# What place in the lower 48 is farthest from a gas station? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 9, 2009, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876 "2009-11-09T03:29:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/21 "2009-11-11T05:57:05Z")
> [@Darryl\_Lict](#): > > I’ve been on this road, and it was going to be my guess. Somewhere along the way on 6 there was some guy with an above ground tank who sometimes sold gas at about 1.5 times the going rate. They say Highway 50 is the loneliest highway, but it looks like Interstate 5 compared to 6. I didn’t see another car for about wht seemed like 2 hours. I don’t think that is there any longer from recent (within 2 years) reports. Out in the middle you’d be 84 miles from the nearest sign of civilization other than the road itself. Not a safe trip to do in the height of summer, although the NHP does patrol it with aircraft to look for stuck motorists. Texas is like Manhattan compared to central Nevada. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/22 "2009-11-11T14:03:23Z")
> [@Desert\_Nomad](#): > > This is a photo (not me) taken near the Nevada/Oregon border. “Next Gas 100 Miles”. > > [http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv114/cherokeeprogressive/NextGas.jpg](http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv114/cherokeeprogressive/NextGas.jpg) > > There is a similar sign in SE Nevada where it is about 140 miles or so. Right, but it’s next gas\*\* in that direction\*\*. The most recently passed gas station could be one mile back. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/23 "2009-11-11T14:21:34Z")
since the OP doesn’t specify “on a tarmac road” then surely the answer would be in the middle of a national park or desert, or possibly in the middle of a private ranch somewhere in Texas, Utah or one of the Dakota’s… ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/24 "2009-11-11T14:24:37Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > What is “King Ranch”? I’ve seen that several times and it’s never in the same context. [King Ranch](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Ranch). ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/25 "2009-11-11T14:32:42Z")
> [@Desert\_Nomad](#): > > I am unable to locate a picture, but on US Route 6 there are no services anywhere between Tonopah and Ely (about 168 miles). Based on my experience, this gets a strong vote. ---
**Author:** ![schnuckiputzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@schnuckiputzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnuckiputzi)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/26 "2009-11-11T15:24:25Z")
I think it’s Route 70 that cuts across Kansas to Colorado, and there are huge stretches of absolutely nothing on that road. No gas stations, no cows, nothing. Most boring stretch of road I’ve ever driven. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/27 "2009-11-11T15:27:55Z")
I think the OP needs to specify if we’re looking for the longest stretch of road without a gas station, or if we’re talking about the point as the crow flies that is furthest from a gas station. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/28 "2009-11-11T15:36:36Z")
> [@Desert\_Nomad](#): > > I am unable to locate a picture, but on US Route 6 there are no services anywhere between Tonopah and Ely (about 168 miles). There used to be a gas station where 6 met 375, but it has been gone for several years. Having lived in Wyoming…which can have long distances between stations…the above should beat anything in WY. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/29 "2009-11-11T15:50:04Z")
> [@schnuckiputzi](#): > > I think it’s Route 70 that cuts across Kansas to Colorado, and there are huge stretches of absolutely nothing on that road. No gas stations, no cows, nothing. Most boring stretch of road I’ve ever driven. I was thinking of a different stretch of I-70 from Green River to Salina which is 105 miles with nothing but that’s been beat a couple of times now but is the longest I’ve seen. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/30 "2009-11-11T18:19:38Z")
> [@bup](#): > > I think the OP needs to specify if we’re looking for the longest stretch of road without a gas station, or if we’re talking about the point as the crow flies that is furthest from a gas station. The longest stretch of road was what I was looking for. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/31 "2009-11-11T18:40:59Z")
It changes periodically. It can be defined as wherever I’ve run out of gas. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/32 "2009-11-11T19:08:13Z")
It’s 150 miles along US-180 from El Paso to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and IIRC, there’s nothing at all between those two points. ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/33 "2009-11-11T20:16:37Z")
Per Yahoo, Winnemucca Nv to Lakeview Or is 211 miles. The sign, upon leaving north out of Winnemucca once said 172 miles to the next service. A couple of replies up post refer to a sign near the NV - OR border stating 100 miles to the next service. This is a good candidate for the OPs answer. ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/34 "2009-11-12T00:05:33Z")
> [@Desert\_Nomad](#): > > I am unable to locate a picture, but on US Route 6 there are no services anywhere between Tonopah and Ely (about 168 miles). There used to be a gas station where 6 met 375, but it has been gone for several years. Duckwater, which is just outside of Currant has an airport and a gas station. (Or, did when I was there). It’s not on Route 6, but it’s just down the road from Route 6. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/35 "2009-11-12T00:18:56Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > It’s 150 miles along US-180 from El Paso to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and IIRC, there’s nothing at all between those two points. And if the gas station at the entrance to the park is closed, which eons ago I experienced, its another 10-30 miles to the actual town of Carlsbad. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/36 "2009-11-12T02:32:20Z")
I wonder about Alligator Alley (I-75) in Florida? I know the western states would be farther but in states east of the Mississipi. I haven’t been on it in over 15 years but I think the road is like 85 miles and there are rest stops but I don’t know about gas stations ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/37 "2009-11-12T02:49:51Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I wonder about Alligator Alley (I-75) in Florida? > > I know the western states would be farther but in states east of the Mississipi. I haven’t been on it in over 15 years but I think the road is like 85 miles and there are rest stops but I don’t know about gas stations I just drove it. The longest distance between gas stations is around 30-40 miles. ---
**Author:** ![old\_joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/58956e/32.png) [@old\_joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/old_joe)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/38 "2009-11-12T16:50:24Z")
well not in lower 48 but when i lived here 59 34n,108 37w it was more than a couple miles to the nearest anything. only a ice road in the winter 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/39 "2009-11-12T17:28:47Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > Maybe not THE answer, but according to Wiki: > [Interstate 80 - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_80) Yep, and I’ve driven it. Just exactly as exciting as you’d expect, and more than a little scary if you haven’t planned your gasoline level properly. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876/40 "2009-11-12T18:23:16Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > Per Yahoo, Winnemucca Nv to Lakeview Or is 211 miles. The sign, upon leaving north out of Winnemucca once said 172 miles to the next service. A couple of replies up post refer to a sign near the NV - OR border stating 100 miles to the next service. This is a good candidate for the OPs answer. I haven’t driven that road, but I’ve driven from Winnemucca north to Jordan Valley and the problem isn’t that there aren’t any gas stations at all, it’s that Oregon has their stupid no self-serve law so most of the small town gas stations aren’t open past 8. At one point I ended up sleeping in my car for a few hours having to wait for the gas station to open in one of those little towns. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-place-in-the-lower-48-is-farthest-from-a-gas-station/516876.md?page=3)