Top 10 things to do in Reno, ranked
Reno arch over Virginia Street at night
A local's 1-to-10 order for the Biggest Little City, without the tired casino filler.
One through five
1. Truckee Riverwalk — the free stretch from Wingfield Park to the whitewater kayak park is Reno's best hour on foot. 2. Nevada Museum of Art — the only AAM-accredited art museum in the state, strong on land art and E-.M. Pei's Altered Landscape collection, $15. 3. Midtown District — Junkee Clothing Exchange, Süp, and Craft Wine & Beer inside four walkable blocks. 4. National Automobile Museum — the Harrah Collection, 200-plus cars, worth $16 even if you don’t like cars. 5. Rancho San Rafael Regional Park — free, has the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and the Great Reno Balloon Race launch field.
These five separate Reno from being just a casino town. The Riverwalk and Midtown are free; the two museums together are a rainy afternoon.
Six through ten
6. Idlewild Park — Reno's best picnic lawn with a small amusement area for kids. 7. Peppermill's Fireside Lounge — kitschy 1970s fire-pit bar, a Reno institution. 8. Reno Aces game at Greater Nevada Field — Triple-A baseball, tickets from $12. 9. Mt. Rose Highway drive to Lake Tahoe — the pass tops 8,900 feet and the Tahoe overlook is free. 10. Basque dinner at Louis' Basque Corner — family-style, set menu around $30, a Nevada tradition older than most casinos.
I left off the Circus Circus midway (fine for kids), Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum (great if you have under-10s), and the Eldorado buffet (closed). Skip the arch selfie unless you’re passing anyway.
Before you book
What people ask before booking Reno.
Yes. Between the Truckee Riverwalk, Nevada Museum of Art, Midtown food scene, and the drive up Mt. Rose, you can easily fill two days without setting foot in a casino.
Two nights covers the top 10 comfortably. Add a third if you want to day-trip to Virginia City or Lake Tahoe from the same base.
