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Interstate 80 West - Reno Vicinity

Interstate 80 west
Posted within the Exit 20 diamond interchange with Sparks Boulevard is the one-mile overhead for Exit 19 (McCarran Boulevard). McCarran Boulevard loops around the central business districts of both Sparks and Reno, carrying Nevada 650 6.380 miles north of Interstate 80 to U.S. 395 and Nevada 651 6.228 miles from U.S. 395 back to Interstate 80 to the west. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Upcoming exits sign listing the distances to the final three Sparks interchanges: McCarran Boulevard (Exit 19), Pyramid Way (Nevada 445 - Exit 18), and Rock Boulevard (Exit 17). Photo taken 09/09/05.
The McCarran Boulevard partial-cloverleaf interchange doubles as the beginning of the Sparks Business Loop Interstate 80. The business loop parallels Interstate 80 west along Victorian Avenue to B Street and 4th Street in the city of Reno. Photo taken 09/09/05.
The first overhead for junction Nevada 445 (Exit 19) lies ahead of the McCarran Boulevard (Nevada 650) off-ramp. Nevada 445, like Nevada 650, ends at Interstate 80. McCarran Boulevard continues south of the freeway one mile to Greg Street, 2.8 miles to Rock Boulevard, and 6.2 miles to Virginia Street (U.S. 395 Business). Photo taken 09/09/05.
Westbound at the Exit 19 ramp departure for Business Loop Interstate 80 (Victorian Avenue) and McCarran Boulevard (Nevada 650). McCarran Boulevard comprises a busy surface arterial throughout the vicinity of the Interstate 80 interchange. Travel services and shopping centers lie along the busy corridor. Business Loop Interstate 80 parallels the freeway closely through to Exit 18 (Nevada 445). Photo taken 09/09/05.
A trailblazer guide sign for Business Loop I-80 (U.S. 40/Victorian Way) is posted on the offramp to Exit 19. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Interstate 80 westbound reassurance marker posted along the elevated stretch of freeway between Nevada 650 (McCarran Boulevard) and junction Nevada 445 (Exit 18). The high rise to the left is that of the 28-story Nugget casino, opened in 1984. Provisions for an eventual third main westbound lane had been added through Sparks by 2009. Photos taken 07/19/09 and 09/09/05.
Exit 18 carries motorists to the northbound beginning of Nevada 445 (Pyramid Way). Nevada 445 ventures 41.574 miles north from Interstate 80 in Sparks to Sutcliffe along the shores of Pyramid Lake and ultimately the California state line. Nugget Avenue, an eastbound side frontage road, ties into the diamond interchange from the south. Photos taken 07/19/09 and 09/09/05.

Nevada 668/Rock Boulevard, a north-south surface arterial, intersects Interstate 80 at the Exit 17 diamond interchange. The roadway meanders three miles north from McCarran Boulevard along the backside of Reno-Tahoe International Airport to Greg Street, Glendale Avenue, and junction Interstate 80. Victorian Avenue and 4th Street (Business Loop Interstate 80) cross Interstate 80 in 0.75 miles at Exit 16. Photos taken 07/19/09 and 09/09/05.
Exit 17 departs Interstate 80 westbound for Nevada 668/Rock Boulevard. The state maintained section is only for a short distance north and south of the Interstate 80 interchange and does not include the entire street. From here, Rock Boulevard continues 0.9 north miles to Oddie Boulevard (Nevada 663) and 1.6 miles to its end at junction Nevada 650 (McCarran Boulevard). Photos taken 07/19/09 and 09/09/05.
One half mile east of the Exit 16 diamond interchange with 4th Street (Business Loop Interstate 80) on Interstate 80 west. Business Loop Interstate 80 (Nevada 647) turns onto 4th Street from Victorian Avenue/B Street. The area of Victorian Avenue between 16th Street and Pyramid Way within the City of Sparks is known as Victorian Square. This area is popular for casinos, museums, parks, and annual festivals such as Hot August Nights. Photo taken 09/09/05.
The downtown skyline of Reno rises in the foreground of the Sierra Nevada as Interstate 80 nears the Exit 16 off-ramp. The freeway leaves the city of Sparks for the city of Reno just west of the 4th Street underpass. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Exit 16 leaves Interstate 80 ahead of the junction with Interstate 580 south & U.S. 395 (Exit 15). Prater Boulevard enters the scene from east Sparks and transitions to 4th Street at the Reno city line. Victorian Avenue (Business Loop Interstate 80 & Nevada 647) ends at 4th Street near its intersection with El Rancho Drive north and Kietzke Lane south. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Travelers destined for Reno-Tahoe International Airport are advised to take Interstate 580 & U.S. 395 (Martin Luther King Jr. Highway) southbound to Exit 65. The north-south freeway directly serves the airport passenger terminal. Photo taken 09/09/05.
A pair of lanes depart Interstate 80 westbound at the Exit 15 directional-cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 580 south & U.S. 395. U.S. 395 provides the main route between Carson City, Reno, and the northern suburbs. The federal highway continues as a freeway all the way to the California state line, and as an expressway from there to junction California 70. Interstate 580 presently entails 4.99 miles of the U.S. 395 freeway from Interstate 80 south to Nevada 667 (Del Monte Lane / Neil Road). Photo taken 09/09/05.
An original set of guide signs remains in use at the Exit 15 ramp partitioning between Interstate 580 & U.S. 395 south to Carson City and U.S. 395 north to Susanville. U.S. 395 entails a full freeway from Interstate 80 south to junction Nevada 431 (Mt. Rose Highway) in south Reno. From there the highway follows a four-lane surface highway to Washoe Lake with construction of a freeway to the west. A short freeway continues the federal highway south along the western lake shore ahead of Carson City. In Carson City itself, construction is underway involving a freeway bypass of the Nevada capital city. U.S. 395 will relocate onto the new limited access highway upon completion by 2010. At that time Interstate 580 will emerge from obscurity and co-sign with U.S. 395 from Interstate 80 to Carson City. Photo taken 09/09/05.
A centerline posted upcoming exits sign listing the next three Reno interchanges. Reno, known as the "Biggest Little City in the World", began as little more than a crossing of the Truckee River and railroad and mining town. Reno had a population of 180,480 as of the 2000 Census and sits at an elevation of 4,505 feet above sea level. Reno is the seat of Washoe County. According to the city of Reno's webpage, the city of Reno was officially established on May 13, 1868. Reno was named after named after Civil War General Jesse Reno. The industrial town grew slowly until the turn of the 20th century when Reno gained interest as a "divorce destination", a place where unhappy couples could live briefly before having their nuptials undone legally. The residency requirement for divorces brought the town notoriety as the country's "sexiest town". Legal gambling and instant marriages arrived in the late 1920s to compliment Reno's growth and economy as a tourist destination. By the 1950s, Reno city planners witnessed the growth of Las Vegas and enacted a red line around the central business district to limit the gambling district expansion. This controlled growth through the 1970s, but in the 1980s, city planners decided to remove the boundary and allow a major casino boom and associated population increase. The increase of the Reno metropolitan area continues to this day. Due to its position east of the Sierra Nevada and within the rainshadow, Reno only sees an average annual precipitation (rain and snow) of 7.48 inches, which is quite a bit less than seen in California's Central Valley on the west side of the same mountain chain. The downtown cityscape includes towering hotels and casinos. With tourism a huge part of the local economy, many travelers from Northern California visit Reno for the nightlife, entertainment, gambling, and fine dining. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Wells Avenue arcs southwest from Oddie Boulevard (Nevada 663) to meet Interstate 80 at Exit 14. The surface roadway continues south 2.1 miles to its end at junction U.S. 395 Business (Virginia Street). Pictured here is the approach sign bridge for Exit 14 and the adjacent sound wall. Sound barriers in Reno feature a "Sierra Nevada" silhouette motif. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Interstate 80 westbound at the Exit 14 diamond interchange with Wells Avenue. Wells Avenue transitions into Oddie Boulevard (Nevada 663) 0.7 miles to the north at the intersection with Sutro Street. Sutro Street passes underneath Interstate 80 ahead of Wells Avenue off-ramp. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Virginia Street (U.S. 395 Business) intersects Interstate 80 at the Exit 13 split-diamond interchange. U.S. 395 Business (unsigned on Interstate 80 guide signs) follows all of Virginia Street (original U.S. 395) from south Reno (Exit 63) northward to Panther Valley (Exit 72). Keystone Avenue returns Business Loop Interstate 80 to Interstate 80 from 4th Street at Exit 12. Nevada 651 (McCarran Boulevard) meets Interstate 80 in three miles at Exit 10. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Use U.S. 395 Business (Virginia Street) north from Exit 13 to the University of Nevada-Reno campus,and the Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center. This exit also serves Junction Nevada 660/Sierra Street (former Alternate U.S. 395). Sierra Street parallels Virginia Street with generally one city block separating them. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Valley Road passes over Interstate 80 ahead of the Exit 13 off-ramp onto 8th Street west for U.S. 395 Business (Virginia Street). The Reno central business district lies along Virginia Street south of the freeway at 4th Street (Business Loop Interstate 80 & Nevada 647). Photo taken 09/09/05.
Interstate 80 maintains six overall lanes as it skims the northern reaches of downtown Reno. A two-lane off-ramp ascends from the freeway onto 8th Street westbound. 8th Street westbound and Maple Street eastbound carry motorists between U.S. 395 Business (Virginia Street) and the on and off-ramps for Interstate 80. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Westbound at the Ralston Street over crossing ahead of the Keystone Avenue (Exit 12) two-lane off-ramp. Keystone Avenue meanders 1.2 miles north from California Avenue to Interstate 80 and 7th Street. The surface arterial carries Business Loop Interstate 80 from 4th Street northward. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Exit 12 consists of a single point urban interchange (SPUI) between Interstate 80 and Keystone Avenue. Keystone Avenue continues 1.7 miles northwest to Nevada 651 (McCarran Boulevard). 4th Street (Business Loop Interstate 80 & Nevada 647) lies one quarter mile to the south. Photo taken 09/09/05.
McCarran Boulevard returns to intersect Interstate 80 for a second time at Exit 10. The Reno-Sparks belt route carries Nevada 651 north of Exit 10 to U.S. 395. The arterial continues south 4.2 miles to meet Skyline Boulevard and 7.2 miles to junction U.S. 395 (Virginia Street). Photo taken 09/09/05.
The final three Reno interchanges are Exit 10 (McCarran Boulevard west), Exit 9 (Robb Drive), and Exit 8 (4th Street). Photo taken 09/09/05.
Drawing to within one half mile of the Exit 10 diamond interchange with McCarran Boulevard (Nevada 651 east) on Interstate 80. McCarran Boulevard does not provide a viable bypass route for through traffic due to its over development. Interstate 80 through the city remains the best route for long distance traffic. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Westbound at the Exit 10 ramp departure to McCarran Boulevard (Nevada 651 north) west. McCarran Boulevard intersects Mae Anne Avenue and 7th Street within one mile of the freeway to the north. Nevada 647 (4th Street) crosses McCarran Boulevard 0.8 miles to the south. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Robb Drive ties into Interstate 80 just one quarter mile west of the McCarran Boulevard interchange at Exit 9. Robb Drive spurs 3.2 miles north from the freeway into residential areas of west Reno. Photo taken 09/09/05.
A partial-cloverleaf interchange facilitates the movements between Interstate 80 and Robb Drive at Exit 9. Robb Drive intersects Mae Anne Drive, an east-west surface arterial, in 1.3 miles. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Mileage sign posted along Interstate 80 four miles east of Verdi. Truckee and Sacramento lie ahead within the Golden State. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Nevada 647 (4th Street) merges onto Interstate 80 via the Exit 8 partial-diamond interchange. From there the freeway leaves Reno and enters the community of Mogul. Mogal represents a residential suburb west of the Reno city line and thus provides no traveler services. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Exit 7 leaves Interstate 80 for the adjacent West Fourth Street, which ends at the intersection with Silva Ranch and Mogul Roads. Silva Ranch Road parallels Interstate 80 west to Mogul Mountain Road and Mogul Park. Mogul Road meanwhile spurs southwest to a warehouse facility. Through trucks are discouraged from Exit 7 as there is no outlet to the west. Photo taken 07/19/08.
A truck parking area resides along Interstate 80 westbound adjacent to Silva Ranch Road at Mogul. Photo taken 09/09/05.
The last several off-ramps of Interstate 80 serve the community of Verdi near the California state line. Departing the freeway ahead is 4.3-mile long alignment of old U.S. 40. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Old U.S. 40 carries the designation of Business Loop I-80 between Exits 5 and 1. The business loop cosigns with Nevada 425 for 3.359 miles between Exit 5 and 2 in Verdi. Photo taken 07/23/09.
A partial "Y" interchange carries motorists from Interstate 80 west onto Business Loop Interstate 80 & Nevada 425 (3rd Street / old U.S. 40). Verdi itself lies north of Exit 3 at the intersection of 3rd Street and Bridge Street / Verdi Road. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Boomtown Garson Road spurs south from Verdi Road to meet Interstate 80 at the Exit 4 partial-cloverleaf interchange. The interchange serves residential areas to the south. Photo taken 09/09/05.
The next exit along Interstate 80 west is Exit 3, Verdi Road. Verdi Road parallels the Union Pacific Railroad west to Bridge Street in the heart of Verdi. From there the road and railroad line curve southwest to cross paths with Interstate 80 at Exit 3. Photo taken 07/23/09.
Exit 3 consists of a half-diamond interchange between Interstate 80 west and Verdi Road and Crystal Peak Road. Crystal Peak Road ties into the exit from Crystal Peak Park to the west. Quilici Ranch Road spurs south from Crystal Peak Road along the railroad line to Old Verdi Road. Photo taken 09/09/05.
At the end of the ramp to Exit 3, Verdi Road, is this Business Loop I-80 trailblazer shield. While Exit 3 does not directly interchange with the business route, travelers may turn right on Verdi Road to Third Street in downtown Verdi and thus meet the business loop. Turn left at the stop sign for Crystal Peak Road and Quilici Ranch (Old Verdi) Road; turn right on Verdi Road to downtown and Business Loop I-80/Third Street (Nevada 425). Photo taken 07/18/09.
The final two off-ramps of Interstate 80 westbound in Nevada both tie into the adjacent Business Loop Interstate 80 (Thid Street / Gold Ranch Road). The former U.S. 40 alignment leaves Verdi and parallels the freeway along the westbound side. Photo taken 07/23/09.
Interstate 80 crosses over the Truckee River at the southward turn toward the California state line. Ramps to and from Interstate 80 eastbound pass overhead in this scene. Photo taken 07/23/09.
Exit 2 links Interstate 80 westbound with the adjacent Gold Ranch Road (Business Loop I-80). The ramp ties into the business loop across from the Gold Ranch Casino. Photo taken 07/23/09.
The offramp from Interstate 80 to Exit 2 leads to Terrible's Gold Ranch Casino. Photo taken 07/23/09.
A tire chain installation area is located on the shoulder of the freeway prior to the final offramp along Interstate 80 west in Nevada. Photo taken 07/23/09.
Interstate 80 west reaches Exit 1, Junction Business Loop I-80/Third Street north (frontage road); traffic from the business route will merge onto Interstate 80 westbound after the slip ramp. Mahogany Canyon Road spurs splits from the on-ramp onto the adjacent hillside. Gold Ranch Road otherwise continues back north to Trelease Lane and Verdi. Photo taken 07/23/09.
This suite of photos shows Interstate 80 approach and cross the Nevada-California state line. The vistas along the four-lane freeway are second to none long the stretch of Interstate 80 between Fort Lee, New Jersey and San Francisco, California. The Sierra Nevada rises high above the freeway between Verdi and Floriston, California. Verdi Peak (elevation 8,444 feet above sea level) lies just west of the town by the same name. Note the lack of trees along the east facing hills. The lack of vegetation is indicative of the rain shadow caused by the higher peaks to the west in California. The Truckee River and Union Pacific Railroad line continue to parallel Interstate 80 westward to Truckee, California. Milepost zero appropriately affixes to the California Welcome sign in the final scene. Photos taken 09/09/05.

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Page Updated November 10, 2009.