Back
Geiger Grade, Virginia Range, Nevada
Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

Drives Nevada Reno, Carson City and Lake Tahoe

Geiger Grade

NV 341 · Reno → Virginia City

Twisty13.4 mi25 min2,500 ft climbHigh point ≈ 6,800 ftOne way
Scan to drive it in CarvePoint a phone's camera here. It opens ready to drive.
Drive it in Carve, free

Opens this route in the app, or where to get it.

Drive this road
in the appOpen

The drive

Geiger Grade is the stretch of Nevada State Route 341 that links the Reno area with Virginia City. Davison Geiger and John Tilton built the original road as a toll road in 1862. It was a dangerous but heavily traveled route, the most direct link between the Comstock Lode and Reno, and a paved alignment replaced it in 1936.

Today the drive climbs 13.4 miles from US 395 in Reno to C Street in Virginia City in about 25 minutes. It is twisty most of the way. The road winds over Geiger Summit, and a lookout along the grade gives a panoramic view toward Reno.

Along the way

  1. Reno (US-395)
  2. Virginia City (C Street)
Elevation
2,500 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 6,800 ft
RenoVirginia City
Curves
Twisty most of the way
RenoVirginia City
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Check Nevada 511 before you go in winter; its map shows road conditions and chain requirements.
  • The old stagecoach alignment differs from the modern road in places.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Nevada 511: road conditions.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Geiger Grade take?

Geiger Grade from Reno to Virginia City is 13.4 miles and takes about 25 minutes.

How twisty is the Geiger Grade?

Twisty most of the way. State Route 341 winds over Geiger Summit between Reno and Virginia City.

Who built the Geiger Grade?

Davison Geiger and John Tilton built it as a toll road in 1862, and the paved road replaced it in 1936.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
Drive it with no signalAPEXDownload the map and every turn before you go.
Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
Record your drivesAPEXRecord a drive and turn it into a route to drive again or share.

Free on iPhone and Android. CarPlay and Android Auto come with Apex.

Download on theApp StoreEarly access onGoogle Play

More drives near here

All 17 drives in Nevada ›

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

+ Plan a new route
Map of Geiger Grade, from Reno to Virginia City