Reno - Transportation and Shipping
Several thousands of people fly into Reno every year on their journey to the playa. As a result, rental cars are in high demand as well as pricey – especially with cleaning fees.
But there have arisen other, innovative, and funner means for folks to make it from here to the playa. Whether jumping on a plane flying directly to Black Rock City Airport, sharing a ride with other burners from the airport, or heading over to the rideshare base to hook up a ride, it can be easy and indeed fun to make your way to the playa, thanks to the creativity and generosity of fellow burners.
We’ve therefore included here on this Transportation page of the Reno Pages, our basic transportation portals, and the ways to get to the playa from Reno.
We've also included a few local trucking companies that come recommended for local transportation of major sizes/quantities to and from the playa, and a local UPS shipping location that is really accommodative of us burners.
Air
Reno-Tahoe International Airport
2001 East Plumb Lane – 775-328-6468 – (Plumb Lane)
Upon landing and leaving the airplane, a few things to check out before heading off for the playa.
First, it is highly recommended that you keep your eyes open for the Burning Man Art Exhibit upon leaving the terminal. Lots of great pictures, memorabilia, and more on what the event has come to mean to the area year-round.
Second, as you leave the airport, please be sure to check out the Air Playa Info table c/o Burning Man for questions, resources, rideshare options, and some local burner hospitality.
Advantage Flight
10509 Professional Circle, Suite 102 – 775-852-3512 – (Plumb Lane)
Ever want to Fly into Black Rock City?! Well, you can! Advantage Flight will fly ya to the playa! After four consecutive years of offering flights to and from Black Rock City, Advantage Flight's Reno-BRC Air Shuttle offers up to six flights daily before, during, and after the event between Reno-Tahoe International Airport and Black Rock City. Best book now for reservations.
Rideshare
Catching a ride from fellow burners to the playa. There are really two methods of ridesharing from Reno to BRC in Reno.
One, particularly for air travelers, is to seek and possibly negotiate a ride among the many travelers coming through there that rent a car. Check in at Air Playa Info with the volunteers, as they may help point you in the right direction.
The second is a local Rideshare Base at the Save Mart on Keystone Avenue. This location is right next to I-80, is open 24 hours, and is the single-most populated store in Reno during Burning Man. Finding a ride to the playa should therefore really not be a problem, as many burners before and during the event come to shop at these stores, and are likely more than willing to accommodate you with a free and fun seat to the playa. And, well, experience proves all this – offering to help with gas money helps, if you can! Please do try to remember though that the parking lot (the best place to negotiate a ride) is not just for burners, to Leave No Trace, that everyone in the vehicle must be wearing a seatbelt, and to be comfortable with those in the vehicle before hopping on-board.
Save Mart Supermarket
525 Keystone Avenue – 775-786-2150 – (Keystone Ave.)
Open 24/7.
Methods of getting from the airport to the Rideshare Base:
- Rideshare – You may be able to catch a ride to one of the Rideshare Bases, if not directly to the playa. Check in with Air Playa Info.
- Taxi – A taxi should cost you around $10 to any of the Rideshare Bases. MAKE SURE YOU TELL THE TAXI DRIVER TO USE THE FREEWAY – not using the freeway could cost you lots more money and time. You can check in with Air Playa Info to find people with whom to share a taxi.
- Regional Transportation – Unfortunately, there are no direct bus routes from the airport to any of the Rideshare Bases. If you don't mind taking a few different buses via transfers, check out the RTC website for bus schedules here.
Rental Cars
There are innumerable rental car agencies in the area, each with their own particular programs, so we suggest you check out the yellow pages to see what will work for you – but reserve well ahead!
Yellow Pages – Reno – Rental Cars
Trucking
Steve Kapner Trucking, Inc.
5475 Melarkey Way – 775-846-3852 – (Damonte Ranch)
Comes highly recommended for transportation of large sizes and quantities to and from the playa.
Lakeside Transport
2855 Highway 40 West – 775-345-6900 – (Verdi)
Open 24/7. Can transport anything, anywhere. They specialize in big vehicles and non-vehicles.
Shipping
UPS Store
561 Keystone Avenue – 775-322-5105 – (Keystone Ave.)
Open Mon-Fri 7:30am-6pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 10am-3pm. Open special hours during Burning Man. If you've ever wanted to have some of your stuff shipped to Reno and stored there at no extra charge and just waiting for you to pick up on your way to the playa, this is THE place. Very nice and accommodative owner and crew that really knows how to take care of people. Contact the store to make arrangements for shipping/storing details.
UPS Store
59 Damonte Ranch Parkway, Suite #B – 775-852-3777 – (Damonte Ranch)
Open Mon-Sat 8am-7pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm. A popular place to ship stuff to to then pick up on your way to the playa. Call for further information.
Bus
Finally, no means of bus transportation to the playa has materialized for 2011. We do however include the Greyhound bus station for means of getting to and from Reno to locations other than Black Rock City.
Greyhound Bus Station
135 Stevenson Lane – 775-322-2970 – (Downtown)
Located just on the edge of downtown Reno, the Greyhound bus station is less than a mile away from the most popular store in Reno during the burner migrations, Save Mart on Keystone Avenue, which also happens to be a Rideshare Base.
Need more info? Try: Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority, Reno News and Review, Reno Gazette-Journal, Reno Magazine, Reno Tahoe Tonight, National Traffic and Road Closure Information, PlayReno, NevadaNet, goTahoe.com, Tahoe.com, Fernleynews.com. 
