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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Wells
Wells, Nevada
Treat Wells as a one-night stop on I-80, not a destination: fuel, food and a bed between Elko and Wendover, plus Angel Lake if the road is open.
Wells is a junction town of about 1,300 people at 1,700 m on Interstate 80, where US 93 turns north to Jackpot and Twin Falls. It exists for travellers: motels, truck stops, slots and two legal brothels across the tracks. The one real sight, Angel Lake, sits 19 km up a mountain road that closes with snow. Plan one night, or use it as a cheap bed for a late or early interstate run.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Wells, Nevada
- Best months
- Jun–Sep for Angel Lake; May and Oct for quiet driving
- Avoid
- Dec–Mar (snow and ice on I-80 and the lake road)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $60–90 excl. bed · Mid $90–150 excl. bed · High $150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Road conditions (Nevada 511) 511
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Diner breakfast | $10–18 |
| Burger or Mexican plate | $12–22 |
| Draught beer | $5–8 |
| Motel double room | $70–160 |
| Fuel, per gallon | $3.50–4.50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- EKO · Elko Regional Airport
- About 1 h east on I-80; small, limited flights — check schedules
- SLC · Salt Lake City International
- About 3 h 30 min east on I-80; the practical gateway for most trips
Typical fares
- Fuel, Wells to Elko and back
- about 200 km (124 mi) round tripabout 124 mi (200 km) round trip
- Motel double, one night
- $70–160
- Sit-down dinner for two
- $40–60
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a car. I-80 exits 351 and 352 serve the town, and 6th Street runs a block north of the freeway past nearly every motel. US 93 meets I-80 at exit 352. Everything in town is within a 5-minute drive; there is no useful local bus.
See and do
Known for
- Interstate 80 and US 93 junction
- Angel Lake in the East Humboldt Range
- Casino and truck-stop stopover
- Legal rural brothels
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Angel Lake | Drive 19 km (12 mi) south-west up the Angel Lake road from townDrive 12 mi (19 km) south-west up the Angel Lake road from town | About 30–40 min each way |
| Elko | I-80 east, about 100 km (62 mi)I-80 east, about 62 mi (100 km) | About 1 h |
| Jackpot | US 93 north, about 100 km (62 mi)US 93 north, about 62 mi (100 km) | About 1 h |
| Wendover | I-80 east, about 190 km (118 mi)I-80 east, about 118 mi (190 km) | About 2 h |
Sleep
- 6th Street strip
- The main motel row between the freeway and the tracks; walkable to most food.
- Exit 351 / Humboldt Ave
- North-west side by the west interchange; quieter, still a short drive from food.
- Truck-stop lots
- For RV and van travellers: overnight parking is common but ask inside first.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Where is the nearest gas station? | Where is the nearest gas station? |
| Is the Angel Lake road open? | Is the Angel Lake road open? |
| Do you have a room for tonight? | Do you have a room for tonight? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Where is the restroom? | Where is the restroom? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Speed limits drop sharply on I-80 at the town limits: follow them exactly until they rise again.
- Winter storms close I-80 over the passes; check the state road conditions before you commit.
- The Angel Lake road is seasonal and gated by snow — check before driving up.
- Summer afternoons hit the mid-30s °C with strong sun; carry water.
- Cell coverage is patchy on US 93 north and on the lake road.
Wells is a quiet stopover and violent crime is rare; the real risks are interstate speed enforcement, winter ice on I-80, and heat or altitude on the Angel Lake road. Lock your car and keep to lit lots at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Wells yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Interstate 80 and US 93 junction
- Angel Lake in the East Humboldt Range
- Casino and truck-stop stopover
- Legal rural brothels
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- City of Wells, Nevada: www.cityofwellsnv.com
- Recreation.gov — Angel Lake: www.recreation.gov/camping/angel-lake/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70231
- Wikivoyage: Wells (Nevada), revision 5204184 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5204184
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
WellsWells, Nevada
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No consulates in Wells. Your country's embassy or consulate is in Salt Lake City or Denver for most visitors; US emergency services are on 911.
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/wells-nevada). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.