Things to Do in Reno, NV: Riverwalk, Museums & Outdoors

Reno is easiest to enjoy when you stop treating it as a smaller Las Vegas.

Gaming is part of the city's identity, but a first visit can be built just as easily around the Truckee River, downtown museums, public art, parks, baseball, and a short drive into the high desert.

The useful planning trick is to group Reno by area. Downtown gives you the Reno Arch, Riverwalk, Wingfield Park, museums, public art, and Greater Nevada Field in one general zone.

Rancho San Rafael and the University of Nevada sit north of downtown. Idlewild Park works better as its own west-side stop.

Lake Tahoe, Virginia City, and Carson City belong in the "day trip" column rather than being counted as Reno attractions.

Quick guide: which Reno attractions are worth your time?

Attraction	Best for	Time to allow	Cost note
National Automobile Museum	First-time visitors, car fans, history	2-3 hours	$16 general admission
Truckee Riverwalk and Wingfield Park	Walking, downtown orientation, free sightseeing	1-2 hours	Free
Nevada Museum of Art	Art, architecture, rainy days	1.5-2.5 hours	$15 general admission
The Discovery	Families, hands-on science, hot or snowy days	2-4 hours	$17.95 adult admission
Reno Arch and City Plaza	Photos, first-time visitors, downtown walk	20-45 minutes	Free
Rancho San Rafael Regional Park	Gardens, trails, picnics, families	1-3 hours	Park and arboretum are free
Wilbur D. May Arboretum	Quiet garden walk, photography	45-90 minutes	Free
Idlewild Park	Relaxed outdoor time, playgrounds, river access	1-2 hours	Free
Reno public art and MidTown	Murals, local neighborhoods, walking	1-3 hours	Free to explore
Reno Aces at Greater Nevada Field	Baseball, families, evening activity	3 hours	Ticketed and seasonal

1. Start with the National Automobile Museum

If you choose one paid museum in Reno without knowing much about the city beforehand, the National Automobile Museum is a strong first pick.

Its collection grew from the Harrah automobile collection, and the galleries use recreated street scenes and period displays to put the cars into historical context.

You do not need to be a serious car collector to get something from it.

The stronger part of the museum is the way transportation history, design, celebrity vehicles, racing, and everyday American life overlap.

Current admission is:

• $16 general admission;
• $15 for seniors 65 and older;
• $14 for active military, veterans, and first responders with ID;
• $13 for ages 6-17;
• $3 for children 5 and younger;
• free for members.

Parking is free. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Daily guided tours are normally offered at 1:30 p.m. when a volunteer docent is available, and the museum says those tours run about 90 minutes.

Best use: Put it near the start of a downtown day, then continue to the Riverwalk.

2. Walk the Truckee River through downtown

The Truckee River is what keeps central Reno from feeling like a collection of casinos and wide roads.

The Riverwalk gives you a simple way to see downtown at human speed, with parks, bridges, public art, restaurants, and the river itself creating a natural route.

Wingfield Park is the key stop. It sits around an island in the river and connects directly with the Truckee River Whitewater Park.

The City of Reno says the whitewater course runs about half a mile and includes 11 drop pools.

If you only want a scenic walk, stay on the paths and bridges.

If you plan to enter the whitewater course, treat it as real river recreation rather than a casual splash zone.

The city says the water can range from about 50 to 70 degrees and instructs users to wear helmets and flotation jackets.

This is also one of the best free things to do in Reno because it can be as short or long as you want.

A quick visitor can see the river, Wingfield Park, and nearby art in under two hours. A slower traveler can make it the spine of a full afternoon.

3. See the Reno Arch, then keep walking

The Reno Arch is worth seeing, but it is not worth building half a day around.

The current arch spans Virginia Street in downtown Reno and carries the "Biggest Little City in the World" slogan.

The first arch was built in 1927 to promote highway travel through Reno; the version you see today is a later iteration.

Treat it as a photo stop inside a downtown route.

From there, continue toward the Truckee River, City Plaza, the Riverwalk, or the nearby museums instead of driving somewhere else immediately.

The arch is especially photogenic after dark, when the illuminated sign makes more sense against downtown Reno's neon history.

4. Choose the Nevada Museum of Art for a quieter indoor afternoon

The Nevada Museum of Art is the better museum choice when your interests lean toward contemporary art, photography, design, or the relationship between people and the environment.

It is Nevada's only art museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

The practical point is that you are getting curated exhibitions, a permanent collecting program, and a full museum operation rather than a small local gallery.

As of August 2026:

• general admission is $15;
• students and seniors pay $13;
• younger children receive reduced or free admission depending on age;
• hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday;
• Thursday hours extend to 8 p.m.;
• the museum is closed Mondays and national holidays.

The museum is at 160 West Liberty Street, close enough to combine with the Riverwalk and MidTown in the same half-day.

Choose this over the Automobile Museum if: your group prefers art, architecture, and rotating exhibitions to mechanical history.

5. Take children to The Discovery

The Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, usually called The Discovery, is Reno's best all-purpose indoor stop for families.

It is a 67,000-square-foot hands-on science center with galleries tied to science, technology, engineering, art, invention, and related subjects.

This is not a museum where young children are expected to quietly read wall labels.

The point is participation, which makes it easier to justify a two- or three-hour block when the weather is hot, smoky, snowy, or simply tiring.

Current daily admission is:

• $17.95 for adults;
• $15.95 for youth ages 6-17;
• $13.95 for children ages 1-5;
• $15.95 for seniors 65 and older;
• free for children under 1.

Standard hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Wednesday open until 8 p.m. Mondays are not year-round: the museum opens Mondays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, on state and national holidays, and during Washoe County School District breaks.

That Monday rule is the kind of small detail that can wreck a family itinerary, so check the calendar before making it your first stop of the week.

6. Use Rancho San Rafael as Reno's big park day

Rancho San Rafael Regional Park is not just a patch of lawn.

Washoe County describes the park as 580 acres, with maintained lawns, native pasture, wetland habitat, trails, a pond, a disc golf course, picnic facilities, an off-leash dog area, the Wilbur D. May Museum, and the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

That range makes it useful for groups who do not all want the same thing.

One person can walk the garden, children can use the playground, someone else can explore trails, and the whole group can regroup for a picnic.

The park is also the home of the Great Reno Balloon Race, which is why many visitors first hear about it.

Outside major events, however, it is still worth visiting as a normal city park.

Washoe County park hours change by season.

In summer, posted hours are generally 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; spring and fall hours are shorter, with winter hours shorter again.

Check the current park posting if you are planning an early or late visit.

7. Walk the Wilbur D. May Arboretum for free

The Wilbur D. May Arboretum sits inside Rancho San Rafael, so it should almost never be planned as a separate cross-town trip.

Admission is free, and the garden is open during regular park hours. Paths include both paved and packed-gravel surfaces.

Washoe County notes that paved routes are usually wheelchair accessible, while gravel routes can become muddy after wet weather.

Pets are not allowed in the arboretum except service animals, even though other parts of Rancho San Rafael include an off-leash dog area.

That distinction is easy to miss.

The arboretum is a good choice when you want a quiet hour outdoors without committing to a long hike.

It also works well as a buffer between busier indoor attractions.

8. Spend an easy afternoon at Idlewild Park

Idlewild Park follows the Truckee River west of downtown and has a more neighborhood-park feel than Rancho San Rafael.

Its features include walking and bike paths, ponds, a playground, skate park, rose garden, athletic areas, and a seasonal swimming pool.

The park is useful for three kinds of travelers:

• families who need a low-cost break between ticketed attractions;
• walkers and cyclists who want river scenery away from the downtown core;
• visitors who simply want a picnic or slower afternoon.

Some facilities are seasonal.

The city lists restrooms and drinking fountains at certain picnic areas as seasonal from roughly mid-April to mid-October, and the pool follows its own summer schedule.

Do not over-schedule Idlewild. It works best because it gives you space to stop doing tourist things for a while.

9. Look for public art downtown and in MidTown

Reno's public art is not confined to a museum building. Downtown and MidTown have murals, large sculptures, and pieces that originated at Burning Man.

Visit Reno Tahoe currently lists more than 100 murals across downtown and MidTown.

City Plaza, near First and South Virginia streets, is one of the easiest places to start because large-scale installations are concentrated there.

The Riverwalk and Bicentennial Park add more sculpture stops without requiring a separate admission fee.

A self-guided art walk is especially useful if your group has already done the main museums and wants something free.

It also gives MidTown a purpose beyond food and drinks.

Best approach: Do not try to "collect" every mural. Pick a few blocks in downtown or MidTown and let the art sit inside a neighborhood walk.

10. Catch a Reno Aces game in season

Greater Nevada Field gives Reno a strong evening option that has nothing to do with gambling.

The Reno Aces are the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks and play home games through the baseball season.

For 2026, the team scheduled home games from late March into September.

If your dates match a homestand, a night game can fit neatly after the Automobile Museum or Riverwalk because the stadium is downtown.

Ticket prices and promotions vary by game, so the live schedule matters more than any static price quote.

Families should also check theme nights and fireworks dates, which change throughout the season.

If baseball is not in season, do not force the stadium into the itinerary.

Use the same evening for the Riverwalk, MidTown, a show, or downtown lights.

11. See the casino district without making gambling the whole trip

Reno's casino history is part of the city, and the downtown towers still shape the skyline.

You can experience that setting without turning the trip into a gaming itinerary.

Walk Virginia Street around the Reno Arch, see the signs after dark, and pass through the core of downtown on the way to the river.

Adults who want casino entertainment can add it separately, but it does not need to replace the city's museums, parks, or neighborhoods.

That distinction is useful for families and for visitors who assume Reno has little to offer if they do not gamble.

12. Do not plan on the Fleischmann Planetarium as a normal drop-in stop in 2026

Older Reno guides often include the Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center as an easy University of Nevada attraction.

That advice needs a current warning.

The University of Nevada says the planetarium is closed for regular drop-in programs from May 4, 2026, through early 2027 while renovation work is underway.

Select pre-arranged programs and special events may still be available, but standard daily and monthly public programming is not operating.

If you are visiting during the renovation, use The Discovery, the Nevada Museum of Art, or the National Automobile Museum as your indoor backup instead.

Best free things to do in Reno

Reno has enough no-admission options to fill most of a day:

1. Walk the Truckee Riverwalk.
2. See the Reno Arch.
3. Explore Wingfield Park and watch the whitewater course.
4. Walk through City Plaza and downtown public art.
5. Explore MidTown murals.
6. Visit the Wilbur D. May Arboretum.
7. Spend time at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park.
8. Picnic or walk at Idlewild Park.

Parking, event fees, food, and optional activities can still add cost, but none of these requires a standard attraction ticket.

Best things to do in Reno with kids

For a first family trip, choose based on age and energy rather than trying to do everything.

Younger children

The Discovery should be near the top of the list. Add Idlewild Park, Rancho San Rafael, and a short Riverwalk stop.

The Automobile Museum can also work if your children like vehicles and can handle a more traditional museum pace.

School-age children and teens

Mix one museum with something active: The Discovery or Automobile Museum in the morning, then the Riverwalk, whitewater viewing, public art, or an Aces game.

Low-cost family day

Start at Rancho San Rafael and the arboretum, bring a picnic, then move downtown for the Reno Arch, Riverwalk, City Plaza, and Wingfield Park.

Things to do in Reno without kids

Adults can build a strong day without centering casinos.

Morning: National Automobile Museum.

Lunch: Downtown or MidTown.

Afternoon: Nevada Museum of Art, followed by a Riverwalk stroll.

Evening: Reno Arch after dark, an Aces game in season, a performance, or dinner in MidTown.

If your priority is outdoors, swap the museums for Rancho San Rafael, Idlewild Park, or a longer regional hike outside the city.

A one-day Reno itinerary

For a first visit, keep the day centered on downtown.

Morning: National Automobile Museum.

Late morning: Walk toward the Truckee River and follow the Riverwalk.

Lunch: Downtown or near the river.

Afternoon: Choose one: Nevada Museum of Art for adults and art-focused visitors, or The Discovery for families.

Late afternoon: Reno Arch, City Plaza, and public art.

Evening: Aces game if the team is home, or stay downtown for dinner and nighttime views of the arch.

This works because most of the day stays in one part of town.

Driving north to Rancho San Rafael and then back downtown is possible, but it makes more sense on a second day.

A two-day Reno itinerary

Day 1: Downtown Reno

• National Automobile Museum
• Truckee Riverwalk
• Wingfield Park
• Nevada Museum of Art or The Discovery
• Reno Arch
• City Plaza and public art
• Aces game in season

Day 2: Parks and neighborhoods

• Rancho San Rafael Regional Park
• Wilbur D. May Arboretum
• MidTown murals and lunch
• Idlewild Park
• Return to the river or downtown for the evening

Families can replace the art museum and MidTown time with more time at The Discovery or park playgrounds.

Reno side trips that are worth doing, but are not Reno attractions

Reno is a good base for several northern Nevada and Sierra destinations.

Keep them separate from a city itinerary so you do not spend your day pretending a 40-minute drive is a downtown stop.

Virginia City

Virginia City is roughly 40 minutes from Reno by car and is the better side trip for mining history, old streets, and Comstock-era context.

Lake Tahoe

The nearest Lake Tahoe communities are generally around 35 to 45 minutes from Reno depending on destination, traffic, and road conditions.

Tahoe deserves at least half a day, and often a full day, rather than being treated as a quick Reno attraction.

Carson City

Nevada's capital is about a half-hour south of Reno and works well for state history, museums, and a quieter downtown.

If you only have one day in Reno, stay in Reno. The city has enough to fill it without spending several hours in the car.

What to know before you go

Reno is high desert, not a low-elevation desert city

Days can be warm while mornings and evenings cool quickly.

Sun protection and water matter in summer, but a light layer can still be useful after dark.

Smoke can change outdoor plans

Northern Nevada and the Sierra can experience wildfire smoke.

If air quality is poor, move museums higher in the schedule and check current local guidance before prolonged outdoor activity.

River conditions are not decorative

The Truckee River can look inviting even when the current, temperature, or flow makes recreation harder than expected.

Use proper gear and follow local river safety guidance if you plan to paddle or float.

Downtown is the easiest area to explore without constant driving

The Riverwalk, Arch, public art, Automobile Museum, Nevada Museum of Art, The Discovery, and Greater Nevada Field are all in or near the central city.

Save Rancho San Rafael and Idlewild for separate blocks.

Is Reno worth visiting if you do not gamble?

Yes.

A non-gambling Reno weekend can include three substantial museums, a river running through downtown, public art, two large parks, gardens, baseball, neighborhood restaurants, and easy side trips into the Sierra and historic northern Nevada.

For a first trip, choose one paid indoor anchor, one outdoor block, and one evening activity.

That gives you a better sense of Reno than spending the whole day moving between casino floors or driving toward Tahoe before you have seen the city itself.

Sources and further reading

• National Automobile Museum - Plan Your Visit
• Nevada Museum of Art - Plan Your Visit
• The Discovery - Hours, Admission and Location
• City of Reno - Truckee River Whitewater Park
• Washoe County - Rancho San Rafael Regional Park
• Washoe County - Wilbur D. May Arboretum
• University of Nevada, Reno - Fleischmann Planetarium
• Visit Reno Tahoe - Reno Public Art