Things to Do in Reno: 15 Best Attractions for Every Traveler

Most people picture blinking casino signs when they hear “Reno.” That’s fair; it’s still a huge part of the city, but it’s only a slice of what’s actually here. Reno sits at the edge of the Sierra Nevada, with Lake Tahoe 45 minutes away, a whitewater park running straight through downtown, and a Midtown district that’s turned into a real food and arts scene over the last few years.

This guide covers the attractions worth your time, split roughly into downtown, outdoors, and family-friendly categories, plus a few practical notes on cost and timing.

Downtown and Riverwalk District

Start where most visitors do: the Riverwalk District. It follows the Truckee River for about 3.5 miles from Idlewild Park to Wingfield Park downtown, and it’s completely free to walk. You’ll pass public art installations, riverside cafes, and the Reno Whitewater Park, where kayakers play in man-made rapids right in the middle of the city. Grab a coffee, sit on a bench, and watch for a while. It’s one of the better people-watching spots in town.

A few blocks over is the National Automobile Museum, home to more than 200 vintage cars, including some once owned by Nevada gaming pioneer Bill Harrah. Even if you’re not a car person, the museum recreates old streetscapes around each display, which makes it feel more like a walk through history than a parking garage.

For art, the Nevada Museum of Art is the only accredited art museum in the state, with a permanent collection focused on landscape and environmental themes. Pair it with the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts if you’re visiting during a touring show or concert.

Midtown: Food, Murals, and Breweries

Midtown Reno used to be an afterthought. Now it’s arguably the most interesting few blocks in the city. Expect independent restaurants, coffee shops, vintage stores, and a growing collection of street murals, several from local and international artists who’ve turned alley walls into legitimate art. Walking tours of the murals run regularly if you want context on the artists and stories behind them.

This is also where Reno’s brewery scene lives. Several taprooms sit within walking distance of each other, so it works well as an evening plan: dinner, a mural or two, then a short brewery crawl.

Outdoor Recreation and Day Trips

This is where Reno separates itself from other casino towns. Lake Tahoe is close enough for a half-day trip, with beaches, hiking, and boat rentals on the Nevada side. In winter, Mt. Rose Ski Resort is the closest major resort to the city, about 30 minutes up the mountain, and it tends to get less crowded than the bigger Tahoe resorts on the California side.

Closer to town, Rancho San Rafael Park covers more than 600 acres with trails, picnic areas, and a small farm exhibit that kids tend to like. If you’d rather stay near water without driving to the lake, the Truckee River trails offer flat, easy walking or biking routes right along downtown.

For something different, the high desert surrounding Reno has old mining towns and ghost towns within a couple hours’ drive. Not a quick stop, but a solid day trip if you have extra time and a rental car.

Family-Friendly Options

If you’re traveling with kids, a few spots consistently work well. Wild Island Family Adventure Park combines a water park and go-kart track, good for burning energy on a hot afternoon. Animal Ark, a wildlife sanctuary for rescued animals including bears, is a calmer option and genuinely well-run. Fly High Trampoline Park covers you on a rainy or smoky-air day, which does happen occasionally during summer wildfire season.

When to Visit

June through September is peak season, driven partly by events like the Great Reno Balloon Race and Hot August Nights, a massive classic car show that takes over the city each August. If you want lower prices and fewer crowds, shoulder months like May or October still offer decent weather without the event traffic. Winter obviously shifts the focus toward skiing.

A Practical Note on Cost

You can do quite a bit here for free: the Riverwalk, most murals, Rancho San Rafael Park, and window-shopping downtown all cost nothing. Museums typically run $10 to $15 per person, and a lift ticket at Mt. Rose will run considerably more, so budget accordingly if skiing is part of your plan.