Nestled along the Nevada high desert, Reno and its surrounding areas make for a scenic and memorable road trip. The dramatic landscape, which shifts from desert, to mountains, to lakes, to cities will keep kids entertained during the drive, and the short distances between those landscapes make the trip palatable for families. The Lake Tahoe Loop offers plenty of entertainment opportunities for the whole family and is one that we heartily recommend!
Day 1: Reno
The “Biggest Little City in the World” makes for a great start to the road trip. The low traffic in the city makes it a breeze to go from its many destinations. For those interested in gambling, the resorts in the downtown area offer plenty of opportunities. The Circus Circus resort also has a fun Midway with carnival games and circus performances for the whole family. During the evening, make sure to take a stroll on the Reno Riverwalk, taking in the view and stopping by a local coffee shop like Hub Coffee Roasters or brewery like the Sierra Tap House.
Day 2: Lake Tahoe
After a day in Reno, the short one hour drive to the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe offers a breathtaking change in landscape. Before you leave, though, don’t miss out on breakfast at Squeeze In, conveniently located off of Interstate 580 on your way out of Reno. Squeeze In offers enormous portions and creative takes on traditional meals like omelettes, pancakes, and waffles.
After breakfast, the trip to Lake Tahoe takes you up and over 10,000 feet of elevation as you traverse across Mt. Rose. There’s a ski resort there if you’re interested in winter sports activities and plenty of look-out points to admire the majesty of Lake Tahoe. As you reach the Lake, you will be near Incline Village on the north side, but the entire Nevada side has plenty of state parks and activities for the whole family. You can easily spend multiple hours relaxing at Sand Harbor Beach, where you can also rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Further south, you will find Zephyr Cove, where the resort offers lunch and dinner cruises across the lake aboard the MS Dixie Paddlewheeler. You will learn all about Lake Tahoe and its rich history throughout the cruise and admire Emerald Bay on the western side of the lake before heading back to Zephyr Cove. There are also multiple hiking areas that will take you to beautiful sites, like Bonsai Rock and Chimney Beach. You can then end the day at the southern end of the Lake, where you will find several resorts in the town of Stateline, which spans the California-Nevada border.
Day 3: Virginia City
After enjoying the beautiful sights of Lake Tahoe, another adventure nearby awaits! The town of Virginia City is about one hour away from Stateline and offers contrasting activities to what you find at the Lake. Virginia City is an iconic mining town famous for the Comstock Lode, which was the first major discovery of silver in the US in the mid-1800s. The town center is a street with a natural boardwalk reminiscent of Western movies and several museums like the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum and The Way It Was Museum will show you what life was like in the 19th and 20th century during the mining era. There’s also the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, which offers 35-minute rides on a historic steam train with educational stories about the Comstock Lode era. Oh, and did I mention that Mark Twain began his writing career in Virginia City? There are references of his journey throughout Nevada all over the town, so if you’re a fan of his literature, it’s neat to know you’re walking around in areas that inspired his writing.
To cap off the evening, you can enjoy dinner at the Red Dog Saloon, which frequently hosts live music and delicious pizza. You can also stay at the Silverland Inn & Suites, which is conveniently located next to the town center and even has an indoor pool.
Day 4: Return to Reno
Completing the Lake Tahoe Loop involves a short 45 minute drive back to Reno from Virginia City, which in itself is a pretty scenic drive across Mt. Davidson and the nearby highlands. If you have spare time in Reno, it’s absolutely worth it to stop by the Terry Lee Wells Discovery Museum. The museum is a good fit for both children and adults, and has play areas and exhibits that will entertain the entire family for hours. Also, don’t forget to stop by Holey Schmidt Donuts next door to find some creative donut recipes!
Overall, the Lake Tahoe Loop covers about 125 miles, and offers spectacular lake, desert, city, and mountain landscapes. We were blown away by the beauty of the Reno Tahoe area, and already want to go back to experience it with the family again!
This post was produced in partnership with Travel Nevada and Travel Mindset.
