Interstate 15 north from Las Vegas Beltway to Arizona State Line
Interstate 15 and U.S. 93 north
Now north of the Las Vegas Beltway, this mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 54, Speedway Boulevard; Exit 58, Junction Nevada 604/Las Vegas Boulevard (Old U.S. 91-93) south; and Exit 64, Junction U.S. 93 north to Ely. Photo taken 03/29/08.
A set of Interstate 15 and U.S. 93 north reassurance shields are posted between Exit 52 (Route 215/Las Vegas Beltway) and Exit 54, Speedway Boulevard. Photo taken 03/29/08.
The next exit along Interstate 15 and U.S. 93 north is Exit 54, Speedway Boulevard. Shortly after this sign, a new right lane emerges as an exit-only lane, and the middle lane provides an option of exiting or remaining on the freeway. Photo taken 03/29/08.
Northbound Interstate 15 and U.S. 93 reach Exit 54, Speedway Boulevard. The flip sign is used on race days; during events, the two right lanes become exit only lanes. This is a two-lane exit that would be better facilitated with an overhead sign. Photos taken 03/29/08 and 10/24/03.
This view shows Interstate 15 and U.S. 93 north from the Exit 54 (Speedway Boulevard) overpass. Photo taken 03/29/08.
A set of Interstate 15 and U.S. 93 north reassurance shields are posted after the Speedway Boulevard interchange. Note the use of odd font used for Interstate 15 and the FHWA Series E font on the U.S. 93 shield, which causes the numbers to appear wider than normal. Billboards are still very common on Interstate 15, as they primarily advertise resorts and attractions in Mesquite. Photo taken 03/29/08.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 58, Junction Nevada 604/North Las Vegas Boulevard south. This is old U.S. 91-93. Las Vegas Boulevard travels south to serve Nellis Air Force Base and Apex. Photo taken 03/29/08.
Old U.S. 91 rejoins the freeway at Exit 58, where Nevada 604/North Las Vegas Boulevard meets Interstate 15 and U.S. 93. This is the last exit of the Las Vegas metropolitan area, and it is far to the north of most of the populated areas. Photo taken 03/29/08.
The Union Pacific Railroad parallels Interstate 15 to the west of the freeway, and a set of power lines (including a 500kV transmission line) also parallels the freeway. Photo taken 03/29/08.
An Interstate 15 and U.S. 93 reassurance shield assembly is posted after the Apex interchange. Photo taken 03/29/08.
This mileage sign along northbound Interstate 15 and U.S. 93 provides the distance to the U.S. 93 north exit (six miles), Glendale (Exits 90, 91, and 93), and Salt Lake City, Utah. Salt Lake City remains the control city on most mileage signs along Interstate 15 north of Las Vegas. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Interstate 15 and U.S. 93 north ascend to Apex Summit, elevation 2,492 feet above sea level. Photo taken 03/29/08.
A bridge crosses Interstate 15 and U.S. 93 north after Apex Summit, framing the mountains and desert ahead. Photo taken 03/29/08.
The southbound truck check station was closed at the time this photo was taken on Interstate 15 and U.S. 93 north. Photo taken 03/29/08.
This overpass carries the Union Pacific Railroad over Interstate 15 before it reaches the U.S. 93 exit. This rail line carries freight traffic roughly parallel to the Interstate 15 corridor. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The next exit along Interstate 15 and U.S. 93 north is Exit 64, Junction U.S. 93 north, one mile. While Interstate 15 turns northeast from here, U.S. 93 continues due north, serving the eastern third of the state including the communities of Caliente, Panaca, Pioche, Ely, Wells, and Jackpot. None of these are heavily populated, and U.S. 93 follows a lonely alignment through some of the most beautiful terrain in the vast Great Basin. Photo taken 03/29/08.
Use U.S. 93/Great Basin Highway north to Alamo and Caliente. Photo taken 03/29/08.
Due to an emergency construction project in 2003 along the Virgin River Gorge section of Interstate 15 in Arizona, this sign advised an alternate route during that period. (No such detour is required in 2008, as the project is now complete.) During 2003, Interstate 15 reduced to a total of two lanes for a distance through that area with narrow lanes. Trucks are advised to take U.S. 93 north to Nevada 319/Utah 56 east to Cedar City to avoid the construction area altogether. Another alternate route to avoid this area is to follow Old U.S. 91 through Littlefield, Arizona, and Santa Clara, Utah, around the gorge. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Known as the Great Basin Highway, U.S. 93 passes through the heart of the Great Basin, a region that has no outlet to the ocean. All of the rainfall collected on the mountains run down their slopes to the valley floor into rivers and washes. These rivers flow for a distance, but end in a lake, sink, or simply dry up before reaching the ocean. The Great Basin is the largest such basin in the continental United States, and it is bounded on the east by the Rocky Mountains (Wasatch Range), the west by the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the south by the Mojave Desert, and the north by hills that separate the basin from the Snake River/Magic Valley. The largest lake in the Great Basin is the Great Salt Lake in northern Utah. A worthwhile visit in the middle of the Great Basin is the Great Basin National Park, which is situated to the east of U.S. 93 along U.S. 6-50 some 230 miles north of this interchange. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 and U.S. 93 split at Exit 64, Junction U.S. 93/Great Basin Highway north. U.S. 93 continues its northward trek from here, passing through the rugged scenery of the Great Basin in Nevada, the agricultural splendor of the Magic Valley of the Snake River, and the majestic Rocky Mountains in Idaho and western Montana before crossing into Canada north of Eureka, Montana. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Near the U.S. 93 interchange with Interstate 15, power lines follow the freeway, then turn away at the U.S. 93 interchange. Photos taken 10/24/03.
Interstate 15 north
This view of northbound Interstate 15 is afforded after the U.S. 93 exit. The old road and railroad are both visible to the left of the freeway. A new 500kV power line passes over Interstate 15; it was not there in 2003. Photos taken 03/29/08 and 10/24/03.
This 500 kV power line, which connects the Harry Allen-Mead substations, is part of Nevada Power's Centennial Project. The Centennial Project involved the construction of several transmission lines in and around Las Vegas; it was fully activated on March 6, 2007, to provide electricity to the fast growing Las Vegas area.1 Construction of the line occurred in stages throughout the decade. Photos taken 03/29/08.
This mileage sign along northbound Interstate 15 provides the distance to Glendale and Moapa (Junction Nevada 168 in 26 miles), Mesquite (Exit 120/Business Loop I-15, 56 miles), and the control city of Salt Lake City (394 miles). Photo taken 03/29/08.
Climbing again, Interstate 15 passes through unspoiled desert scenery as it leaves greater Las Vegas. Photo taken 03/29/08.
Once again, Path 27, the ±500kV Intermountain High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission line (hence two bundles of wires rather than three bundles, which is typical of alternating current power lines) passes over Interstate 15. From here, Path 27 travels all the way to Delta, Utah. This line was last seen north of Primm along along with Path 46 (two 345kV LA Department of Water and Power lines) and the 287kV Hoover - Victorville line. Now its companion is a 500kV power line. Photos taken 03/29/08.
Interstate 15 gains elevation as it leaves the Las Vegas basin. Photo taken 03/29/08.
The freeway soon enters the Moapa Indian Reservation and will remain within or close to the reservation roughly between Exits 75 and 90. Photo taken 03/29/08.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 75, which leads to the Valley of Fire State Park to the southeast of here, adjacent to Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Until the early 2000s, this route was part of a much longer (and backward "C" shaped) Nevada 169. At that time, Interstate 15 met Nevada 169 twice: once at Exit 75 and again at Exit 93. Forming a loop through the Valley of Fire and Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada 169 provided a scenic alternative to the freeway. The road is still maintained, but the southern half (from here east to the state park and national recreation area) are no longer within the state highway system. Photo taken 03/29/08.
Rather than replace the sign when Nevada 169 was decommissioned, the Nevada DOT instead decided to scrape the shield off the roadside sign, but they left the direction indicator. Given that there is an initial capital letter on the cardinal direction, this is a sign that was recently installed. Photo taken 03/29/08.
The Valley of Fire State Park is the oldest state park in the Nevada park system. Founded in 1935, this park is popular for its red sandstone formations. Adjacent Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which surrounds the reservoir formed by the damming of the Colorado River at Hoover Dam, has many access points, including some via this exit. There is a paved road (unnumbered) that follows the reservoir from the Valley of Fire southwest to Henderson and U.S. 93 (via old Nevada 166). Photo taken 03/29/08.
Northbound Interstate 15 reaches Exit 75, Valley of Fire State Park (former Nevada 169 south). Photo taken 03/29/08.
This mileage sign is located immediately after the Valley of Fire exit, and it provides mileage to the same destinations as the previous sign after Exit 64. Note the distance between Mesquite and Salt Lake City; the distance between these two cities seems to vary on each mileage sign between Las Vegas and Mesquite. The correct distance is approximately 345 miles. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Ute is a named more commonly associated with Utah, since it is the name of the Native Americans who preceded the arrival of white men to the Beehive State. However, the next exit along northbound (Exit 80) serves the site of Nevada's Ute. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 reaches Exit 80, Ute. There are no services available at this exit. Photo taken 10/24/03.
A few miles north of the Ute exit, Interstate 15 leaves the Moapa Indian Reservation. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 84, Byron. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 reaches Exit 84, Byron. Again, there are no services available at this exit. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The speed limit along Interstate 15 north of Las Vegas remains 75 miles per hour. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 15 is Exit 88, which serves Hidden Valley. Like the Ute and Byron exits before it, the Hidden Valley exit has no services, and it does not serve an obvious purpose other than to provide local access. However, there are not many developments in this area. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 reaches Exit 88, Hidden Valley. The next exit serves Moapa. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The next exit along Interstate 15 north is Exit 90, Junction Nevada 168, which leads northwest into Moapa and then onward to U.S. 93 just east of the Desert National Wildlife Range. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 reaches Exit 90, Junction Nevada 168, Moapa. This exit also serves Glendale. Photo taken 10/24/03.
After the interchange with Nevada 168, the next exit (Exit 91) provides direct access into the northern part of Moapa as well as the southern end of Glendale. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The sign does not lie; there are no services between Exit 91 (Moapa) and Exit 120 (Mesquite), a distance of 29 miles! There are a few exits between here and there, but none of them feature motorist services. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 15 is Exit 93, Junction Nevada 169, Logandale and Overton. Nevada 169 follows the Meadow Valley Wash en route to Logandale and Overton before entering the Lake Mead National Recreation Area near the confluence of the Virgin River with Lake Mead. Photo taken 10/24/03.
As noted on this sign, Nevada 169 leads south to Lake Mead National Recreation Area as well as the Lost City Museum. The southern terminus of Nevada 169 is the boundary with the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 reaches Exit 93, Junction Nevada 169 south. This state route forms the north end of a scenic loop that extends from Exit 93 south to the lake and then west back to Interstate 15 at Exit 75. Photo taken 10/24/03.
This Interstate 15 Nevada reassurance shield is posted along northbound immediately after Exit 93/Nevada 169. Many of the reassurance Interstate shields along this stretch feature the state name. Photo taken 10/24/03.
This mileage sign indicates the distance to Mesquite is 26 miles, while Salt Lake City is 400 miles away. The difference between these two cities is showing up as 374 miles. Photo taken 10/24/03.
As Interstate 15 continues northeast toward Mesquite, the Path 27 power lines and the 500kV power line parallel Interstate 15 from a discrete distance. Photo taken 10/24/03.
This parking area exit connects to a "secret" exit from Interstate 15 in Nevada that departs from the PARKING AREA near milepost 98 or 99, north of Moapa. The secret exit is a set of dirt tracks that leave through an opening in the fence, curve around through a bridge under the freeway and connect to the PARKING AREA on the other side. There is a road that leads away from this turnaround also. It's not a highway patrol turnaround but an actual exit because the road has green signs with arrows indicating the directions to a nearby place. The bridge on this "middle of nowhere" exit is standard concrete, but it is narrower than what's typically used for a normal cross street. If the road passes under the freeway, then a small, one-lane, "tunnel-like" bridge is used. This is very common in Nevada. Photo taken 10/24/03.
After 12 miles, the next real exit is Exit 100 for Carp Elgin. This exit is so remote that it does not even appear in the Rand McNally 2004 Road Atlas Nevada map. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 reaches Exit 100, Carp Elgin. This is the last exit along northbound before Interstate 15 descends toward the Virgin River Valley. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Now descending into the Virgin River Valley, this scenic vista spreads out in front of northbound travelers. Interstate 15 is headed northeast at this point, the Virgin River comes in from the south. They run parallel to each other from southwest of Bunkerville through Mesquite into the Virgin River Gorge northeast of Littlefield, Arizona. The Virgin River cuts through some of the most scenic territory in the Southwest. While Interstate 15 gets a taste of the scenery when it passes through the Virgin River Gorge in Arizona and passes right next to Kolob Canyons in Utah, Zion National Park and the Virgin River Narrows provide some amazing vistas in a land of superlatives. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 15 is Exit 112, Nevada 170, which leads northeast into Bunkerville and Riverside via Old U.S. 91. Nevada 170 is a fairly short route that ultimately connects with Business Loop I-15/Nevada 144 in Mesquite. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Sometimes the Nevada DOT installs guardrail such as this at their rural interchanges; another example of a similar configuration is located along U.S. 95 near Mercury, at the northwestern end of the freeway segment. Exit 112 connects to Nevada 170 north. Photo taken 10/24/03.
This Interstate 15 north reassurance shield is posted after Exit 112 (Nevada 170). The next exit is the business loop into Mesquite, eight miles ahead. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 15 for the next three destinations of significance: Mesquite (9 miles), St. George (48 miles), and Salt Lake City (351 miles). The difference is now 342 miles between Mesquite and Salt Lake City, which varies from the 374-mile distance listed on the mileage sign after Exit 93. Photo taken 10/24/03.
View of northbound Interstate 15 after Exit 112. This section of Interstate 15 carries less traffic than the section between the California State Line and Las Vegas, so scenic vistas with minimal traffic are much easier to achieve. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Now reaching the outskirts of Mesquite, Nevada uses a two-mile advance sign to advise of the pending business loop exit (Exit 120/Junction Nevada 144). An outpost in the desert, Mesquite only sees 7.70 inches of rainfall per year, with 310 days of sunshine. Today was one of those sunny days, even though it was fairly chilly. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The next two exits serve Mesquite (population 13,277), which has grown at an incredible rate as both a gambling mecca and retirement community that is far enough from Las Vegas to enjoy its own identity. For more information on Mesquite, visit their official webpage. According to this web site, the distance to Salt Lake City is only 345 miles, not 374 as reported in the mileage sign after Exit 93. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 enters its last Nevada destination at Exit 120, Junction Business Loop I-15/Mesquite Boulevard north, East Mesquite. The business loop was a state highway (Nevada 144) until 2005; signs were changed to reflect this fact soon thereafter. Mesquite provides a full range of services as well as one last stop for gambling before entering the Grand Canyon State and then the Beehive State, with its prohibition on such activities. Photo taken 10/24/03.
This exit also serves as the business loop through Mesquite, with a connection to Nevada 170 southwest to Bunkerville. It appears that the business loop is still signed even though the state route has been eliminated. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Exit 120 serves Mesquite, which is situated along the Virgin River and provides the last major services for northbound travelers until reaching St. George, Utah. The loop through town is maintained by the state and is signed as the business route as well as Nevada 144. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The second exit for Mesquite is again for former Nevada 144, the former state route designation of the business loop. Again, this exit serves several casinos and hotels as well as standard motorist services and a grocery store. Mesquite is primarily designed for out-of-state travelers from the north who wish to gamble without having to drive the extra hour south to Las Vegas. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Since Interstate 15 is angled in an eastern trajectory rather than north, the second exit for Mesquite is "west Mesquite" rather than "north Mesquite." While this next exit is the return of the business loop, it is not old U.S. 91. Old U.S. 91 remains close to the Virgin River, and it connects to Interstate 15 at the Littlefield interchange in Arizona. Photo taken 10/19/04.
As is traditional for Interstate business loops in Nevada, the business loop shield is only found on one advance sign. Unlike most of the business loops signed along Interstate 80 in Northern Nevada, Business Loop I-15 is signed for both Exit 120 (south end) and Exit 122 (north end) along northbound. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The final Nevada exit along northbound is Exit 122, Junction Business Loop I-15 (former Nevada 144) south into Mesquite. Photo taken 10/24/03.
After passing the second Mesquite exit (former Nevada 144), Interstate 15 immediately prepares to leave Nevada and enter Arizona, the Grand Canyon state, as evidenced by the welcome sign located after this final mileage sign. The next town of significance is Littlefield, which is situated on old U.S. 91. St. George and Salt Lake City are both in Utah. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Welcome to Arizona, the Grand Canyon State. Interstate 15 clips the northwestern corner of Arizona, then enters the Beehive State of Utah just south of fast-growing St. George, Utah. Photo taken 10/24/03.
