Fast Facts
- Population
- 264,165 (2020 census); 283,621 (2025 est.)
- Elevation
- About 4,400–4,505 ft — the sources differ
- Best Season
- May–June or September–October
- Nearest Interstate
- I-80, which runs through the city
What to Know Before You Arrive
Reno was founded on 9 May 1868 and incorporated on 16 March 1903, and it is named for the Union general Jesse L. Reno — a name chosen by Charles Crocker, construction superintendent of the Central Pacific Railroad. The town exists because of the railway, and before that because of silver: the Comstock Lode discovery in 1859 set off the mining rush that populated this corner of Nevada.
For about three decades the city's national reputation rested on its divorce courts. From the 1930s through the 1960s Reno was known for quick divorces, drew thousands of people a year seeking them, and advertised itself openly as the Divorce Capital of the World. That trade has gone, but it is the reason a small western city had a national profile long before anything else it is now known for.
The geography is the underrated part. The Truckee River runs through the valley holding Reno and Sparks, carrying water from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake, and the city sits about 22 to 23 miles north-east of Tahoe itself. That puts one of the great alpine lakes within forty minutes of an interstate city — a combination very few places on I-80 can offer.
The Road Trip Stop
The National Automobile Museum, also known as the Harrah Collection, is the anchor — and for a road-trip guide it is close to an ideal one. It sits at 1 Museum Drive on the corner of Lake and Mill Streets in downtown Reno, and holds a collection the museum variously describes as more than 200, more than 225 and more than 240 cars on its own pages.
Budget the time, and note the weekend hours
- Weekdays are longer than weekends. It opens 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. The weekend day is two hours shorter at both ends.
- Admission is $16* general, $15* for ages 65 and over, $14* for active military, veterans and first responders with ID, $13* for ages 6 to 17 and $3* for ages 5 and under.
- Parking is free, which in a downtown is worth knowing before you circle the block.
- There is a self-guided tour rather than a fixed route, so the visit scales from an hour to an afternoon depending on how much you want to read.
*Fees subject to change, please check automuseum.org for updated information.
From the Park Service
Great Basin National Park
- Entrance fee
- None — free to enter
- Park hours
- Open around the clock, every day. Park Grounds and Trails Check "Visitor Centers" tab for facility-specific hours
- Reservations
- Cave tours regularly sell out. Reservations through Recreation.gov are strongly recommended, the park says.
- Visitor centres
- Lehman Caves Visitor Center · Great Basin Visitor Center. Open 8:00AM - 5:00PM daily.
- Campgrounds
- 7 in the park, about 145 sites in total. Fees from $10 to $30.
- Parking
- 7 mapped car parks and trailhead pull-offs
- Passport stamp
- Great Basin Visitor Center · Lehman Caves Visitor Center
National Park Service Data API, pulled 2026-10-12
Neighborhoods
Downtown and Virginia Street
The arch stands here, over the street it was built for in 1926. The museum is a few blocks away at Lake and Mill.
The Riverwalk
Visit Reno Tahoe describes the Riverwalk District as located in the heart of downtown Reno, along the Truckee River. The City of Reno names the Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield, and the Regional Transportation Commission places Wingfield Park in downtown Reno.
Midtown
South of downtown, the MidTown District is roughly bounded by Liberty Street and Plumb Lane on the north and south, according to the Reno Historical project, which says its revival began in the early 2000s. Visit Reno Tahoe describes it as filled with locally owned businesses, historic buildings and art walks.
Sparks
The separate city immediately east, sharing the same valley and the same river.
The Food Stop
Visit Reno Tahoe's guides cover restaurants and bars in the MidTown District, south of downtown, and in the Riverwalk District, downtown along the Truckee River. We were unable to confirm a specific long-standing Reno restaurant for this guide, and this guide does not name a business without checking that business's own site. One practical note that does hold: the automobile museum closes at 4:00 p.m. at weekends, so a late lunch is the better plan on a Saturday or Sunday.
16 breweries within 10 miles of Reno, 9 of them brewpubs with a kitchen.
See all 16
- BJs Restaurant & Brewery - Reno13999 S Virginia St, Reno
- Brasserie Saint James901 S Center St, Reno
- Great Basin Brewing Co5525 S Virginia St, Reno
- Great Basin Brewing Co846 Victorian Ave, Sparks
- Occidental Brewing865 S Rock Blvd, Sparks
- Silver Peak Restaurant and Brewery124 Wonder St, Reno
- The Brew Brothers/Eldorado Hotel and Casino345 N Virginia St, Reno
- The Depot Craft Brewery Distillery325 E 4th St, Reno
- Under the Rose Brewing Company MidTown Location1041 S Virginia St, Reno
- 10 Torr Distilling and Brewing490 Mill St, Renoproduction site*
- Brasserie Saint James - The Saint Barrelhouse761 S. Virginia St, Renoproduction site*
- IMBIB Custom Brews785 E 2nd St, Renoproduction site*
- Lead Dog Brewing415 E 4th St, Renoproduction site*
- Pigeon Head Brewery840 E 5th St, Renoproduction site*
- Revision Brewing Company380 S Rock Blvd, Sparksproduction site*
- Under the Rose Brewing Company559 E 4th St, Renoproduction site*
*Check before you go. This list says what the source records as open and where it is — nothing more. Opening hours, whether a kitchen is serving, and whether anywhere suits your family are not in this data and change without notice. A production site may have no public room at all. Please confirm with the venue.
Brewpub locations from Open Brewery DB (MIT)
The Home Teams
Reno Aces
Triple-A baseballGreater Nevada Field, 250 Evans Avenue, is described in MLB's visitor guide as “a short walk from downtown Reno and its many casinos”, with the Truckee River visible beyond right field.
Nevada Wolf Pack
NCAA Division IThe University of Nevada, Reno campus is about 1 mile north of central Reno. The Wolf Pack athletics site lists football and soccer at Mackay Stadium and men's and women's basketball at Lawlor Events Center.
Reno 1868 FC
SoccerReno 1868 FC shared the ballpark from 2017 until it ceased operations in November 2020, so there is no professional soccer side here now.
No MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL or MLS team plays in Reno. The Reno Aces play Triple-A baseball at Greater Nevada Field, which MLB's guide places a short walk from downtown Reno, and the Nevada Wolf Pack are the athletic teams of the University of Nevada, Reno.
Day Trips
| Destination | Time | Distance | How we got it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Tahoe | 1 hr 20 min | 56 mi | routed |
| South-west, 22 to 23 miles to one of the deepest and clearest alpine lakes in North America. The state line runs through it, so the north shore offers two different sets of rules. | |||
| Virginia City | 38 min | 26 mi | routed |
| South-east into the hills to the Comstock Lode town, with its boardwalks and mine tours. | |||
| Pyramid Lake | 1 hr 5 min | 42 mi | routed |
| North-east on the Paiute reservation, where the Truckee ends in a desert lake with tufa formations. The tribe's regulations brochure says all visitors must have a valid tribal permit for all activities, including swimming, picnicking and hiking. | |||
| Carson Cityguide | 40 min | 31 mi | routed |
| About 25 miles south in a straight line is Carson City, the state capital. The Nevada State Museum there says the State of Nevada bought the historic Carson City U.S. Mint building and remodeled it to open the museum, and the Nevada State Railroad Museum is also in Carson City; check each museum's site for current hours. | |||
| Donner Pass | 55 min | 43 mi | routed |
| Donner Pass is about 31 miles south-west of Reno in a straight line. Wikipedia says the transcontinental railroad used the pass, and that I-80 crosses the Sierra crest at Donner Summit, about 2 miles north of it. Caltrans' storm advisories warn that temporary highway closures are possible in the area in winter. | |||
1 of these is a place the Hub has its own guide to — marked guide and linked from the name.
Routed figures are computed over map data at free-flowing speeds, between map points rather than street addresses, so a real drive runs longer.
Distances routed by OSRM and places geocoded by Nominatim, over map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Lakes Nearby
1 lake we have checked near here. These are the ones from our research that we could check against an official page — not every lake there is.
Lahontan Reservoir
- Fishingyes - walleye, white bass, wiper, catfish, trout
- BoatingBoating and water-skiing; paved launches on both sides of the park
- Rentals & marinaNorth Shore Marina at the Churchill Beach launch
- CampingDeveloped campground at Silver Springs Beach #7; primitive beach camping
- Entry$5 day-use per vehicle ($10 non-NV vehicle)
- SeasonPark always open; showers and flush toilets closed Oct-May
Fish consumption health warning from NDOW; harmful algal bloom advisory on park page. State HAB advisories: ndep.nv.gov
Run by Nevada Division of State Parks (Lahontan State Recreation Area)
*Check before you go. Every lake here links to the official page we checked it against. Each states a price we read off that page on the date we checked. Fees, seasons, water levels, algal advisories and ramp closures change without notice and belong to the agency that runs the water. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something the lake lacks.
Animal Attractions Nearby
Within 60 miles of Reno, nearest first.
Animal Ark Wildlife SanctuaryReno
- Hours
- 10–4:30
- Season
- seasonal (about March–November; closed winter)
Opening dates weather-dependent
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. None of these carry an accreditation we were able to confirm, which is not the same as none being accredited — we check against one register, and plenty of good municipal, state and university places are in no register at all. Opening times, prices and seasons change without notice, so check the operator’s own site — every name above links to it.
Music Venues Nearby
Within 60 miles of Reno, nearest first.
Where to see something
Pioneer Center for the Performing ArtstheaterReno
- Address
- 100 S. Virginia St., Reno, NV
- Capacity
- 1,500
Opened 1967
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Opening times, line-ups and ticketing change without notice, so check the venue’s or organiser’s own site — every name above links to it.
Water Parks and Family Entertainment Centres Nearby
Within 60 miles of Reno, nearest first.
Wild Islandfamily entertainment center and water parkSparks
water park seasonal; site updated Sept 2026
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Prices, hours and ride closures change without notice — every name above links to the park’s own site.
Practical Road Trip Info
I-80 runs straight through, which makes Reno one of the easiest stops between Salt Lake City and Sacramento. The arch is a few blocks off the freeway.
Tahoe is close enough to be a half-day. Twenty-odd miles and about forty minutes puts the lake within reach of an afternoon, which changes what a Reno stop can be.
High desert, not low. At around 4,400 to 4,500 feet the nights are cold even in summer and the sun is strong.
Winter chain controls and closures are possible on I-80 over Donner Summit. Caltrans' storm advisories warn of chain controls and temporary highway closures there, and its chain-control page describes three requirement levels (R-1, R-2 and R-3), with R-1 and R-2 the most common and R-3 requiring chains or traction devices on all vehicles. Caltrans points drivers to QuickMap for current chain controls.
15 public campgrounds within 25 miles of Reno, 14 of them bookable ahead. Public campgrounds run by federal agencies. State-park and private campgrounds are not included.
The Local Debate
Family-Friendly
The automobile museum
Cars arranged by era in street settings rather than rows, with ages 5 and under admitted for $3.
The whitewater park
The city's page says boulders along the banks were installed for “easy public access, spectators, and kayaking maneuvers”, and the Riverwalk District's listing calls the park free to the public. Check the city's Whitewater Park page for current conditions.
An Aces game
Triple-A baseball at Greater Nevada Field, which MLB's guide places a short walk from downtown Reno. The Aces' own ballpark guide lists a fan club for ages 3 to 14 and two mascots, Archie and Truckee.
Lake Tahoe beaches
Forty minutes away, with shallow sandy shore on the north end in summer.
Plan Your Visit
National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection)
- Address
- 1 Museum Dr., Reno, NV 89501 — corner of Lake and Mill Streets, downtown
- Hours
- Monday-Friday 9am-5pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm
- Admission
- $16 general; $15 ages 65+; $14 active military, veterans and first responders with ID; $13 ages 6-17; $3 ages 5 and under; members free*
- Parking
- Free
- Collection
- The museum's own pages give more than 200, more than 225 and more than 240 cars in different places
- Link
- automuseum.org
*Fees subject to change, please check automuseum.org for updated information.
We checked fees, operating status, closures, seasonal opening, opening hours and reservations on 2026-10-12. These change without notice — confirm with automuseum.org, renoriver.org, nps.gov, reno.gov, plpt.nsn.us, milb.com, nevadawolfpack.com, rtcwashoe.com and dot.ca.gov the week you travel.
Sources — 34 claims, 32 checked against the source on 2026-10-12
| Claim | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection), 1 Museum Dr., Reno, NV 89501, “located on the corner of Lake and Mill Streets in downtown Reno”; open Monday–Friday 9am–5pm and Saturday–Sunday 10am–4pm; admission $16 general, $15 senior 65+, $14 active military/veterans/first responders with ID, $13 youth 6–17, $3 ages 5 and under, members free; parking free; self-guided tour | Visit — National Automobile Museum | Checked monitored · 2026-10-12 |
| The museum's own pages give the collection size inconsistently as “more than 225”, “more than 240” and “more than 200” cars | Visit — National Automobile Museum | Checked monitored · 2026-10-12 |
| The Reno Arch went up on Virginia Street in 1926 to promote the 1927 Transcontinental Highways Exposition; the city kept it afterwards and the winning slogan “Reno, the Biggest Little City in the World” was declared on 14 March 1929 | Reno, Nevada — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Population 264,165 at the 2020 census with a 2025 estimate of 283,621; elevation 4,505 ft in the infobox and “about 4,400 feet” in the Geography section | Reno, Nevada — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Founded 9 May 1868, incorporated 16 March 1903; named for Union general Jesse L. Reno, a name chosen by Central Pacific Railroad construction superintendent Charles Crocker | Reno, Nevada — Wikipedia | Checked |
| “the discovery of silver in 1859 at the Comstock Lode led to a mining rush&rdquo | Reno, Nevada — Wikipedia | Checked |
| From the 1930s through the 1960s Reno was known for quick divorces, drawing thousands of divorcees each year, and advertised itself as the “Divorce Capital of the World&rdquo | Reno, Nevada — Wikipedia | Checked |
| The Truckee River flows through the Reno–Sparks valley “from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake”; Reno is “about 23 miles (37 km) northeast of Lake Tahoe”, with a later section giving 22 miles | Reno, Nevada — Wikipedia | Checked |
| A named, verified Reno restaurant for the food stop — we were unable to confirm one on 2026-10-12 | No source accepted yet | Not confirmed |
| City of Reno page: the Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield, owned by the City of Reno, has 11 drop-pools over 2,600 feet, a Class 2 to 3 course for kayaks, canoes, rafts and inner tubes, and requires helmets and flotation jackets for all users (checked 2026-10-15) | City of Reno — Truckee River Whitewater Park | Checked monitored · 2026-10-15 |
| The tribe's Ranger Station page says its rangers see that safety guidelines and closed-area access are followed by visitors and tribal members, and that permits may be purchased online (checked 2026-10-15) | Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe — Ranger Station | Checked monitored · 2026-10-15 |
| The Reno Aces' own guide: Greater Nevada Field is at 250 Evans Ave, Reno; the Aces are the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks; a fan club for ages 3 to 14; two mascots, Archie and Truckee (checked 2026-10-15) | Reno Aces — A-to-Z Guide | Checked monitored · 2026-10-15 |
| The day-trip distance and drive-time fields for Lake Tahoe, Virginia City, Pyramid Lake, Carson City and Donner Pass still hold route figures; direct miles only are allowed (for example Carson City about 25 and Donner Pass about 31 miles in a straight line) | No source accepted yet | Not confirmed |
| Reno 1868 FC ceased operations in November 2020 after four seasons in the USL Championship, citing the pandemic | Soccer Stadium Digest — Reno 1868 FC folds | Checked |
| Visit Reno Tahoe's Riverwalk guide: “The Riverwalk District is located in the heart of downtown Reno, along the Truckee River”, and it lists many restaurants, bars and stores in the district (checked 2026-10-15) | Visit Reno Tahoe — Reno Riverwalk Restaurants | Checked |
| The Regional Transportation Commission's project page: the Arlington Avenue bridges span the Truckee River at Wingfield Park in downtown Reno; construction was completed in June 2026 and Arlington Avenue and Wingfield Park are open to the public (checked 2026-10-15) | RTC Washoe — Arlington Avenue Bridges Project | Checked monitored · 2026-10-15 |
| Reno Historical's Historic MidTown tour: the MidTown District is roughly bounded by Liberty Street and Plumb Lane on the north and south and by Arlington Avenue and Holcomb Avenue on the west and east; its revival began in the early 2000s (checked 2026-10-15) | Reno Historical — Historic MidTown tour | Checked |
| Visit Reno Tahoe's MidTown guide: MidTown is south of downtown Reno, is filled with locally owned businesses, historic buildings and art walks, and covers its food, art and bars (checked 2026-10-15) | Visit Reno Tahoe — Things to Do in MidTown Reno | Checked |
| The Reno Riverwalk District's own listing says the Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield Park is open year-round and free to the public (checked 2026-10-15) | Reno Riverwalk District — Truckee River Whitewater Park listing | Checked monitored · 2026-10-15 |
| The Regional Transportation Commission's weekly traffic report of 13 February 2026: Wingfield Park remained closed from 5 May 2025 until summer 2026 during the Arlington Avenue bridges project (checked 2026-10-15) | RTC Washoe — Traffic report, 13 February 2026 | Checked monitored · 2026-10-15 |
| Nevada Museum of Art, 160 West Liberty, Reno: founded in 1931; its mission foregrounds art's relationship to the environment; identity shaped by its location at the intersection of the Sierra Nevada and the Great Basin; permanent collection organized into four thematic areas (checked 2026-10-15) | Nevada Museum of Art — About the Museum | Checked |
| The tribe's regulations brochure (edition effective October 1, 2021, posted on plpt.nsn.us): all visitors must have a valid tribal permit for all activities, including swimming, picnicking and hiking (checked 2026-10-15) | Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe — Regulations brochure | Checked monitored · 2026-10-15 |
| MLB's visitor guide: Greater Nevada Field is a short walk from downtown Reno and its many casinos, and the Truckee River is visible beyond right field (checked 2026-10-15) | MLB.com — Visit Greater Nevada Field | Checked |
| The athletics site's directions page lists football and soccer at Mackay Stadium and men's and women's basketball at Lawlor Events Center (checked 2026-10-15) | University of Nevada Athletics — Driving directions | Checked monitored · 2026-10-15 |
| Wikipedia's published coordinates for the University of Nevada, Reno and for Reno place the campus about 1 mile north of the city point in a straight line (checked 2026-10-15) | University of Nevada, Reno — Wikipedia | Checked |
| The USL Championship's announcement of 6 November 2020 that Reno 1868 FC had ceased operations following the 2020 season (checked 2026-10-15) | USL Championship — Reno 1868 FC to Cease Operations | Checked |
| Reno 1868 FC began play in 2017 at Greater Nevada Field, also home to the Reno Aces, until the club folded after the 2020 season (checked 2026-10-15) | Greater Nevada Field — Wikipedia | Checked |
| The Nevada Wolf Pack are the athletic teams that represent the University of Nevada, Reno (checked 2026-10-15) | Nevada Wolf Pack — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Carson City is the capital of Nevada; Wikipedia's coordinates for Carson City and Reno are about 25 miles apart in a straight line (checked 2026-10-15) | Carson City, Nevada — Wikipedia | Checked |
| The Nevada State Museum's own history page: the State of Nevada bought the historic Carson City U.S. Mint building from the federal government and, after extensive remodeling, opened the museum (checked 2026-10-15) | Nevada State Museum, Carson City — About | Checked |
| The Nevada State Railroad Museum's own about page gives its location as South Carson Street, Carson City, and describes it as dedicated to Nevada railroad history (checked 2026-10-15) | Nevada State Railroad Museum, Carson City — About | Checked |
| Wikipedia: the pass has been used by the transcontinental railroad, and I-80 crosses the Sierra crest at Donner Summit, about 2 miles north of Donner Pass; the pass's coordinates are about 31 miles south-west of Reno's in a straight line (checked 2026-10-15) | Donner Pass — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Caltrans describes three chain-requirement levels (R-1, R-2, R-3), says R-1 and R-2 are the most common, and points drivers to QuickMap for current chain controls (checked 2026-10-15) | Caltrans — Chain Controls / Chain Installation | Checked monitored · 2026-10-15 |
| A Caltrans District 3 storm advisory for Donner Summit on I-80 warned that chain controls should be expected and temporary highway closures were possible in mountain areas (checked 2026-10-15) | Caltrans District 3 — Incoming Storm to Impact Mountain and Valley Travel | Checked monitored · 2026-10-15 |
Road Trippin’ with the Harts
The Highway Heads books turn the miles between stops into a game the whole car can play.
See the booksLive Conditions
Wildlife Spotted Nearby
Nearest Airports
Straight-line distance from Reno, not drive time.
- Reno Tahoe International (RNO) — 3 miles
- Truckee Tahoe (TKF) — 23 miles
- Carson (CSN) — 24 miles
Explore the Full Road Trip
Return to the Highway Heads map and discover the next family-ready stop.
Explore the Map