Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the longest Interstate highway in Nevada, with just about 411 miles through the state. The highway parallels the old U.S. 40. Beginning in San Francisco, California, Interstate 80 crosses the Central Valley on its way to the Sierra Nevada. On the rainshadow side of the mountains, Interstate 80 enters the hamlet of Truckee and turns into the state of Nevada near Verdi. Interstate 80 serves Reno, Sparks, Lovelock, Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Carlin, Elko, Wells, and Wendover before it crosses the Great Salt Desert on its way to Salt Lake City and Cheyenne. Each of the Nevada cities mentioned above have an Interstate 80 Business Loop (route of old US. 40), including Verdi.
Drivers along Interstate 80 tend to become fatigued from the long, tedious drive across the State of Nevada. As a result, some tired drivers have been involved with accidents. To alleviate this concern, the Nevada DOT is installing rumble strips in the shoulder that are ½" deep. The vibrations and noise should wake up any errant drivers. The road (like Interstate 15) is mostly concrete, which also adds to road noise. Another interesting feature along Interstate 80 in Nevada is that the DOT marks its Highway Patrol turnarounds across the freeway median with blue reflectors. This practice makes it very easy to locate the turnarounds.
Interstate 80 enters Nevada as a mountain freeway. Between Sacramento and Donner Pass, Interstate 80 crawled from the fertile Central Valley region of Central California northeasterly to near the peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, an elevation change of nearly 7000 feet. Then Interstate 80 descended quickly into the quirky mountain town of Truckee. From that point until the Nevada State Line, Interstate 80 followed the twists and turns of the Truckee River through the narrow valleys.
Traffic along Interstate 80 between Sacramento and Reno has always been heavy. Frequent business trips, coupled with weekend excursions and visits to friends and relatives, have caused Interstate 80 to be very busy at nearly all times of the year. Even in the winter, when the Interstate is shut down due to snow storms, folks try to make the connection between the Central Valley and Washoe Valley. The road is two lanes wide at most points between Auburn and Reno. Plans to widen the road to three lanes in each direction have been discussed, but no action has been taken.
Upon entering Nevada, Interstate 80 and the Truckee River break free from the mountains and valleys and enter the town of Verdi, the location of the first non-Indian gambling casinos east of California. Boomtown, a large casino, hotel, restaurant, and gas station, is located at Exit 4 in Verdi.
Continuing east, Interstate 80 starts to enter suburban Reno-Sparks. The first batch of homes is at Exit 8, the Reno Business Loop and West Fourth Street Exit (Nevada 647). This area was completely devoid of suburban influences a mere 20 years ago. However, the traffic is now heavier than before as the Reno city center beckons. Interstate 80 expands to three lanes just after this exit.
Reno is known as "the biggest little city in the world." Lying on the floor of the Truckee Meadows, Reno sits along the non-navigable Truckee River. If you have never seen a casino gambling center (such as Las Vegas or Atlantic City), then you should stop here and take a look around by exiting at Business 395 (Virginia Street) southbound. Sparks, the lesser-known but similarly-sized city, lies to the east of Reno and has more of the industrial elements of the area. Most highway signs leading to the region will point to "Reno-Sparks" rather than just one city name or the other.
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The railroad gains prevalence as you enter Reno. From Reno all the way to Chicago and beyond, Interstate 80 stays close to the railroad system. It is especially evident in the west, where the railroad is clearly visible from the Interstate (Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming each share this characteristic for their sections of Interstate 80).
Interstate 80 through the Reno-Sparks area always seems to be under construction. The highway is in better condition west of town than it is through Sparks. Expansion of the road is difficult at best. Interstate 80 was built through a rather narrow corridor and is elevated in places through Sparks. However, traffic flow enhancement and expansion is planned for all of Interstate 80. Traffic can be a problem in the commuting hours and whenever the road construction causes lane closures.
In the middle of the Reno mess is the junction with the U.S. 395 expressway, also known as Interstate 580. Interstate 580 is not signed with the exception of the regular black-on-white mile markers along U.S. 395. The Interstate 580/U.S. 395 expressway provides easy access to Carson City, Lake Tahoe, Virginia City, and Susanville, California.
East of U.S. 395, Interstate 80 in Sparks is under major reconstruction near the Nugget - again. As you travel through this area, it is amazing how crammed this road is between high-rise casinos and other structures. Dan Stober reports that as of Spring 1998, traffic is squeezed into the westbound lanes, and the eastbound lanes are being rebuilt. The irony here is that Interstate 80 through Sparks was rebuilt a mere ten years ago; Dan and I wonder why they are doing it again? Did they not plan well enough last time?
Just as suddenly as you entered the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area, it is time to go. Right after the McCarran Boulevard exit on the eastern outskirts of Sparks, Interstate 80 enters a valley-like area. With the exception of small suburban enclaves, there is not much out here. But there are some interesting exits and facts about this area. The fabled Mustang Ranch, known nationally for its legalized prostitution, is located right off the freeway. The Tracy Power Station, which seems out-of-place in this desert valley, is a mess of powerlines and turbines. And there are even rock outcroppings right along the Interstate that have been used by the Nevada Highway Patrol. Obscured by the canyon walls, the highway patrol vehicles wait for speeders.
Interstate 80 continues along the Truckee River all the way to Exit 23. Before leaving civilization entirely, travelers are afforded final services at Wadsworth (home of the phantom business loop) and Fernley (the largest community on Nevada Interstate 80 without a business loop). As you drive by the U.S. 95A exit, look at the Arco gas station sign high above the exit ramps. That will be the last Arco you'll see heading eastbound. U.S. 95A, by the way, merges with Interstate 80 all the way to Junction U.S. 95 (Exit 83).
This outpost also marks the beginning of the 40-Mile Desert between Fernley and Lovelock. There was, and is, very little water for the pioneers, so they used to stock up prior to making this leg of the journey. Interstate 80 has very few exits between these two points, and the land is as stark and barren as anywhere, even the Great Salt Desert in Utah.
In the middle of the 40-Mile Desert, U.S. 95 joins up with Interstate 80 in two incarnations. U.S. 95 joins the Interstate at Exit 83, which is the "real" U.S. 95. Signing of the aforementioned alternate route is questionable at best. Heading eastbound, the signs read either "Alternate U.S. 95" or regular "U.S. 95" without the Alternate banner all the way to the U.S. 95 junction at Exit 83. If you are heading westbound, you will not realize that you are on U.S. 95A until after you pass Exit 83. There is no advance sign for westbound travelers saying that U.S. 95A begins. However, as you continue west, U.S. 95A is well-signed and coupled with the Interstate 80 trailblazers. I think there should be an overhead green guide sign that shows Alt. U.S. 95 going straight ahead, and U.S. 95 heading south toward Fallon.
The U.S. 95 exit in the 40-Mile Desert has a basic truck stop and rest area, but no other services. Interstate 80 near the junction with U.S. 95 in Nevada lies on a very remote site in an area of the Nevada desert called the Humboldt Sink. The water drained into this area through small natural cut, through the Humboldt Bar, then into a slough, flowing to the west toward the sink. The sink area is just west and south of U.S. 95, which heads toward Fallon.1 There is a pretty nice building for the restrooms, but no running water, so the toilets are connected to a big pit below the building.
After leaving the U.S. 95 rest stop, Interstate 80 braves the desert until is reaches Lovelock (Exits 105-107). This nice farming community provides the first full services along Interstate 80 for over 20 miles. I have used these services many times, as Lovelock is the only good place to stop between Fernley and Winnemucca (sorry Coal Canyon!). I was impressed with Lovelock -- it almost has a Midwestern feel.
Near here, the Humboldt River flows into Humboldt Lake. Humboldt Lake is a semi-dry lake area that fills with "some water" during the winter months, and it flows through a slough toward the original Humboldt Sink area west and south of U.S. 95.1 This makes this particular region rather fertile, despite the lack of rainfall. Irrigated water is piped into this area from the Rye Patch Reservoir (Exit 129) and Sparks. Lovelock was originally built to utilize the remains of the Humboldt River water, but it was not enough to support the barley, oats, alfalfa, and wheat production.
Northeast of here, the desert resumes with a vengeance. The exits get spread out a bit more, and there are more "exits to nowhere." Even with all of the desolate space through the northern tier of Nevada and a maximum of 13 miles between exits, Nevada has managed to put a unique name on every exit, even if the name relates to a distant place accessible only by locally maintained dirt roads. Wyoming has done the same thing with its "exits to nowhere." Other states, such as South Dakota and Utah, use generic names for exits with no nearby town and no named crossroad. UDOT uses "RANCH EXIT," meaning that, without exit numbers, there is no way of differentiating all of the "RANCH EXITS." The South Dakota DOT simply provides an exit number with no description at all. So I have to commend Nevada and Wyoming for their exit name creativity.
One such creative exit is the Coal Canyon Exit 112 off Interstate 80/U.S. 95. This exit is interesting for two reasons. First, it is signed as a "major exit"; that is, advance exits signs begin a full two miles before the interchange. Normally, two-mile advance exit signs are reserved for Business Loops. In spite of this signing, there's really nothing of interest at this exit - no town, no real services. In fact, the exit is not even for a state-maintained highway. The second reason why this exit is interesting is that the Interstate 80 reassurance markers in both directions at this exit are not coupled with U.S. 95 shields.
Contrary to popular belief, the speed limit on Interstate 80 is not 75 mph all the way across Nevada. The speed limit stays at 65 mph from the California line into the Reno-Sparks metro area and eastward all the way to Milepost 23 near the Mustang Ranch. From the Mustang Ranch to Fernley, the speed limit jumps to 70 mph. Then from Fernley all the way across Nevada, the speed limit increases to 75 mph. However, there are sections of 65 mph through Winnemucca, Carlin (including through the tunnel), and Elko. These sections of 65 mph average eight miles in length each. Finally, the speed limit decreases to 70 mph over the Pequop Summit.
Interstate 80 is also noticeable for its destination and control cities in Nevada. Destination cities are usually the first line in a mileage sign, while control cities are the second line in a mileage sign. Heading westbound, most mileage signs indicate the next major town/city (that is, the next place with a business loop) as the destination, with the control usually being Reno-Sparks. The first time Sacramento, California, appears as a mileage destination is 258 miles away, near Exit 138 (Humboldt). For eastbound traffic, the destination city is determined in the same manner as westbound traffic. Salt Lake City is listed as the control city at the Interstate 580/U.S. 395 junction in Reno, but the first time mileage appears is at Battle Mountain, 297 miles away. Elko is the control city otherwise.
Billboards appear along the Interstate that advertise the next major city, Winnemucca, by banking on its unusual name. These signs permeate along Interstate 80 between Lovelock and Winnemucca (eastbound) and between Elko and Winnemucca (westbound). This is akin to the Little America signs in Wyoming and the Wall Drug signs throughout the Midwest.
There are also some interesting highway signs along this stretch of Interstate 80 too. One such sign is the "TRUCKS USE LEFT LANE NEXT 24 MILES" signs southwest of Winnemucca. I thought that maybe it was due to poor pavement in one lane, but I tried both lanes and noticed no perceptible difference. According to Ed Wilson, via Duncan J. Shaw, areas marked with this sign are side wind areas. Using the left lane allows truckers more room to compensate for gusts. In the mid-1980s, it used to be "NEXT 110 MILES" or so, it is only 24 miles.
Exits 149-151 (Mill City/Dun Glen/Unionville) provide access to the pseudo-town of Puckerbrush. Cruising by at 70+ mph, all you'd see is a large Burns Brothers truck stop. The frontage road (old U.S. 40) between Exits 149 and 151 has a sign indicating that this is a real town with 28 people. However, the State of Nevada does not recognize this "town" at all … it is just a ploy by Burns Brothers. But it is a nice place to stop and gamble! And with that, we are in Winnemucca.
Like most Nevada Interstate 80 towns, Winnemucca is home to lodging, food, gas, truck stops, and so on. Although the pass-through travelers help the economy, there is also a strong mining base here. Mines are littered throughout this region of the state. Winnemucca also possesses some strange items, including the largest piece of driftwood ever collected (1,500 years old) and the Buckaroo Hall of Fame and Heritage Museum.
There is not much to see between Winnemucca and Battle Mountain, although there are plenty of mining sites. Interstate 80 levels out - it no longer trending northward. The geography changes again, as Interstate 80 begins ascending and descending several north-south mountain ranges between Winnemucca and Wendover. The first such mountain pass is at Golconda Summit (elevation 5,145 feet). Normally, Nevada DOT does not provide a third truck climbing lane unless it is an exceptionally long or steep grade. Luckily there are two rest areas (Button Point and Valmy) that will allow you to stop and take a break.
Unlike the business route advance signs throughout the rest of the state, Dan Stober reports that the Business Loops in Battle Mountain are properly marked with green shields on the exit signs in both directions, at exit 233 westbound and at exit 229 eastbound. These signs were not in place in 1994, the last time I drove through there. Battle Mountain is again notable as an Interstate stopover and a mining town; there is not much else to it except for the large "BM" carved into the mountain looming above the town. I don't know about you, but I don't think "BM" provides the best light in which to view Battle Mountain.
Continuing east, we resume the ascent and descent of mountains. Most of the exits have no services, and you'll notice that there's maybe two or three radio stations in the area at best. Of course, after dark, AM radio livens up with many urban stations broadcasting hundreds of miles to the barren Nevada landscape. I find it fascinating to be driving along Interstate 80 at night and listening to the traffic reporters talk about how backed up the Long Beach Freeway is in Los Angeles.
Right when Doctor Laura comes on the radio, we arrive in Carlin. This small town, which is unusually close to another "destination city" (Elko), is famous for being (in my own experiences) the only place in all of Nevada that has a Slurpee machine. What a treat during a hot drive across northern Nevada!
Elko follows quick on the heels of Carlin. After passing through a short twin tunnel that is similar to the Interstate 80 tunnels in Green River, Wyoming, travelers will see the town of Elko on the horizon in front of them. Elko is the largest city in Northeastern Nevada, and it is something of a regional center. Mining and transportation have fed this city.
The Humboldt River, which follows Interstate 80 much of the way between Elko and Lovelock, begins in the mountains near here. Unfortunately, travelers on Interstate 80 will not see the headwaters, or the beauty of the mountains, because highway engineers placed the Interstate on the least interesting but most direct route across Northern Nevada. The Ruby Mountains' Lamoille Canyon and the Great Basin National Park are both reasonably close to the Interstate, but you'd never believe the beauty until you saw it yourself. Until I visited these two places, I would not have believed that there was any wildlife or trees in Nevada. I have since been proven wrong.
The Deeth/Starr Valley (Exit 333) and Welcome/Starr Valley (Exit 343) exits are interesting as they lead to Old U.S. 40. If you have the time, take this road to get a feel for the old highway. The next major town along Interstate 80 is Wells, which is so named for its deep underground springs. Wells is a good jump-off point for sidetrips up U.S. 93 to the mountains (Angel Lake, Great Basin, Ruby Valley, Secret Pass, etc.) and to Idaho. Alternate U.S. 93 is routed with Interstate 80 between Exits 352 and 410. However, U.S. 93A is not acknowledged as being cosigned with Interstate 80 until around the Pilot Peak exit. I really doubt anyone actually travels Alternate U.S. 93 with the intent of traveling to Wendover and onward to Wells, but there are several U.S. routes in the Eastern U.S. that are far less direct!
The Interstate travels over Pequop Summit (elevation 6,967 feet). Westbound travelers will have a steep upgrade between mileposts 376 and 373. Heading eastbound, look for milepost 408. There is a View Area here for Horizon View (name courtesy of Mary Lu Kost). You can see the curvature of the earth as it relates to the twin-carriageways of Interstate 80 across the Great Salt Desert - the lanes appear curved, but they are actually straight and level. The pools in the distance are evaporating pools used in the production of potash.
One of the newer exits on Interstate 80 is Exit 407 at Ola. This exit was opened in 2000, and it was spotted by Dan Stober in December 2000. While one can connect to West Wendover Blvd via this exit, it is not signed as Business Loop I-80, as that designation only runs from Exit 410 to Utah Exit 2.
As we descend from Horizon View into Wendover, I must note that there is a Business Loop I-80 marked westbound from Interstate 80 Utah exit 2 westbound at Wendover. The sign says "{Bus 80} {U-58}, Wendover." Eastbound at Nevada exit 410, the main exit signs advertise only "SOUTH {US 93} ALT, West Wendover, Ely"; but there is a secondary sign noting "{80} BUSINESS LOOP, NEXT EXIT" as is standard Nevada practice. I found this to be the case in 1994, and Dan Stober verified it for me in 1998.
Wendover is an interesting place. First, it is the only town in Nevada that is in the Mountain Time Zone. The time zone boundary is located just shy of the first Wendover interchange. Second, most of the cars in the casino lots on the Nevada side have Utah license plates. There are a few Wyoming plates, but by and large most folks come from the Salt Lake Valley for a quick and easy gambling fix. Finally, this is also the last town of significance for the next 120 miles, so Wendover is practically a "must-stop."
The Utah State Line marks the division between West Wendover, Nevada, and Wendover, Utah, in the same manner most stateline towns (such as South Lake Tahoe and Primm) are divided in Nevada. The huge casinos are on one side of the line, and everything else is on the other side of the line. Look for the giant cowboy waving hello (or goodbye) in Wendover along Business Loop Interstate 80.
The flats of the Great Salt Desert lie dead ahead, and the High Plains of Wyoming are only 200 miles further down the road. You are closer to Evanston, Wyoming, than you are to Reno. To continue along Interstate 80 east into Utah, see Utah @ RockyMountainRoads - Interstate 80
Interstate 80 Business Loops
- Verdi - Nevada 425
- Reno/Sparks - Nevada 647
- Wadsworth - Nevada 427
- Lovelock - Nevada 396
- Winnemucca - U.S. 95; Nevada 289; Nevada 794
- Battle Mountain - Nevada 304
- Carlin - Nevada 221
- Elko - Nevada 535
- Wells - Nevada 223
- Wendover - Nevada 224
Interstate 80 Guides / Photos
Sources:
1 - Lawrence K. Hersh, Publisher, Central Pacific Railroad Across Nevada, personal email, "Interstate Nevada 80, Humboldt Sink," May 13, 2004.
Page Updated October 12, 2005.
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