Reno is a city located along the Nevada-California border, about 22 miles from Lake Tahoe. Also known as ‘The Biggest Little City in the World,’ it is famous for its casino and tourism industry. And if you’re looking for rooms for rent in Reno, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s our city guide for Reno, NV, with everything from the average rent in Reno to the best things you can do in this city.
Getting to know Reno
The city gets its name from the Civil War Unionist, Major General Jesse L. Reno, who was killed in action there during the American Civil War.
The Reno-Sparks metropolitan area, aka Greater Reno, is the second-most populous metropolitan area in Nevada, after the Las Vegas Valley. And with its casino and tourism industry, you could say that the biggest little city is the little version of Las Vegas!
Now, let’s move on to the complete city guide of Reno, from average rent in Reno, to its most famous cultural attractions!
Finding rooms for rent in Reno
Home to some of the most luxurious and beautiful neighborhoods in the US, Reno has stunning views all around, thanks to its location in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the Virginia Foothills. So, if you’re the kind of person who wants the best of both worlds, i.e., the natural world meets urban city life, you’ll find plenty rooms for rent in Reno that you’ll like.
Top neighborhoods in Reno
- Copper Knolls: A small but beautiful neighborhood to find rooms for rent in Reno, Copper Knolls is surrounded by majestic mountains. It also has many parks such as Somersett West Park, Somersett East Park, Mogul Park, and Northgate Park, all perfect for a day out.
- South Central: This neighborhood is one of the most affordable neighborhoods in Reno. There are many amenities nearby, from easily accessible public transport to Meadowwood Mall, along with plenty of independent shops and markets.
- Midtown: This is one of the trendiest and most walkable neighborhoods in Reno, with its eclectic mix of restaurants, bars and shops. You will see a combination of new buildings and remodeled homes that were originally built in the 1930s and 1940s.
Average rent in Reno
| Room For Rent In Reno | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom Apartment For Rent In Reno | $1,037 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartment For Rent In Reno | $1,576 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment For Rent In Reno | $2,364 |
University life in Reno
If you’re contemplating whether or not to move to Reno for university, Redditor u/captainfirebeard gives the best advice:
We do have public transportation, buses, that’ll get you to almost anywhere you need to go in the main areas of Reno; after that you’ll need a car, but there’s always uber. UNR has student dorms. There are good starting jobs here. The PCT and Tahoe aren’t far, with a car. Wherever you think about moving, you should find a place to stay there, and take up residence there for a month or so to see if it’s a good fit. Better than jumping in feet first and drowning.
Here are the best universities to apply near Reno:
- University of Nevada
- Truckees Meadow Community College
- Career College of Nevada
- Western Nevada College
- Sierra Nevada University
How transit friendly is Reno?
1. Walkability & Cycling
Reno has an average Walk Score of 38 and Bike Score of 52. Its most walkable neighborhoods are Downtown, Midtown, Plumas and Wells Avenue Neighborhood.
2. Roads
The primary north–south highway through Reno is U.S. Route 395/Interstate 580.
3. Bus
The RTC (Regional Transportation Commission) of Washoe County provides intra- and intercity bus services, along with on-demand shuttle services for the disabled. The terminals for RTC are located on 4th Street downtown, and at Sparks and Meadowood Mall.
Furthermore, many shuttle and excursion services connect the Reno–Tahoe International Airport to various destinations.
- South Tahoe Express provides connecting shuttle service to South Lake Tahoe resorts.
- Eastern Sierra Transit Authority provides shuttles to destinations south along the US-395 corridor in California, such as Mammoth Mountain and Lancaster.
- Modoc Sage Stage provides shuttles to Alturas and Susanville, California, along the northern US-395 corridor.
4. Railways
You’ll see two historic train depots in Downtown: the inactive Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad Depot and the active Amtrak depot at Reno station, which was originally built by the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Amtrak provides daily passenger services to Reno via the California Zephyr at Reno Station and via multiple Amtrak Thruway Motorcoaches that connect to trains departing from Sacramento.
5. Airports
The city is served by two airports, Reno Stead and Reno-Tahoe International.
The Reno Air Races, also known as the National Championship Air Races, are held each September at the Reno Stead Airport.
Cultural activities in Reno
- Nevada Museum of Art: The four-level, 70,000-square-foot museum building’s design was inspired by Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. It is home to collections focusing on the intersection of art and the environment, including landscape photography, contemporary art and pieces dedicated to the American West.
- Public art tour at Midtown: Reno’s Midtown District is one of the coolest, most arts-centric neighborhoods in town. You’ll be able to see up to 80 large-scale murals that you can explore on your own or via tours held every second Saturday. Also on display is Burning Man art at the Reno Playa Art Park. Moreover, there are plenty of bars, restaurants, shops and more for you to visit!
- Louis’ Basque Corner: Reno has a strong Basque influence from when immigrants came in search of fortune during the California Gold Rush. And that is reflected through the local Basque culture in the city. One of the places to enjoy that is the Louis’ Basque Corner, an authentic Basque cuisine restaurant and bar.
Historical spots in Reno
- The Fleischmann Atmospherium Planetarium: This planetarium was built in 1963 at the University of Nevada Campus. It was the first planetarium in the US to feature a 360-degree projector capable of providing horizon-to-horizon images. And through time-lapse photography, it shows an entire day’s weather in a few minutes.
- Nevada Historical Society: Founded in 1904, the society seeks to advance the study of the heritage of Nevada, the Great Basin and the West. You can view collections of shared history through exhibitions, artifacts, books, photographs and manuscript materials relating to the state of Nevada, the Great Basin, and the West.
- The Sparks Heritage Museum: In operation since 1987, the museum has several galleries displaying the history and heritage of the City of Sparks, Nevada and the connections to surrounding areas of the Truckee Meadows. This museum offers a gift shop and is surrounded by many restaurants and parks with plenty of walking space.
D’you know what else Roomi does outside of helping its readers find rooms for rent in Reno? With our ever-increasing lists of rooms and roommates across the world, we help you find your perfect match!
