The Reno Arch

Reno, the "Biggest Little City in the World" is located in the beautiful north-west region of the State of Nevada, right at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It is the second largest tourist destination in Nevada, featuring resorts, gaming, family entertainment, outdoor activities, festivals, museums, fantastic cuisine, shows for everyone, art and culture.

Understand

Reno is steeped in a rich, diverse, and rugged history. This is where the historic Johnson-Jeffries fight happened. This is where Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable made The Misfits in 1961—the last completed film for both (Gable died in 1960, after shooting was complete but before release; Monroe died in 1962). It is where the railroad tumbles down out of the mountains from California to cross the Truckee River and begin the long journey east. It's difficult to walk the streets of Reno without seeing the history in this dynamic city.

Most Renoites consider the start of it all to be 1859, when Charles Fuller built a log bridge across the Truckee River and started charging to cross over it on the way to the Gold Rush in California or coming back to Nevada for the "Washoe Rush" in Virginia City. Fuller set up shelter for weary travelers to rest. He served meals at a price, and created an opportunity for prospectors to exchange stories and information.

The town site of Reno, named after Civil War General Jesse Reno, was established on May 13, 1868.

Since its beginning, Reno has spread across much of the Truckee Meadows. Reno and Sparks (a smaller adjacent city) now spread across this small valley separating the Sierra Nevada mountains to the West and Nevada's expansive desert areas to the East.

The profiteering characteristic of the founders may have occasionally plagued the course of Reno's subsequent generations. Some Renoites claim Nevadans are simply of a freer nature. Others think the city has repeated the steps of the goldrush era founders. Certainly, the choices made today are what will determine the true nature of the community. Regardless, Reno enjoys a pretty decent quality of life with four seasons, winter and summer fun, a major university, and plenty of other entertainment.

Reno is in Northwestern Nevada, at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and serves as the urban center for a region including nearby Carson City and the Carson Valley, Lake Tahoe, Pyramid Lake, and historic mining town Virginia City, home of the Comstock Lode. Along with the city of Sparks, Reno is located in the Truckee Meadows, and together they form the Reno-Sparks Metropolitan Area.

Competition in the last years of the 20th century slowed down the gambling business in Reno considerably. Given that its downtown centered around these activities for a good 50 years, the same downtown suffered. Downtown today has weathered the storm, and is improving with projects like a baseball and entertainment district and several condo projects that were completed despite economic slowdown. Growth in the area has continued due to its livability. Reno is working hard to build a different kind of city for a greater variety of tastes, and keeping that in mind will help the visitor see the town through the right kind of eyes.

Climate

Reno
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       1     43 25       1.1     48 28       0.8     55 33       0.5     62 36       0.7     71 44       0.6     81 52       0.2     91 61       0.2     89 59       0.4     79 51       0.6     66 41       1     52 32       1.2     43 26 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches    Data from NOAA (1981-2010)
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       25     6 −4       28     9 −2       20     13 1       13     17 2       18     22 7       15     27 11       5.1     33 16       5.1     32 15       10     26 11       15     19 5       25     11 0       30     6 −3 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm

Reno is at the western edge of the Great Basin, a zone stretching to Salt Lake City that does not drain to the sea - water is carried away by evaporation only. Average precipitation is approximately 7 inches a year, with much of that occurring in the winter in the form of snow. July is the warmest month, with an average high of 91°F, and January is the coldest month, with an average low of 19°F.

Visitor information

• Reno Tahoe Visitor Center, 135 N Sierra St (inside Home Means Nevada. Park in garage at corner of 1st and Sierra - visitor center will validate parking). Daily, 10AM-6PM. (updated Jul 2019)

Get in

By car

From Northern California

As Reno and the Sierra Nevada are popular weekend destinations for Northern Californians, traffic can be bad coming to Reno on Friday evening, and leaving Reno on Sunday evening, especially in the ski season.

The most direct route to Reno from Sacramento is via Interstate 80 over Donner Summit (7239 feet or 2206 m). This route sees a great deal of snowfall during the winter, and will shut down for periods of up to a day several times during a typical winter. Northern California residents also use U.S. 395 in Susanville, this highway stays at a lower elevation and has less problems of traffic and weather. Residents living in the Redding and Chico areas of California find this route safer and quicker. If you plan on crossing this or any other pass in the Sierra Nevada in the winter, keep an eye on the weather forecast, and always carry tire chains if you do not have four-wheel drive.

An alternative route is US 50 over Echo Summit (7330 feet). This route follows the American River up from the Sacramento Valley, and then drops into the Lake Tahoe Basin. From there you can continue on US 50 into Carson City, and from there head north to Reno on US 395, or continue around the lake to Incline Village and drop into Reno on the Mount Rose Highway. This route is two lanes only for much of the way, and traffic can be heavy both in the winter and the summer, and winter maintenance is not as good as on Interstate 80.

Passes across the Sierra south of US 50, aside from CA 88, are not maintained in the winter (from approximately November until May.) And when they are open they are out of the way and potentially dangerous.

From Southern California

The most direct route to Reno is via US 395. This route takes you up the Owens Valley to Bishop, past Mammoth Lakes, into Carson City and thence to Reno. The portion between Bishop and Carson City crosses three passes as high as 8,143 ft (2,482 m) that may have moderately heavy snowfall during winter storms. In that event it would be better to take U.S. 6 from Bishop over Montgomery Pass to U.S. 95 (north) which stays in much lower valleys with less snow. At Schurz beyond Walker Lake take 95(Alt) north to Fernley, then I-80 west to Reno.

From Las Vegas

Don't be fooled by the fact that Las Vegas and Reno are in the same state - there are about 8 hours of driving time separating them. Take US 95 north to Fallon, US 50 west to Fernley, and Interstate 80 west to Reno. If you're not a fan of desert landscapes, boredom is a serious risk on this trip. Winter weather will generally not be a large problem on this trip, but don't count on being able to find food or fuel outside the major towns (Beatty, Tonopah, Hawthorne, Fallon, and Fernley)

During the summer the heat along US 95 can be hard on you and on your vehicle. A much more comfortable alternative to cooking in your car is to drive during the night. Many of the dark stretches between the small towns along US 95 reveal numerous shooting stars and other astral phenomena that you might miss during the baking sun. Keep in mind that driving at night can be dangerous due to the visibility limitations from the hills and the mountains. Be sure to have a lot of rest before undertaking this trip.

From the East

The most traveled route to Reno from the east is Interstate 80. Interstate 80 follows the old Emigrant trail along the Humboldt river for most of the way across Nevada, and thus the grades are generally easy. However, it does this at the expense of swinging well north of the direct route to Reno. US 50 ("The Loneliest Highway in America") is more direct, but it crosses several large mountain ranges and thus has some tight curves, steep grades and a few switchbacks. Don't count on finding food or fuel along US 50 outside of the major towns (Ely, Eureka, Austin, Fallon and Fernley).

By train

Amtrak serves Reno via its California Zephyr service between Emeryville and Chicago, and stops once a day in both directions. 1 Reno Station is in the middle of downtown Reno, on 280 N Center St, and is within walking distance of all the downtown casinos. The station is full service, including an indoor waiting room and checked bag service. Amtrak California also operates shuttle buses between Reno and Sacramento which connects to the Capitol Corridor, serving Northern California, and the San Joaquins, serving the Central Valley and points south, rail routes.

By bus

The major long distances buses travel along I-80 between San Francisco and Salt Lake City. There are other county operate buses that offer limited services along the US Hwy 395 corridor to Alturas to the north and to Bishop, CA to the south:

• Greyhound Lines, (bus depot) 280 N Center St (Reno Amtrak Station), ☏ +1 775-332-2950. Travels primarily on Interstate 80 between Sacramento, Reno, Lovelock, Winnemucca, Elko, Battle Mountain, Wendover & Salt Lake City. Passengers transfer in Sacramento, Oakland or Salt Lake City to get to additional destinations. They also have additional stops in Sparks and Carson City. Check schedules. (updated Dec 2016)
• Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe (RTC Washoe) Intercity, (north end of route) 4th St Station. Operates commuter buses between downtown Reno (along S Virginia) and Carson City. (updated Dec 2016)
• Eastern Sierra Transit, (bus stops) Reno-Tahoe International Airport and Centennial Plaza Transit Center in Sparks, ☏ +1 760-872-1901, toll-free: +1-800-922-1930. Goes south along US Hwy 395 towards Lone Pine, CA via Carson City, Mammoth Lake, Big Pine, Independence and Bishop. Buses operate on limited schedules from Mon to Fri. Check schedules closely before using this option. (updated Dec 2016)
• Sage Stage, (bus stops) Door 'D' at Reno-Tahoe International Airport and Amtrak/Greyhound Depot @ 280 N Center St, ☏ +1 530-233-6410. Goes north on US Hwy 395 to Alturas, CA via Susanville, Madeline & Likely in Modoc County, CA (Shasta Cascades Region). From Alturas there are onward buses to Redding, CA and Klamath Falls, OR on two other routes. From Reno they only operate once on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays on space limited basis. Reserve and check schedules closely before using this option. (updated Dec 2016)

By plane

See also: Air travel in the United States

• 2 Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO  ^IATA) (located five miles southeast of downtown off of I-580/US Hwy 395 at Exit #65). The major airport for commercial flights serving Reno, Carson City and Lake Tahoe  

The following airlines serve Reno (some distant cities are seasonal and/or weekly):

• Concourse B:

• Delta/Delta Connection (Gates B8 & B10): (Minneapolis-St Paul, Seattle and Salt Lake City, Atlanta (Seasonal))
• JetBlue (Gates B4 & B6): (Long Beach & New York JFK)
• Southwest (Gates B1-11 odd numbered): (Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Phoenix & San Diego. Seasonally from Chicago-Midway)

• Concourse C:

• Alaska Airlines/Horizon (Gates C4 & C6): (Boise, Portland, Orange County, Seattle, San Jose CA)
• Allegiant' (Gate C11): (Los Angeles & Las Vegas)
• American Airlines (Gates C7-10 and C12): (Chicago O'Hare, Dallas Ft Worth & Phoenix)
• Volaris (Gates C2) (Guadalajara)
• United Airlines/United Express (Gates C1-5 odd numbered): (Denver, Los Angeles & San Francisco. Seasonally from Houston)

The only non-stop international flight offered is from Guadalajara, Mexico by Volaris. Additional international connections are made in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas-Ft Worth, Minneapolis, New York JFK or Chicago O'Hare depending on the airline you choose.

To travel from the airport to downtown:

• A taxi from the airport will cost around $17+ 15% tip.
• The RTC #19 bus, costs $2 one way (or $5 for a day pass if requiring to transfer buses) and takes 28 minutes to travel from the airport to downtown (4th St Station). The bus stop is at the north end of the center curb, outside of Baggage Claim. Please follow the directional signs posted. Click here for a list of additional local (door to door and hotel shuttle) and long distance shuttles to Lake Tahoe

Get around

Map of Downtown Reno

By car

Reno is served by two freeways: I-80 running east-west, and US 580 (previously 395), running north-south. Circling the valley of the Truckee Meadows is the McCarran Blvd ring road. The primary business artery is Virginia Street, which runs north-south through downtown Reno. Major east-west routes include Moana Lane, Plumb Lane, Mill Street, Second Street, Fourth Street, and Sixth Street. Major routes running north-south in Reno include Keystone Avenue, Lakeside Drive, Wells Avenue, and Kietzke Lane.

Car rental

Nearly all national car rental agencies serve the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Note that several agencies do not have fleets within the airport property. Most notably, Enterprise's fleet is 1 mile away from the terminal. However, the terminal includes an Enterprise service counter, they offer free shuttle service during business hours, and taxi vouchers and a pickup hotline for drop-offs after hours.

By bus

Reno's transit system, called RTC RIDE, is operated by the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County. The busiest route, the #1 bus, has been replaced with two services, RTC RAPID, a priority express bus making limited stops, and RTC CONNECT, the local. RAPID runs 15 minutes or better headways most of the day through Downtown Reno (a good place to start is the RTC 4th Street Station at 4th and Lake) and down South Virginia Street (the major north-south street) to Meadowood Mall. RTC RAPID should serve any tourist well for most shopping, dining, and gambling needs.

Other routes to know about are the #11, which runs between downtown Reno and downtown Sparks, and the Sierra Spirit circulator bus (7AM – 7PM), which connects various downtown destinations along the Virginia Street corridor down to the Truckee River to the south and the University of Nevada, Reno, to the north. In downtown Reno, all buses stop at or near the RTC 4th Street Station at 4th and Lake St, where you can also find The Bus Book.

Fares may be paid on the bus by cash (exact change) or by pass. All RTC RIDE passes are available from the Pass Vending Machines (as of March 28, 2011 all day passes are $4 at the station, if you buy them on the bus they are $5. One trip fare is $2, but asking for a transfer allows travel on any bus in any direction for 1½ hrs from the time of purchase. All major casinos have a bus stop for easy access), available at RTC 4th Street Station and Meadowood Mall, and may be purchased with cash, coin, debit or credit cards (cash only if purchased on the bus).

By taxi

Reno's taxis are plentiful, efficient, and comfortable. At the airport, downtown or near any major casino they should be very easy to come by, in other places expect to call to arrange pick-up. Don't drink and drive.

• Reno-Sparks Cab Co, ☏ +1 775-333-3333. 
• Whittlesea - Checker Taxi, ☏ +1 775-322-2222. Radio-dispatched to insure prompt service. 
• Yellow Cab, ☏ +1 775-355-5555. 

See

Reno is an interesting city, with plenty to see and do day and night; many attractions which should be considered "must-see" are 30–60 minutes outside of town by car. Therefore, renting a car is a good idea when visiting Reno.

In-City

• 1 Nevada Museum of Art, 160 W Liberty St, ☏ +1 775-329-3333, art@nevadaart.org. W-Su 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-8PM. The Nevada Museum of Art building was designed by Will Bruder and opened in 2003. It plays host to national and international touring exhibits in addition to smaller exhibits of regional significance. It is the only accredited art museum in Nevada. $10/adult, $8/concession, $1/child. (updated Oct 2016)
• 2 Wingfield Park, 2 S Arlington Ave, ☏ +1 775-825-9255. Daily 5AM-10PM. Along the Truckee River just a few blocks from the casino core, Wingfield Park features an amphitheater with regular performances during the summer months, a kayak park open year round, and many pleasant spots to sit and watch the world go by any day of the week, at pretty much any time of the day. Home of annual events the Reno River Festival, held in May, and the Artown Festival, July 1–31. (updated Mar 2015)
• 3 Washoe County Library, 301 S Center St, ☏ +1 775-327-8300. M-Th 9AM-5:30PM, Su 10AM-5PM. Reno's library was designed by an architect who wanted to set it in a park. There was not enough land available for both a park and a library, so he brought the park inside the building. This library is an excellent example of inspired architecture from the 1960s that actually stands the test of time and is worth a visit just to see the innovative treatment of the periodicals section in the basement. Free. (updated Oct 2016)
• California Ave. This area of small shops and restaurants is located a short walk from the downtown casino core and provides a pleasant setting for a meal. (updated Mar 2015)
• 4 University of Nevada, Reno. An ideal location for a pleasant stroll, the layout of the University campus was inspired by Jefferson's University of Virginia. Visitors will find a parklike setting with a variety of architectural styles, and the Fleischmann Planetarium. Guided walking tours are available by reservation at +1 775-784-4700.  
• 5 Rancho San Rafael Park, 1595 N Sierra St, ☏ +1 775-785-4512. Daily 8AM-9PM. A few blocks west of the north end of the University, this 570-acre county park is home to the Arboretum, as well as the Wilbur D. May Museum and the Great Basin Adventure children's attraction (seasonal). This is the home of the Reno Balloon Races, held in late summer/early fall annually. (updated Mar 2015)
• S Wells Ave (Bus #19 from downtown). A local neighborhood with a decidedly Latino flavor, this neighborhood features unique shopping and dining and generally winds down in early evening hours. (updated Mar 2015)
• Victorian Sq. This is the center of downtown Sparks and features casinos, restaurants, a movie theater, and several redevelopment projects under construction. Home to the "Best in the West" Rib Cookoff every summer. (updated Mar 2015)
• 6 Idlewild Park, 2055 Idlewild Dr, ☏ +1 775-334-2270. 7AM-6PM. A nice stroll from downtown along Riverside Drive, Idlewild Park features Reno's Municipal Rose Garden, as well as a seasonal kiddie park, a driving range (the exercise kind, not the golf kind), a skate park, and various walking trails. Located on the south bank of the Truckee River. (updated Mar 2015)
• 7 National Automobile Museum, 10 S Lake St, ☏ +1 775-333-9300, info@automuseum.org. M-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Same day re-entry with receipt. $10/adult, $8/senior, $4/child. (updated Oct 2016)

Spectator sports

• Nevada Wolf Pack, Lawlor Events Center, 15th and Virginia, ☏ +1 775-348-PACK (7225) (select option 2). M–F 10AM–5PM. University of Nevada sports, competing in five men's sports, 10 women's sports, and one coed sport (rifle shooting), mostly in the Mountain West Conference. As with most major universities, the most widely followed sports are football and men's basketball. The Wolf Pack's rivalry with its sister campus in Las Vegas, UNLV, is especially intense. The main athletics venues are on campus, with the most notable being Mackay Stadium (football) and the Lawlor Events Center (basketball); the latter also houses the main ticket office for all Wolf Pack sports.  
• Reno Aces, 1 Greater Nevada Field, 250 Evans Ave, ☏ +1 775-334-7000. Minor League Baseball in the Pacific Coast League, one of two U.S.-based leagues that are a step below Major League Baseball. The Aces are the top farm team for the Arizona Diamondbacks. $8-35.  
• Reno 1868 FC, Greater Nevada Field, 250 Evans Ave, ☏ +1 775-334-7001. The city's newest pro sports team, which began play in 2017 in the second-division league now known as the USL Championship as the top affiliate of the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.  

The city had a pro basketball team in the G League, the NBA's official minor league, through the 2017–18 season, but the team has now moved to Stockton, California.

Events

Tourism is the main focus of Reno, and a number of yearly tourism events are held in the Reno-Sparks area, mostly during the summer months.

Yearly events

• Reno National Championship Air Races, Reno-Stead Airport, ☏ +1 775-972-6663. September 12–16, 2018. Held every September just north of Reno, the National Championship Air Races have become an institution for northern Nevada and aviation enthusiasts from around the world. Each year, the event draws 200,000 visitors to the Reno-Stead Airport, attracting more than 86,000 unique fans. The event features six racing classes, a large display of static aircraft and several military and civil flight demonstrations. The Reno-Stead Airport is a small regional airport about 10 miles north of Reno. This airport has nothing to do with the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, the main commercial airport for the Reno-Tahoe area. (updated Jul 2018)
• The Great Reno Balloon Race, Rancho San Rafael Park. September 7-9, 2018. 
• Hot August Nights, Throughout Reno. August 7-12, 2018. (updated Jul 2018)
• Street Vibrations, toll-free: +1-800-FOR-RENO (367-7366). September 26–30, 2018. (updated Jul 2018)
• Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off, Victorian Square, Sparks. Labor Day Weekend. (updated Jul 2018)
• Reno Rodeo, toll-free: +1-800-225-2277. June 20-20, 2019. (updated Jul 2018)
• Reno is Artown. Artown brings distinguished artists from around the world to Reno each July for music, arts and theater performances throughout the Reno area. Mostly free. (updated Jul 2018)
• Reno River Festival, toll-free: +1-800-FOR-RENO (367-7366). May 12-18, 2018. (updated Jul 2018)

Do

• 2 Grand Adventure Land, Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E 2nd St. Part of the Grand Sierra Resort, the Grand Adventure Land offers 4 go-kart tracks, a mini-golf course and a swing ride. 

The Circus Circus and Silver Legacy casinos at night

Gamble

If you win... Chances are that, if you win it big in Reno and you are not a U.S. citizen your winnings will be subject to a 30% withholding tax from the US Internal Revenue Service. That $10,000 slot winning can dwindle quite quickly if that is taken off the top. Not to worry, though, you can reclaim your gambling winnings tax through a 1042-S form. You should get this from the casino so don't lose it... it is your starting ticket to getting your gambling winnings back.

Casinos are Reno's most common visitor attraction and no entry to Reno would be complete without an overview of them. In addition to gambling, these properties provide a variety of dining and entertainment opportunities and should not be overlooked.

• 3 Circus Circus, 500 North Sierra Street, ☏ +1 775-329-0711, toll-free: +1-800-648-5010, ccrmktg@circusreno.com. Connected to Silver Legacy via skywalks. While this casino does not come highly recommended for its dining options, its Circus acts and midway arcade are great attractions for families so if you're traveling with children, they should not be missed. (updated Mar 2015)
• 4 Eldorado, 345 North Virginia Street, ☏ +1 775-786-5700, toll-free: +1-800-879-8879, reservations@eldoradoreno.com. Connected to Silver Legacy via skywalks, the Eldorado is a pink neon masterpiece featuring a variety of dining options including the world cuisine Tivoli Gardens café, The Brew Brothers brewpub (with live music on Friday and Saturday nights), a steakhouse, seafood restaurant, La Strada Italian Restaurant, and more. Buffet is one of the better values in Reno, 8/10 scale for quality and hotness, 8/10 scale for price ($13 pp). (updated Mar 2015)
• 5 Little Nugget Diner (Reno Nugget), 233 N. Virginia St., ☏ +1 775-323-0716. Not to be confused with John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks, the Reno Nugget is a tiny casino on Virginia Street and features a great bar with strong drinks as well as a classic "greasy spoon" diner serving up the famous "Awful Awful" burger, which is a rather large burger served with a monstrous basket of seasoned fries. (updated Mar 2015)
• 6 Harrah's Reno, 219 North Center St, ☏ +1 775-786-3232. Reno is the birthplace of Harrah's, and the Reno location features all the usual amenities to be found at Harrah's properties, and also includes a martini bar and an Asian noodle restaurant. Harrah's Steakhouse is reportedly quite a highbrow affair. Good buffet at 8/10, price is about $15. (updated Mar 2015)
• 7 Club Cal*Neva, 38 East Second St, ☏ +1-775-323-1046, toll-free: +1-877-777-7303. The last downtown casino to be covered here, this property features affordable gambling of all types and a variety of cheap dining options. This is the classic "Reno-style" casino and should not be missed, especially for those who like to gamble. (updated Mar 2015)
• 8 Atlantis, 3800 S. Virginia St., ☏ +1 775-825-4700, toll-free: +1-800-723-6500. This tropical-themed casino resort features a variety of dining options including a pizza café with a real Italian pizza oven, a good buffet, and steakhouse. Located across the street from the convention center, south of downtown. Well served by the #1 bus. Buffet is one of the best in Reno in price vs quality. ($ 13) (updated Mar 2015)
• 9 Peppermill, 2707 South Virginia Street, ☏ +1 775-826-2121, toll-free: +1-866-821-9996. If you've been to Vegas and seen the Peppermill on The Strip, you might just have to do a double-take when viewing Reno's Peppermill. This is a large, well-appointed hotel/casino, with all the dining and entertainment options you would expect. South of downtown, well served by the #1 bus. (updated Mar 2015)
• 10 Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 East Second St, toll-free: +1-800-501-2651. This is Reno's largest hotel/casino, located just up Terminal Way from the airport. It features a set of high-end luxury condos (starting at $245,000 and up to $1.1M) which can be rented separately from the hotel through Reno Luxury Resort or Indy's Hotel Condos at Grand Sierra Resort. The Hotel features a pool and nightclub that was operated by Nikki Beach, and many decently appointed standard guest rooms. You will find a whole host of dining options including a Charlie Palmer Steak, Dolce Enoteca e Ristorante, and a shoppiing mall, movie theater, seasonal swimming pool, video arcade, bowling alley and more. Well served by the #14 bus, though driving or taking a cab is recommended. (updated Mar 2015)
• 11 John Ascuaga's Nugget, 1100 Nugget Avenue, ☏ +1 775-356-3300, toll-free: +1-800-648-1177, webmaster@nuggetresort.com. This is a big hotel-casino/resort located in Sparks' Victorian Square only minutes from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. It features a great coffee shop, Rosie's Café, as well as the upscale Basque-themed Restaurante Orozko, Trader Dick's Polynesian restaurant, The Steakhouse Grill, John's Oyster Bar, the newly remodeled Rotisserie Buffet, Gabe's Pub & Deli, and Starbucks Coffee. Also regular live, weekly music performances from local and national touring acts. Buffet is good at 7/10 but price is average at $13. (updated Mar 2015)
• 12 Silver Legacy, 407 North Virginia St, toll-free: +1-800-687-8733. This is the newest hotel/casino to be constructed in Reno, and was completed in 1995. It includes a cheesy "mint press" "churning out" souvenir coins as well as numerous dining options including several lounges, an oyster bar, a steakhouse, coffeeshop, rum bar with dueling pianos, and more. Owned through a joint venture by Gary Carano of the Eldorado and Circus Circus corp. Buffet is about a 6/10 scale for quality. 4/10 scale for price ($20 pp). (updated Mar 2015)

Climb

The granite faces around the Reno area offer fantastic rock climbing locations for experienced climbers, such as Donner Pass and Big Chief near Lake Tahoe. For those who are less experienced, or just want to stay indoors, there are also three climbing gyms in Reno that offer good training and a fun time.

• Basecamp, 255 N Virginia St, +1 775-398-5443. This gym is part of the Whitney Peak hotel, but is open to anyone and is the only one in downtown. Basecamp has a small fitness center, 7,000 square feet of bouldering walls inside, and top rope walls on the outside of the building. Two of these top rope routes actually go up the whole side of the Whitney Peak building, making it the Guinness Book of World Records "World's Tallest Artificial Climbing Wall" at 164 feet. Open climb daily 6AM-10PM. $17 for adults, $12 for kids (14 and under), seniors (55 and over), students, and active members of the military, EMT, fire, police, and sheriff's department, etc. $50 for the big wall.
• Mesa Rim, 970 Harvard Way, +1 775-507-4255. This is the newest and largest climbing gym in Reno. The place has bouldering, top rope, and lead walls, plus a fitness center and a yoga studio. Open climb M-F 6AM-10PM, Sa Su 8AM-8PM. $19 day pass, $16 for students, fire and rescue, military, EMT, and police.
• Rocksport, 1901 Silverada Blvd, +1 775-352-7673, e-mail: climb@rocksportreno.com. The first climbing gym in Reno, this place boasts 7,500 square feet of terrain, 35 foot top rope and lead walls, and bouldering walls. All indoor, very family friendly. Open climb M-F 10AM-10PM, Sa Su 10AM-8PM. $17 for adults, $12 for kids (under 14), seniors (over 61), students, and military.

Kayak

Reno offers a kayak park at Wingfield Park. Equipment rentals and outdoor adventures can be booked nearby.

Mountain Biking

The open desert terrain that surrounds much of Reno, especially to the Northwest, offers some fantastic mountain biking. Peavine mountain has many networks of trails that are a biker's paradise, most of it singletrack, and most of it technical. Many cyclists start near Rancho San Rafael Park to access the Peavine trails. Be careful, however, as there are often gun-happy residents shooting away, not always sober, farther out in the government lands; also be sure to bring plenty of water, as the desert heat can be quite oppressive. Find more information in books such as Mountain Biking Reno & Carson City: Best Trails by R.W. Miskimins. Nearby areas, like Lake Tahoe offer even more for the mountain biker, such as Tahoe's famous Flume Trail.

Road Biking

There exists a rather good bike trail along the Truckee River which extends from the eastern fringes of Sparks to the western limits of Reno and beyond. The section inside city limits is fun and easy for bikers of any skill level, but is actually only a section of the Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway which—when completed—will run from Lake Tahoe all the way to Pyramid Lake: 116 miles in total.

Hiking

The N, Rancho San Rafael Regional Park

Reno and its surrounding areas have thousands of miles of hiking trails, ranging from park strolls to mountain wilderness treks. Washoe county maintains a Truckee Meadows Trails guide, though this is not comprehensive for all trails in the region.

• Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, just north of the University of Nevada campus contains a variety of trails for different skill levels. The arboretum's paths are easily walkable. For a moderate hike, the Evans Creek trail runs in a loop on both sides of the eponymous canyon creek. There is also "the N", a massive whitewash painted landmark set into the side of a hill on the north end of the park. Two trails lead up to the N: a longer but easier route from the side, or a harder straight ascent from the base of the hill.

Burning Man

Reno is the closest major city to Black Rock City and the corresponding Burning Man festival. Many burners pass through Reno on the way to Black Rock City, and many Reno businesses cater to burners by stocking extra water and camping supplies during the Burning Man week. Some hotels offer Burning Man discounts for travellers staying overnight in Reno.

Ski

Winter Ski slopes overlooking Lake Tahoe

Reno is within two hours of an incredible number of ski resorts. Here is a short list.

• 13 Alpine Meadows, 2600 Alpine Meadows Rd, CA. (updated Oct 2017)
• 14 Mt Rose, Mount Rose Highway. The closest ski resort to Reno. This resort is at elevation 8,200 ft (2,500 m) and has a great layout and an impressive array of terrain for its no more than 1500 of rise off the base. Good powder here.  
• 15 Heavenly (The Mountains above the Carson Valley, up Highway 207). Lake Views on one side (you're literally skiing above the casinos at the south end of the lake) and the desert valleys and pow pow on the other side. Huge amount of terrain and claims to have the West's largest snowmaking system for those dry years.  
• 16 Sugar Bowl (I-80 to just above Donner Lake). Two base areas with a little village in between and an extensive network of terrain.  
• 17 Diamond Peak (Incline Village, North Lake Tahoe). Ski right above Lake Tahoe on a well laid-out network of runs. They have carpetloader lifts, so be prepared for a strange boarding experience. Small resort, family-friendly.  
• 18 Squaw Valley (I-80 West to Truckee, then Highway 89 South). This legendary resort is home of the legendary KT22 and hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics.  

Buy

Exploring the Truckee River Arts District will give you firsthand experience of Downtown Reno's recent urban renaissance. There are two main shopping and dining hubs in the district:

• The "Riverwalk" area. The North end of Reno's Riverwalk District meanders along Reno 's beautiful Truckee River. Most of the retail activity on this end is situated along First Street between Lake St. (east) and Arlington St. (west). This end of the district has galleries, coffee shops, great dining including a brewery and a French restaurant and even a movie theater. Reno 's renowned Truckee River Whitewater Park runs directly through this area offering visitors even more adventurous outdoor activities - situated directly in the urban setting of downtown Reno. Kayak and raft rentals from Tahoe Whitewater Tours (+1-800-442-7238) are available at Wingfield Park, located at the 1st and Arlington Street area.
• The "CalAve" area. CalAve is the section of the Truckee River Arts District that runs along California Avenue. This area forms the southernmost border of the district and is quickly becoming Reno 's pre-eminent neighborhood retail, restaurant, entertainment and business district. CALAVE is a must-see with highlights such as the Chocolate Bar - a trendy place to sip alcoholic and nonalcoholic chocolate drinks while sampling addictive confections like their Chili-Infused Truffles. Enjoy a slice of Blue Moon's famous gourmet pizza or enjoy wine, cheeses and other lunch specialties at the Cheese Board. The retail options on CalAve will satisfy the serious shopper offering a variety of upscale clothing, shoe and home decor shops.
• 1 Meadowood Mall, 5000 Meadowood Mall Cir, ☏ +1 775-827-8450. (updated Jul 2019)

Eat

One thing Renoites know is food! Check out some of these great spots:

• 1 Peg's Glorified Ham 'n' Eggs, 420 S Sierra St (downtown), ☏ +1 775-329-2600. Daily 6:30AM-2PM. Peg's is always busy for brunch, but well worth the wait. A local favorite. There are actually five of these in Reno, the other four at 196 Lemmon Dr (North Reno), 6300 Mae Anne Ave (West Reno), 720 S Meadows Pkwy (South Reno), and 1495 E Prater Way (Sparks). The downtown location is the original. $8-15. (updated Feb 2018)
• Jim Kelley's Nugget Diner, 233 North Virginia St (in the back of the Nugget casino), ☏ +1 775-356-3300. Always open. Home of the Awful Awful (Awful big and Awful good), one of the best burgers in the state. (updated Feb 2018)
• JJ's Pie Company, 555 West 5th St, ☏ +1 775-786-5555. Sports, beer, pizza, and subs. (updated Feb 2018)
• Blue Moon Pizza, 6135 Lakeside Dr, ☏ +1 775-825-1120. 
• Pirate's Pizza, 180 West Peckham Lane #1100 (in the Reno Town Mall), ☏ +1 775-828-0900. Daily 11:30AM-9PM. 
• Louis' Basque Corner, 301 East 4th St, ☏ +1 775-323-7203. (updated Feb 2018)
• Santa Fe Hotel, 235 North Lake St, ☏ +1 775-323-1891. Family-style basque food. (updated Feb 2018)
• Silver Peak Brewery, 124 Wonder St (corner of Wonder and Holcomb Avenue), ☏ +1 775-324-1864. 
• Island Buffet, 2707 S Virginia St (at the Peppermill Casino), ☏ +1 775-826-2121. Comes up high on a google search for "Best breakfast in Reno", and is really fantastic. 
• Beto's Taqueria, 575 W 5th St, ☏ +1 775-324-0632. (updated Feb 2018)
• El Adobe Cafe, 55 W Arroyo St (right off S Virginia), ☏ +1 775-327-4422. Su-Th 10AM-8PM, F Sa 10AM-10PM. Sit-down Mexican food. Family owned and operated. $11-15 ish. (updated Feb 2018)
• Miguel's, 1415 S Virginia St (original), 13901 S Virginia St (South Reno) (corner of Virginia and Mt. Rose), ☏ +1 775-322-2722 (original), +1 775-851-0500 (South Reno). Tu-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM, Su noon-8PM. Mexican restaurant that's been here forever (actually since 1959). Also family owned and operated. about $10. (updated Feb 2018)
• Dish Cafe, 885 Mill St, ☏ +1 775-348-8264. 

Drink

• 1 LEX Nightclub, 2500 East Second St (At Grand Sierra Resort and Casino), ☏ +1 775-789-5399, info@lexnightclub.com. Daily 9PM - 4AM. LEX Nightclub – an unprecedented nightlife venue – is the premier nightclub in northern Nevada, rivaling the country's top nightlife venues in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. At an impressive 25,000 square feet, LEX features three full bars, 33 VIP tables and a bevy of deluxe amenities to create the experience of a lifetime. The more than $16 million nightclub also features nine intricate skylights, a $2 million lighting system and an adult indoor pool partially covered by a glass dance floor, creating the illusion of dancing on water. (updated Oct 2016)
• Flowing Tide Pub. Locations on 10580 North McCarran Boulevard and 465 South Meadows Parkway. 
• Reno Jazz Club, 302 East 4th St, ☏ +1 775-322-5011. 
• 2 Se7en Teahouse and Bar, 100 N Arlington Ave (First & Arlington). (updated Oct 2016)
• 3 Sierra Tap House, 253 W 1st St (On Truckee Riverwalk), ☏ +1 775-322-7678. (updated Oct 2016)
• 4 The Depot, 325 E 4th St, ☏ +1 775-737-4330. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-2AM, Su 11AM-9PM. Craft brewery/distillery and restaurant with 6 different beers 4 kinds of spirits. (updated Oct 2016)
• 5 The Z Bar, 1074 South Virginia St, ☏ +1 775-348-1723. (updated Oct 2016)
• 1145 Seminary Ave (Seminary & 11th ("Life Lounge")), ☏ +1 775-220-8485. 
• Great Basin Brewery, 5525 S. Virginia St., ☏ +1 775-284-7711. Su M 11AM-9PM, Tu-Sa 11AM-10PM (Reno location opens Su at 9:30AM). Brewery, distillery and restaurant. (updated Feb 2018)

Sleep

In addition, most major Reno casinos are hotel/casino resorts. See above for a link to a list of casino resorts.

Budget

• 1 Days Inn, 701 East 7th St, ☏ +1 775-786-4070. (updated Oct 2016)
• 2 Motel 6 Reno - Livestock Events Center, 866 N Wells Ave, ☏ +1 775-786-9852, fax: +1 775-786-3162. (updated Oct 2016)
• 3 Motel 6 Reno - Virginia Plumb, 1901 S Virginia St, ☏ +1 775-827-0255, fax: +1 775-827-4728. (updated Oct 2016)
• 4 Motel 6 Reno West, 1400 Stardust St, ☏ +1 775-747-7390, fax: +1 775-747-4527. (updated Oct 2016)

Mid-range

• 5 Best Western Airport Plaza Hotel, 1981 Terminal Way, ☏ +1 775-348-6370, toll-free: +1-800-648-3525, fax: +1 775-348-9722. (updated Oct 2016)
• 6 Comfort Inn & Suites Reno Airport, 1250 East Plumb Ln, ☏ +1 775-682-4444, fax: +1 775-682-4445. The Comfort Inn & Suites at the Reno - Tahoe International is conveniently located one quarter mile from the Reno Airport. (updated Oct 2016)
• 7 Courtyard Reno, 6855 South Virginia St, ☏ +1 775-851-8300, fax: +1 775-851-8311. (updated Oct 2016)
• 8 Residence Inn Reno, 9845 Gateway Dr, ☏ +1 775-853-8800, fax: +1 775-853-8805. (updated Oct 2016)
• 9 Vagabond Inn Executive Reno, 3131 S. Virginia St, ☏ +1 775-825-7134, fax: +1 775-825-3096. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Oct 2016)

Go next

Regionally, Reno features a variety of attractions which are hard to beat. These attractions are best experienced during the spring, summer, and early fall, as wintertime in the area renders most of them closed. Reno gets cold in the winter, so if you're visiting in the winter, look to ski resorts to entertain you during the day.

• There are several world-class ski areas within a one-hour drive of Reno, including Squaw Valley (home of the 1960 Winter Olympics), Heavenly and Alpine Meadows.
• The eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park is 150 miles south (on US395 to California 120; allow at least 3 hours), and is generally much less crowded than the western entrances. Excellent dayhiking and backpacking are found around Tuolomne Meadows and Dana Pass before descending into more crowded Yosemite Valley. However, beware of this entrance if you suffer from altitude sickness - the elevation of the park gate is nearly 10,000 feet.
• Washoe Valley: Bower's Mansion & Davis Creek Park. Washoe Valley is a very picturesque valley located about 30 minutes south of Reno by car (US-395) and features two great regional parks which should not be missed: Bower's Mansion and Davis Creek Park. Davis Creek park features the creek of the same name and a great pond for winter ice skating (conditions permitting) as well as fantastic access to the Sierra Nevada mountains (it sits at the base) Features campsites and showers. Bower's Mansion is a park with a swimming pool open in the summertime and the mansion which is the park's namesake. Tours of the mansion are available throughout the day in the summertime and well worth it – telling a story of the enrichment and eventual tragic downfall of a family which struck it rich on the Comstock Lode. Washoe Valley is also home to Washoe Lake State Park. In years when the lake is full, this park features a boat landing and some of the best windsurfing to be found, plus campsites, and some fantastic scenery.
• Virginia City. The home of the Comstock Lode, this was once the largest city between Denver and San Francisco. It is a historic landmark district and can be accessed from Reno via Geiger Grade (Hwy 341, east from Mt Rose Junction south of town) or Mound House just east of Carson City (also via Hwy 341) If you are not comfortable with mountain driving it may be worth your time to go through Carson City. Worth it to have a drink at one of its storied saloons (a popular one is Bucket of Blood, others abound), to wander its historic C Street, wander through its cemetery, and if you're a train buff, to ride the V&T tourist train (and learn more about the ongoing efforts to recreate the original route of this historic short-line railroad).
• Carson City. From its founding this town was intended to be Nevada's capital city. The historic Carson City mint is now home to the Nevada State Museum, with exhibits dealing with everything from prehistoric native life to the Old West mining boom to the current day. The State Capitol Complex is an ideal location for a stroll and a look inside the political history and workings of the state, especially in springtimes of odd-numbered years, when the Legislature is in session. A tour of historic homes and the personalities behind them can be taken by following the blue lines on the sidewalks, beginning from downtown. The Brewery Arts Center features theater, live music, and visual arts offerings throughout the week.
• Lake Tahoe. Shared with California, this alpine lake features crystal clear cold water, and a variety of attractions including the MS Dixie paddlewheel trawler, Vikingsholm Castle, and the South Lake Tahoe/Stateline casino and tourist center. Other notable things to see and do include the picturesque California town of King's Beach, in addition to beaches and parks at Crystal Bay, Zephyr Cove, and more. 45 minutes from Reno via Hwy 431, the Mount Rose Highway; with a less treacherous drive through Carson City via Highway 50 West taking an hour and a half.
• Pyramid Lake. The second largest terminus lake in North America, this desert lake features a variety of interesting rock formations and is home to endangered but large Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. A high holy site to the native Paiute Indians, it is contained entirely within the Paiute Reservation. Fishing, boating and swimming are available, though caution is advised for the latter two (random windstorms and undercurrents belie the relatively placid appearance the lake usually assumes). Roughly an hour north of town, on Pyramid Highway, SR 428.
• U.S. Route 50 eastward across Nevada, nicknamed the Loneliest Road in America crosses semi-desert mountains and valleys and passes through historic mining towns Austin, Eureka and Ely, then at the Utah line, the entrance to Great Basin National Park.

Routes through Reno

Sacramento ← Truckee ←	W  E	→ Winnemucca → Salt Lake City
Sacramento ← Truckee ←	W  E	→ Sparks → Salt Lake City
Alturas ← Susanville ← ends ←	N  S	→ Carson City → to Bishop