Wells, NV to Henderson, NV is 392 miles and takes about 7h 34m via Great Basin Highway and I 80 BUS, with a fuel budget near $78 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Nevada, traversing the Mountain West region. It's a good option if you're looking for a single-day trip that covers a significant distance without requiring an overnight stop. You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, so be prepared for a more scenic and less high-speed experience than a pure interstate drive.
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
196 miles from Wells, NV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Great Basin Highway
141 mi
2h 40m
Sunnyside Road
109.4 mi
2h 4m
I 80 BUS
78 mi
1h 24m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
23.5 mi
26m
Las Vegas Freeway
13.4 mi
13m
North Lamb Boulevard
6.8 mi
11m
Purple Heart Highway
6.5 mi
7m
North Boulder Highway
2.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Great Basin Highway
— 141 mi, about 2h 40m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,224 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,587
Quietest
1 AM
~169 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 16 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 Wells, NV and Henderson, NV.
1
Start on I 80 BUS; NV 223
0.8 mi·2 min·6th Street
2
Turn right onto I 80 BUS; US 93
78 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 80 BUS; US 93
Use the right lane.
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 93
46 mi·49 min·Great Basin Highway
4
Continue on US 93
1.6 mi·4 min·North 4th Street
5
Continue on US 93
9.6 mi·15 min·Great Basin Highway
6
Continue on US 93
1.6 mi·3 min·Aultman Street
7
Turn left onto US 50; US 93
0.8 mi·1 min·Great Basin Boulevard
8
Turn right onto US 6
0.5 mi·1 min·Veterans Boulevard
9
Continue on US 6
24 mi·26 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
10
Turn left onto NV 318
11 mi·12 min·Sunnyside Road
11
Continue on NV 318
1.4 mi·1 min·Main Street
12
Continue on NV 318
99 mi·1 hr 52 min·Sunnyside Road
13
Turn right onto US 93
85 mi·1 hr 34 min·Great Basin Highway
14
Take the exit onto US 93
0.4 mi·54 sec·US 93
Toward I 15 South, US 93 South: Las Vegas
15
Merge onto I 15; US 93
13 mi·13 min·Las Vegas Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 50Toward Lamb BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 50Toward Lamb Boulevard SouthUse the left lane.
18
Continue on NV 610
6.8 mi·11 min·North Lamb Boulevard
Use the left lane.
19
Turn straight
196 ft·9 sec
Toward NV 159: East Charleston Boulevard
20
Turn straight onto NV 159
0.6 mi·1 min·East Charleston Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn left
0.5 mi·37 sec
Toward I 11 South, US 93 South, US 95 South: Boulder City, Kingman, PhoenixUse the left / uturn lanes.
22
Merge onto I 11; US 93; US 95
6.5 mi·7 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Exit 64BToward Galleria DriveUse the slight right lane.
24
Turn left onto West Galleria Drive
1.1 mi·2 min·West Galleria Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
25
Turn right onto North Boulder Highway
2.9 mi·5 min·North Boulder Highway
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on South Boulder Highway
141 ft·8 sec·South Boulder Highway
Use the left lane.
27
Arrive at destination
North Boulder Highway
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7.5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Wells, NV, around 7 AM, to give yourself ample daylight. With two recommended stops, you can break up the 392 miles fairly easily. The longest continuous stretch is 141 miles, so plan your first stop around the 2-hour mark. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when on the Great Basin Highway, as services can be spread out. This is a manageable one-day trip, offering flexibility if you decide to linger longer at one of your stops.
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 196 miles from Wells, NV, or about 3h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141 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 86 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 196 miles or 3h 46m 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 20m
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 Wells, 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 Wells, NV
This is one driving day of about 392 miles and 7h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Wells, 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 Great Basin Highway for about 141 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 387.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|I 80 BUS; US 93
Turn right onto I 80 BUS; US 93
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
372.5 mi into trip|~7h 4m in
Take the exit toward Lamb Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 50
Toward Lamb Boulevard
9
372.8 mi into trip|~7h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Lamb Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 50
Toward Lamb Boulevard South
7
380.4 mi into trip|~7h 17m in
Turn left toward I 11 South, US 93 South, US 95 South: Boulder City, Kingman, Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / uturn lanes.
Toward I 11 South, US 93 South, US 95 South: Bo...
7
387.5 mi into trip|~7h 25m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$69.46 one way
$138.93 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg137 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$74.39
$148.77
premium
$5.04
$77.81
$155.63
diesel
$4.80
$74.02
$148.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 137.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
117.6
1
$41.16
$18.82
Efficient EV
98
1
$34.30
$15.68
EV Truck/SUV
156.8
1
$54.88
$25.09
Gas CO2
137 kg
EV CO2
46 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Wells, NV
Morning
in Wells on Sunday
Local time
8:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Henderson, NV
Morning
in Henderson on Sunday
Local time
8:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
90°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 10 to 16 mph15% chanceLive forecast
98°F
Alamo, NV
196 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
7h 34m 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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 378.5
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 route features a highway share of 23%, meaning you'll primarily be on surface roads. The longest stretch on a single highway is 141 miles on the Great Basin Highway. After that, you'll transition to roads like Sunnyside Road and I 80 BUS. Expect a more rural cruising feel for much of the trip, with fewer exits and less traffic compared to interstate travel.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 141 mi on Great Basin Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near I 80 BUS; US 93.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 392 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 0.8 miles (I 80 BUS; US 93): Lane positioning matters here; at 372.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 372.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Wells is a small town in Elko County in Northern Nevada, with a population in 2010 of just under 1300. It grew up in the 19th century because it offered a water supply on the trail (and later the railroad) to California. It's nowadays a casino town and rest stop on the long highway from Salt Lake City to Reno and Sacramento.
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 34m. Total distance: 392 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 34m 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 141 miles on Great Basin Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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 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 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 12 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 0.8 miles (I 80 BUS; US 93): Lane positioning matters here; at 372.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 372.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.1 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.
