Complete with history, outdoor recreation, and indoor gaming fun, Nevada’s capital city is the perfect get-away spot or home-base for longer trips. If you can tear yourself way from the craps tables and bubblin nightlife, youеll discover a huge country out there by rental car from Carson City and there are some amazing deals through national travel.
Getting there
Air travel is easy with Reno-Tahoe International Airport only 30 miles from Carson City. This airport is linked to all western US hubs with convenient daily flights. Transportation to and from the airport to Reno, Tahoe, and Carson City is available through many shuttle services and car rental options. Amtrak provides rail passenger service through Reno on its California Zephyr which follows the path of pioneers, prospectors and the Pony Express. This train runs from Chicago to San Francisco with service to Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada in between. Greyhound bus services connect the Reno-Carson City-Tahoe area to cities throughout the west.
To get to Carson City by rental car when coming from the Bay Area or Sacramento in the west, take Highway 80 to Reno then turn south onto 395 and continue 30 miles. From Lake Tahoe, Highway 50 meets 395 at the south end of Carson City. The relative closeness of these other major towns makes Carson City an ideal destination for a road trip.
Key attractions
A good place to become familiar with the town is the Capitol Plaza. This picturesque setting houses the Legislative Building, Supreme Court, State Library and Archives, and the historic 130-year-old Capitol building. From there you can follow the path of the West’s great map-setter Kit Carson. The Kit Carson Trail, marked by a painted line and bronze medallions, is a 2.5-mile walking route through the city’s historic residential neighborhood. If you drive the trail by Carson City car rental (or carry a radio) you can tune into an AM broadcast of information about the sites along the way.
Built in 1866 and home to the U.S. Mint for over 20 years, the Nevada State Museum is rated one of the 10 best regional museums in the West. The Nevada State Railroad Museum, located at the south end of town next to the Visitors’ Center, features restored historic railroad equipment and rides in the summer. Perfect for families, the Northern Nevada Children’s Museum provides numerous hands-on learning exhibits.
Out and about
The beautiful, glittering, and historic attractions of Lake Tahoe, Reno, and Virginia City are all only 35-minute drives from Carson City by car rental. For a longer road trip that will make you feel like you are in a classic Old West movie, cruise along highway 395 toward Lone Pine (250 miles). About 220 miles from Carson City is the Manzanar National Historic Site which consists of the remains of one of the ‘relocation’ camps where Japanese-Americans were imprisoned during WWII.
Leisure options
Its casinos offer all the thrills of the larger gaming towns minus without the crowds. Skiers can return to Carson City to warm up after visiting one of the many world-class alpine and cross-county resorts only 30 to 60 minutes from town. In and around town you’ll find golf courses as well as many public parks with tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, athletic fields, and playgrounds, while mountain bikers will want to cycle Lake Tahoe’s famous rim trail. Within 15 miles of Carson City, Spooner Lake and Washoe Lake State Park offer plenty of outdoor activities. Horseback riding is also popular at the Mt. Rose Wilderness where you can explore forests, meadows, and experience beautiful views of Mt. Rose. For something different consider hang-gliding or hot air ballooning. You will find national deals on travel to Carson City.