Origin
Reno, NV
Evening in Reno on Thursday
Local time
6:15 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
50.1 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Reno, NV
Wikimedia Commons
Gardnerville, NV
Wikimedia Commons
This straightforward 50.1-mile drive from Reno to Gardnerville, Nevada, will take you about 1 hour and 2 minutes to complete. Primarily following Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway and South Carson Street, this route is perfectly suited as a day trip, requiring no overnight stays. With an estimated fuel cost of $10, it's an economical journey. The drive offers a local feel, making it a relaxed way to travel between these two points within the Mountain West region.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 50.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with only a 50% highway share. While you'll experience a 34.7-mile stretch on Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway, the journey also incorporates local roads like County Road. This mix means you'll encounter varying speed limits and road conditions. The 'turn-heavy' profile suggests a need for attentive driving as you navigate through different segments of the route.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 4th Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.1 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (University Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (East Maple Street): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto East 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto University Way
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp onto East Maple Street toward I 80 East: Elko, Salt Lake City, Winnemucca
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 580, US 395: Carson City, Susanville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 580, US 395: Carson City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway | 34.7 mi | 39m |
| South Carson Street | 11 mi | 14m |
| County Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| US 395 | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Woodfords Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| University Way | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Maple Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Reno, NV and Gardnerville, NV.
Start on this road
Turn left
Turn right onto East 4th Street
Turn left onto University Way
Take the ramp onto East Maple Street
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 580; US 395
Turn left onto US 395
Take the exit
Turn straight onto NV 88
Enter roundabout onto County Road
Continue on County Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 395
Turn right onto NV 756
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.1 mi from Reno, NV · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.1 miles from Reno, NV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Gardnerville, NV usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$9.98 one way
$19.96 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $10.56 | $21.12 |
| premium | $5.59 | $11.03 | $22.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.06 | $22.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.26 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $7.01 | $3.21 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Reno on Thursday
Local time
6:15 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Gardnerville on Thursday
Local time
6:15 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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