Interstate 80 in Nevada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Interstate 80
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway Purple Heart Trail
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Route information
Maintained by NDOT
Length	410.67 mi (660.91 km)
Existed	June 29, 1956–present
Major junctions
West end	I-80 at California state line
	I‑580 / US 395 in Reno US 95 Alt. from Fernley to near Lovelock US 95 near Lovelock to Winnemucca US 93 in Wells US 93 Alt. from Wells to West Wendover
East end	I-80 at Utah state line
Location
Counties:	Washoe, Storey, Lyon, Churchill, Pershing, Humboldt, Lander, Eureka, Elko
Highway system
Main route of the Interstate Highway System Main • Auxiliary • Business Nevada highways ← US 50 SR 88 →

Interstate 80 (I-80) traverses the northern portion of the US state of Nevada. The freeway serves the Reno metropolitan area and passes through the towns of Fernley, Lovelock, Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Carlin, Elko, Wells, and West Wendover on its way through the state.

I-80 follows the historical routes of the California Trail, first transcontinental railroad and Feather River Route throughout portions of Nevada. Throughout the entire state, I-80 follows the historical routes of the Victory Highway, State Route 1 (SR 1), and US Route 40 (US 40). The freeway corridor follows the paths of the Truckee and Humboldt rivers. These rivers have been used as a transportation corridor since the California Gold Rush of the 1840s.

The Nevada portion of I-80 is designated the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and Purple Heart Trail.

Route description

Truckee River

View east along I-80 just after entering Nevada from California. The first transcontinental railroad is visible on the lower right.

I-80 enters Nevada in the canyon of the Truckee River, paralleling the California Trail and first transcontinental railroad. Upon exiting the canyon, the freeway serves the Truckee Meadows, a name for the urban area consisting of Verdi, Reno, and Sparks. The freeway passes north of downtown Reno in a depressed alignment before intersecting I-580/US 395. The interchange with US 395 is the busiest portion, averaging 122,000 vehicles per day in 2006. The freeway passes through downtown Sparks via a viaduct over the casino floor of the Nugget Casino Resort. After leaving the Reno metropolitan area, the freeway resumes following the Truckee River in a canyon to Fernley and passes the Northern Nevada Veterans Cemetery to the north. Traffic volumes drop to 26,600 vehicles per day by Fernley and continue dropping to 8,400 by the time the freeway reaches the center of the state. The freeway exits the Truckee River corridor near Wadsworth.

Lahontan Valley/Forty Mile Desert

I-80 descending into Reno from the Sierra Nevada

Past Wadsworth, the freeway cuts across the Lahontan Valley. The Lahontan Valley is a barren desert, sometimes called the Forty Mile Desert, from the era of the California Trail. The name comes from the California Gold Rush where the emigrants who came into the Lahontan Valley via the Humboldt River. The travelers would have then to endure 40 miles (64 km) without usable water while crossing the valley, regardless of which of the two routes across the valley the travelers followed. I-80 closely approximates the path of the emigrants between the Humboldt and Truckee rivers.

I-80 in downtown Reno

A marker stands at a rest area on the eastern edge of the valley, near the junction of I-80 and US 95, that honors travelers who suffered crossing the valley, thousands of whom abandoned possessions, animals, and even loved ones in the desert. Per the marker, this portion was the most dreaded portion of the California Trail. Between eastern Fernley and Winnemucca, the speed limit was raised from 75 to 80 mph (121 to 129 km/h) in 2017.

Humboldt River

I-80 eastbound on the approach to Emigrant Pass

For the next 246 miles (396 km), I-80 follows the Humboldt River. Along the way, the freeway passes through the towns of Lovelock, Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Carlin, Elko, and Wells. At Winnemucca, I-80 is joined by the Feather River Route; I-80 runs parallel to this railroad until the Utah state line.

View east along I-80 from an overpass approaching Carlin Canyon

The freeway is within visual distance of the river for most of this run. However, there are portions where the freeway bypasses bends by cutting across or tunneling under mountains along the canyon walls. Between Winnemucca and Battle Mountain, the freeway bypasses bends via side canyons and Golconda Summit, 5,159 feet (1,572 m). The highway also bypasses Palisade Canyon, between Beowawe and Carlin, via Emigrant Pass, 6,114 feet (1,864 m). Just east of Carlin, I-80 passes through the Carlin Tunnel to bypass curves of the river in the Carlin Canyon (between the Carlin Tunnel and Elko).

Eastern Nevada

Approaching West Wendover from west

After Wells, I-80 departs the Humboldt River, first transcontinental railroad, and California Trail. From this point east, the freeway follows the routes of the Hastings Cutoff, Feather River Route, former US 40, and SR 1. The freeway cuts across two mountain ranges before arriving at the Great Salt Lake Desert. The first is the Pequop Mountains via Pequop Summit, elevation 6,967 feet (2,124 m)—the highest point on I-80 in Nevada—and the second is the Toano Range via Silver Zone Pass at 5,955 feet (1,815 m). After crossing these mountains, the freeway arrives at West Wendover where the freeway enters both Utah and the Great Salt Lake Desert at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Overlaps

Portions of I-80 run concurrently with three US Routes in Nevada:

• US 95 Alternate (US 95 Alt), which runs concurrently with I-80 between Fernley and Trinity Junction near Lovelock.
• US 95, which runs concurrently with I-80 between Trinity Junction and Winnemucca.
• US 93 Alt, which runs concurrently with I-80 between the cities of Wells and West Wendover.

History

California Trail

SR 1, the first designation for what is now I-80 across Nevada, from c. 1929–1939

The general route of I-80 was first used by California-bound travelers and was called the California Trail. From the Utah state line west to the Humboldt River, I-80 follows a modified routing of a lesser used branch of the trail called Hastings Cutoff. The cutoff rejoins the main route of the trail in the Humboldt River canyon. Through this portion of Nevada, the main route of the California Trail ran north of modern SR 233.

From Elko west to Lovelock, I-80 faithfully follows the California Trail. West of Lovelock, in the middle of the Humboldt Sink, the California Trail again splits into two branches. These branches, the Carson River route and the Truckee River route, are named for the waterways that guide each branch up the Sierra Nevada. I-80 follows the Truckee route, the Carson route is approximated by US 95, US 50, US 395, and SR 88/California State Route 88.

Transcontinental railroads

Until 1975, the route of I-80 was designated US 40.

The route of modern I-80 was also previously used for the construction of two transcontinental railroads. The first transcontinental railroad, completed in 1869, closely follows the main line of the California Trail and I-80 west of Wells. The Feather River Route was constructed in 1909 and generally follows the Hastings Cutoff through Eastern Nevada. It also runs parallel to I-80 in Nevada east of Winnemucca.

Highways

The first paved road across this portion of Nevada was the Victory Highway, designated in Nevada as SR 1. With the formation of the US Numbered Highway System, this route was numbered US 40. From the formation of the Interstate Highway System, the highway was gradually upgraded to Interstate Highway standards and signed as I-80. In 1974, officials in Utah initiated meetings with officials in Nevada and California to truncate the route of US 91. By that time, US 91 was mostly redundant with I-15. Nevada officials agreed and further suggested that both US 91 and US 40 be truncated. Nevada officials recommended the changes occur in 1975, when the last Nevada piece of I-15 was expected to be completed. The 1976 edition of the official highway map for Nevada was the first not showing the US 40 designation. Even though the US Route designation was removed, the freeway was not yet completed. The last piece of I-80 in Nevada to be finished was the Lovelock bypass which started construction in 1981. The 1982 Official Nevada Highway Map was the first to note I-80 as a contiguous freeway across the state. All of the business loops for I-80 in Nevada use the historical route of US 40.

I-80 is also known in Nevada as the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway after the former president of the same name and the Purple Heart Trail after such military decoration.

Future

There are plans to widen I-80 to three lanes in both directions from Vista Boulevard and Greg Street to SR 439 south (USA Parkway).

Exit list

County	Location	Mile	Roads intersected	Notes
Washoe	Verdi	0.0	0.0	—	I-80 west – Sacramento	Continuation into California
				1	Verdi (I-80 Bus. east)	Westbound exit and entrance; former US 40
		2.8	4.5	2	Verdi (I-80 Bus. east to SR 425)	No westbound entrance; former US 40
		3.2	5.1	3	Verdi	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
		4.8	7.7	4	Boomtown Garson Road
		5.7	9.2	5	East Verdi (I-80 Bus. west / SR 425 west)	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; former US 40 west
	Mogul	7.0	11.3	7	Mogul
	Reno	7.7	12.4	8	West 4th Street (SR 647 east)	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; former US 40 east
		9.2	14.8	9	Robb Drive
		10.7	17.2	10	McCarran Boulevard West (SR 659)	Former SR 651
		12.5	20.1	12	Keystone Avenue (I-80 Bus. east)	Former SR 657
		13.3	21.4	13	Virginia Street (US 395 Bus.), Downtown	Serves University of Nevada, Reno; Sierra Street was former SR 660; Virginia Street was former SR 430/US 395
		14.1	22.7	14	Wells Avenue	Serves Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center
		14.9	24.0	15	I‑580 south / US 395 – Carson City, Susanville	Serves Reno–Tahoe International Airport and Reno-Sparks Convention Center; I-580 exit 36 and US 395 exit 68
	Sparks	15.4	24.8	16	Prater Way, East 4th Street (I-80 Bus. / SR 647 west)	Former US 40
		16.1	25.9	17	Rock Boulevard (SR 668)	Serves Victorian Square; also signed for Nugget Avenue eastbound
		16.8	27.0	18	SR 445 (Pyramid Way)	Serves Victorian Square
		17.6	28.3	19	McCarran Boulevard East (SR 659 to I-80 Bus. west)	McCarran Boulevard was former SR 650; Victorian Avenue was former US 40 west
		18.9	30.4	20	Sparks Boulevard
		19.7	31.7	21	Vista Boulevard, Greg Street
	Lockwood	22.6	36.4	22	Lockwood
	​	24.0	38.6	23	Mustang
	​	28.2	45.4	28	Patrick (Waltham Way, SR 655 south)
	Clark	32.1	51.7	32	SR 439 south (USA Parkway)	Serves Tahoe Reno Industrial Center; replaced former Tracy, Clark Station exit on January 21, 2008
	​	36.9	59.4	36	Derby Dam
	​	39.0	62.8	38	Orchard
	​	40.2	64.7	40	Painted Rock
	Wadsworth	44.0	70.8	43	Wadsworth (I-80 Bus. east / SR 427 east)	Serves Pyramid Lake; Main Street was former US 40 east
Storey	No major junctions
Lyon	Fernley	46.4	74.7	46	West Fernley (I-80 Bus. / SR 427)	Also signed "To US 95 Alt. south" eastbound; serves Wadsworth and Pyramid Lake; former US 40
		48.9	78.7	48	US 95 Alt. south (I-80 Bus. west) to US 50 Alt. – East Fernley, Yerington, Fallon, Ely, Las Vegas	Western end of US 95 Alt. concurrency; former US 40 west/US 95 south
		50.1	80.6	50	Nevada Pacific Parkway	Opened on June 19, 2009
Churchill	​	65.2	104.9	65	Nightingale Hot Springs
	​	78.9	127.0	78	Jessup
	Trinity	83.3	134.1	83	US 95 south (Veterans Memorial Highway) – Fallon, Las Vegas	Eastern end of US 95 Alt. concurrency; western end of US 95 concurrency
Pershing	Toulon	93.5	150.5	93	Toulon	Serves Derby Field
	Lovelock	105.5	169.8	105	West Lovelock (I-80 Bus. east / SR 396 north)	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; former US 40 east/US 95 north
		106.4	171.2	106	Downtown Lovelock (SR 398 north)
		107.2	172.5	107	East Lovelock (I-80 Bus. west / SR 856)	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
		112.9	181.7	112	Coal Canyon (SR 396 south)	Former US 40 west/US 95 south
	Oreana	120.2	193.4	119	Oreana, Rochester	Former SR 858 east
	​	129.6	208.6	129	Rye Patch Dam (SR 401 west)
	Humboldt	138.7	223.2	138	Humboldt
	Imlay	146.0	235.0	145	Imlay
	Mill City	150.3	241.9	149	SR 400 south (Unionville Road) – Mill City, Unionville
		152.1	244.8	151	Mill City, Dun Glen	No westbound entrance
	Cosgrave	158.7	255.4	158	Cosgrave
Humboldt	Rose Creek	168.4	271.0	168	Rose Creek
	Winnemucca	173.4	279.1	173	West Winnemucca Boulevard	Serves Winnemucca Municipal Airport; former US 40 east
		176.7	284.4	176	US 95 north (Veterans Memorial Highway / I-80 Bus. east) – Winnemucca Downtown West, McDermitt, Boise	Eastern end of US 95 concurrency; former US 40
		179.0	288.1	178	SR 289 – Winnemucca Downtown East
		180.8	291.0	180	SR 794 west (East Winnemucca Boulevard / I-80 Bus. west)	East Winnemucca Boulevard was former US 40 west
	Button Point	187.7	302.1	187	Button Point
	Golconda	194.5	313.0	194	Golconda, Midas (SR 789 north)
	​	200.5	322.7	200	Golconda Summit
	​	204.1	328.5	203	Iron Point
	​	205.6	330.9	205	Pumpernickel Valley
	Stone House	212.5	342.0	212	Stone House
	Valmy	217.2	349.5	216	Valmy
	​	222.7	358.4	222	Mote
Lander	Battle Mountain	230.2	370.5	229	SR 304 east (I-80 Bus. east) – West Battle Mountain	Front Street was former US 40 east
		231.7	372.9	231	SR 305 (Broad Street) – Downtown Battle Mountain, Austin
		233.6	375.9	233	SR 304 west (I-80 Bus. west) – East Battle Mountain	Front Street was former US 40 west; serves Battle Mountain Airport
	Argenta	244.7	393.8	244	Argenta
Eureka	Dunphy	254.5	409.6	254	Dunphy
	​	261.4	420.7	261	SR 306 south – Beowawe, Crescent Valley, Austin
	​	269.2	433.2	268	Emigrant Pass
	​	271.6	437.1	271	Palisade
Elko	Carlin	280.0	450.6	279	SR 278 south (I-80 Bus. east / to SR 221) – West Carlin, Eureka	Chestnut Street was former US 40 east
		281.4	452.9	280	SR 766 – Central Carlin
		282.7	455.0	282	SR 221 west (I-80 Bus. west) – East Carlin
	Hunter	293.3	472.0	292	Hunter
	Elko	299.2	481.5	298	Elko West (I-80 Bus. east / SR 535 east)	Former US 40 east
		301.9	485.9	301	SR 225 (Mountain City Highway) – Elko Downtown
		304.4	489.9	303	Elko East (I-80 Bus. west )
	Osino	311.5	501.3	310	Osino	Idaho Street was former US 40 west
	Ryndon	315.5	507.7	314	Ryndon, Devils Gate	CR 742
		317.7	511.3	317	Elburz, Devils Gate	CR 745
	Halleck	322.2	518.5	321	SR 229 east (Halleck and Secret Pass Road) – Halleck, Ruby Valley
	​	329.0	529.5	328	River Ranch
	Deeth	334.5	538.3	333	Deeth, Starr Valley (SR 230 east)	Former US 40 east
	Welcome	344.4	554.3	343	Welcome, Starr Valley (SR 230 west)	Former US 40 west
	Beverly Hills	348.2	560.4	348	Beverly Hills
	Wells	351.6	565.8	351	West Wells (I-80 Bus. east / SR 223 east / SR 231 south)	Former US 40 east
		352.5	567.3	352A	US 93 – East Wells, Ely, Jackpot	Western end of US 93 Alt. concurrency; signed as exit 352 eastbound
				352B	East Wells (I-80 Bus. west / 6th Street)	Westbound exit only; former US 40 west
	Moor	360.7	580.5	360	Moor
	Independence Valley	365.9	588.9	365	Independence Valley
	Pequop Summit	373.8	601.6	373	Pequop Summit
	Pequop	376.5	605.9	376	Pequop
	Oasis	379.4	610.6	378	SR 233 east (Montello Road) – Oasis, Montello
	​	388.1	624.6	387	Shafter	CR 789
	​	399.2	642.5	398	Pilot Peak	CR 767
	West Wendover	407.2	655.3	407	Ola
		410.4	660.5	410	US 93 Alt. south (I-80 Bus. east) – West Wendover, Ely	Eastern end of US 93 Alt. concurrency
		410.7	661.0	—	I-80 east – Salt Lake City	Continuation into Utah
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

In Spanish: Interestatal 80 (Nevada) para niños