Winter driving from Jackpot to Las Vegas...Best Route??? (Elko: living in, price)

[cajun712]

Planning on driving from Jackpot, NV to Las Vegas 3/2/11. Looked at US93 but that is pretty desolate. Is this highway advisable or should I aviod it altogether? Many thanks for any info.

[scirocco22]

No, in my opinion, there's no reason to avoid it. It's a U.S. highway and well maintained, The alternate routes you can choose will probably just as desolate if not more so and with the price of gas rising, it's not worth taking a longer route to avoid desolation. Much, if not the majority, of Nevada is desolate outside of Clark and Washoe counties. If your vehicle is in good condition mechanically there really shouldn't be a need to consider an alternate route. Have a good trip.




ETA: With that said, if you're really apprehensive about the desolation, you can go this route: when you get to Wells, take I-80 eastbound to SLC and then I-15 southbound to Vegas. That way the majority of the trip will be on 4-lane interstate highway. It will add some time and extra fuel cost but may make you feel better. If you'd like me to calculate the extra time and fuel it would be to take that route, let me know.

[uli2000]

To go thru SLC down I15 would be an extra 135 miles or so. US 93 isnt that bad, even in winter. During all but the worst of storms, NDOT will keep it plowed, and in 6 years of living in Ely, I have never seen it closed, though snow tires/chains may be required in really bad weather. Cell phone coverage is decent. We have AT&T (used to be Alltel) and my wife talked and texted from Twin Falls all the way into Ely, no dead spots at all. Take the US6/NV318 cutoff to save an extra 40 miles. Just make sure your car is in good condition for winter driving (good tires, wipers). Top up with gas in Ely, and have some CDs, an iPod, or sat radio to keep you entertained.

[scirocco22]

Originally Posted by uli2000

To go thru SLC down I15 would be an extra 135 miles or so. US 93 isnt that bad, even in winter. During all but the worst of storms, NDOT will keep it plowed, and in 6 years of living in Ely, I have never seen it closed, though snow tires/chains may be required in really bad weather. Cell phone coverage is decent. We have AT&T (used to be Alltel) and my wife talked and texted from Twin Falls all the way into Ely, no dead spots at all. Take the US6/NV318 cutoff to save an extra 40 miles. Just make sure your car is in good condition for winter driving (good tires, wipers). Top up with gas in Ely, and have some CDs, an iPod, or sat radio to keep you entertained.

Good info, uli



So at 135 extra miles, you'll have to make the call whether it is worth it to you to avoid a desolate drive on a 2-lane road compared to a 4-lane interstate highway. That's a couple of extra hours on the road and about $19.50 extra in fuel if your vehicle gets 25 MPG and gas is around $3.60/gal. If it gets 35 MPG, then it will only be an extra $13.88 or so.

[Buzz123]

It's not worth going 135 miles out of the way unless you have a craving for a meal at Cracker Barrel (south of SLC, and in St. George). I've driven 93 in snow, late at night, coming back from deer hunting in Elko County, towing a Jeep ...and it wasn't that bad. Any way you go will be lonely. Just be sure you fill up in Wells, then again in Ely, then probably again in Alamo, depending on how many miles you can get per tank, (and how long you want to run the heater when you get stuck in a blizzard ). In Nevada, always be prepared with plenty of water, high energy food, and a way to stay warm, such as a sleeping bag. In other words don't do as I do. If you break down stay with the car. And don't take any roads that look like short cuts unless you are very familiar with them, and they are plowed (which they most likely won't be). It's probably just me, but I always feel like the short cut through Hiko (6/318) is lonelier than staying on 93 through Caliente. But I like the Caliente/Pioche/Panaca metropolitan area.

[hanmar]

How many miles from jackpot to vagas

[poopskooper]

Originally Posted by hanmar

How many miles from jackpot to vagas

Jackpot to "Vegas?" ...about 450 miles using the U.S. 93 routing.

[dynimagelv]

and after two years since the OP posted he should already be here,,,,,