Reno to McGill is 332.8 miles and takes about 6h 38m via Lincoln Highway, Austin Highway, and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Nevada, traversing the Mountain West region throughout. Expect a drive that's primarily on surface roads, offering a more grounded connection to the landscape. It's a straightforward, single-day option if you're looking for a direct route across the state.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
166.4 miles from Reno, NV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
167.9 mi
3h 12m
Austin Highway
85.4 mi
1h 33m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
34.6 mi
39m
US 50 ALT
24.6 mi
30m
Great Basin Highway
9.6 mi
15m
Aultman Street
3 mi
7m
West Williams Avenue
2.5 mi
5m
North Main Street
2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 167.9 mi, about 3h 12m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 54 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,786 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,270
Quietest
1 AM
~214 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Reno, NV and McGill, NV.
1
Start on this road
105 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn left
171 ft·14 sec
3
Turn right onto East 4th Street
186 ft·13 sec·East 4th Street
4
Turn left onto University Way
0.3 mi·53 sec·University Way
5
Take the ramp onto East Maple Street
0.2 mi·16 sec·East Maple Street
Toward I 80 East: Elko, Salt Lake City, Winnemucca
6
Merge onto I 80
35 mi·39 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·52 sec
Exit 48Toward I 80 BUS West, US 95 ALT South: East Fernley, Yerington
8
Turn right onto I 80 BUS; US 95 ALT
0.7 mi·1 min·I 80 BUS; US 95 ALT
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on NV 828
341 ft·9 sec·Farm District Road
10
Enter roundabout onto US 50 ALT
298 ft·7 sec·US 50 ALT
11
Continue on US 50 ALT
1.7 mi·2 min·US 50 ALT
12
Continue on US 50 ALT
5.8 mi·6 min·US 50 ALT
13
Continue on US 50 ALT
17 mi·21 min·US 50 ALT
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on US 50
2.5 mi·5 min·West Williams Avenue
15
Continue on US 50
85 mi·1 hr 33 min·Austin Highway
16
Continue on US 50
24 mi·26 min·Lincoln Highway
17
Continue on US 50
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
18
Continue on US 50
68 mi·1 hr 18 min·Lincoln Highway
19
Continue on US 50
2.0 mi·4 min·North Main Street
20
Continue on US 50
76 mi·1 hr 27 min·Lincoln Highway
21
Continue on US 50
3.0 mi·7 min·Aultman Street
22
Continue on US 93
9.6 mi·15 min·Great Basin Highway
23
Continue on US 93
0.8 mi·2 min·South 4th Street
24
Arrive at destination
US 93
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Reno in the morning should give you ample daylight to reach McGill. With a total duration of under seven hours, this trip is easily achievable in one day, but don't feel rushed. Plan for one stop to break up the 167.9-mile stretch on the Lincoln Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch between services on surface roads could be significant.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 166.4 miles from Reno, NV, or about 3h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 167.9 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 73 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166.4 miles or 3h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near McGill, NV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Reno, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Reno, NV
This is one driving day of about 332.8 miles and 6h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Reno, NV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Lincoln Highway for about 167.9 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 36.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East 4th Street
Turn right onto East 4th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|University Way
Turn left onto University Way
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|East Maple Street
Take the ramp onto East Maple Street toward I 80 East: Elko, Salt Lake City, Winnemucca
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 East: Elko, Salt Lake City, Winnemu...
6
35.2 mi into trip|~41m in
Take the exit toward I 80 BUS West, US 95 ALT South: East Fernley, Yerington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 48
Toward I 80 BUS West, US 95 ALT South: East Fer...
5
36.4 mi into trip|~43m in|US 50 ALT
Enter roundabout onto US 50 ALT
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$67.03 one way
$134.06 round trip
$5.12/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.43
$71.11
$142.21
premium
$5.67
$74.34
$148.69
diesel
$6.18
$80.96
$161.92
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: 116.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.8
1
$34.94
$15.97
Efficient EV
83.2
0
$29.12
$13.31
EV Truck/SUV
133.1
1
$46.59
$21.30
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Reno, NV
Afternoon
in Reno on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
W 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
McGill, NV
Afternoon
in McGill on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Clear
S 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
3 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
6h 38m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with the highway making up only 8% of the total distance. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 167.9 miles on the Lincoln Highway, which will feel like extended rural cruising. After the highway portion concludes, you'll continue on surface roads for the remainder of the trip.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 167.9 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 around 0.1 miles in near East 4th Street.
Driving Effort3/10
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 6h 38m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,922 ft3,929 ft
Total Climb
3,291 ft
Total Descent
1,588 ft
Highest Point
6,922 ft
~309 mi in
Elevation Range
2,993 ft
Notable High Points
6,304 ft at ~213.9 miles+298 ft prominence
6,922 ft at ~309 miles+210 ft prominence
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 Reno, NV to McGill, NV, road signs begin pointing toward Yerington along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Reno — railway station in Reno, Nevada, United States
•Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts — theater in Reno, Nevada, United States
•Mizpah Hotel — former hotel building in Reno, Nevada, USA
The longest stretch is about 167.9 miles on Lincoln Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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 McGill, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 9 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 0.1 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at McGill, NV before the return drive.
