Smith, NV to Henderson, NV is 395.6 miles and takes about 7h 46m via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $78 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Nevada, crossing the Mountain West region. Expect a trip that primarily uses surface roads, offering a straightforward connection between two points in the state. It's a solid option if you're looking for a direct route without extensive highway time, making it manageable for a single day's travel.
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
197.8 miles from Smith, NV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
262.4 mi
4h 50m
Silver Peak Road
45.6 mi
57m
Purple Heart Highway
28 mi
32m
North Main Street
23.3 mi
25m
Nordyke Road
11.4 mi
15m
NV 208
8.3 mi
12m
East Main Street
6.2 mi
8m
North Boulder Highway
2.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 262.4 mi, about 4h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smith, NV and Henderson, NV.
1
Start on NV 208
8.3 mi·12 min·NV 208
2
Keep left at fork onto NV 208; NV 339
0.1 mi·10 sec·Topaz Road
3
Turn straight onto NV 339
11 mi·15 min·Nordyke Road
4
Turn right onto US 95 ALT
1.0 mi·2 min·Goldfield Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 95 ALT
23 mi·25 min·North Main Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 95
33 mi·39 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
7
Turn left onto US 95 Truck
1.3 mi·2 min·Freedom Road
Use the left lane.
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
24 mi·25 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
9
Continue on US 95
0.9 mi·2 min·Plymire Street
10
Continue on US 95
7.8 mi·8 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
11
Continue on US 95
1.2 mi·3 min·Front Street
12
Continue on US 95
35 mi·37 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
13
Turn right onto NV 265
21 mi·22 min·Silver Peak Road
14
Turn left onto Cinnabar Way
0.1 mi·27 sec·Cinnabar Way
15
Turn left onto Silver Peak Road
17 mi·23 min·Silver Peak Road
16
Continue on 3457
7.5 mi·11 min·Silver Peak Road
17
Turn right onto US 95
4.4 mi·5 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
18
Continue on US 95
0.5 mi·1 min·West Crook Avenue
19
Continue on US 95
0.4 mi·1 min·South Sundog Avenue
20
Continue on US 95
60 mi·1 hr 4 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
21
Continue on US 95
6.2 mi·8 min·East Main Street
22
Turn left onto US 95
0.2 mi·41 sec·South 2nd Street
23
Continue on US 95
99 mi·1 hr 49 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
24
Continue on I 11; US 95
28 mi·32 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Exit 64BToward Galleria DriveUse the slight right lane.
26
Turn left onto West Galleria Drive
1.1 mi·2 min·West Galleria Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
27
Turn right onto North Boulder Highway
2.9 mi·5 min·North Boulder Highway
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on South Boulder Highway
141 ft·8 sec·South Boulder Highway
Use the left lane.
29
Arrive at destination
North Boulder Highway
Trip Plan
Consider an early morning departure from Smith, NV, to maximize daylight and take advantage of the single-day travel window. With two recommended stops, plan to break up the 7-hour, 46-minute drive to stay refreshed. Since most of the route consists of surface roads, be mindful of varying speed limits and potential for slower-moving traffic. The longest stretch without a significant break is 262.4 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway, so ensure your fuel tank is adequately filled before embarking on that segment.
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 197.8 miles from Smith, NV, or about 4h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 262.4 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 87 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 197.8 miles or 4h 3m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Henderson, NV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Smith, 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 Smith, NV
This is one driving day of about 395.6 miles and 7h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Smith, 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 262.4 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.3 and 392.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
8.3 mi into trip|~12m in|NV 208; NV 339 / Topaz Road
Keep left at fork onto NV 208; NV 339 / Topaz Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
76.9 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|US 95 Truck / Freedom Road
Turn left onto US 95 Truck / Freedom Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
78.2 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|US 95 / Veterans Memorial Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 95 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Navigation decision point
7
391.1 mi into trip|~7h 38m in
Take the exit toward Galleria Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 64B
Toward Galleria Drive
5
392.6 mi into trip|~7h 41m in|North Boulder Highway
Turn right onto North Boulder Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$70.10 one way
$140.20 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg138 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$75.07
$150.14
premium
$5.04
$78.53
$157.06
diesel
$4.80
$74.70
$149.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
118.7
1
$41.54
$18.99
Efficient EV
98.9
1
$34.62
$15.82
EV Truck/SUV
158.2
1
$55.38
$25.32
Gas CO2
138 kg
EV CO2
46 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
Smith, NV
Evening
in Smith on Saturday
Local time
7:57 PM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Henderson, NV
Evening
in Henderson on Saturday
Local time
7:57 PM
PDT
Current temp
90°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 10 to 16 mph15% 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
38 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
7h 46m 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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 354.7
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 mostly surface roads, with only a 2% highway share. You'll experience 262.4 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway before transitioning to surface roads like Silver Peak Road and Purple Heart Highway. The majority of your time will be spent on less-traveled routes, which means you should anticipate more of a rural cruising feel rather than rapid highway travel.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 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?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8.3 miles in near NV 208; NV 339 / Topaz Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 395.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 8.3 miles (NV 208; NV 339 / Topaz Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 76.9 miles (US 95 Truck / Freedom Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 78.2 miles (US 95 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Navigation decision point.
Henderson is the second largest city in Nevada. The border between Henderson and Las Vegas has become virtually nonexistent: one city butts up against the other. This article covers Henderson, and Las Vegas east of the Strip and south of the airport.
Top landmarks
•Clark County Heritage Museum — archive organization in Henderson, Nevada, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 46m. Total distance: 395.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 46m 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 262.4 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 Henderson, 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: at 8.3 miles (NV 208; NV 339 / Topaz Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 76.9 miles (US 95 Truck / Freedom Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 78.2 miles (US 95 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Navigation decision point.
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 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Henderson, NV before the return drive.
