Wells to Reno is 339.2 miles and takes about 5h 37m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $67 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Nevada, moving from the Mountain West region to the same region. It's a trip primarily on surface roads for much of the way, so expect a more grounded travel experience than a pure interstate cruise. The single recommended stop suggests a brief pause is all you'll need to break up the drive. Consider this route if you prefer a less highway-intensive experience across Nevada.
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
169.6 miles from Wells, NV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
337 mi
5h 31m
Humboldt Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
North Virginia Street
0.4 mi
1m
I 80 BUS
0.4 mi
<1m
6th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East 8th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East 4th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 337 mi, about 5h 31m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 43 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,540 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,822
Quietest
2 AM
~130 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 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 Reno, NV.
1
Start on I 80 BUS; NV 223
0.3 mi·57 sec·6th Street
2
Turn left onto I 80 BUS; NV 223
0.8 mi·1 min·Humboldt Avenue
3
Take the ramp onto I 80 BUS
0.4 mi·21 sec·I 80 BUS
Toward I 80 West: Elko, Reno
4
Merge onto I 80
337 mi·5 hr 31 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·45 sec
Exit 13Toward US 395 BUS: Downtown Reno
6
Continue on East 8th Street
400 ft·18 sec·East 8th Street
7
Turn left onto US 395 BUS
0.4 mi·1 min·North Virginia Street
8
Turn left onto East 4th Street
202 ft·8 sec·East 4th Street
9
Turn right
171 ft·11 sec
10
Turn right
105 ft·7 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Aim to depart Wells in the morning to take advantage of daylight for the 5h 37m drive. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your break strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or closer to Reno. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $67 budget is based on average costs, and topping up before leaving Wells is wise. The longest stretch is nearly the entire route on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, so be prepared for extended driving before hitting surface roads for the final few miles into Reno.
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 169.6 miles from Wells, NV, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 337 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 75 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 169.6 miles or 2h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Reno, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wells, NV
This is one driving day of about 339.2 miles and 5h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Wells, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 337 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 0.3 and 339.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|I 80 BUS; NV 223 / Humboldt Avenue
Turn left onto I 80 BUS; NV 223 / Humboldt Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|I 80 BUS
Take the ramp onto I 80 BUS toward I 80 West: Elko, Reno
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West: Elko, Reno
5
338.5 mi into trip|~5h 34m in
Take the exit toward US 395 BUS: Downtown Reno
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 13
Toward US 395 BUS: Downtown Reno
4
339.1 mi into trip|~5h 36m in|East 4th Street
Turn left onto East 4th Street
Navigation decision point
4
339.2 mi into trip|~5h 37m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.11 one way
$120.22 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg119 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$64.37
$128.74
premium
$5.04
$67.33
$134.67
diesel
$4.80
$64.05
$128.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
101.8
1
$35.62
$16.28
Efficient EV
84.8
0
$29.68
$13.57
EV Truck/SUV
135.7
1
$47.49
$21.71
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 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
93°F
Partly Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 10 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Reno, NV
Morning
in Reno on Sunday
Local time
8:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
0 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
34 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
5h 37m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive covers 339.2 miles, with the longest stretch, 337 miles, on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. After this extensive highway segment, you'll transition to surface roads for the final 2.2 miles. You'll notice the shift from high-speed cruising to navigating local streets as you approach your destination. Given the minimal highway share, expect more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds in populated areas.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 337 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower 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 0.3 miles in near I 80 BUS; NV 223 / Humboldt Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 37m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (I 80 BUS; NV 223 / Humboldt Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 80 BUS): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 338.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
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 337 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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. 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 0.3 miles (I 80 BUS; NV 223 / Humboldt Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 80 BUS): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 338.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Reno, NV before the return drive.
