Burning through Reno
Reno is your last great chance to stock the larder and o.d. on civilization before you step into the desert.
Reno, NV
Reno and Sparks sit at the cross of I-80 and 395, red state and blue state, desert and Sierra mountain. This is a litte dynamo, a melting pot, a microflower of American industrial might and casino politics, one hour from Lake Tahoe, and two from the Playa. Only 12% of the county’s population was born here, but four seasons, tolerable traffic, incredible outdoor adventures and no state income tax call many to life in the Truckee Meadows. It takes 20 years to become native, but you can feel at home now. Welcome to the biggest little city before Black Rock.
This section is a friendly native guide, to show you around and share with you our favorite spots for shopping, dining and drinking. We’ve divided the area into “shopping hubs” as an easy way to find what you are looking for in the least number of stops as possible. We know you are as eager as a beaver to get to Black Rock City and being lost won’t help you. Which hub will best serve your needs? If you know you just need certain types of businesses, check out the Category pages to find what suits your needs. Print out the hub you need and put it with your ticket. Keep it handy as you cross the Nevada border.
A few crucial announcements: Please, please don’t trash Nevada. Period. Either take it to any of the dumps listed or all the way back to YOUR home. Do NOT use any businesses dumpsters or rest area dumpsters. Nevada Department of Transportation and Cal-Trans are cracking down on this. Friends of Nevada Wilderness reports that our visits to designated Wilderness areas near the playa have resulted in increased clean-up efforts by their own volunteers post-Burning Man, and they've spent recent years removing trash, burned art, gun casings, and miscellaneous MOOP. Leave No Trace means Leave No Trace, whether we're on the playa, in other natural settings, or in our own neighborhoods.
The water in Reno is good drinking water. Really. The source of our water comes from the snow melt from those mountains you just crossed over. When we do the snow dance, we aren’t just praying for excellent powder. So stop in Reno and Sparks to get your water jugs filled up. Fill ‘er up in Reno.
We're glad you're here. When you go, you'll be driving through wide-open and gorgeous rural country. Even though it seems like you can drive without worries on your way to Black Rock City, please drive carefully, keeping a careful eye on the road, as it is common to suddenly find cows and jackrabbits wandering along several parts of the road at their own leisure.
Finally, it is exciting to note that the Reno area is greening some -- and particularly for burners in 2007, the year of the Greening Man! Whether it is stores expanding their green-er items inventories, or co-operating in the 2007 Reno Drive-Thru Recycling Initiative, the Greening Man theme has been doing wonders for the sister-city to Burning Man, too! Please check out the Greening Reno 2007 page for more information, and how you can help out! Thank you, Welcome, and see you in Black Rock City
A. Robb Drive & Mae Anne Ave.
B. West McCarran & Mae Anne Ave.
C. Keystone Ave.
D. Downtown Reno(Virginia Street)
E. Pyramid Highway
F. East McCarran/Sparks Marina/Prater Way
G. Fernley, NV
North on US-395 from I-80
H. Oddie Blvd.
I. North McCarran Blvd. & Northtowne Lane
South on US-395 from I-80
J. Grand Sierra Resort (Reno Hilton) - Mill St.
K. Plumb Lane
L. Moana & Kietzke
M. Exit 63: South Virginia & South Kietzke
N. Exit 61: South Virginia at 395
O. South Meadows Parkway
P. Damonte Ranch Parkway
Q. Carson City, NV
Gas Stations
Propane & Biofuels
Groceries and Merchandise Stores
Liquor Stores
Restaurants
Bars
Wireless & Wired Internet Access
Coffeehouses
Hospitals and Urgent Care Facilities
Banks and ATMs
Hardware and Camping Gear
Bikes and Bike Repair
Hotels and Hotel/Casinos
Coin-Op Laundries
Random Curiosities
RV Parks, RV/Trailer/Truck Rentals, Storage
Auto Parts and Repairs
Dumps and Recycling
Need more info?
Try: Reno News and Review, Reno Gazette-Journal, Reno Magazine, National Traffic and Road Closure Information, The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority, PlayReno, NevadaNet, goTahoe.com, tahoe.com. 
