Henderson, NV to Smith, NV is 396.3 miles and takes about 7h 45m via Veterans Memorial Highway and Silver Peak Road, with a fuel budget near $75 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Nevada, traversing the Mountain West region for both its start and end points. Expect a trip primarily on surface roads, offering a more direct connection between these two Nevada locales without extensive highway time. It's a route best suited for those looking for a straightforward drive within the state, manageable in a single day.
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
198.1 miles from Henderson, NV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
262.3 mi
4h 50m
Silver Peak Road
45.6 mi
57m
Purple Heart Highway
31 mi
35m
US 95 ALT
23.3 mi
25m
Nordyke Road
11.4 mi
15m
Topaz Road
8.4 mi
12m
West Main Street
6.2 mi
8m
East Lake Mead Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 262.3 mi, about 4h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Henderson, NV and Smith, 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
31 mi·35 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on US 95
99 mi·1 hr 48 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 95
0.2 mi·46 sec·South 2nd Street
7
Turn right onto US 95
6.2 mi·8 min·West Main Street
8
Continue on US 95
60 mi·1 hr 4 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
9
Continue on US 95
0.4 mi·1 min·South Sundog Avenue
10
Continue on US 95
0.5 mi·1 min·East Crook Avenue
11
Continue on US 95
4.4 mi·5 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
12
Turn left onto 3457
25 mi·35 min·Silver Peak Road
13
Turn right onto Cinnabar Way
0.1 mi·28 sec·Cinnabar Way
14
Turn slight right onto Silver Peak Road
21 mi·22 min·Silver Peak Road
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; US 95
35 mi·37 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
16
Continue on US 95
1.2 mi·3 min·Front Street
17
Continue on US 95
7.8 mi·8 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
18
Continue on US 95
0.9 mi·2 min·Plymire Street
19
Continue on US 95
23 mi·25 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
20
Take the exit onto US 95 Truck
1.3 mi·2 min·US 95 Truck
21
Take the exit onto US 95 Truck
324 ft·12 sec·US 95 Truck
22
Merge onto US 95
33 mi·39 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
23
Turn left onto US 95 ALT
23 mi·25 min·US 95 ALT
24
Turn right onto US 95 ALT
1.0 mi·2 min·Goldfield Avenue
25
Turn left onto NV 339
11 mi·15 min·Nordyke Road
26
Continue on NV 208; NV 339
8.4 mi·12 min·Topaz Road
27
Arrive at destination
NV 208
Trip Plan
Aim to depart Henderson, NV early to make the most of the 7h 45m drive. With two recommended stops, you can pace yourself comfortably, ensuring you don't feel rushed on the 396.3-mile journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 262.3-mile stretch on Veterans Memorial Highway, as services might be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost is around $75. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but it's wise to have your route planned out to avoid unexpected delays.
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 198.1 miles from Henderson, NV, or about 3h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 262.3 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 87 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 198.1 miles or 3h 41m 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 29m
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 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Henderson, NV
This is one driving day of about 396.3 miles and 7h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Henderson, 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 Veterans Memorial Highway for about 262.3 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 0 and 249.5 — 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.
4
132.5 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|US 95 / West Main Street
Turn right onto US 95 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
249.5 mi into trip|~4h 48m in|US 6; US 95 / Veterans Memorial Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; US 95 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$84.50 one way
$169.00 round trip
$5.42/gal25.4 MPG avg139 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.74
$89.56
$179.12
premium
$6.03
$94.14
$188.29
diesel
$6.83
$106.52
$213.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$85
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$110–$135
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
118.9
1
$41.61
$19.02
Efficient EV
99.1
1
$34.68
$15.85
EV Truck/SUV
158.5
1
$55.48
$25.36
Gas CO2
139 kg
EV CO2
46 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 17, 2026
Origin
Henderson, NV
Late night
in Henderson on Sunday
Local time
2:37 AM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Smith, NV
Late night
in Smith on Sunday
Local time
2:37 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
NE 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.
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
1 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 45m 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.
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 41
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?
You'll spend about 7% of your 396.3 miles on highways, with the bulk of the drive on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on Veterans Memorial Highway covers 262.3 miles before you transition to Silver Peak Road and Purple Heart Highway. Given the profile, anticipate mostly rural cruising with minimal urban merging or dense exit sequences.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 262.3 mi on Veterans Memorial 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 early in the drive near NV 564 / East Lake Mead Parkway.
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 45m, 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: 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 45m. Total distance: 396.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 45m 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 262.3 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 Smith, 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 5 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 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.5 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.
