Henderson, NV to Carlin, NV is 422.7 miles and takes about 8h 4m via Sunnyside Road, Eureka / Carlin Road, and Great Basin Highway, with a fuel budget near $80 and likely requiring an overnight stop. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, traversing mostly surface roads across Nevada. With a recommended two days, you'll have ample time to break up the drive and experience the open landscapes. It's a practical route for reaching your destination without extensive highway time.
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
211.3 miles from Henderson, NV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Sunnyside Road
109.4 mi
2h 4m
Eureka / Carlin Road
87.5 mi
1h 34m
Great Basin Highway
85.2 mi
1h 35m
Lincoln Highway
77.8 mi
1h 29m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
22.2 mi
24m
Las Vegas Freeway
13.5 mi
14m
Purple Heart Highway
9.7 mi
11m
South Lamb Boulevard
6.8 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
Sunnyside Road
— 109.4 mi, about 2h 4m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,224 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,587
Quietest
1 AM
~169 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 16 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 Henderson, NV and Carlin, NV.
1
Start on North Boulder Highway
16 ft·5 sec·North Boulder Highway
2
Turn left onto NV 564
1.6 mi·3 min·East Lake Mead Parkway
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·40 sec
Toward I 11 North, US 93 North, US 95 North: Las VegasUse the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 11; US 93; US 95
9.7 mi·11 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·30 sec
Exit 72Toward NV 159: Charleston BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
6
Turn right onto NV 159
0.6 mi·1 min·East Charleston Boulevard
7
Turn left onto South Lamb Boulevard
6.8 mi·11 min·South Lamb Boulevard
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 15 North: Salt Lake City
9
Merge onto I 15; US 93
14 mi·14 min·Las Vegas Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 93
0.2 mi·26 sec·US 93
Exit 64Toward US 93 North: ElyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 93
85 mi·1 hr 35 min·Great Basin Highway
12
Turn left onto NV 318
99 mi·1 hr 52 min·Sunnyside Road
13
Continue on NV 318
1.4 mi·1 min·Main Street
14
Continue on NV 318
11 mi·12 min·Sunnyside Road
15
At end of road, turn right onto US 6
22 mi·24 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
16
Turn left onto 6768
0.2 mi·32 sec·Murry Street
17
Continue on 6768
0.9 mi·2 min·Mill Street
18
Turn left onto US 50
0.2 mi·32 sec·Aultman Street
19
Continue on US 50
76 mi·1 hr 27 min·Lincoln Highway
20
Continue on US 50
2.0 mi·4 min·South Main Street
21
Continue on US 50
2.1 mi·2 min·Lincoln Highway
22
Turn right onto NV 278
87 mi·1 hr 34 min·Eureka / Carlin Road
23
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·21 sec
Toward I 80 East: Elko, Salt Lake City
24
Merge onto I 80
0.8 mi·47 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 280Toward NV 766 South: Central Carlin
26
Turn right onto NV 766
0.5 mi·41 sec·10th Street
27
At end of road, turn right onto West Main Street
294 ft·13 sec·West Main Street
28
Turn left onto South 9th Street
141 ft·11 sec·South 9th Street
29
Turn left
375 ft·27 sec
30
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour drive time and recommended two days, plan to split this trip. A good point to stop would be after covering roughly half the distance, allowing for a relaxed first day. You'll want to depart with a full tank of gas, as fuel stops may be less frequent than you're accustomed to, especially on the longer stretches. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge and plan your next fill-up proactively, particularly before heading onto Sunnyside Road for its 109.4-mile segment.
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 211.3 miles from Henderson, NV, or about 4h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.4 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 93 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 211.3 miles or 4h 2m 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 211.3 miles or 4h 2m
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 6h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carlin, NV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Henderson, 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 Henderson, NV
Aim for roughly 211 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Carlin, NV
Aim for roughly 211 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from Henderson, 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 Sunnyside Road for about 109.4 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 33.6 — 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|NV 564 / East Lake Mead Parkway
Turn left onto NV 564 / East Lake Mead Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 11 North, US 93 North, US 95 North: Las Vegas
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 11 North, US 93 North, US 95 North: La...
5
2.2 mi into trip|~3m in|I 11; US 93; US 95 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto I 11; US 93; US 95 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
11.9 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward NV 159: Charleston Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 72
Toward NV 159: Charleston Boulevard
7
33.6 mi into trip|~42m in|US 93
Take the exit onto US 93 toward US 93 North: Ely
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 64
Toward US 93 North: Ely
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$85.14 one way
$170.28 round trip
$5.12/gal25.4 MPG avg148 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.43
$90.31
$180.63
premium
$5.67
$94.43
$188.85
diesel
$6.18
$102.83
$205.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$85
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$215–$325
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 147.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
126.8
1
$44.38
$20.29
Efficient EV
105.7
1
$36.99
$16.91
EV Truck/SUV
169.1
2
$59.18
$27.05
Gas CO2
148 kg
EV CO2
49 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Henderson, NV
Evening
in Henderson on Tuesday
Local time
7:16 PM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Carlin, NV
Evening
in Carlin on Tuesday
Local time
7:16 PM
PDT
Current temp
32°F
Clear
E 0 to 5 mph0% 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.
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
32 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 4m 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...
19 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 14.6
Park Closure: South Unit temporarily closed south of Grand Teton Drive; Trailheads remain open.
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route involves minimal highway driving, with only a 4% highway share. After the initial stretch, you'll transition from highways to surface roads for the majority of the trip. The longest continuous segment without a significant change in road type is 109.4 miles on Sunnyside Road. Expect more rural cruising and fewer services compared to a full interstate experience.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.4 mi on Sunnyside Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NV 564 / East Lake Mead Parkway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 422.7 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NV 564 / East Lake Mead Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.2 miles (I 11; US 93; US 95 / Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Henderson is the second largest city in Nevada. The border between Henderson and Las Vegas has become virtually nonexistent: one city butts up against the other. This article covers Henderson, and Las Vegas east of the Strip and south of the airport.
Top landmarks
•Clark County Heritage Museum — archive organization in Henderson, Nevada, United States
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 4m 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 109.4 miles on Sunnyside Road. 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 211 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 12 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 route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Carlin, 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 12 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 (NV 564 / East Lake Mead Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.2 miles (I 11; US 93; US 95 / Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Carlin, NV before the return drive.
