Overview of Las Vegas DMV Drive Test Routes

The best way to ace your driving test is to practice the route beforehand. Thankfully, the Nevada DMV uses specific routes you can practice in advance. In this guide, we’ll break down the different routes, the speed limit for each, the potential hazards, and the common mistakes you should avoid.

So, if you are looking for the information you need to pass your test on the first try, read on!

Read More: The Benefits of Learning to Drive with Northwest Driving School

Understanding different types of routes and road conditions

Given the size of Las Vegas, it should be no surprise that there are several DMVs across the city. These are located in North Decatur, West Flamingo, and East Sahara.

Each DMVs uses different routes while administering its driving tests, each with different speed limits and potential hazards. These hazards range from school zones to bike lanes, each requiring a different approach to avoid any deductions.

To help you understand the best way to navigate each route and pass your test with flying colors, we’ve broken down each one below 

Nevada DMV: Las Vegas – North Decatur

Located at 7170 N. Decatur Blvd, the North Decatur DMV uses two well-known routes for its driving tests:

Practice Route 1

Practice route one is essentially a figure-of-eight pattern around the DMV center, following this route: From DMV parking lot, Lt on Elkhorn, Rt on Bradley, Lt on Farm Rd, Rt on Jones Rd, Rt on Grand Teton, Rt on Bradley,  Lt on Deer Springs, Lt on Decatur, Rt into DMV parking lot. In some cases, examiners will take a shorter route back to the DMV by turning Lt onto Elkhorn from Bradley.

Practice Route 2

Practice route two describes a similar route to practice route one but passes through Whispering Sands instead of Deer Springs, following this route: From DMV parking lot, Lt on Elkhorn, Rt on Bradley, Lt on Farm Rd, Rt on N Jones Rd, Rt on Grand Teton, Rt on N Bradley, Lt on Whispering Sands, Rt on Decatur, Lt on W Elkhorn, Rt into DMV parking lot.

Speed Limit

The standard residential road speed limit across both practice routes is 25-30 mph. However, both routes include at least one school zone, which means a speed limit of 15-25 mph, depending on whether children are present.

Potential hazards

As mentioned above, both practice routes run through school zones, which drop the speed limit to 25 or 15 mph if children are present. 

There are also bike lanes and multiple crosswalks to navigate. On Grand Teton Dr, traffic in the right lane must turn right.

Common mistakes

Common mistakes to avoid on both North Decatur practice routes include:

• Not reducing your speed in a school zone
• Not slowing for a pedestrian crossing
• Straying into a bike lane
• Speeding in the longer sections
• Trying to turn left from the right lane onto Grand Teton Dr

Nevada DMV: Las Vegas – West Flamingo

The West Flamingo DMV uses three practice routes, covering three different routes. The exact routes are listed below:

Practice Route 1

Practice route one follows this route: From DMV parking lot, Rt on S Cimarron, Rt on W Flamingo Rd., Rt on El Capitan Way, Lt on W Viking Rd., Rt on Erva St., Rt on W Twain Ave., Lt on El Capitan Way, Rt on W. Desert Inn Rd., Rt on S Durango Dr., Lt on W Spring Mountain Rd., Rt on S Cimarron Rd., Rt turn into DMV parking lot.

Practice Route 2

Route two used by the West Flamingo DMV follows this route: From DMV parking lot, Rt on S Cimarron, Rt on W Viking, Lt on Climbing Rose, Lt on W Twain, Rt on S Cimarron, Lt on Spring Mountain, Rt on W Desert Inn, Rt on S Cimarron Rd, Rt into DMV Parking Lot.

Practice Route 3

Route three, used by the West Flamingo DMV, follows this route: From the DMV parking lot, Rt on S Cimarron, Lt on W Flamingo, Lt on S Buffalo, Rt on W Spring Mountain, Rt on Tenaya Way, Lt on W Twain, Rt on S Torrey Pines, Rt on W Flamingo, Rt on S Cimarron, Lt into the DMV parking lot.

Speed Limit

The standard residential road speed limit across both practice routes is 25-30 mph. However, both routes include at least one school zone, which means a speed limit of 15-25 mph, depending on whether children are present.

Potential hazards

There are multiple school zones to navigate, which test takers will pay attention to as the speed limit changes to 25 mph or 15 mph if children are present. Bike lanes and pedestrian crossings represent common hazards, as do executing correct lane changes.

Common mistakes

Common mistakes to avoid on both West Flamingo practice routes include:

• Not reducing your speed in a school zone
• Not slowing for a pedestrian crossing
• Straying into a bike lane
• Executing proper lane changes
• Not staying within posted speed limits in commercial and residential neighborhoods

Nevada DMV: Las Vegas – East Sahara

As with West Flamingo, East Sahara uses three practice routes. The exact routes are listed below:

Practice Route 1

Practice route one of the East Sahara DMV follows this route: From DMV parking lot, Rt on Atlantic St., Lt on E St. Louie St., Rt on S Eastern Ave., Rt on E on Oakley Blvd., Rt on Euclid Ave., Lt on Hoyt Ave., Rt on Atlantic St., Lt into DMV parking lot.

Practice Route 2

Route two follows this route: From the DMV parking lot, Exit via the back entrance, Rt on the service drive, Rt on McLeod, Rt on E Sahara, Rt on Atlantic, Rt on E St. Louis, Lt on Silver Birch, Lt on E Oakey, Rt on Euclid, Lt on Wengert, Lt on Ardmore, Rt on Oakey, Lt on S Eastern, Rt on Atlantic, Lt into DMV parking lot.

Practice Route 3

Route three follows this route: From the DMV Parking Lot, Exit via the back entrance, Rt on service drive, Rt on McLeod, Rt on E Sahara, Rt on Atlantic, Lt on E St. Louis, Rt on S Eastern, Rt on Wengert, Rt on Euclid, Lt on E Oakey, Rt on Silver Birch, Rt on E St. Louis, Lt on McLeod, Rt on service drive and into DMV Parking Lot.

Potential hazards

As with the other DMV routes, all three routes used by East Sahara feature school zones and bike lanes, all of which are potential hazards if not paid close attention to. However, one of the main areas where driving test takers slip up is at the exit through the back of the DMV. This exit heads easterly on a service drive with a speed limit of 5 mph, so be sure not to speed on this first step.

Common mistakes

Common mistakes to avoid on all three East Sahara practice routes include:

• Not reducing your speed in a school zone
• Not slowing for a pedestrian crossing
• Straying into a bike lane
• No keeping to the 5 mph speed limit on the service road at the exit of the DMV

Benefits of Practicing DMV Drive Test Routes

By learning the route before your test, you can ensure you are away from the various challenges you need to overcome to pass. This can help reduce your anxiety during the test and give you the confidence to get your license.

Some of the benefits of practicing using common DMV routes include:

• Knowledge of the various hazards you need to be aware of 
• An understanding of where the route goes and what specific challenges it represents
• Reduced anxiety because you’re not going into the test entirely blind

Get Your License Today with Northwest Driving School 

With this guide in hand, you’ll know precisely which routes you need to practice to give you the best chance of passing your driving test in Las Vegas. However, your test is the last step of a longer driving journey that starts with booking driving lessons!

If you’re looking for excellent driving lessons delivered by exceptional instructors, look no further than NWDS Driving School. Our team is committed to helping you pass your test with flying colors. Schedule your lessons today by dialing (702) 212-5667 and embark on obtaining your driver’s license today!