Site Navigation Arizona Colorado Idaho Montana Nevada New Mexico Utah Wyoming     U.S. Highway 395 - Nevada U.S. 395 runs from Interstate 15 near Victorville, California, north into Washington. It enters Nevada briefly near Lake Tahoe, Carson City, and Reno-Sparks. Through much of this area, U.S. 395 is either multi-lane divided highway or freeway. The section of U.S. 395 freeway south of Interstate 80 is designated as the "hidden" Interstate 580. Following the east, or "back" side of the Sierra, U.S. 395 is a fairly well-traveled route between the bright lights of Southern California and the relative tranquility of the mountains and valleys. This is also the main route to Reno and Lake Tahoe from Southern California, so tent-trailers and campers are quite common. Much of the California section of U.S. 395 is two- to four-lanes with some expressway sections. Upon entering Nevada just south of Holbrook Junction (Nevada 208), U.S. 395 is mostly two lanes until it enters the Carson Valley. Traffic increases significantly as you approach the Gardnerville-Minden area (including the Nevada 88 Junction). U.S. 395 widens to an at-grade expressway from Minden north to Carson City. Currently, U.S. 395 runs through the heart of Carson City, but plans call for a TEA-21 funded bypass to open sometime in the next century. This bypass is part of the Interstate 580 project, which will provide an Interstate spur from the Reno-Sparks area south to Carson City via Washoe Lake and Mount Rose Junction. Like many U.S. routes in Nevada, U.S. 395 was not an original 1926 U.S. highway -- it was designated in 1935. U.S. 395 Auxiliary Routes Business U.S. 395 is Virginia Street through Reno along the original U.S. 395 alignment. Although many overhead signs and one cut-out sign remains downtown, there is not an abundance of Business U.S. 395 signs. Business U.S. 395 used to be well-signed from Interstate 80, but Nevada DOT took those signs down in 1996. It is not surprising that the good Business U.S. 395 signs came down, considering how poorly Nevada DOT signs business loops from Interstate highways. Alternate U.S. 395 (deceased) was Sierra Street in Reno, which provided a close alternate (perhaps for trucks?) prior to the construction of Interstate 580 and the U.S. 395 freeway. Sierra Street no longer provides a suitable alternative to Virginia Street/Business U.S. 395, as the Silver Legacy Casino sits atop its former alignment for a few blocks in downtown Reno. Future Business U.S. 395 will be commissioned in Carson City upon completion of the Carson City Bypass/Interstate 580. Jim Gallegos of NDOT indicates that the old U.S. 395 through Carson City (Carson Street) will definitely be Business U.S. 395 when the whole bypass is complete, and U.S. 395 will be routed over the new freeway. U.S. 395 Highway Guides U.S. Highway 395 Northbound (Minden to Reno) U.S. Highway 395 Northbound (Reno Vicinity) U.S. Highway 395 Northbound (Reno to California) U.S. Highway 395 Southbound (California to Reno) U.S. Highway 395 Southbound (Reno Vicinity) U.S. Highway 395 Southbound (Reno to Minden) Page Updated October 8, 2005.