North Las Vegas, NV to Smith, NV is 379.8 miles and takes about 7h 30m via Veterans Memorial Highway and US 95 ALT, with a fuel budget near $78 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Nevada, traversing the Mountain West region. The route primarily uses surface roads, offering a more grounded travel experience compared to interstate highways. With only two recommended stops and a long stretch on Veterans Memorial Highway, it’s a manageable one-day drive for those looking to cover distance efficiently.
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
189.9 miles from North Las Vegas, NV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
262.3 mi
4h 50m
Silver Peak Road
45.6 mi
57m
US 95 ALT
23.3 mi
25m
Nordyke Road
11.4 mi
15m
Topaz Road
8.4 mi
12m
Purple Heart Highway
7 mi
8m
West Main Street
6.2 mi
8m
East Cheyenne Avenue
4.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 262.3 mi, about 4h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Las Vegas, NV and Smith, NV.
1
Start on this road
261 ft·21 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Constitution Way
0.1 mi·31 sec·Constitution Way
3
Turn right onto Civic Center Drive
0.5 mi·45 sec·Civic Center Drive
4
Turn left onto East Carey Avenue
0.1 mi·19 sec·East Carey Avenue
5
Enter roundabout onto East Carey Avenue
82 ft·1 sec·East Carey Avenue
6
Continue on East Carey Avenue
0.5 mi·59 sec·East Carey Avenue
7
Turn right onto 5th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·5th Street
8
Turn left onto NV 574
4.4 mi·6 min·East Cheyenne Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto NV 599
1.9 mi·3 min·North Rancho Drive
10
Turn left onto NV 573
0.7 mi·1 min·West Craig Road
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·30 sec
Toward I 11 North, US 95 North: Tonopah, RenoUse the right lane.
12
Merge onto I 11; US 95
7.0 mi·8 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 left onto NV 339
11 mi·15 min·Nordyke Road
34
Continue on NV 208; NV 339
8.4 mi·12 min·Topaz Road
35
Arrive at destination
NV 208
Trip Plan
Given this is a 7.5-hour drive, departing in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. Plan for two stops to break up the 379.8 miles; consider timing them before you've been driving for too long on the 262.3-mile stretch of Veterans Memorial Highway. Fuel costs are estimated at $78, so ensure your tank is full before leaving North Las Vegas, as services might be spaced out on the surface road sections. This route is well-suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your stop durations.
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 189.9 miles from North Las Vegas, NV, or about 3h 39m 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 84 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.9 miles or 3h 39m 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 14m
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 North Las Vegas, 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 North Las Vegas, NV
This is one driving day of about 379.8 miles and 7h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from North Las Vegas, 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 9.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Constitution Way
At end of road, turn right onto Constitution Way
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|East Carey Avenue
Enter roundabout onto East Carey Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|NV 574 / East Cheyenne Avenue
Turn left onto NV 574 / East Cheyenne Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
9.3 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the ramp toward I 11 North, US 95 North: Tonopah, Reno
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 11 North, US 95 North: Tonopah, Reno
5
9.7 mi into trip|~16m in|I 11; US 95 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto I 11; US 95 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$67.30 one way
$134.60 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg133 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$72.07
$144.14
premium
$5.04
$75.39
$150.78
diesel
$4.80
$71.71
$143.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$67
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$92–$117
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.9
1
$39.88
$18.23
Efficient EV
95
1
$33.23
$15.19
EV Truck/SUV
151.9
1
$53.17
$24.31
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
North Las Vegas, NV
Morning
in North Las Vegas on Sunday
Local time
10:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
88°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 10 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Smith, NV
Morning
in Smith on Sunday
Local time
10:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 to 10 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
36 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
7h 30m 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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 26.2
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 is largely on surface roads, with only about 7% on highways. You'll experience 262.3 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway, which is the longest continuous stretch. After that, you'll transition to Silver Peak Road and US 95 ALT, which are also primarily surface roads. Expect less merging and more consistent speeds once you leave the initial highway segments.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
35 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 Constitution Way.
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 30m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 17 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Constitution Way): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.7 miles (East Carey Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.3 miles (NV 574 / East Cheyenne Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
North Las Vegas in Nevada is a city in its own right within the Las Vegas metropolitan area. With a population in 2019 of 252,000, it's the fourth largest city in the state, and is primarily residential with some industry. It borders the Mojave Desert. Its main attractions are the speedway, and Nellis Air Force Base which sometimes puts on air shows.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 30m. Total distance: 379.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 30m 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 6 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 6 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 (Constitution Way): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.7 miles (East Carey Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.3 miles (NV 574 / East Cheyenne Avenue): 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 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 15.0 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.
