Getting around Reno from the airport area is straightforward by car, with Reno city centre and its Amtrak station each about a seven-minute drive from SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Reno Airport. RTC RIDE buses also connect Reno-Tahoe International Airport with downtown and Meadowood Mall, giving you a public-transit option for parts of the city.
- Reno city centre: about 7 minutes by car from the hotel.
- Reno Amtrak station: about 7 minutes by car from the hotel.
- National Automobile Museum: about 7 minutes by car from the hotel.
- Nevada Museum of Art: about 6 minutes by car from the hotel.
The airport-area starting point
Reno-Tahoe International Airport is the main transit reference point for the airport area, and RTC RIDE city buses connect it with downtown Reno and Meadowood Mall.
From the airport area, the airport is about 9 minutes away by car or about 53 minutes on foot. If you are arranging your airport transfer, how to get from Reno-Tahoe International Airport to the hotel is a useful route to plan first.
RTC Route 12 is named Terminal / Neil and serves the airport, Grand Sierra Resort, Renown, Walmart and Meadowood Mall. Its route links RTC 4th Street Station with the RTC Transfer Center at Meadowood Mall, with a stop at the resort’s employee entrance.
These connections can help you plan a bus journey, but the exact service and timetable may affect which stop works for your plans.
Route schedules and fares can change, so check the official site before you go. RTC offers a 7-day pass at $14.50 for a full fare and $6.00 for a reduced fare. Students, faculty and staff at DRI, the University of Nevada, Reno, Truckee Meadows Community College and Western Nevada College may ride fixed-route transit free with qualifying school identification.
How do you get from the airport area to Reno city centre?
Reno city centre is about a 7-minute drive from the airport-area starting point, compared with about 55 minutes on foot. RTC RIDE connects the airport with downtown Reno, so you can consider transit if your plans suit the airport bus service.
The National Automobile Museum and the Nevada Museum of Art are both downtown, making it practical to combine a city-centre visit with either museum.
The National Automobile Museum stands at the corner of Lake and Mill Streets. The Nevada Museum of Art is at 160 West Liberty Street. If you want to build a day around downtown stops, how to plan a one-day Reno itinerary from the airport area can help you map out the sequence.
The Nevada Museum of Art is closed Monday. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. Its parking lot is on the east side of the museum; during peak attendance, additional free and metered street parking may be available nearby. All public areas are wheelchair accessible.
How do you get to the Reno station?
Reno’s Amtrak station is about a 7-minute drive from the airport-area starting point, or about 57 minutes on foot. The station is at 280 University Way in downtown Reno, a few blocks north of the Truckee River, and serves the California Zephyr. The current Amtrak facility was added to the historic Southern Pacific station in 2005.
Amtrak advises passengers who need ticketing, passenger assistance or checked baggage to arrive at least 45 minutes before departure. If you do not need those services, its recommended arrival time is at least 20 minutes before departure. The station has a staffed ticket office, ticketing kiosks, restrooms and vending machines; it has no Wi-Fi or ATM.
Checked baggage service is available, but the station does not offer baggage storage or baggage carts. Staff can assist with baggage.
Amtrak provides a barrier-free path to the platform from the drop-off area, along with accessible restrooms, ticket office and waiting room; a wheelchair and wheelchair lift are also available. Station parking information distinguishes same-day parking from overnight parking, which is not available.
How do you reach Reno museums and the university?
The museums and university are within a short drive of the airport-area starting point. The National Automobile Museum takes about 7 minutes by car, the Nevada Museum of Art about 6 minutes, and the Pioneer Center about 6 minutes.
The University of Nevada, Reno takes about 8 minutes by car. The Wilbur D. May Museum takes about 10 minutes by car.
For a museum-focused stop downtown, the National Automobile Museum’s location at Lake and Mill Streets pairs naturally with other central Reno destinations. Its collection is the subject of what to know before visiting the National Automobile Museum.
If you are heading to campus, the university is about 74 minutes on foot from the airport-area starting point. A campus visit can be planned separately from downtown sightseeing.
Choosing between driving and transit
Driving is the faster option for the listed trips from the airport-area starting point: central Reno and the station each take about 7 minutes by car, while the museum and university drives take about 6 to 8 minutes.
Walking times are longer, at about 52 to 57 minutes for downtown, the station and the two central museums, and about 74 minutes to the university.
Transit is worth considering when your itinerary matches RTC RIDE’s airport-to-downtown or airport-to-Meadowood Mall connections. For an Amtrak departure, leave enough time for the station’s recommended arrival window, especially if you need checked baggage or assistance.
If you are choosing between driving and transit for several stops, group the downtown museum visits together and plan the campus trip separately; a University of Nevada, Reno campus tour is one way to explore the university.
FAQs
Does public transit connect Reno-Tahoe International Airport with downtown?
Yes. RTC RIDE city buses serve the airport, with connections to downtown Reno and Meadowood Mall.
Which train serves Reno station?
Reno station is served by Amtrak’s California Zephyr.
Can you store luggage at Reno station?
The station offers checked baggage service, but it does not provide baggage storage or baggage carts. Staff can assist with baggage.
Is the Nevada Museum of Art wheelchair accessible?
Yes. All public areas are wheelchair accessible.