Free & Cheap Things to Do in Reno

Parks & Nature

A scenic 2-mile paved path along the Truckee River winds through the heart of downtown Reno, connecting parks, public art installations, and riverside plazas. The walk passes beneath cottonwood trees, over pedestrian bridges, and alongside the rushing turquoise waters of the Truckee — a beautiful contrast to the casino lights just a few blocks away. Free to explore any time of day or night.

Address: Truckee River Walk, Reno, NV 89501 (starts near Virginia St Bridge)

Tip: Start at the Virginia Street Bridge in downtown and head west for the best scenery. The path is accessible 24/7 and connects to Wingfield Park and several riverside restaurants. Summer evenings are especially lively with street performers and locals out walking. Watch for the public art sculptures spaced along the route.

Arts & Culture

The only accredited art museum in Nevada, the Nevada Museum of Art in downtown Reno houses a permanent collection focused on art that explores the relationship between humans and the natural world. The striking modernist building itself is an architectural landmark, and the rotating exhibitions regularly feature nationally recognized contemporary artists alongside Nevada-centric work.

Address: 160 W Liberty St, Reno, NV 89501

Tip: Check the website for free admission days and special events — the museum periodically offers reduced or free entry. The rooftop terrace has excellent views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The museum shop is worth a browse for unique Nevada-made gifts. Closed Mondays and major holidays.

Parks & Nature

A beloved 49-acre city park along the Truckee River, Idlewild Park is Reno's green heart with a pond, playgrounds, picnic areas, a skate park, and the crown jewel: a one-acre rose garden certified by the American Rose Society featuring over 1,750 roses in 200 varieties. It's a peaceful escape from the casino corridor and a favorite spot for families and locals alike.

Address: 1900 Idlewild Dr, Reno, NV 89509

Tip: The rose garden peaks in late June/early July and again in late August — plan your visit around those windows for maximum blooms. The park also has a seasonal spray pad for kids, a fitness loop, and tennis courts. Plenty of free parking on site. A perfect afternoon picnic spot when combined with a stop at a nearby bakery or deli.

Quirky Landmarks

One of the country's most respected automobile museums, the National Automobile Museum displays the Harrah Collection of over 200 historic vehicles — including silver-screen cars from Gone in 60 Seconds and James Bond films, presidential and gangster-era classics, the rare 1907 Thomas Flyer that won the 1908 New York-to-Paris race, plus four life-size period-recreation street scenes from the 1890s, 1910s, 1930s, and 1950s.

Address: 1 Museum Dr, Reno, NV 89501

Tip: Open Monday–Friday 9am–5pm and weekends 10am–4pm. Allow 90 minutes. Free parking in the on-site lot. The four immersive period street scenes are the highlight — the 1930s street with the Chrysler dealership window is especially evocative. Combine with the Truckee River Walk one block south.

Parks & Nature

A 580-acre regional park three miles north of downtown Reno that anchors Washoe County's free-park network — with the 23-acre Wilbur D. May Arboretum & Botanical Garden (an ArbNet Level II arboretum with 4,600 plant species), Evans Creek Pond, a sled hill, equestrian and walking trails, the Great Reno Balloon Race launch field, and the May Museum (small admission fee — the park itself is free).

Address: 1595 N Sierra St, Reno, NV 89503

Tip: Park is free to enter daily. The Arboretum is the must-see — peak bloom is May through June. Free parking at all entrances. The Great Reno Balloon Race the first weekend in September launches from here at dawn — the largest free hot-air balloon event in the world; arrive by 5am for the dawn patrol.

Family Fun

A four-floor hands-on science and culture museum in downtown Reno with rotating Smithsonian-affiliated exhibitions, a permanent Nevada history floor, a kids-only Cloud Climber net you can scramble through, a Maker Studio for tinkering, and the Wonder Forge — a giant magnetic-shape construction zone that's a hit with kids. One of the best wet-weather backups in the Reno area.

Address: 490 S Center St, Reno, NV 89501

Tip: Open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5pm; closed Mondays. Free parking in the museum lot off Liberty St. Kids 6+ enjoy the Maker Studio and rotating Smithsonian exhibits the most. Plan 2–3 hours for a full visit. Combo passes with the National Auto Museum are sometimes offered — check the website.

Quirky Landmarks

The "Biggest Little City in the World" arch is Reno's most iconic landmark — a glowing silver-and-blue neon archway spanning Virginia Street downtown, first erected in 1926 and on its third iteration since 1987. The instantly recognizable slogan was added in 1929 after G.A. Burns of Sacramento won a $100 contest. The arch flashes 24 hours a day, every day, and is one of Reno's most-photographed spots.

Address: 345 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501

Tip: Free to walk under or photograph anytime, 24/7. Best photo angles are looking south on Virginia Street from Commercial Row. Stand under it at dusk or after dark when it's fully illuminated for the postcard shot. Two blocks north of the Truckee River Walk.

Parks & Nature

A 770-acre Sierra Nevada foothill park 15 minutes south of downtown Reno along Mt. Rose Highway, with a free visitor center, picnic shelters, a fishing pond, and a network of trails ranging from the easy stroller-friendly Whites Creek Loop to the strenuous 3.8-mile Galena Creek Waterfall climb. Elevation around 6,000 feet means pine forest, summer wildflowers, and snowshoeing in winter.

Address: 18250 Mt Rose Hwy, Reno, NV 89511

Tip: Park is open daily 8am–7pm; visitor center is Friday–Sunday 9am–4pm. Free parking at the North Entrance off Mt. Rose Highway. The Whites Creek Loop is the easiest family hike. The Galena Creek Waterfall Trail is best in spring snowmelt (May–June). Free year-round.

Museums & Galleries

Inside Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, the eccentric estate museum of rancher-adventurer Wilbur May displays his world-travel collections — art, artifacts, and big-game trophies — alongside a free public arboretum and botanical garden with themed garden rooms and a great-basin adventure play area.

Address: 1595 N Sierra St, Reno, NV 89503

Tip: The arboretum and gardens are free and open dawn to dusk; only the museum charges admission ($6/$4 for groups of 15+). Museum open Wednesday–Sunday. January–May a special-exhibition rate ($13/$11) replaces the regular price, so visit June–December for the bargain.