Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
54.8 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Reno, NV
Wikimedia Commons
Gardnerville Ranchos, NV
𝓢𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓮 𝓦𝓮𝓼𝓽 ™
If you are looking for a straightforward trip through the Mountain West, the 54.8-mile stretch from Reno to Gardnerville Ranchos is a quick jaunt you can easily handle in a single day. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 9 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal length for a morning or afternoon outing. You will navigate via the Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway, South Carson Street, and Woodfords Road to reach your destination. With fuel costs estimated at approximately $11, this is an economical route that doesn't require complex logistics or an overnight stay. Whether you are commuting or exploring, the simplicity of this journey allows for plenty of flexibility in your schedule. It is a practical, no-fuss connection between two Nevada communities.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway | 34.7 mi | 39m |
| South Carson Street | 11 mi | 14m |
| Woodfords Road | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Kimmerling Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Tillman Lane | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Kimmerling Way | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| University Way | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Reno, NV and Gardnerville Ranchos, NV.
Start on this road
Turn left
Turn right onto East 4th Street
Turn left onto University Way
Take the ramp onto East Maple Street
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 580; US 395
Turn left onto US 395
Take the exit
Turn straight onto NV 88
Enter roundabout onto NV 88
Continue on NV 88
Enter roundabout onto NV 88
Continue on NV 88
Turn left onto Kimmerling Way
Continue on Kimmerling Road
Turn right onto Tillman Lane
Turn left onto Patricia Way
Turn left onto Joette Drive
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.4 miles from Reno, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 1.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto East 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto University Way
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp onto East Maple Street toward I 80 East: Elko, Salt Lake City, Winnemucca
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Keep slight right at fork toward I 580, US 395: Carson City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$10.92 one way
$21.83 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $11.55 | $23.11 |
| premium | $5.59 | $12.06 | $24.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.10 | $24.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.75 | $2.63 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.67 | $3.51 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Reno on Sunday
Local time
3:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Gardnerville Ranchos on Sunday
Local time
3:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since this route features a 0% highway share, you will be navigating surface streets and local roads for the entirety of the 54.8 miles. The longest uninterrupted section you will encounter is a 34.7-mile stretch on the Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway, which provides the most consistent pace of the trip. As you transition onto South Carson Street and Woodfords Road, the character of the drive shifts into more technical, local-focused maneuvering. Staying alert is essential, as the constant turns demand more engagement than a standard highway trek.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 4th Street.
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 54.8 miles you will encounter 16 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: at 0.1 miles (East 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (University Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (East Maple Street): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Reno, the "Biggest Little City in the World", is in the beautiful north-west region of the State of Nevada, right at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Reno is the second largest tourist destination in Nevada, mainly thanks to its popular downtown casinos. It also has family entertainment, festivals, museums, and cuisine.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 54.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Reno, NV or browse trips ending in Gardnerville Ranchos, NV.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NV road trips.
