Highway 50 through Nevada...or Interstate 80?

If you end up doing 50, there is a great road log, called Traveling America's Loneliest Road. It covers the state of Nevada from border to border starting at the California line. It covers the flora, fauna, geology and history, mile by mile. It provides a fascinating narration thru even some of the most boring stretches. The book is (was) published by the Nevada Bureau of Geology and Mines.

KampingKris wrote:
I assume one can fuel at Fernly... then make it to Ely? Our friends are most concerned on fueling...
They are over thinking this I believe. If we go 80... it adds 137 miles to the trip...and... since the DW (that's me) hates to drive 8 hours at a time...I'm rooting for 50.

My motorhome can go about 700 miles between fuel stops. The distance from Fallon to Ely on 50 is 255 miles. And I know there are fuel stops in between.

Not to mention, I-80 can be remote too in the event of breakdown. On either road if you have a serious breakdown in a motorhome you could be potentially looking at being towed for hundreds of miles to a proper repair facility. If it were me, I'd take 50. I love being out in the middle of no where.

dicknellen wrote:

exgman wrote:
You can fuel at the east end of Fallon at a station on the left. Can't remember the name, but they have truck diesel pumps in back. There are a couple of stations on the way out of Ely that have truck pumps also. One is a Shell and the other is , I think, a Sinclair.

The name is Fox Peak and it is easy to get in & out of. Golden Gate has taken over the Chevron station that is also an easy one to get in and out of. Dick

Thats it. I always fuel there on my way home from Moab. One strange thing, they have truck diesel pumps but don't sell DEF. Thought that was odd.

Jim Shoe wrote:
Wikipedia has an excellent article on US 50. It runs from Ocean City, MD. to Sacramento, CA. I've driven parts of it. Not a lot of RV parks. Like many of the "mother" roads, it tends to follow the railroad tracks. In my home town, Cincinnati, it runs right through downtown Cincinnati and is designated a "Truck Route".

I can't speak for all of 50, but the parts of 50 in California, Nevada, and Utah don't follow the railroad. I-80 follows the railroad.

I hope the OP returns to let us know what she decided.

Easiest station to fill when on 50 near Fallon is east of town when you have already left town and think there is nothing left. Eureka on west end is easy to get in and out of fuel station at store. Plenty of stations in Ely are easy to get in and out of. You will almost always see someone on 50 during the day so don't worry about breaking down. Loneliest it gets is in January during a storm at Midnight. This comes from experiance. I drive it regularly.

If 50 was less time I would take it any day over I80.
Either way a breakdown will be a pitn. Traveling with others? No issue.
Otherwise get some maintenance done.

Wikipedia has an excellent article on US 50. It runs from Ocean City, MD. to Sacramento, CA. I've driven parts of it. Not a lot of RV parks. Like many of the "mother" roads, it tends to follow the railroad tracks. In my home town, Cincinnati, it runs right through downtown Cincinnati and is designated a "Truck Route".

dave54 wrote:
80: high speed interstate with services every few miles. Boring drive.

50: two or four lane, pavement needs work in a few places,70 miles plus between services. Interesting and scenic drive.

For us it is a no-brainer. 50 is our favorite drive across NV.

Any problems on 50 as you begin the decent into Tahoe. I pretty much white knuckle it in a car! I would rather do 50 but just a little concerned about driving my RV (24') down that long decline!

exgman wrote:
You can fuel at the east end of Fallon at a station on the left. Can't remember the name, but they have truck diesel pumps in back. There are a couple of stations on the way out of Ely that have truck pumps also. One is a Shell and the other is , I think, a Sinclair.

The name is Fox Peak and it is easy to get in & out of. Golden Gate has taken over the Chevron station that is also an easy one to get in and out of. Dick