Driving Tips

Driving Nevada Roads at Night

Though it may seem like those roads are lonely, don’t rely on little to no traffic as a constant too much—it’s always when you think you’re the only one on the road that oncoming traffic comes out of nowhere and surprises you. When pulling over, be sure to stop only in safe locations like pullouts, and off-the-highway rest stops whenever possible. If emergency strikes and you don’t have those opportunities, remember to pull all the way off the highway with plenty of shoulder space if at all possible. 

Renting a car? Make sure your vehicle’s turn signals are working properly and be sure to test those high beams—you’re going to need ‘em in rural Nevada. A lot of our highways require day-time headlights (keep your eyes out for signs). Be sure to use the left lane for passing, but only when you’ve got tons of distance to safely do so, and always remember to obey posted speed limits. Like we said, you may think you’re the only one on the road, but a lot of the time, so are our rural officers of the law. And they like to keep their highways as safe as possible. Trust us. 

Driving Nevada in the Winter

Nevada is a land of extremes, and the weather is no exception. Check ahead for any inclement weather that may make traveling through low desert and high desert terrain harder than it needs to be. There are two of America’s four deserts in Nevada—The Great Basin and Mojave—which means the temperature range around here is extreme across the state, even within the space of a day. Travel prepared, especially when accessing remote locations.

Make sure your gear kit has a flashlight with extra batteries, a headlamp, and jumper cables. Bottled water, a multi-tool—think a Leatherman or Swiss Army Knife—road flares or reflective warning triangles, and windshield cleaner are all items that are always good to have with you on Nevada highways, too.

Exploring Rural Nevada

What does freedom feel like? It normally hits the second your tires drop off the pavement and grip onto a wide-open dirt road. Few feelings beat the feeling of true freedom, and there sure is a lot of it calling you from hundreds of miles of Nevada’s backroads. Sometimes traveling unpaved roads can seem intimidating, but with the right packing list and a few solid road rules like what nighttime safety on rural roads actually looks like, there’s no way to go wrong out here. 

Whether you’ve rambled our backroads more than once, or are just dippin’ your tires in for the first time, we’ve got the dirt on what it takes to unlock some tried and true off-grid bliss. Follow these tips when driving Nevada’s unpaved roads:

• Get your pack list dialed, then don’t take it out of the trunk. Keep it stocked, that way, you’ll automatically be ready the next instant you wanna peel out of town.
• Bring a tire patch kit, shovel, and jumper cables. Always have a full-size spare.
• Always carry a paper map or atlas—cell coverage in rural Nevada isn’t always dependable, and Google Maps are not a reliable source.
• Carry extra fuel, water and food.
• Keep your distance between cars to avoid broken windows, and stay to the right, even if it seems like a one-lane road.
• If you’re going so fast you can’t avoid running over an animal—you’re going too fast.
• Slow down in small towns or ranching communities.