi, about 3h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ely, NV and Fernley, NV.
1
Start on 6769
0.1 mi·26 sec·Campton Street
2
Turn right onto 7th Street
427 ft·24 sec·7th Street
3
Turn left onto US 50
0.4 mi·1 min·Aultman Street
4
Continue on US 50
76 mi·1 hr 27 min·Lincoln Highway
5
Continue on US 50
2.0 mi·4 min·South Main Street
6
Continue on US 50
68 mi·1 hr 18 min·Lincoln Highway
7
Continue on US 50
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
8
Continue on US 50
24 mi·26 min·Lincoln Highway
9
Continue on US 50
75 mi·1 hr 20 min·Austin Highway
10
Continue on US 50
9.9 mi·12 min·Austin Highway
11
Continue on US 50
2.5 mi·6 min·East Williams Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 50
18 mi·21 min·Reno Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on US 50 ALT
1.8 mi·2 min·US 50 ALT
14
Continue on US 50 ALT
5.0 mi·6 min·US 50 ALT
15
Enter roundabout onto US 50 ALT
171 ft·4 sec·East Main Street
16
Continue on US 50 ALT
1.4 mi·3 min·East Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
I 80 BUS; NV 427
Trip Plan
Planning for this trip requires a smart approach to your fuel and rest stops, as you only have one major stop scheduled along the 285-mile route. Given the length of the journey, departing early in the morning is your best bet to ensure you reach Fernley before exhaustion sets in. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 167.9-mile stretch on the Lincoln Highway, as this is your longest period away from services. Since the route is a single-day commitment, maintain flexibility with your pace to handle the turn-heavy sections safely. My top tip for this specific drive is to prioritize your single stop strategically; choose a location that allows for a full vehicle check and driver rest to tackle the remaining miles with fresh eyes.
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 142.5 miles from Ely, NV, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 167.9 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 63 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.5 miles or 2h 48m 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 28m
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 Ely, 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 Ely, NV
This is one driving day of about 285 miles and 5h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Ely, 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 Lincoln Highway for about 167.9 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
3 of 3
3 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 283.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|7th Street
Turn right onto 7th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 50 / Aultman Street
Turn left onto US 50 / Aultman Street
Navigation decision point
4
283.6 mi into trip|~5h 31m in|US 50 ALT / East Main Street
Enter roundabout onto US 50 ALT / East Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.78 one way
$113.55 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$60.09
$120.17
premium
$5.59
$62.73
$125.47
diesel
$5.61
$62.92
$125.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.5
1
$29.92
$13.68
Efficient EV
71.3
0
$24.94
$11.40
EV Truck/SUV
114
1
$39.90
$18.24
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 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 20, 2026
Origin
Ely, NV
Late night
in Ely on Tuesday
Local time
3:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fernley, NV
Late night
in Fernley on Tuesday
Local time
3:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
43°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
13 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 34m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a road personality that favors technical, local navigation over the mindless monotony of an interstate. With only 2% of this route consisting of major highway, you will spend the vast majority of your time on smaller, turn-heavy roads that demand your full attention. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 167.9 miles along the Lincoln Highway, providing a significant chunk of the drive where you can settle into a steady rhythm. As you transition between these road segments, the experience shifts from long, open stretches to more frequent turns. You will find this drive requires a bit more active steering than a typical cross-country highway haul, making it an engaging experience for those who enjoy the mechanics of driving.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 167.9 mi on Lincoln 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 0.1 miles in near 7th Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 34m drive. You will face about 3 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 50 / Aultman Street): Navigation decision point; at 283.6 miles (US 50 ALT / East Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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
The longest stretch is about 167.9 miles on Lincoln 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 0.1 miles (7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 50 / Aultman Street): Navigation decision point; at 283.6 miles (US 50 ALT / East Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 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.
