Origin
Fallon, NV
Late night in Fallon on Tuesday
Local time
5:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fallon, NV to Gardnerville, NV
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
78.6 mi
126 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 37m
★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fallon, NV
Wikimedia Commons
Gardnerville, NV
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fallon, NV to Gardnerville, NV is 78.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 44 minutes via California Emigrant Trail, Lincoln Highway, and Carson Highway, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Nevada, traversing the Mountain West region. You'll primarily be on surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate experience. With a straightforward drive and minimal time commitment, this route is a practical option for connecting these two Nevada communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.3 miles from Fallon, NV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| California Emigrant Trail | 26.7 mi | 32m |
| Lincoln Highway | 12.7 mi | 19m |
| Carson Highway | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| South Carson Street | 11 mi | 14m |
| Reno Highway | 7.7 mi | 10m |
| Carson City Deputy Sheriff Carl Howell Memorial Freeway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| West Williams Avenue | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| County Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
California Emigrant Trail
— 26.7 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fallon, NV and Gardnerville, NV.
1
Start on South Maine Street
499 ft
·
18 sec
·
South Maine Street
2
Turn left onto US 50; US 95
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
West Williams Avenue
3
Continue on US 50
7.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Reno Highway
4
Turn left onto US 50
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Carson Highway
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 50
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
Lincoln Highway
6
Continue on US 50
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
California Emigrant Trail
7
Enter roundabout onto US 50
148 ft
·
1 sec
·
California Emigrant Trail
8
Continue on US 50
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
California Emigrant Trail
9
Enter roundabout onto US 50
127 ft
·
1 sec
·
California Emigrant Trail
10
Continue on US 50
19 mi
·
22 min
·
California Emigrant Trail
11
Continue on US 50
12 mi
·
18 min
·
Lincoln Highway
12
Continue on US 50
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
East William Street
13
Take the exit onto US 50
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 50
Toward I 580 South, US 395 South, US 50 West: Minden, Gardnerville, South Lake Tahoe
14
Merge onto I 580; US 50; US 395
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Carson City Deputy Sheriff Carl Howell Memorial Freeway
15
Turn left onto US 395
11 mi
·
14 min
·
South Carson Street
Use the left lane.
16
Take the exit
488 ft
·
13 sec
17
Turn straight onto NV 88
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Woodfords Road
18
Enter roundabout onto County Road
144 ft
·
2 sec
·
County Road
19
Continue on County Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road
20
At end of road, turn right onto US 395
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US 395
21
Turn right onto NV 756
68 ft
·
1 sec
·
Gilman Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
NV 756
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short drive time of under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility for when to depart. Aiming for a morning start will give you ample time to reach Gardnerville and still have the afternoon free. You won't need to worry about splitting this drive, and with a fuel cost around $16, it's an economical trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as there are no designated stops on this route, and it's always wise to fill up before you leave Fallon.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.3 miles from Fallon, NV, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.7 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.3 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gardnerville, NV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fallon, NV so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fallon, NV
This is one driving day of about 78.6 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Fallon, NV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on California Emigrant Trail for about 26.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.3 miles from Fallon, NV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 77.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 50; US 95 / West Williams Avenue
Turn left onto US 50; US 95 / West Williams Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
9.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 50 / Carson Highway
Turn left onto US 50 / Carson Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
26.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
US 50 / California Emigrant Trail
Enter roundabout onto US 50 / California Emigrant Trail
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
60.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
US 50
Take the exit onto US 50 toward I 580 South, US 395 South, US 50 West: Minden, Gardnerville, South Lake Tahoe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 580 South, US 395 South, US 50 West: M...
5
77.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
|
US 395
At end of road, turn right onto US 395
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.66 one way
$31.32 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $16.57 | $33.14 |
| premium | $5.59 | $17.30 | $34.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.35 | $34.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.25 | $3.77 |
| Efficient EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.88 | $3.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.4 | 0 | $11.00 | $5.03 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Gardnerville, NV
Late night in Gardnerville on Tuesday
Local time
5:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
31°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Dayton, NV
39 mi in
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
9 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
1h 44m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a low highway percentage, with only about 7% of the drive on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 26.7 miles on the California Emigrant Trail. Expect to transition from highway driving to primarily surface roads, which means you'll likely experience more local traffic and potentially slower speeds as you approach your destination.
Only 7% 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: 26.7 mi on California Emigrant Trail.
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 US 50; US 95 / West Williams Avenue.
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 1h 44m drive. You will face about 11 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 (US 50; US 95 / West Williams Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles (US 50 / Carson Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles (US 50 / California Emigrant Trail): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Fallon, NV to Gardnerville, NV, road signs begin pointing toward Lake Tahoe along the way.
Lake Tahoe
60.2 mi in
|
~1h 19m
|
via US 50
About the Cities
Arriving in Gardnerville, NV
Full guide →Gardnerville is a city in Nevada, about 2 miles east of Minden. It is located in the Carson Valley a few miles south of Carson City.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 78.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (7%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.7 miles on California Emigrant Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 (US 50; US 95 / West Williams Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles (US 50 / Carson Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles (US 50 / California Emigrant Trail): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gardnerville, NV before heading back.
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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