Mesquite to Cold Springs is 517.2 miles and takes about 10h 2m via Veterans Memorial Highway and US 95 ALT, with a fuel budget near $102 and enough daylight to finish in a day. However, this route is best split over two days given its length. You'll travel entirely within Nevada, moving through the Mountain West region. This is a long-haul drive that will require careful planning to manage your time and rest stops effectively. Consider this an extended travel day or the main leg of a longer Nevada adventure.
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
258.6 miles from Mesquite, NV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
262.3 mi
4h 50m
Las Vegas Freeway
70.1 mi
1h 10m
US 95 ALT
50 mi
58m
Silver Peak Road
45.6 mi
57m
USA Parkway
19.6 mi
30m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16.7 mi
19m
Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway
14.7 mi
17m
Bruce Woodbury Beltway
11.9 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 262.3 mi, about 4h 50m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 23 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,560 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~266 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Mesquite, NV and Cold Springs, NV.
1
Start on East First North Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·East First North Street
2
Turn left onto Sandhill Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·Sandhill Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·23 sec
Toward I 15 South: Las VegasUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 15
70 mi·1 hr 10 min·Las Vegas Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 52Toward CC 215 West: Tropical ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·30 sec
Exit 52Toward CC 215 WestUse the slight right lane.
7
Continue on CC 215
12 mi·13 min·Bruce Woodbury Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 38CToward Sky Pointe DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto Sky Pointe Drive
299 ft·8 sec·Sky Pointe Drive
10
Turn left onto Sky Pointe Drive
0.4 mi·59 sec·Sky Pointe Drive
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 95
12
Merge onto I 11; US 95
4.2 mi·4 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 95
99 mi·1 hr 48 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 95
0.2 mi·46 sec·South 2nd Street
15
Turn right onto US 95
6.2 mi·8 min·West Main Street
16
Continue on US 95
60 mi·1 hr 4 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
17
Continue on US 95
0.4 mi·1 min·South Sundog Avenue
18
Continue on US 95
0.5 mi·1 min·East Crook Avenue
19
Continue on US 95
4.4 mi·5 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
20
Turn left onto 3457
25 mi·35 min·Silver Peak Road
21
Turn right onto Cinnabar Way
0.1 mi·28 sec·Cinnabar Way
22
Turn slight right onto Silver Peak Road
21 mi·22 min·Silver Peak Road
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; US 95
35 mi·37 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
24
Continue on US 95
1.2 mi·3 min·Front Street
25
Continue on US 95
7.8 mi·8 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
26
Continue on US 95
0.9 mi·2 min·Plymire Street
27
Continue on US 95
23 mi·25 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
28
Take the exit onto US 95 Truck
1.3 mi·2 min·US 95 Truck
29
Take the exit onto US 95 Truck
324 ft·12 sec·US 95 Truck
30
Merge onto US 95
33 mi·39 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
31
Turn left onto US 95 ALT
23 mi·25 min·US 95 ALT
32
Turn right onto US 95 ALT
1.0 mi·2 min·Goldfield Avenue
33
Turn right onto US 95 ALT
27 mi·32 min·US 95 ALT
34
Turn left onto Ramsey Weeks Cutoff
3.4 mi·5 min·Ramsey Weeks Cutoff
35
Turn right onto US 50
0.9 mi·1 min·California Emigrant Trail
36
Enter roundabout onto NV 439
267 ft·3 sec·USA Parkway
37
Continue on NV 439
20 mi·30 min·USA Parkway
38
Merge onto I 80
17 mi·19 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
39
Take the exit
0.6 mi·39 sec
Exit 15Toward I 580, US 395: Carson City, Susanville
40
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·19 sec
Toward US 395: Susanville
41
Merge onto US 395
15 mi·17 min·Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway
42
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 83Toward Bordertown
43
Turn right onto Village Parkway
1.3 mi·2 min·Village Parkway
44
Turn right onto Cold Springs Drive
219 ft·12 sec·Cold Springs Drive
45
Turn left onto Flamingo Drive
423 ft·16 sec·Flamingo Drive
46
Turn right onto Goldfinch Drive
276 ft·9 sec·Goldfinch Drive
47
Arrive at destination
Goldfinch Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 10-hour estimated duration, splitting this 517.2-mile drive over two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early on your first day to cover a substantial portion, perhaps around 260 miles. This leaves you with about 257 miles for your second day, making for a more relaxed pace. Plan your fuel stops carefully, as the longest stretch without services could be extensive. The $102 fuel cost should be factored into your overall budget. Two planned stops are built into the itinerary, so use these to take breaks and refuel.
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 258.6 miles from Mesquite, NV, or about 4h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 262.3 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 114 miles or 2h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 258.6 miles or 4h 43m 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 258.6 miles or 4h 43m
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 8h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cold Springs, NV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mesquite, 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 Mesquite, NV
Aim for roughly 259 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Cold Springs, NV
Aim for roughly 259 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 114 miles from Mesquite, 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 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 30
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 499.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 15 South: Las Vegas
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 15 South: Las Vegas
7
71.3 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward CC 215 West: Tropical Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52
Toward CC 215 West: Tropical Parkway
8
71.6 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CC 215 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52
Toward CC 215 West
7
83.9 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward Sky Pointe Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 38C
Toward Sky Pointe Drive
6
499.8 mi into trip|~9h 40m in
Take the exit toward I 580, US 395: Carson City, Susanville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 15
Toward I 580, US 395: Carson City, Susanville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$102.48 one way
$204.97 round trip
$5.03/gal25.4 MPG avg181 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.33
$108.61
$217.22
premium
$5.56
$113.21
$226.43
diesel
$5.40
$110.02
$220.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$102
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$232–$342
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 181 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
155.2
1
$54.31
$24.83
Efficient EV
129.3
1
$45.26
$20.69
EV Truck/SUV
206.9
2
$72.41
$33.10
Gas CO2
181 kg
EV CO2
61 kg (66% 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 24, 2026
Origin
Mesquite, NV
Morning
in Mesquite on Sunday
Local time
10:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cold Springs, NV
Morning
in Cold Springs on Sunday
Local time
10:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°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.
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
17 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
10h 2m 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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 89.2
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 drive features 28% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch covering 262.3 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. You'll experience a significant amount of rural cruising on US 95 ALT after the highway sections conclude. Expect a mix of freeway speeds and slower, more deliberate travel on surface roads. The transition from faster highway travel to more relaxed surface road speeds will be noticeable.
28% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
47 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?
10/10
At 10h 2m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 517.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 71.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Mesquite, NV to Cold Springs, NV, road signs begin pointing toward Cc 215 West along the way.
Mesquite is a city in Clark County, in Southern Nevada, about 80 mi (130 km) northeast of Las Vegas. It is immediately on the Nevada-Arizona border, near Utah. The town is on the north bank of the Virgin River, with the smaller settlement of Bunkerville on the south side of the river. Mesquite is a boomtown, attracting tourists and permanent residents. The town's population is about 19,000 (2018). Its biggest industry is tourism.
Top landmarks
•Virgin Valley Heritage Museum — hospital in Nevada, United States
Long-haul drive 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 — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 259 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 19 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 Cold Springs, 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 19 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: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 71.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 10.0 hours each way, a round trip means 20.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cold Springs, NV before the return drive.
