Origin
Reno, NV
Evening in Reno on Saturday
Local time
6:18 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Reno, NV to Mesquite, NV
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 44m
Distance
502.1 mi
808 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$100
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 36m
★
6 AM
9h 45m
8 AM
10h 2m
10 AM
9h 51m
12 PM
9h 49m
3 PM
9h 52m
5 PM
10h 1m
8 PM
9h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Reno, NV
Wikimedia Commons
Mesquite, NV
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 502.1-mile journey from Reno to Mesquite, Nevada, spans an estimated 9 hours and 44 minutes of driving time. Given its length, it's best tackled over two recommended days, rather than attempting it as a single day trip. You'll navigate primarily on Veterans Memorial Highway and the Las Vegas Freeway, with a portion on Silver Peak Road, experiencing a 23% highway share. The estimated fuel cost for this long-distance drive is around $100. Both your origin and destination are within the Mountain West region, offering a consistent, albeit varied, Nevada landscape throughout your travels.
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
251.1 miles from Reno, NV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 262.4 mi | 4h 50m |
| Las Vegas Freeway | 70.3 mi | 1h 10m |
| Silver Peak Road | 45.6 mi | 57m |
| US 95 ALT | 26.7 mi | 32m |
| North Main Street | 23.3 mi | 25m |
| USA Parkway | 19 mi | 29m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 18.8 mi | 21m |
| Bruce Woodbury Beltway | 11.6 mi | 13m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 262.4 mi, about 4h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reno, NV and Mesquite, 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
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Toward NV 439 South: Yerington, Las Vegas
8
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
this road
Exit 32
Toward NV 439 South: Yerington, Las Vegas
9
Turn right onto NV 439
19 mi
·
29 min
·
USA Parkway
10
Continue on US 50
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
California Emigrant Trail
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
12
Turn left onto Ramsey Weeks Cutoff
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Ramsey Weeks Cutoff
13
Merge onto US 95 ALT
27 mi
·
32 min
·
US 95 ALT
14
Turn left onto US 95 ALT
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Goldfield Avenue
15
Turn left onto US 95 ALT
23 mi
·
25 min
·
North Main Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto US 95
33 mi
·
39 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
17
Turn left onto US 95 Truck
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Freedom Road
Use the left lane.
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
24 mi
·
25 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
19
Continue on US 95
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Plymire Street
20
Continue on US 95
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
21
Continue on US 95
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Front Street
22
Continue on US 95
35 mi
·
37 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
23
Turn right onto NV 265
21 mi
·
22 min
·
Silver Peak Road
24
Turn left onto Cinnabar Way
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Cinnabar Way
25
Turn left onto Silver Peak Road
17 mi
·
23 min
·
Silver Peak Road
26
Continue on 3457
7.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Silver Peak Road
27
Turn right onto US 95
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
28
Continue on US 95
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Crook Avenue
29
Continue on US 95
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sundog Avenue
30
Continue on US 95
60 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
31
Continue on US 95
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
East Main Street
32
Turn left onto US 95
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
South 2nd Street
33
Continue on US 95
99 mi
·
1 hr 49 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
34
Continue on I 11; US 95
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 91A
Toward CC 215 East
Use the slight right lane.
36
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 91A
Toward CC 215 East
37
Merge onto CC 215
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Bruce Woodbury Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 51B
Toward I 15 North, US 93 North: Ely, Salt Lake City
39
Merge onto I 15; US 93
70 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
Las Vegas Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 122
Toward Pioneer Boulevard, Sandhill Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Turn right onto Sandhill Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Sandhill Boulevard
Use the right lane.
42
Turn right onto East First North Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
East First North Street
43
Arrive at destination
East First North Street
Trip Plan
For this 9-hour, 44-minute drive covering over 500 miles, splitting the journey into two days is highly advisable to avoid fatigue. Plan for at least two stops to break up the drive and refuel. Given the longest stretch is 262.4 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway, be sure to have ample fuel before embarking on that segment. Departing earlier in the morning can help you make the most of daylight, especially if you plan to drive through the Las Vegas area. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be spaced out across Nevada.
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 251.1 miles from Reno, NV, or about 5h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 262.4 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 110 miles or 2h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 251.1 miles or 5h 11m 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 251.1 miles or 5h 11m
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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mesquite, 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.
+
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 Reno, NV
Aim for roughly 251 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Mesquite, NV
Aim for roughly 251 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 110 miles from Reno, 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 262.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
166 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
331 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Lone Pine, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
251 mi · about 4.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Lone Pine, CA after about 251 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 110 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 251.1 miles from Reno, NV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Veterans Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 262.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 251 miles or 4.9 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 285 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 501.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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...
7
416.7 mi into trip
|
~8h 14m in
Take the exit toward CC 215 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 91A
Toward CC 215 East
6
417.2 mi into trip
|
~8h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CC 215 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 91A
Toward CC 215 East
7
430 mi into trip
|
~8h 30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 15 North, US 93 North: Ely, Salt Lake City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 51B
Toward I 15 North, US 93 North: Ely, Salt Lake...
8
501.3 mi into trip
|
~9h 42m in
Take the exit toward Pioneer Boulevard, Sandhill Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 122
Toward Pioneer Boulevard, Sandhill Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$100.02 one way
$200.05 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
176 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $105.86 | $211.71 |
| premium | $5.59 | $110.52 | $221.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $110.86 | $221.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$100
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$230–$340
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 175.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 150.6 | 1 | $52.72 | $24.10 |
| Efficient EV | 125.5 | 1 | $43.93 | $20.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 200.8 | 2 | $70.29 | $32.13 |
Gas CO2
176 kg
EV CO2
59 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.
Destination
Mesquite, NV
Evening in Mesquite on Saturday
Local time
6:18 PM
PDT
Current temp
81°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
25 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
9h 44m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a long-distance drive with a significant portion on Veterans Memorial Highway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch at 262.4 miles. While 23% of the drive is on highways, expect a substantial amount of time on other road types, including Veterans Memorial Highway and Silver Peak Road. This suggests a mix of faster travel and more local road conditions as you progress through Nevada. The drive is characterized by its extended periods on the road, requiring sustained attention and a comfortable vehicle.
23% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 262.4 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
At 9h 44m, 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 0.4 miles in near East Maple Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 28 significant decision points across 502.1 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 0.4 miles (East Maple Street): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 416.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 417.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Reno, NV and Mesquite, NV, road signs point toward Cc 215 East and Salt Lake City.
Cc 215 East
416.7 mi in
|
~8h 14m
Salt Lake City
430 mi in
|
~8h 30m
About the Cities
Starting in Reno, NV
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
9h 44m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-haul drive route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 262.4 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 251 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Mesquite, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 0.4 miles (East Maple Street): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 416.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 417.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.7 hours each way, a round trip means 19.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Mesquite, NV before the return drive.
How this page is built
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.
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