Who Reno is for
Reno suits Lake Tahoe visitors flying into RNO who want one urban night before the mountains, University of Nevada visitors, Burning Man travelers staging in and out of Black Rock City, and gamblers who prefer a walkable downtown of maybe 10 casinos to the sprawl of Vegas. The Row properties (Eldorado, Silver Legacy, Circus Circus, all connected) run $80 to $180 a night. The Peppermill, a mile south on South Virginia, is the nicest property in town at $130 to $250. Grand Sierra Resort east of downtown runs $110 to $220.
It does not suit anyone expecting Vegas-scale nightlife, celebrity chef restaurants or huge production shows. Reno has good food but at 265,000 people it is a fraction of Vegas's density.
What is walkable from the arch
From the Reno arch on Virginia Street you can walk to the Truckee Riverwalk, the National Automobile Museum (the Harrah collection, genuinely excellent), the Nevada Museum of Art, and about eight downtown casinos including Whitney Peak with its outdoor climbing wall on the building's exterior. Midtown, roughly a mile south, has the best independent restaurants and bars — a 20-minute walk or $8 rideshare. Lake Tahoe's north shore is 45 minutes by car; Virginia City is 40 minutes.
Good to know
Is Reno cheaper than Las Vegas?+
Rooms are about 30% cheaper on average and resort fees are lower or nonexistent at several downtown properties.
How's the weather compared to Vegas?+
At 4,500 feet elevation, Reno summers top out around 95°F versus Vegas's 110°F, and winter nights drop below freezing.