Best Western Hotels in Reno: Where to Stay and How to Plan Your Trip
Reno sits in a high desert valley on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, close enough to Lake Tahoe to make it a base for both casino nights and mountain days. The city works for short weekend trips, longer ski or hiking stays, and as a stopover between California and the rest of Nevada. This guide covers how the city is laid out, what to plan around, and how to book a Best Western hotel directly so you're not paying extra through a third party.
About Reno
Reno calls itself the Biggest Little City in the World, a nod to its compact downtown casino core wrapped around the Truckee River. Unlike Las Vegas, Reno is small enough to walk across in under an hour, with the river trail, the Riverwalk District, and the historic arch all within a few blocks of each other.
The city sits at altitude in a high desert climate, which means hot dry summers, cold winters with real snow, and big swings between day and night temperatures year-round. It's also the closest sizable city to the north shore of Lake Tahoe, which is why many visitors split their time between Reno and the lake.
Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is a genuine advantage: it sits only a few miles from downtown, so there's no long transfer to deal with after landing, unlike many other casino or ski destinations.
Where to Stay: Reno's Main Areas
Downtown / Casino Core: This is the traditional heart of Reno, with casinos, the Riverwalk, and nightlife within walking distance. It suits travellers who want to be close to gaming, restaurants, and the river district without needing a car for evenings out.
Midtown: South of downtown along Virginia Street, Midtown has independent restaurants, bars, and shops, and a different, less casino-centric feel. It's a reasonable choice if you want downtown's walkability without staying inside the casino district itself.
Near the Airport: Staying close to Reno-Tahoe International Airport can make sense for early flights, business trips to the nearby industrial and tech corridor, or if you're picking up a rental car to head toward Tahoe or Pyramid Lake.
University Area: Close to the University of Nevada, Reno campus, useful for visits tied to the university, graduations, or campus events, and still a short drive from downtown.
Check the current Best Western Online listings for Reno before booking, since which neighborhoods have availability can shift with the season and with local events.
Planning Your Stay
Two to three nights is enough to cover downtown Reno, the Riverwalk, and a day trip toward Lake Tahoe. Add extra nights if you plan to ski, hike, or spend a full day at the lake rather than just passing through.
Summer is the busiest season, driven by events like Hot August Nights (a classic car and music event) and the lead-up to Burning Man, since many attendees pass through or stage in Reno before heading to the Black Rock Desert. Expect hotels to fill up quickly during these weeks.
Winter brings ski traffic heading to Tahoe-area resorts; roads over the mountain passes can close or slow down in storms, so build in flexibility if you're driving up for a day trip.
Shoulder seasons (spring and fall) tend to be quieter, with more comfortable temperatures for walking around downtown and the Truckee River trail.
Getting Around Reno
Reno-Tahoe International Airport is close enough to downtown that a taxi, rideshare, or hotel shuttle (where offered) is usually the simplest way in — ask your hotel directly about shuttle service when you book.
A rental car is worth it if you plan to visit Lake Tahoe, Virginia City, or Pyramid Lake, since none of these are served well by public transit from Reno.
Downtown and Midtown are walkable on their own, and the free Virginia Street corridor makes it easy to move between casinos, restaurants, and the river district without a car.
How to Book the Best Rate
Book directly through Best Western Online rather than a third-party site. Direct booking means no account requirement, no added middleman fees, and you're dealing straight with the property for any changes or requests.
Rates in Reno move with demand, especially around Hot August Nights, graduation weekends at the university, and the weeks leading up to Burning Man. Booking early for these periods tends to give you more room options and better availability.
Always check current rates on the site rather than relying on a number you saw somewhere else — Reno pricing swings a lot with events and season, so the live rate is the only reliable one.
If your travel dates are flexible, compare a few nearby dates directly on the booking page; shifting a weekend stay by a day or two can open up better availability, particularly around major events.