Reno

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 folks 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 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

Getting there

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, which 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 b

Getting around

By car Reno is served by two freeways: I-80 running east-west, and I-580 (previously US 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. If you're not arriving by plane, Enterprise also has a branch on the second floor of the Silver Legacy casino downtown.

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, c

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 (free parking), ☏ +1 775-329-3333, [email protected]. Tu-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. . $15/adult, $13/concession, $3/child. (updated Nov 2019) 2 Wingfield Park, 2 S Arlington Ave, ☏ +1 775-825-9255. Daily 5AM-10PM. Closed through summer 2026. 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 for three days in early June, and the Artown Festival, July 1–31. (updated Nov 2023) 3 California Ave. This area of small shops and restaurants is a short walk from the downtown casino core and provides a pleasant setting for a meal. (updated Mar 2015) 4 University of Nevada, Reno, ☏ +1 775-784-4700. 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. 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 an arboretum, as well as the Wilbur D. May Museum, a fishing pond and a large off-leash dog area. This is the home of the Reno Balloon Races, held in late summer/early fall annually. The northern half of the park connects to trail networks in the hills. (updated Apr 2023) 6 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) 7 Idlewild Park, 2055 Idlewild Dr, ☏ +1 775-334-2417. A nice stroll from downtown along Riverside Drive, Idlewild Park features Reno's Municipal Rose Garden, as well as playgrounds, exercise equipment, a skate park, a swimming po

Do

Spectator sports 1 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. The men's basketball team is planning to move to a new arena at the Grand Sierra Resort in 2026. 2 Reno Aces, 250 Evans Ave, ☏ +1 775-334-7000. Minor League Baseball in the Triple-A 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. $14–39. (updated May 2023) Reno Rodeo, 1350 N Wells Ave, ☏ +1 775-329-3877. mid-June. 10-day rodeo competition with championship events on the final day. (updated May 2023)

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 3 The Great Reno Balloon Race, Rancho San Rafael Park. pre-dawn to midday. Three day hot air balloon event over Labor Day weekend. You can see the balloons from all over town once they are up in the air, but if you would like a good spot to see them inflate and take off up close you will need to get to the park before 5am. Parking can be a challenge due to closed roads; be prepared to walk several blocks uphill. Free, parking on site $25-50. Hot August Nights, Throughout Reno. early August. Classic car show with free outdoor rock concerts. (updated May 2023) Street Vibrations, toll-free: +1 775-329-7469. Twice-yearly motorcycle rally in June and September. (updated May 2023) 4 Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off, Victorian Square, Sparks. Labor Day Weekend. (updated Jul 2018) Reno is Artown, ☏ +1 775-322-1538, [email protected]. 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 May 2023) Reno River Festival, toll-free: +1-800-FOR-RENO (367-7366). mid-May. (updated Jul 2018)

Gambling

Casinos are Reno's most common visitor attraction and no entry to Reno would be complete without

Buy

Exploring the Truckee River Arts District will give you firsthand experience of Downtown Reno's 21st-century 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 in the urban setting of downtown Reno. Kayak and raft rentals from Tahoe Whitewater Tours (☏ +1-800-442-7238) are available at Wingfield Park 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 non-alcoholic 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. Anchored by Macy's, JC Penny and Dick's Sporting Goods. Also features a Round One arcade and Cheesecake Factory. (updated Apr 2023) 2 The Summit, 13925 S Virginia St, ☏ +1 775-853-7800. Includes an Apple Store, Dillards, Pottery Barn and a movie theater. (updated Jan 2021) 3 Home Means Nevada Co., 135 N. Sierra St, ☏ +1 775-682-3800. 10AM–6PM daily. Local souvenir shop. (updated Sep 2025)

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. $10-17. (updated May 2023) 2 JJ's Pie Company, 555 W 5th St, ☏ +1 775-786-5555. Sports, beer, pizza, and subs. (updated Jan 2021) 3 Smiling with Hope Pizza, 6135 Lakeside Dr, ☏ +1 775-825-1070. 4 Louis' Basque Corner, 301 East 4th St, ☏ +1 775-323-7203. (updated Mar 2026) 5 Beto's Taqueria, 575 W 5th St, ☏ +1 775-324-0632. (updated Feb 2018) 6 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) 7 Miguel's (original), 1415 S Virginia St, ☏ +1 775-322-2722. 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 Mar 2021) 8 Miguel's (South Reno), 13901 S Virginia St, ☏ +1 775-851-0500. 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 Mar 2021) 9 Toucan Charlie's, 3800 S Virginia St (Inside Atlantis), ☏ +1 775-824-4433. M-F 11am - 3pm, 4:30 pm - 9 pm; Sa-Su 9am - 3pm, 4:30pm - 9pm. All casino buffets in the area closed during COVID restrictions and most did not reopen. Of the remaining buffets, this is by far the best. $33-53, lower for children and club members. (updated Apr 2023) 10 Washoe Public House, 275 Hill Street. 11AM–9PM daily. Delicious American food. Vegetarian and vegan options. $25–70. (updated Sep 2025)

Drink & nightlife

1 LEX Nightclub, 2500 East Second St (At Grand Sierra Resort and Casino), ☏ +1 775-789-5399, [email protected]. Daily 9PM - 4AM. LEX features three full bars, 33 VIP tables and deluxe amenities. The 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) 2 Flowing Tide Pub. Locations on 10580 North McCarran Boulevard and 465 South Meadows Parkway. 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) 6 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

Most visitors to Reno stay at one of the hotel/casino resorts. See above for a list of casino resorts. There are however many options for those that don't want to stay at a casino.

Budget 1 Motel 6 Reno - Livestock Events Center, 866 N Wells Ave, ☏ +1 775-786-9852, fax: +1 775-786-3162. (updated Oct 2016)

Mid-range 2 SureStay Plus by Best Western Reno Airport, 1981 Terminal Way, ☏ +1 775-348-6370, toll-free: +1-800-648-3525, fax: +1 775-348-9722. 3 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 one quarter mile (400 m) from the Reno Airport. (updated Oct 2016) 4 Courtyard Reno, 6855 South Virginia St, ☏ +1 775-851-8300, fax: +1 775-851-8311. (updated Oct 2016) 5 Sonesta ES Suites Reno, 9845 Gateway Dr, ☏ +1 775-853-8800, fax: +1 775-853-8805. 6 Whitney Peak Hotel, 255 N Virginia St, ☏ +1 775 398-5400. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. A good choice for the traveler that wants to be downtown but not in a casino. Right next to the Reno Arch. Non-smoking. (updated May 2023)

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.

Sparks, Reno's neighbor to the east, has several casinos and other activities 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 (240 km) 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 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,