US 50 in Nevada (Las Vegas, Reno, Fernley: home, vs, oil)

[JudyDenver]

We will be driving from Reno to Denver at the end of a long road trip. According to Googlemaps we have 3 choices. I 80 (1049 miles-16 hours 15), I 80 & I 70 (1040 miles - 16 hrs 52) and US 50 & I 70 (991 miles - 16 hours 55 min).

Would US 50 & I 70 be the most scenic? My husband speeds whenever possible and relies on our Passport radar detector. Does US 50 pass through Indian reservations? I would hate to end up in some tribal court! or get a speeding ticket along the way. What is the speed limit on US 50 vs I 80?

Which route would you recommend?

We will be traveling with a dog and finding a nice place to stay is a concern--obviously Salt Lake City offers the best selection.

[.highnlite]

Take 50, life is too short for 80.

[Buzz123]

Take I-80 to I-25. On Rt. 50 you'll most like see every third car is NHP. There are about 100 times more NHPs in Nevada now thanks to federal regulations, and not to any specific need. Otherwise traffic would be very light on US 50, but you are also very vulnerable out there all alone in the desert, especially if you have to ask this question. US 50 is boring as he**, and there are NO facilities for 100 miles in places, I-70 is very scenic crossing the Rockies, but I-80 is about as scenic as it gets most of the way.

[uli2000]

I don't take 50 alot across the state, maybe 3-4 times a year, but I can hardly remember seeing any NHP with the exception of between Fernley and Fallon and once around Austin.

Speed limit on 50 is 70 mph, its 75 mph on I-80, but if you keep it to 77-80, usually cops won't bother with you. If you're taking 50, SLC is way out of the way (125 miles). Best Places to stop for the nite would probably be Ely (300 miles from Reno) or Richfield/Salina UT (~575 miles from Reno) unless you want to try to get to Grand Junction in one day.

[.highnlite]

If you're taking 50, SLC is way out of the way (125 miles).

Folks tell me 50 is faster to SLC than 80.

[Buzz123]

We were coming home from Reno a few months ago and saw more Nips all along the 400 miles of U.S. 95 than I'd ever seen before in the whole state. My wife got a ticket north of Hawthorne for going 80 in a 70. There is still no more reason for a speed limit in Nevada than there was before Tricky Dicky's faux oil "crisis" when he imposed the double nickle on every state. But, unless NHP writes enough speeding tickets, the Feds will cut off highway funding, which BTW, is our money in the first place. I personally see fewer NHPs on the freeways than I do on the state highways.

[TAHOE GIRL]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

Take I-80 to I-25. On Rt. 50 you'll most like see every third car is NHP. There are about 100 times more NHPs in Nevada now thanks to federal regulations, and not to any specific need. Otherwise traffic would be very light on US 50, but you are also very vulnerable out there all alone in the desert, especially if you have to ask this question. US 50 is boring as he**, and there are NO facilities for 100 miles in places, I-70 is very scenic crossing the Rockies, but I-80 is about as scenic as it gets most of the way.

OBEY THE LAWS and you will not have to worry with NHP. I personally think they are VERY COOL & UNDERSTANDING when you are not drug/drugged or driving way over the speed limit.

[dynimagelv]

I long for the days BEFORE "trickydicks" phony speed limit

My FIRST night in Nevada.....LONG before Interstates etc.....cruisin into Las Vegas from Utah....warm spring night....top down....radio blarin....speedometer locked on 105.....a BEEP BEEP startled me.....looked to the left....NHP was passin me....he waved n rolled on.......at 100 friggin 5 mph ....I KNEW this was home.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by TAHOE GIRL

OBEY THE LAWS and you will not have to worry with NHP. I personally think they are VERY COOL & UNDERSTANDING when you are not drug/drugged or driving way over the speed limit.

I totally agree.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by dynimagelv

I long for the days BEFORE "trickydicks" phony speed limit

My FIRST night in Nevada.....LONG before Interstates etc.....cruisin into Las Vegas from Utah....warm spring night....top down....radio blarin....speedometer locked on 105.....a BEEP BEEP startled me.....looked to the left....NHP was passin me....he waved n rolled on.......at 100 friggin 5 mph ....I KNEW this was home.

Yeah. I was going 95 when a Nye County Mountie passed me like I was standing still one time, and when I reached him on my 'CB' (remember those?) he said, "where were you, I didn't even see you." It was a two lane road. No cars in those days either way usually.