Mesquite weather

Mesquite sits in the Virgin River valley at the edge of Nevada, a golf and snowbird town built around warm winters, green fairways in the middle of desert, and a steady flow of visitors who arrive on I-15. It is the lowest town on this list, and its sheltered valley weather can be mild and still while the road just northeast of town is doing something else entirely. That road is the Virgin River Gorge in Arizona, where the freeway leaves the open valley, drops into a winding river canyon, and picks up hazards Mesquite never sees at home: tight curves, rockfall areas, and water on the road during desert storms.

As a driving base, Mesquite is the gateway town for the Gorge. Southbound, it is the first Nevada town after you climb out of the canyon, with fuel, food, casinos, and lodging ready at the exits. Northbound, it is the last full stop before the Gorge and the run on to St. George, so it is the natural place to check the Gorge verdict before you enter a stretch where turning around is not really an option. Mesquite also serves the local roads into the Arizona Strip and toward Lake Mead country, which makes its exits busy with trailers, RVs, and boats in the warm months.

Getting around: Mesquite has several I-15 exits with full services on both sides of town. Northbound drivers should fuel and check the Virgin River Gorge conditions here, because there are no services inside the Gorge itself.