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U.S. Highway 395 - Nevada

Routing

U.S. 395 runs from Interstate 15 near Victorville, California, north into Washington. It enters Nevada briefly near Lake Tahoe, Carson City, and Reno-Sparks. Through much of this area, U.S. 395 is either multi-lane divided highway or freeway. The section of U.S. 395 freeway south of Interstate 80 is designated as the "hidden" Interstate 580.

Following the east, or "back" side of the Sierra, U.S. 395 is a fairly well-traveled route between the bright lights of Southern California and the relative tranquility of the mountains and valleys. This is also the main route to Reno and Lake Tahoe from Southern California, so tent-trailers and campers are quite common. Much of the California section of U.S. 395 is two- to four-lanes with some expressway sections.

Upon entering Nevada just south of Holbrook Junction (Nevada 208), U.S. 395 is mostly two lanes until it enters the Carson Valley. Traffic increases significantly as you approach the Gardnerville-Minden area (including the Nevada 88 Junction). U.S. 395 widens to an at-grade expressway from Minden north to Carson City.

Currently, U.S. 395 runs through the heart of Carson City, but plans call for a TEA-21 funded bypass to open sometime in the next century. This bypass is part of the Interstate 580 project, which will provide an Interstate spur from the Reno-Sparks area south to Carson City via Washoe Lake and Mount Rose Junction.

History

Like many U.S. routes in Nevada, U.S. 395 was not an original 1926 U.S. highway -- it was designated in 1935.

The North-South Freeway, which carries U.S. 395 and Interstate 580 through Reno, was constructed in phases according to the Interstate 580 Freeway Extension web page (click on "History & Overview)." The following provides opening dates for the freeway:

  • 1964 - Carson City-Washoe County Line to Lakeview opened
  • 1970 - Lakeview to Winters Ranch opened
  • 1973 - Panther Valley (north of Reno) to Nevada 648/Glendale Avenue opened
  • 1980 - Nevada 648/Glendale Avenue to Business U.S. 395 (Nevada 430)/South Virginia Street opened
  • 1983-1998 - Business U.S. 395 (Nevada 430)/South Virginia
    • Street to Nevada 431/Mount Rose Highway and Nevada 341 opened
  • 2006 - Business U.S. 395 (Nevada 531)/North Carson Street to U.S. 50 and Nevada 530/East William Street opened (northern leg of Carson City bypass)
  • 2009: U.S. 50 and Nevada 530/East William Street to Fairview Drive opened (middle leg of Carson City bypass)
  • Late 2011 - anticipated completion date from between Nevada 431/Mount Rose Highway and Nevada 341 and Washoe Lake
  • 2012-2014 - anticipated completion date from Fairview Drive to U.S. 50-395/South Carson Street

U.S. 395 Auxiliary Routes

  • Business U.S. 395 is Virginia Street through Reno along the original U.S. 395 alignment. Although many overhead signs and one cut-out sign remains downtown, there is not an abundance of Business U.S. 395 signs. Business U.S. 395 used to be well-signed from Interstate 80, but Nevada DOT took those signs down in 1996 to alleviate motorist confusion between the business route and freeway route. However, Business U.S. 395 (Nevada 430) remains signed along Virginia Street through Reno.
  • Alternate U.S. 395 (deceased) was Sierra Street in Reno, which provided a close alternate (parallel city street only one block east of Virginia Street) that might have served as relief for busy Virginia Street. Alternate U.S. 395 was decommissioned prior to the construction of Interstate 580 and the U.S. 395 freeway.
  • Business U.S. 395 (Nevada 531) in Carson City was commissioned upon completion of the northern half of the Interstate 580 Carson City Bypass. Jim Gallegos of NDOT confirmed that the old U.S. 395 through Carson City (Carson Street) will definitely be Business U.S. 395 when the whole bypass is complete, and U.S. 395 will be routed over the new freeway.

U.S. 395 Highway Guides

Scenes Pertaining to U.S. 395
This series of photos shows the Nevada state capitol and adjacent grounds. Nevada's capitol building was built in 1871 (with additions constructed in 1915), using a plot of land in Carson City that was set aside when town planning was underway in 1858. Photos taken 07/19/09.
An exhibit within the capital building discusses the history of the Lincoln Highway, which follows U.S. 50 across central Nevada and passes through Carson City. An old route marker (from the California State Automobile Association) is preserved inside the museum. Photos taken 07/19/09.
Nevada's Supreme Court building is located next to the Nevada capitol building and is partially visible from Carson Street (Business U.S. 50, Business U.S. 395, and Nevada 529). Photos taken 07/19/09.
A statute of Kit Carson -- whose name appears on plenty of geographical features such as the Carson River, Carson Valley, Carson City, Carson Range, and Carson Pass -- is located on the capitol grounds in Carson City. Photos taken 07/19/09.
This view looks west from the capitol building across Carson Street (Business U.S. 50, Business U.S. 395, and Nevada 529) toward the Office of the Attorney General. Photos taken 07/19/09.
The Nevada State Assembly building was built in 1971 south of the historic capitol building. Photos taken 07/19/09.
Located on the southwest corner of Third and Carson streets, the St. Charles Hotel is a historic structure built in 1862 and the beneficiary today of redevelopment as a hotel and locally well known pub (Firkin & Fox). This view looks west from the Capitol Mall. Photos taken 07/19/09.
This view looks north along Carson Street in the Capitol Mall area near the Nevada State Assembly building. The lawn is impeccably manicured and lined with beautiful trees. Photos taken 07/19/09.

Page Updated February 1, 2010.