SR 318 generally parallels the route of the White River on its trek northward.

The highway then enters White Pine County and serves the community of Lund.

[5] The remaining unimproved portions of the county road was made part of the state highway system by 1937—the five miles (8.0 km) from US 93 to Hiko became the first iteration of SR 60, while the remaining 115 miles (185 km) was designated SR 38A.

[7] In 1942, the entire 107 miles (172 km) length of SR 38A between US 93 and Lund had been graded to more closely follow the White River.

However, on July 1, 1976, Nevada began a major renumbering of all its state highway system.