Tonopah, NV to North Las Vegas, NV is 209.8 miles and takes about 4h 2m via Veterans Memorial Highway, Purple Heart Highway, and East Main Street, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, specifically within Nevada. Expect mostly surface roads for this drive, which makes it a more relaxed pace than a pure highway cruise. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short drive time, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, offering a straightforward connection between two points in 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
104.9 miles from Tonopah, NV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
184.2 mi
3h 21m
Purple Heart Highway
7.1 mi
8m
East Main Street
6.2 mi
8m
West Cheyenne Avenue
4.4 mi
6m
North Rancho Drive
1.9 mi
3m
Erie Street
1.3 mi
3m
5th Street
1 mi
1m
West Craig Road
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 184.2 mi, about 3h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tonopah, NV and North Las Vegas, NV.
1
Start on West Everett Street
44 ft·3 sec·West Everett Street
2
Turn right onto US 6; US 95
1.3 mi·3 min·Erie Street
3
Continue on US 95
25 mi·28 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
4
Continue on US 95
0.5 mi·1 min·West Crook Avenue
5
Continue on US 95
0.4 mi·1 min·South Sundog Avenue
6
Continue on US 95
60 mi·1 hr 4 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
7
Continue on US 95
6.2 mi·8 min·East Main Street
8
Turn left onto US 95
0.2 mi·41 sec·South 2nd Street
9
Continue on US 95
99 mi·1 hr 49 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 11; US 95
7.1 mi·8 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 85Toward Craig RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
359 ft·10 sec
Exit 85Toward Craig Road
13
Turn left onto NV 573
0.9 mi·1 min·West Craig Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn right onto NV 599
1.9 mi·3 min·North Rancho Drive
15
Turn left onto West Cheyenne Avenue
4.4 mi·6 min·West Cheyenne Avenue
Use the left / uturn lanes.
16
Turn right onto 5th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·5th Street
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto East Carey Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·East Carey Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Enter roundabout onto East Carey Avenue
82 ft·1 sec·East Carey Avenue
19
Continue on East Carey Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·East Carey Avenue
20
Turn right onto Civic Center Drive
0.5 mi·52 sec·Civic Center Drive
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto Constitution Way
0.1 mi·35 sec·Constitution Way
22
Turn left
261 ft·19 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 2m estimated drive time, it's best to depart Tonopah in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unforeseen delays. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself, but plan to refuel before leaving Tonopah if your tank is low, as services can be spread out. The majority of this route consists of surface roads, so pay attention to posted speed limits as you pass through different communities. Keep your $43 fuel budget in mind, and aim to arrive in North Las Vegas with plenty of time before sunset.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 104.9 miles from Tonopah, NV, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 184.2 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 46 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.9 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Las Vegas, NV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tonopah, 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 Tonopah, NV
This is one driving day of about 209.8 miles and 4h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Tonopah, 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 Veterans Memorial Highway for about 184.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 200 and 209.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
200 mi into trip|~3h 45m in
Take the exit toward Craig Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 85
Toward Craig Road
7
200.2 mi into trip|~3h 46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Craig Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 85
Toward Craig Road
5
207.5 mi into trip|~3h 58m in|5th Street
Turn right onto 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
209.1 mi into trip|~4h in|East Carey Avenue
Enter roundabout onto East Carey Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
209.2 mi into trip|~4h 1m in|Civic Center Drive
Turn right onto Civic Center Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.18 one way
$74.36 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$39.81
$79.62
premium
$5.04
$41.65
$83.29
diesel
$4.80
$39.61
$79.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.9
0
$22.03
$10.07
Efficient EV
52.5
0
$18.36
$8.39
EV Truck/SUV
83.9
1
$29.37
$13.43
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Tonopah, NV
Late night
in Tonopah on Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
PDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
S 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 5:15PM PDT by NWS Elko NV
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 5:13PM PDT by NWS Elko NV
Destination
North Las Vegas, NV
Late night
in North Las Vegas on Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
PDT
Current temp
103°F
Sunny
SE 6 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 5:15PM PDT by NWS Elko NV
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 5:13PM PDT by NWS Elko NV
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
12 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
4h 2m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 188.1
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 209.8-mile route is primarily surface roads, with no highway driving. You'll encounter your longest stretch of continuous driving on Veterans Memorial Highway, covering 184.2 miles. After this long segment on Veterans Memorial Highway, you'll transition to Purple Heart Highway and then East Main Street. Expect to navigate through towns and varying speed limits for the majority of your travel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 184.2 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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 200 miles in.
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 209.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 200 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 200.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 207.5 miles (5th Street): 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 4h 2m. Total distance: 209.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 184.2 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 200 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 200.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 207.5 miles (5th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at North Las Vegas, NV, but most travelers stay overnight.
