vegas to elko

[Mr Ed]

How is the drive from Las Vegas to Elko?  Looking at June to travel to Nv

[ChicagoBob]

7 hours - boring as hell!

[Lomez]

Have to be aware of road construction that could leave you sitting for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Lots of speed traps; they got me before.

[hikingguy2013]

Stop in Ely..Otherwise you will hit E on the tank. Ely has a Denny's and Carl's Jr. Also cell phone service.

[Dr. Who]

Before airfare prices went up, I use to fly from Vegas to Reno (about 1 hr flight) on SWA for as low as $39 one way, then rent a car and drive to Elko (about 4 hrs).  Although, those days of cheap flights are gone ...but it's an alternative for those who hate the boring 7 hrs drive ...LOL.

[Elkogfe]

Do it during the day.  I found a few things to keep my mind going including thinking about living in that random house all by itself for miles or what is really going on in those mountains that seemed to be military...

Don't speed to much near vegas or really much at all bring some good music or books on tape it really isn't that bad.

I am used to a long drive maybe that is why I don't mind it.

Also thinking about what is waiting for me at the destination helped too..lol

[easy]

How is the drive from Las Vegas to Elko?  Looking at June to travel to Nv

Some pretty long stretches with nowhere to stop to pee.  (I'm old and drink a lot of coffee.  :( )

[Lithium]

There us also the potential for bad weather and the need for tire chains, particularly in the winter/early-spring. That being said, this winter hasn't been bad at all.

[Mitch]

Think of the trip in terms of segments and it won't be so bad.  I've always made the drive in about 6 1/2 hours.

I15: Vegas to the 93 North.
After the exit, get ahead of as many semis and slow traffic as you can in the first long stretch. There are a few flat stretches after the first straight-away, but hilly after that for a long time which can make passing difficult. There will be also be a lot of RVs.  Once in a while you'll see a State Trooper, but generally not past 30 miles beyond I15.

About 90 minutes from Vegas, you'll arrive in the Pahranagat Valley. Just before (along a series of curves) is a speed trap. Often I've seen Troopers before and after the curves.  This stretch until the turn off on 318 is tough passing. There is a series of small towns.  Speed limits drop dramatically as you enter the towns.

318 to Highway 6 is a long stretch, but kinda pretty. You can get lost in your thoughts along this stretch. There's a rest stop several miles before Lund and Highway 6.

Highway 6 to Ely is the next stretch. Not too long, but the scenery changes through the National Forest. Watch out for police as you enter Ely and go past the school. I would typically stop at the Shell on the corner of 6 and 93 to gas up. There are a few fast food options and other gas stations along the short stretch to the red light.

Ely to 93 is the next stretch. Pay attention to the speed limit from Ely through McGill.  Once out of that little town, you can generally open it up.

Once you turn left on 93, it's a bit of a drive to Wells and I-80. This section I always enjoyed. Very pretty, but it gets long.

Wells to Elko is the final leg on I80. 

On your way back, gas up in Wells, as it's almost always the cheapest gas along your route. I encourage you to invest in satellite radio or other means of entertainment.  For long stretches there is no cell service.

[The toffeeman]

Hey all.

I have done Elko to Vegas once on the tail end of winter. I enjoyed the drive, though there is not so much to look at as when traveling from Reno / Carson City to Vegas. The route is quite desolate in parts, but coming from the Bay Area the solitude was nice, allowing the brain to spin down and just cruise. Lots of straight fast 70mph roads which you can make good pace on once clearing the small towns and there is some scenery to admire on the way (not as much as in Elko of course  ;)). There does appear quite a few police about in those towns so would keep near the speed limit.

Would definitely refuel in Ely and set off with a full tank from Vegas.

In many stretches the roads are very quiet, so a quick call of nature shouldn't be a problem   

   

[Prospector Bob]

Anyone ever try state highway 318 going up to Ely from Vegas? Looks like it parallels the White River from Hiko, NV to US-6 just south of Ely. I'm suspecting it's all narrow two-lane road the entire stretch. Looks like it might be a shorter route on the map but will your travel time be shorter? That's the question...

[ChicagoBob]

318 is good road. 70 mile an hour

[Prospector Bob]

318 is good road. 70 mile an hour

Thanks CB...

[Inezs_Elko]

It's not to bad at all, I just listen to music the whole way and it goes by really fast :)

[Just Another Guy]

I had reasons to travel from California through Reno down to Tucson, AZ and went through Vegas.
Last time, I left out Elko because of distance.

But Elko has been such a great place that if I do it again next year or later, I will go past Reno right to Elko, then drive on to AZ skipping Vegas.