Looking for adventure, arts, and casinos with mountain views? Head to Reno! Known as “The Biggest Little City in the World,” Reno blends outdoor thrills, a buzzing arts scene, and vibrant nightlife, all set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Reno is from late spring through early fall (May to October), when warm weather supports hiking, festivals, and lakeside escapes. Winter also attracts visitors for nearby ski resorts.
How to Get There
- By Car: Reno sits at the crossroads of I-80 and U.S. 395, about 4 hours from San Francisco and 2 hours from Sacramento.
- By Air: Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is just minutes from downtown with daily flights from major cities.
- By Train: Amtrak’s California Zephyr stops at Reno Station, connecting the city to San Francisco, Denver, and Chicago.
Where to Stay
- Silver Legacy Resort Casino – Iconic high-rise with gaming, restaurants, and direct access to two sister casinos.
- Whitney Peak Hotel – Modern, non-smoking hotel with a climbing wall and views of downtown Reno.
- Grand Sierra Resort – Expansive resort with a casino, spa, bowling, shopping, and on-site entertainment.
Top Attractions
- MidTown District – Explore art galleries, vintage shops, craft breweries, and hip eateries in this creative neighborhood.
- Truckee Riverwalk – Walk or bike along the scenic river through downtown, dotted with parks and public art.
- Reno Arch – Snap a photo under the famous arch that defines the city’s energetic spirit.
Recommended Activities for Families
⮕ Feed Your Creativity at the Nevada Museum of Art
Explore cutting-edge exhibitions inspired by the landscape of the West.
© Nevada Museum of Art
-
Where is the Nevada Museum of Art located?
-
The Nevada Museum of Art, Nevada's only accredited art museum, is located in downtown Reno in a magnificent new four-story building designed by architect Will Bruder.
-
What is the focus of the museum?
-
This thematic museum focuses on the interaction between humans and the environment and the growing effort to protect the land.
-
What does the Permanent Collection include?
-
The museum's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,000 works of art from as late as the 19th century. The primary focus is on built, natural, and virtual environments.
-
What is included in the Contemporary Collection?
-
The museum's growing Contemporary Collection consists of paintings, photography, works on paper, digital media, sculpture, and mixed media installations created by national and international artists.
-
What is the Center for Art + Environment?
-
The Center for Art + Environment is the museum's research department and has an Archive Collection with more than 12,000 items. More info.
160 W Liberty St, Reno, NV 89501, Phone: 775-329-3333, View Map
⮕ Blast Off at Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center
Launch into space, science, and hands-on wonder.
© Courtesy of hit1912 - Fotolia.com
-
What is the Fleischmann Planetarium & Science Center?
-
A part of the University of Nevada, Reno and Extended Studies, Fleischmann Planetarium & Science Center was built in 1963 and offers digital planetarium shows open to the public in their dome theater.
-
What educational programs does the center offer?
-
The center organizes field trips and education in space and Earth science, as well as the University's Redfield Campus observatory viewing.
-
What technology does the planetarium use?
-
The center is one of the first planetariums in the world to use the Spitz SciDome digital projector, a high-resolution visualization tool that produces colorful and bright 3-D images of space objects.
-
What is special about the planetarium's building?
-
The planetarium's uniquely shaped building, called a "hyperbolic paraboloid", was designed by architect Ray Hellmann. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings.
-
What other facilities does the center have?
-
Besides the Dome Theatre, the center also features an Exhibit Hall, a Science Store, and a classroom for educational purposes, special events, and birthday parties.
1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, Phone: 775-784-4812, View Map
⮕ Go Wild at Animal Ark
Meet rescued wildlife in a sanctuary that’s both heartwarming and thrilling.
© Courtesy of jwjarrett - Fotolia.com
-
What is Animal Ark?
-
Animal Ark is a wildlife sanctuary and education center established in 1981 to provide a safe habitat for abandoned, injured, and wild animals that could not be rehabilitated and released into their normal habitats.
-
How does Animal Ark create habitats for its animals?
-
Animal Ark goes out of its way to build enclosures for each animal with large boulders, native trees, bushes, grasses, and other vegetation that recreate the animals' natural habitat. Special effort is made to provide activities for the animals in order to relieve boredom.
-
How is Animal Ark different from a zoo?
-
Watching the animals go about in an environment similar to their natural environment is a very different experience from going to the zoo.
-
Does Animal Ark breed animals?
-
There is no captive breeding at Animal Ark, and all animals are offered sanctuary for life.
-
What animals can be found at Animal Ark?
-
The Ark has bears, coyote, wolves, foxes, bobcats, cheetahs, many reptiles, and raptors.
1265 Deerlodge Rd, Reno, NV 89508, Phone: 775-970-3111, View Map
⮕ Spark Curiosity at the Nevada Discovery Museum
Where kids - and kids at heart - experiment, build, and explore.
© Nevada Discovery Museum
-
What is the Nevada Discovery Museum?
-
The Nevada Discovery Museum is a 67,000 square-foot playground, hands-on science center, and kids' museum in downtown Reno.
-
What activities can kids do at the museum?
-
There are many opportunities for learning disguised as games. Kids can try exploring caves and dark mineshafts, climbing three stories up into the clouds, and traveling from the past to the future without breaking a sweat.
-
What subjects are covered at the museum?
-
Youngsters are engaged in science, history, art, construction, animals both living and extinct, destruction, and live performances.
-
What exhibits can kids explore?
-
Kids can explore The Shop, Da Vinci's Corner, Spark!Lab Smithsonian, an 80-foot-long river, the Cloud Climber, a permanent night gallery, and much, much more.
-
Does the museum organize special events?
-
Yes, the museum organizes many special events and kids' day camps.
490 S Center St, Reno, NV 89501, Phone: 775-786-1000, View Map
Attractions for Couples
⮕ Fuel Your Passion at the National Automobile Museum
See classic, rare, and celebrity-owned cars in a beautifully curated collection.
© Courtesy of Nikolai Sorokin - Fotolia.com
-
What is the National Automobile Museum?
-
The National Automobile Museum in Reno is the ideal playground for car enthusiasts, who can easily spend a whole day roaming among more than 200 glorious old cars.
-
How are the cars displayed?
-
The cars are not just on display; they are set out on a real cobblestone street in front of a hardware store or movie theatre with appropriate artifacts from the car's era.
-
What is the history behind the museum's collection?
-
The cars in the museum are from the late 19th and 20th centuries and in general belong to the collection of the late William F. Harrah, once a wealthy casino owner.
-
How is the museum organized?
-
The cars are displayed in four galleries. One of the galleries includes the Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame and a number of race cars.
-
What are some of the most famous cars in the museum?
-
The most famous cars in the museum include the Cadillac Eldorado that belonged to Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra's Ghia, JFK's Lincoln Continental, and John Wayne's Chevrolet Corvette.
-
Can visitors interact with the exhibits?
-
Visitors can take a photo in one of the historic cars dressed in a period costume.
1 Museum Dr, Reno, NV 89501, Phone: 775-333-9300, View Map
⮕ Feel the Rush at the National Championship Air Races
Witness gravity-defying stunts at the world’s fastest motorsport.
© Courtesy of itsallgood - Fotolia.com
-
What are the National Championship Air Races?
-
Every year in September at the airport just outside Reno, at the site of the former Stead Air Force Base, thousands of air race enthusiasts from all over the world come to watch the National Championship Air Races, an exciting event for northern Nevada.
-
How long do the air races last?
-
The National Championship Air Races last a week, and during that time, hundreds of pilots and crews descend on Reno with their lovingly maintained aircraft.
-
What can visitors see at the event?
-
There are six racing classes, a huge standing display of aircraft, and a number of civil and military flight demonstrations.
-
Who started the Reno air races?
-
Bill Stead organized the first races in 1964, and since then they have missed only one year – the year of 9/11.
-
Why are the Reno air races significant?
-
Unfortunately, the Reno air races are the last of their kind.
Reno Air Racing Association, 14501 Mt. Anderson St. Reno, NV 89506, Phone: 775-972-6663, View Map
⮕ Catch a Game at Reno Aces Ballpark
Enjoy America’s pastime with mountain views and local flavor.
© Courtesy of mtsaride - Fotolia.com
-
What is Greater Nevada Field?
-
Located on the bank of the Truckee River in the Freight House District in Reno, Greater Nevada Field is a Minor League Baseball stadium that opened in 2009.
-
Which team plays at Greater Nevada Field?
-
It is the home field of the Triple-A Reno Aces from the Pacific Coast League.
-
How many spectators can the stadium accommodate?
-
Greater Nevada Field can accommodate 9,100 spectators, featuring 6,500 fixed seats, plus general admission.
-
What are the seating and standing areas in the stadium?
-
Behind right field, there is a berm with standing room. Two party areas have picnic tables and benches.
-
What premium seating options are available?
-
The stadium has 22 opulent skyboxes, two comfortable dugout suites behind the stadium's home plate that can fit 15 people each, and a 150-person club suite.
-
What type of playing surface does the stadium have?
-
The stadium has a natural grass surface.
Reno Aces Ballpark, 250 Evans Avenue, Reno, NV 89501, Phone: 775-334 7000, View Map
⮕ Carve Fresh Powder at Mt. Rose Ski Resort
Hit the slopes just minutes from downtown Reno.
© Courtesy of kvdkz - Fotolia.com
-
Is Reno a typical ski town?
-
Reno is not exactly a typical ski town, but only 30 miles south of the city in the Carson Range, you will find the first-class ski resort Mount Rose Ski Tahoe.
-
Where is Mount Rose Ski Tahoe located?
-
The resort covers an area of 1,200 acres and is located in the heart of the magnificent Toiyabe National Forest.
-
When was Mt. Rose Ski Resort opened?
-
What is the longest run at Mt. Rose?
-
The longest run at Mt. Rose is 2.5 miles long.
-
What terrain parks are available at Mt. Rose?
-
There are three terrain parks: the Badlands, the Pondo Park, and Double Down.
-
Where can skiers stay when visiting Mt. Rose?
-
While skiers can easily stay in a hotel in Reno and come to Mt. Rose on the resort shuttle every day, the resort has its own new facility, Winters Creek Lodge.
22222 Mt Rose Hwy, Reno, NV 89511, Phone: 775-849-0704, View Map
⮕ Take Your Seat at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts
From Broadway hits to ballet, the gold geodesic dome dazzles inside and out.
© Courtesy of Roman Rvachov - Fotolia.com
-
What is the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts?
-
The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, a private cultural organization in Reno, is located in a spectacular gold geodesic dome that was completed in 1967 and is nicknamed "Golden Turtle."
-
How many seats does the theater have?
-
The theater has 987 seats on the ground level and 513 in the balcony.
-
Which art companies call the Pioneer Theater home?
-
The Pioneer Theater is home to some of Reno's most renowned art companies, such as the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra and A.V.A. Ballet Theatre.
-
What Broadway series does the center host?
-
The center hosts the "Broadway Comes to Reno" series, which brings Broadway touring musicals to Reno.
-
What types of events take place at the Pioneer Center?
-
The theater hosts more than 100 diverse cultural events every year, from Broadway productions to dance recitals.
-
What is the Pioneer Center Youth Programs?
-
The center's Pioneer Center Youth Programs, its educational outreach division, works on encouraging an appreciation for the performing arts in young people by presenting them with a rich variety of exciting programs.
100 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501, Phone: 775-686-6610, View Map
⮕ Stroll, Sip, and Savor the Reno Riverwalk District
Art, eats, and culture line the banks of the Truckee River.
© Courtesy of donyanedomam - Fotolia.com
-
What is the Reno Riverwalk District?
-
The Reno Riverwalk District is the most obvious sign of Reno's exciting urban renaissance. Stretched along the scenic banks of the Truckee River, the area between Arlington Ave. and Lake St. in Reno is quickly becoming the city's fast-beating heart.
-
What can visitors find in the Riverwalk District?
-
There is something for everyone, including 35 bars, cafes, taverns, and restaurants, five studios and art galleries, three museums, and three theaters, all within a short distance of the city's attractions and historic monuments.
-
What kind of events take place in the Riverwalk District?
-
The district is alive with street concerts, kids' face painting competitions, wine walks, and Dine the District foodie tours.
-
Can visitors just relax and enjoy the atmosphere?
-
Yes! Visitors can simply sit on one of many benches and watch the river and the world go by.
148 West St, Reno, NV 89501, Phone: 775-825-9255, View Map
Where to Eat
- The Depot Craft Brewery Distillery – Housed in a historic train depot with house-made beers, spirits, and hearty fare.
- Liberty Food & Wine Exchange – Stylish downtown spot serving creative seasonal dishes with local ingredients.
- Pine State Biscuits – Southern-style comfort food favorite with flaky biscuits and decadent breakfasts.
Local Events
- Reno River Festival (May) – Whitewater competitions, food trucks, music, and outdoor fun along the Truckee River.
- Artown Festival (July) – A month-long celebration of art, music, theater, and dance throughout the city.
- Hot August Nights (August) – Massive classic car show and nostalgic festival celebrating the 1950s–1970s.
- Great Reno Balloon Race (September) – Watch the skies fill with vibrant hot air balloons in this free, family-friendly event.
Day Trips Within 30 Minutes of Reno, Nevada
- Sparks (5–10 min) – Walk the Sparks Marina, attend events at Victorian Square, or visit Legends Outlet Mall.
- Verdi (15–20 min) – Try your luck at local casinos, enjoy Truckee River views, or hike forested trails nearby.
- Sun Valley (15–20 min) – Explore local parks, off-road trails, and scenic desert vistas just north of Reno.
- Lemmon Valley (20–25 min) – Visit Swan Lake Nature Study Area for birdwatching and peaceful desert walking trails.
- Spanish Springs (25–30 min) – Enjoy golf, explore regional parks, or dine in this growing suburban community.
- Stead (20–25 min) – Visit the National Championship Air Races or hike Peavine Mountain for sweeping city views.
- Washoe Valley (25–30 min) – Drive scenic US-395, hike Davis Creek Park, or enjoy lake views and quiet ranchlands.
- Incline Village (East Shore Start) (30 min) – Begin the drive toward Lake Tahoe’s north shore for hiking, beaches, and mountain views.
- Hidden Valley (15–20 min) – Hike quiet desert trails, golf, or enjoy sweeping views of Reno from nearby hillsides.
FAQ
-
Where is Reno located?
-
Snuggled between the Sierra Nevadas and Lake Tahoe, Reno is called "The Biggest Little City in the World."
-
How does Reno compare to Las Vegas?
-
Considered a less glitzy cousin to its big and rich brother Las Vegas, Reno manages to pack a lot of fun and entertainment into a small town.
-
What is Reno famous for?
-
Reno is famous for its casinos and excellent nearby ski resorts.
-
What is a must-visit attraction for car enthusiasts?
-
The National Automobile Museum is a car buff's delight with more than 200 vintage cars.
At a Glance
Best Time to Visit |
Places to Stay |
Tips for Visiting |
Spring (March-May) – Mild temperatures and great for outdoor activities. |
Whitney Peak Hotel – A modern, non-gaming hotel with a rock climbing wall. |
Explore the Riverwalk District – Enjoy scenic walks, dining, and boutique shopping. |
Summer (June-August) – Warm and ideal for festivals and nearby Lake Tahoe trips. |
Grand Sierra Resort – A luxury resort with entertainment, dining, and a casino. |
Take a day trip to Lake Tahoe – Swim, kayak, or relax on the stunning beaches. |
Fall (September-November) – Cooler temperatures and vibrant autumn colors. |
Silver Legacy Resort Casino – A classic Reno casino resort with great amenities. |
Attend the Great Reno Balloon Race – Watch colorful hot air balloons fill the sky. |
Winter (December-February) – Cold and snowy, perfect for winter sports. |
Peppermill Resort Spa Casino – A luxurious stay with a full-service spa. |
Go skiing at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe – Just a short drive for some of the best slopes in the region. |
Map:
Plan Your Trip