Whether you’re looking to escape, explore, play or learn, there are plenty of day trips from Reno that will get you out of the city and into an adventure. While a two or three-day weekend road trip may take some extra planning and overnight stays, there are plenty of spots easily accessible within a day’s drive or less from the Biggest Little City. Here are 14 to check out!
Day trips from Reno: 1 hour or less
Virginia City
- Distance from Reno: 30 miles
- Duration of drive: Less than 1 hour
- COVID-19 information: Click here
In its heyday in the 19th century, more than $400 million in gold and silver was mined from Virginia City—more than $20 billion dollars in today’s prices. It was the most important industrial city between Denver and San Francisco, and it turned destitute prospectors from all over the world into millionaires. Its riches helped finance the Civil War and went on to build empires around the world, including San Francisco, a city built with Comstock silver. Today, you can walk the streets of history and explore where Mark Twain wrote and presidents met.
Carson City
- Distance from Reno: 40 miles
- Duration of drive: Less than 1 hour
- COVID-19 information: Click here
A trip to Nevada’s capitol, Carson City, is an opportunity to catch a glimpse of Nevada’s rich and colorful history and enjoy its present-day delights. For a self-guided, outdoor stroll, try talking a walk on the Kit Carson Trail. This path through Carson City’s historic district features stops at landmarks including 1800s-era Victorian-style homes, museums and churches. More than 60 landmarks telling the story of the capital city’s history are featured along the Kit Carson Trail.
Prosser Creek Reservoir
- Distance from Reno: 40 miles
- Duration of drive: Less than 1 hour
- COVID-19 information: Click here
A short trip from Lake Tahoe, Prosser Creek Reservoir is worth the drive for the views and peaceful location. Situated in a forested paradise, there’s plenty of outdoor recreation activities for all ages, including boating, camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, and more. During the winter, visitors can also enjoy ice fishing, cross country skiing or snowshoeing.
Carson Valley
- Distance from Reno: 50 miles
- Duration of drive: Less than 1 hour
- COVID-19 information: Click here
Spanning the communities of Gardnerville, Genoa, and Minden, Carson Valley offers an abundance of adventures. Soar in a glider, hit the links, tour museums, tackle bike trails and ski slopes, find a bald eagle in your viewfinder, bounce your way into a desert sunrise in search of wild horses or wrap the day with a peaceful drive through one of Nevada’s famous sunsets.
Genoa
- Distance from Reno: 50 miles
- Duration of drive: Less than 1 hour
- COVID-19 information: Click here
The first settlement in what became the Nevada Territory, Genoa is full of old-time charm and interesting sites to see. Nestled at the base of the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Range, this small town boasts many local amenities and shops. Learn about Genoa’s past with a visit to Mormon Station State Historical Park Museum and Genoa Courthouse Museum. Stop by the Genoa Cemetery or the infamous Hanging Tree. Stroll through a variety of shops and be sure to make time for a leisurely lunch or dinner.
Day trips from Reno: 1-2 hours
Fallon
- Distance from Reno: 70 miles
- Duration of drive: 1-2 hours
- COVID-19 information: Click here
Located east of Reno, the city of Fallon has no shortage of things to do, from high-adrenaline racing to prehistoric sites to one of the only farm distilleries in the world. Nearby, the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge covers 80,000 acres of the Lahontan Valley with lush marsh is also named a globally important bird area by the American Bird Conservancy. View rock writings and petroglyphs created more than 8,000 years ago on a self-guided tour of the Grimes Point Archaeological Area, 11 miles east of Fallon. For those who enjoy an OHV experience, check out the Sand Mountain Recreation Area, which features 4,795 acres of sand dunes.
Hope Valley
- Distance from Reno: 80 miles
- Duration of drive: 1-2 hours
- COVID-19 information: Click here
Famous for its fall colors, Hope Valley rests at 7,000 feet on the eastern side of Carson Pass, south of Lake Tahoe. The valley has long been a favorite destination for fly fishermen, artists, photographers, day hikers, and a host of others who appreciate its beauty. The area features a variety of recreational activities year round, including cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling in the winter.
Topaz Lake
- Distance from Reno: 80 miles
- Duration of drive: 1-2 hours
- COVID-19 information: Click here
Spanning the California/Nevada border south of Reno, Topaz Lake is known as the “Home of the Trophy Trout.” Visitors can enjoy fishing, sailing or exploring the lake and its 25 miles of shoreline. For those who prefer on-land activities, there’s ATV riding, hiking and horseback riding.
Grass Valley
- Distance from Reno: 90 miles
- Duration of drive: 1-2 hours
- COVID-19 information: Click here
Nestled in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Foothills, quirky and historic Grass Valley is rich in history and outdoor adventure. In this California Gold Rush-era town, visitors will find a historic downtown area with a variety of independently-owned shops and restaurants. Nearby, there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy as well.
Day trips from Reno: More than 2 hours
Bodie
- Distance from Reno: 140 miles
- Duration of drive: More than 2 hours
- COVID-19 information: Click here
Bodie State Historic Park is a genuine California gold-mining ghost town. Visitors can walk down the deserted streets of a town that once had a population of nearly 10,000 people. Only a small part of the town survives, preserved in a state of “arrested decay.” Interiors remain as they were left and stocked with goods.
Unionville
- Distance from Reno: 160 miles
- Duration of drive: More than 2 hours
- COVID-19 information: Click here
Between Winnemucca and Lovelock, visitors can find Unionville—part ghost town and part desert getaway. With a population of 20 people, this living ghost town is about an hour away from the closest services. Nearby, visitors can find Kyle Hot Springs and the Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary, a non-profit, wildlife rehabilitative center providing permanent placement for animals in need.
Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park
- Distance from Reno: 160 miles
- Duration of drive: More than 2 hours
- COVID-19 information: Click here
Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park contains a town built in the 1890s that is preserved in a state of arrested decay. Many of Berlin’s original buildings remain and some of its original residents are interred in the town’s cemetery. Trails throughout the town site tell the story of Berlin and its mine. The park is also home to the most abundant concentration, and largest known remains, of Ichthyosaurs, an ancient marine reptile that swam in a warm ocean that covered central Nevada 225 million years ago. The fossils are protected and displayed at the park’s Fossil House.
Austin
- Distance from Reno: 180 miles
- Duration of drive: More than 2 hours
- COVID-19 information: Click here
Situated almost exactly in the geographic middle of Nevada, Austin is home to castles, historic buildings, 10,000 year-old petroglyphs, and the second longest mountain range in the state. Founded during a silver rush in the 1860s, Austin was the second-largest city in Nevada during its heyday with more than 5,000 residents and another 5,000 in the surrounding areas. Located on Highway 50, “The Loneliest Road in America,” Austin boasts a population of 300 today, and offers visitors a variety of activities to explore and enjoy.
Black Rock Desert
- Distance from Reno: 190 miles
- Duration of drive: More than 2 hours
- COVID-19 information: Click here
Although it’s best known as the home of Burning Man, the Black Rock Desert is comprised of 1.2 million acres of national conservation area and national wilderness area, which means this is the largest collection of publicly managed land in the continental U.S. In addition to expansive dry lake beds or “playa,” the area boasts rugged canyons, pristine hot springs, and 180 miles federally protected historic emigrant trails used by early pioneers. It’s best to be prepared when visiting this area, as the nearest services are miles and hours away, and cell service is dicey at best. Do not attempt to travel in this area unless you’ve come equipped with a high clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicle.
There are plenty of day trips from Reno that will help you explore nearby attractions and activities. Pick one, get in the car, and get ready for an adventure!
