Welcome to the little city of the Grand Sierra

Reno's largest casino-hotel complex, the Grand Sierra Resort is unmistakable as you enter Reno. Set off by itself in the center of the Truckee Meadows, and taking up a few square miles  of real-estate, the big cross is bordered on the west by US-395, on the south by the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, and on the north and east by Sparks.

You can get there via US-395 from two exits — Mill Street or Glendale Avenue. If you are coming from I-80, take the US 395 exit (#15) southbound, and Mill and Glendale will be your first two exits.

Having undergone several owners, face-lifts, and different names over its life of over 30 years, the GSR is surrounded by acres and acres of free parking, some fun park rides, and a enormous cement pond doubling as a golf driving-range. Please note that if you are planning on parking your RV or spacecruiser, you will need to check it in with security and may have to pay a parking fee.

Once inside, the GSR can be found to be a gala resort way, way, WAY far away from home! Apart from the casino you will find top-notch hotel rooms, restaurants, showrooms, …and a number of popular venues featuring fantastic local and national acts.  Also found is a shopping mall, a huge bowling alley, and mega luxurious pools. If you hope for rooms there around Labor Day, reserve ASAP, while the GSR will also be offering discount room rates on certain days (see below for details).  Grand Sierra is VERY burner friendly and host to many local productions close-to-heart with the community, and they will be again having a big and fabulous post-playa party this year, from September 3-5, with many live bands as well as dj’s just from the playa!

The hotel complex also has its own, very nice RV-trailer park. Located on the river, they are very busy, so if you want to go here, best to reserve months ahead.

There is another RV-trailer park that comes recommended close by, which also sits right on the Truckee River and is easily accessible from either I-80 or US-395. Eager to take care of Burners, River's Edge RV Park can be reached most easily from I-80 by taking the Rock Blvd Exit #17.

Twin City Surplus is also in the neighborhood, a mega-magnet for burners over the years, with lots of army surplus, water barrels, tarps, parachutes, bulk containers, camping supplies, shade structure hardware, goggles, etc etc etc. Keep an eye out for a large red barn-looking Quonset hut. To get to Twin City Surplus from US 395, take the Glendale Avenue Exit. You want to travel east on Glendale from the freeway (right if you are travelling north on US 395). Down about a quarter of a mile, turn left onto Galetti Way. Down about another quarter of a mile, turn left onto East 4th Street. Twin City Surplus will then be on your right about 3/4 of a mile.

Renown Regional Medical Center is also nearby — take Mill Street Exit off US-395 and Renown is approximately 3/4 mile west.

Groceries/Water Stores

Red Rock Spring Water
1145 Icehouse Ave – 775-331-5908- map
Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, extended or weekend hours by appointment. Red Rock provides naturally-filtered spring water drawn from the Red Rock Spring 30 miles north of Reno. Which means it is higher-quality, tastier, and perhaps healthier water than what you may find elsewhere. Water is $7.50 per 5 gallons. 3 and 5-gallon containers can also be purchased and returned for a $8 deposit/refund. BPA-free bottles as well as spigots and pumps are also available, and you can fill up your RV with tap water. Red Rock also provides delivery of water of only 200 gallons and up to participants/theme camps as well as pickup of their empty containers in Black Rock City. If interested in delivery, send an email to dan(at)redrockwater(dot)com by no later than August 7.

WalMart Super Center
2425 East 2nd Street – 775-359-8200 – map
Open 24/7.

Hardware/Camping

Twin City Surplus
1675 East 4th Street – 775-323-5630 – map
Open Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm. Long-time mega magnet for burners, this place has a little of everything. They have an extended portion of their site just for Burning Man. They will have the usual 35 and 55-gallon water barrels — will even let you fill them up there — along with the usual variety of tents, tarps, rope, goggles, clothing, stoves, and military-ware. Crank flashlights, Everlites, and solar lanterns are just a few of the many green-er items they are now carrying. Check out their website for their hot items.

Steve’s Army Surplus
3000 Mill Street – 775-828-1199 – map
Open daily 10am-6pm. Some camping supplies etc (tents, sleeping bags, parachutes, netting, goggles, MRE’s, water containers, inflatable mattresses, camelbacks, gas-masks, grills, shovels) here, but mainly a place if you want combat and camouflage gear.

Gone Green Recycling
1440 Industrial Way – 775-525-1447 - map
Open Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:30pm, but open 7:30-7:30pm during Aug 20-Sept 7. Two things of especial note regarding Gone Green. First, you can by used carpet and pads here for your camp in sizes ranging from 3′x3′ to 12′x30′ at pretty good prices. Second, you can also drop off your carpet and pads for recycling after Burning Man. They also recycle cardboard, plastics, aluminum, and steel.

Random Curiosities

Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Smoke Shop
2001 East 2nd Street – 775-329-2972 / 775-329-0275 – map
Open 7am-8pm daily.

Gas and Biofuel

Allied Washoe Petroleum
2500 East 4th Street – 775-323-3146 – map
Really the only place in Reno-Sparks to purchase B-20 and B-100 biofuels, provided by Bently Biofuels. Also carries regular gas.

Howard’s Chevron
2799 East 4th Street – 775 786 2159 – map
Open Mon-Fri 7am-8pm, Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 8am-6pm. Gas pumps available 24/7. Call ahead for possible after-hours. Carries a few extra things like gas cans and bulk water and candy, while you can even fill up with tap water, such as your RV.  They also offer car-repair services. Just off of I-80 (exit 16) by US-395.

Hotels & Hotel Casinos

Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
2500 East 2nd Street – 775-789-2000 / 800-501-2651 – map
The largest and very burner-friendly Grand Sierra Resort is offering a discount of 10% off its prevailing rates for Aug 28-30 and September 3-5.  Rates will fluctuate depending on date of reservation.  When calling for reservations, give this discount code: BURN12.  Also of note, there will again be a massive party (Sept 3-5) this year for those returning from the playa — pool, dj’s, and live music!

Restaurants

Grand Sierra Resort
2500 East 2nd Street – 775-789-2000 / 800-501-2651 – map
Lots of restaurants and a buffet.

RV Parks

Grand Sierra Resort RV-Park
2500 East 2nd Street- 775-789-2129 – map
Reserve ASAP for the RV campground.  Grey-water disposal and RV dumping available.

River's Edge RV Park
1405 South Rock Blvd- 775-358-8533 / 800-621-4792 – map
Please reserve ASAP, they love burners! Situated right on the Truckee River. Also has RV dump.

Hospitals/Urgent Care Facilities

Renown Regional Medical Center (Trauma Center, for emergencies)
155 Mill Street – 775-982-4100 – map

Recycling, Garbage, and Greywater Disposal

RSW Recycling
1100 East Commercial Row – 775-329-8822  – map
Open 24/7. Takes plastics, glass, aluminum, tin, and steel cans, cardboard, and paper. No dumping — NO FURNITURE!

Schnitzer Steel
490 Valley Road, Reno – 775-331-2267  – map
Open Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:30pm, Sat 8am-3pm. Accepts all metals for recycling.

Gone Green Recycling
1440 Industrial Way – 775-525-1447 – map
Open Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:30pm, but open 7:30-7:30pm during Aug 20-Sept 7. Two things of especial note regarding Gone Green. First, you can by used carpet and pads here for your camp in sizes ranging from 3′x3′ to 12′x30′ at pretty good prices. Second, you can also drop off your carpet and pads for recycling after Burning Man. They also recycle cardboard, plastics, aluminum, and steel.

Reno Salvage Company
301 Montello – 775-323-7109  – map
Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. Takes scrap metals only.

Clean Harbors Environmental Services
1200 Marietta Way, Sparks – 775-331-9400 – map
Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. A place providing recycling, reuse and reclamation options for hazardous and non-hazardous materials including solvents, chemicals and oil, light bulbs, transformers and other electrical equipment.

Reno Transfer Station
1390 East Commercial Row – 775-329-8882  – map
Open Mon-Fri 6am-6pm, Sat and Sun 8am-6pm. Garbage disposal at $6 per cubic yard.

Grand Sierra Resort RV-Park
2500 East 2nd Street- 775-789-2129 – map
Grey-water disposal and RV dumping available.

Golden Gate Petroleum
1055 South Rock Blvd, Sparks (775) 358-7400 – map
Greywater disposal.

Car and RV Parts and Repair, and Tow Service

Paramount Repair
2570 Tacchino Street – 877-329-6691 – map
Open Mon-Fri 8am-5:30pm. RV repair services.

Sierra Foreign Car Service
1535 Hymer Street – 775-331-3774 – map
Open Mon-Fri 7:30am-5:30pm. This place has come to treat us and other friends and burners VERY fairly! They specialize in foreign cars, especially Volkswagens.

A1 Body Shop & RV Repair and Parts
2050 Glendale Avenue – 775-348-0908 – map
Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-3pm.

All Points Towing
2801-B  Vassar Street – 775-323-4002 – map
During burn week – Open 24/7. Will pick up Bay Area to Wadsworth and FROM Reno will tow up to 500 miles in any direction. Will tow RV & travel trailers with good wheel up to 32ft long. Does not tow diesel pushers.

D & S Tow Inc
105 Sunshine Lane, Reno – 775-358-7779 – map
Open 24/7 and can tow anything anywhere in surrounding states.

Preparation