Visiting Reno for a Game?

Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) sits about 3 miles southeast of downtown, making it one of the more convenient mid-size city airports in the West. A taxi or rideshare gets you to the city center in roughly 12 minutes for around $15-20. The RTC bus (Routes 12 or 19) also connects the airport to the Downtown 4th Street Station for $2, though Route 19 runs weekdays only and the Route 12 stop at Terminal Way & Villanova Drive requires a short walk from the north baggage claim via the marked pedestrian walkway.

RTC RIDE operates the city's public bus network with the Virginia Line rapid bus running along Virginia Street from Meadowood Mall in south Reno through downtown to UNR every 10 minutes from 6am to 1am, making it genuinely useful for reaching the university area near Lawlor Events Center. Uber and Lyft are both widely available throughout Reno and are the most practical option for game-day travel. A car is not strictly necessary if you're staying downtown, but it helps if you want to explore beyond the core or head toward campus on non-rapid routes.

Downtown Reno is the best base for visiting sports fans: casino-hotels like the Eldorado, Circus Circus, and Harrah's put you within rideshare distance of Mackay Stadium and keep nightlife and dining walkable after a game, with rates typically running $60-130 per night midweek and higher on football weekends. The Midtown district, just south of downtown along Virginia Street, offers boutique hotels and a more neighborhood feel at similar price points. Book well in advance for major Wolf Pack home games, especially rivalry weekends, when casino-hotel inventory tightens fast across the city.

Reno's sports identity is anchored by the University of Nevada Wolf Pack, and the fan base takes college football seriously in a city without any major pro teams, so Mackay Stadium atmosphere on a rivalry day can genuinely surprise first-time visitors. The Mountain West Conference schedule means home games against Boise State carry the most electricity, and tailgating around campus is a pre-game ritual worth arriving early for. Beyond football, the city also hosts the Reno Aces (Triple-A, Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate) at Greater Nevada Field downtown, giving fans a second sports option on the same trip. Reno's casino culture means post-game entertainment is never more than a few minutes away, which adds an extra dimension to the sports travel experience here compared to most college towns.