The essential guide to visiting Nevada's Reno-Tahoe region
With 300 days of sunshine a year, the area offers outdoor adventures, world-class museums, chic eateries, and accommodations from upscale digs to cozy backcountry cabins.
Nevada's Reno-Tahoe region has become a bustling center of art and culture with incredible food and craft breweries. Nestled between the Sierra Nevada and the Great Basin Desert, this area is the gateway to historic mining towns, Indigenous culture, and year-round outdoor adventure, offering visitors the perfect combination of art and history, culture and nature.
(The essential guide to visiting Nevada)
Best times to visit Reno-Tahoe Region
Spring: When the snow melts, anglers hook trophy-sized Lahontan cutthroat trout from Pyramid Lake (tribal permit required) and brown and rainbow trout from the Truckee River. Mountain bikers and Off-Highway Vehicles will find both easy flowy, wide S-turns and rocky, challenging terrain for expert riders on the Peavine Trail System.
Summer: Kick off the summer festival season with a whitewater run at the Reno River Festival, charbroiled meats and microbrews at the BBQ Brews and Blues Festival, live music during the month-long Artown, and chrome classic automobiles at Hot August Nights. Raise your spirits with a high-elevation wildflower hike at Mt. Rose Meadows or along the 175-mile Tahoe Rim Trail.
Fall: Visit in September to see the colorful Great Reno Balloon Race and the wild Virginia City International Camel & Ostrich Races. Marvel at the fall foliage at Galena Creek Regional Park or arrange a cozy backcountry getaway in a cabin at Spooner Lake State Park.
Winter: With the highest base elevation in the area, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe promises skiers and riders a reliable snowpack for cruising groomed intermediate runs and making hop turns down steep, narrow double-black diamond chutes. Old Mount Rose Highway attracts Nordic skiers and snowshoers with free, dog-friendly groomed multi-use trails. The family-friendly Western Lights Festival illuminates Reno with fire spinners and enormous, lighted art structures—everything from two-story masks to glowing orbs and neon-flashing interactive tunnels.
Key Areas to Explore
Reno: Snap a selfie at the flashy Biggest Little City arch. Face your fears on the world’s tallest artificial climbing wall. Wander the peaceful Riverwalk District, admiring Burning Man art without the dust. Enjoy chic eateries and bars, vintage boutiques, colorful murals, and galleries in the MidTown District. Catch an art opening at Stremmel Gallery, browse for books at The Radical Cat, and cuddle felines.
Don’t miss the world-class Nevada Museum of Art, which celebrates the intersection of art and environment and houses an impressive international and Indigenous art collection. Kids will enjoy the Discovery Hands-On Science Museum, and car enthusiasts should cruise over to the National Automobile Museum.
Sparks: Peruse the Sparks Heritage Museum in Victorian Square; preview Burning Man art at the Generator Community Maker Space. Take the plunge at Wild Island with water rides, go-kart racing, bowling, and arcade games. Pack a picnic and paddleboard to spend the day at Sparks Marina Park. Catch a big-name show at the outdoor Nugget Event Center.
Lake Tahoe and Incline Village: Mark Twain called Lake Tahoe, “the fairest picture the whole earth affords,” and the most scenic beaches dot Nevada’s east shore. Walk or cycle along the Tahoe East Shore Trail. Head to Sand Harbor State Park to paddle crystal clear waters through granite rock formations. Summer evenings, catch a classic comedy or a musical tribute under the stars at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.
Washoe Valley, Carson City, and Virginia City: See wild horses on Washoe Lake’s shore, then soak in mineral-rich waters at the Carson Hot Springs. Walk the historic Kit Carson Trail in Nevada’s capital city, admiring Victorian homes and churches. For a history lesson on Nevada’s statehood, as well as a look into some of its dark past, visit the Nevada State Museum, the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum, and the Nevada State Railroad Museum.
Hop aboard the historic V & T Railway from Carson City to Virginia City and experience a taste of the Old West. Stroll along boardwalks lined with candy shops, antique and gem emporiums, and hear the city’s history. Enjoy the 100-mile view of Nevada’s desert with a Bloody Mary at the Bucket of Blood Saloon and search for ghosts at the Silver Queen Hotel. Wander downhill from town to St. Mary’s Art Center, formerly a nineteenth-century hospital serving the Comstock mining communities, for an art exhibition or craft class. If you’re lucky, wild horses will be grazing on the front lawn.
Pyramid Lake and the Black Rock Desert: Drive the Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway and learn about the Paiute tribe and the area’s natural history at the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum. Explore Black Rock Desert’s playa, the vast 200-square-mile dry lakebed of the prehistoric Lake Lahontan, which is one of the Earth’s largest, flattest surfaces and site of the land speed record of over 763 miles per hour, the first and only land vehicle to officially break the sound barrier. Take a tour of the eco-conscious, solar-powered off-grid art installations at Fly Ranch and the rainbow-colored Fly Geiser, an active geothermal geyser sprouting from a surreal, multi-colored, cone-shaped mound.
(Eight must-do experiences in Nevada)
Where to stay
Formerly the 1953 Ox-Bow Motor Lodge, the reimagined Best Bet Motor Lodge is a boutique hotel that offers a fun retro experience, including a 1950s teardrop trailer converted into a sauna. Grand Sierra Resort offers the visitor a high-rise casino experience with expansive gaming, nightclubs, and an exciting concert series.
The newly renovated Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino in Incline Village offers lake-view rooms and provides access to a private beach and an array of dining options, including Osteria Sierra, showcasing modern, elevated Italian cuisine.
Historically a rooming house and brothel, Virginia City’s Gold Hill Hotel is Nevada’s oldest and most haunted hotel. A potbelly stove and dollar-bill-covered saloon ceiling add to the ambiance.
Taste of Reno-Tahoe Region
Northern Nevada is steeped in Basque culture, dating back to the mid-19th century, when immigrants from the French and Spanish Pyrenees arrived to work as sheepherders. The best place to indulge in traditional family-style fare is at Louis’ Basque Corner, paired with Picon Punch, their signature cocktail and Nevada’s official state drink.
Try the bibimbap with seafood, a Korean classic of vegetables, fried egg, and a spicy seafood medley with Gochujang sauce, at Arario Midtown, serving up classic, fusion Korean.
In Incline Village, share small plates of vegan tacos with jicama wrap at the upscale, cozy Bite American Tapas, or try the local favorite, T’s Mesquite Rotisserie, for fire-roasted meats, tacos, and burritos (cash-only).
The pub crawl is a longstanding Reno tradition. Ring in the Yuletide with thousands of Santas, join Zombies performing Thriller, or create your own bar tour along Reno’s 4th Street Brewery District. Lead Dog/Revision Brewing is a must-stop for IPA aficionados. Sample the Ichthyosaur IPA, the flagship beer named for Nevada’s state fossil, a giant marine lizard that once lived in Nevada’s Great Basin. Oenophiles will delight in the Whispering Vine’s rotating list of 3,000 labels. For the best Midtown neighborhood vibes and creative craft cocktails, go to Chapel Tavern for the Solera Aged Boulevardier or the swanky, high-end Death & Taxes, featuring a “Spirits Bible,” an extensive, curated menu of rare and high-end bourbon, rye, and other fine liquors.
Getting there and around
Reno-Tahoe International Airport is a five-minute drive from downtown Reno. Both Greyhound and Amtrak offer bus and train services, and the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County serves the greater Reno area. Taxis, Lyft, and Uber are readily available, but rideshares are harder to find and more expensive near Lake Tahoe.
Know before you go
Storms hit higher elevations year-round, so keep an eye on the weather. Be prepared for winter with an all-wheel-drive vehicle or chains, especially on mountain passes.
Reno sits 5,000 feet above sea level, with the surrounding mountains topping out at over 10,000 feet. So, take it easy on your first day here. Hydrate well and go easy on the cocktails.
LGBTQ+ Travelers: Carl’s – The Saloon, a dude-ranch-turned-straight-friendly neighborhood bar, features Karaoke, black-light pool, and gear nights. Reno’s longest-running gay bar, 5-Star Saloon, transforms into a dance club on weekends. The gay-friendly, clothing-optional Secret Cove is one of Tahoe’s most stunning beaches.
How to visit sustainably
Shop sustainably at Reno’s second-hand shops. In the Reno Public Market, Junkee specializes in recycled clothing, funky vintage wear, and costumes; nearby Uncle Junkee carries curios, antiques, and records. For pre-loved outdoor clothing and gear, check out Gear Hut, a Tier 3 Certified green consignment shop.
Respect fragile ecosystems by staying on established trails and never feeding or harassing wildlife. Summertime brings extreme fire danger to the area, so follow fire regulations and be mindful when disposing of smoking materials. Trash receptacles are often locked in the wintertime—please leave no trace and pack everything out.
