State Route 659 begins on McCarran Boulevard at an undercrossing of Interstate 580 and U.S. Route 395. From there, the route travels in a clockwise direction westward. This portion of the route is surrounded by major shopping outlets. The highway travels west, gaining in altitude as it winds up and down through residential areas of southwest Reno. The route heads north to cross over the Truckee River and intersect West 4th Street (SR 647/I-80 Bus./Old US 40) and Interstate 80. From here, the highway continues north to skirt the southeastern edge of Peavine Peak in northwest Reno before turning east. The highway then intersects North Virginia Street (SR 430) and runs along the northern boundary of the University of Nevada, Reno campus. The route then intersects Clear Acre Lane (SR 443) before reaching an interchange with US 395.

Shortly after crossing over US 395, SR 659 enters the city of Sparks. From there, the highway continues easterly to intersect Pyramid Way (SR 445), which provides access to the fast-growing area of northern Sparks known as Spanish Springs as well as Pyramid Lake. McCarran Boulevard heads east and then turns south to intersect Victorian Avenue (I-80 Bus.) and I-80 again before crossing the Truckee River once more.

Passing over the river, the route soon re-enters the Reno city limits. McCarran Boulevard travels southerly through established neighborhoods, then turns to the west. The route becomes more commercial again, passing Meadowood Mall as it heads west to South Virginia Street (US 395 Bus.). The state highway then ends at its origin point underneath the I-580/US 395 overpass.

When the construction of the McCarran Boulevard loop was completed, the Nevada Department of Transportation maintained the entire roadway, but classified it as two separate highways. Initially, State Route 650 was assigned to the eastern half of the roadway, beginning at US 395 on the north end and circling through Sparks towards US 395 in southern Reno. The western half of McCarran Boulevard was assigned to State Route 651, which began at the same point and traveled in the opposite direction through western Reno. The assignment of the two routes along the entirety of the eastern and western McCarran Boulevard segments could be evidenced by postmile panels which were still present along the highway in late 2007.

By 1999, the southern half of each highway had been relinquished to local control. The remaining state-maintained portion of SR 650 ended near Equity Avenue (just south of Mill Street) in Reno, leaving the route a total length of 6.365 miles (10.243 km). SR 651 was truncated to a distance of 6.630 miles (10.670 km), with a southern terminus at West 4th Street. Although under local maintenance, the relinquished portions of McCarran Boulevard remained part of the National Highway System.^[2]

In late July 2009, however, all route shields and mileposts for SR 650 and SR 651 were removed from the highways. These were replaced with new mileposts for State Route 659. The new highway number encompassed all of McCarran Boulevard, with mileage beginning at the I-580/US 395 overpass in south Reno and continuing clockwise around the entire loop.

The entire route is in Washoe County.

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