Summary

• Deciding between Reno and Las Vegas for your next trip? Choose Reno for a more chill experience, cheaper prices, and better weather!
• Vegas offers glitz, glam, extravagant casinos, and a legendary Strip. But Reno boasts a quiet vibe, outdoor activities, and cost savings.
• Not into gambling? Vegas offers Mojave Desert adventures, while Reno provides access to the cool high-country desert and stunning outdoor landscapes.

The desert state of Nevada is a stunning region if one is keen to get out and start exploring its many forests and mountains. The state offers a surprising number, like the Hoover Dam, and the chance to see UFOs on the Extraterrestrial Highway to Area 51.

But the state is by far and away best known for its Sin City of Las Vegas. However, Las Vegas isn't the only gambling city in Nevada; there is also Reno (or technically Reno-Sparks). So, if you are planning to head out to Nevada for a dose of gambling or some other vice or combination of vices, which city should you choose? This is the ultimate guide to deciding on Reno vs. Las Vegas.

UPDATE: 2024/01/25 14:12 EST BY ERICA BLAIR

Cool and Unusual Things in Las Vegas and Reno

This article has been updated with more things to do and see in both Reno and Las Vegas to help you decide which will offer a better vacation. We've also updated population statistics, provided more tips, and updated the visuals for a better reader experience!

Pros And Cons: Reno, Nevada

Reno is great for families and travelers who love the outdoors

Reno is much smaller and cheaper than Las Vegas (hotel-wise). This is perhaps its most significant benefit: cost. Once inside the casinos, they may look somewhat similar, but on the outside, the city of Reno-Sparks is a shadow of that of Las Vegas.

Reno is perhaps better suited as a family holiday destination or for those more interested in the outdoors of Nevada.

But that doesn't mean that Reno loses out on everything else; it is an entirely different experience. Reno has some other things going for it. It is only a short drive away from the stunning alpine lake of Lake Tahoe, just on the border with California and Nevada. This is a picturesque location of forests, greenery, and a refreshing break from the deserts that characterize Nevada.

• Population: 281,931 Reno-Sparks
• Top Con: Smaller and fewer casinos
• Top Pro: Cheaper

Side Trip to Virginia City

Another attraction just outside of Reno is the living old-timey ghost town of Virginia City. Virginia City is another awesome day trip from Reno, only an hour or so away.

Reno has the high desert over Las Vegas, which is in the low desert. The upshot is that the weather in Reno is far cooler. The weather in the summer is much more bearable, and one will want to be outside rather than continuously hiding away from the sun in the heat of the day, like in Las Vegas.

There are many things to see and do in Virginia City, including the Chollar Mansion and Ponderosa Mine. Plan to spend at least half a day checking it out.

Pros And Cons: Las Vegas, Nevada

The Original Sin City is a party destination

Las Vegas is THE Sin City, with plenty of experiences you can only have there. Yes, there are casinos and shows in Reno, but Las Vegas has THE casinos and shows. There is simply no answer to the Strip in Reno. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in Reno stays in Reno? Nah.

When it comes to weather, the reverse is true. It is a low desert, and the summer months can be oppressively and swelteringly hot. One is likely to want to spend the whole day indoors. Most folks visiting Vegas probably only intend to stay indoors anyway.

Two of the fantastic attractions nearby that Las Vegas has is the Hoover Dam on Lake Meed (this is an awe-inspiring feat of engineering) and Area 51, one for those interested in spotting the occasional UFO. It seems aliens from outer space choose Las Vegas over Reno, too :).

• Population: 665,811
• Top Con: More expensive
• Top Pro: The Vegas Strip is legendary

Checking Out the Grand Canyon

Another great attraction of Las Vegas is that it is one of the main gateways to the utterly eye-popping Grand Canyon. Many tours (including day tours) leave Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon.

Some tours pick people up at their hotels, fly them to the Grand Canyon in a small aircraft, and then take them into the Canyon in a helicopter. These tours are easily purchased in Vegas.

And, of course, there's cost; Vegas is much more expensive than Reno. Even excursions like the Grand Canyon versus going to Lake Tahoe are much more costly. But Vegas is far larger, with much more to see and do. It is a Sin City of extravagance, vice, and luxury.

Although hiking in the Grand Canyon is a fantastic experience, it's important to remember to stay properly hydrated while you're there. Nevada's climate is arid, but it can get very sunny, especially during the summer months.

Transportation System: Reno Vs. Las Vegas

Do you prefer walkable downtowns or reliable casino-to-casino transportation?

What's so unique and convenient in Reno is that people don't have to rely much on transportation to get around. This is because almost every part of this city is walkable. Visitors can benefit from available ride-sharing and taxi options. There's also a local bus service for people who want to explore more of the area outside the casino's region.

For Las Vegas, the transportation convenience is a little bit different. It's only accessible if one is sticking to one part of the city, such as the downtown areas or the Strip. Still, those who want to leave these sections can use shuttle buses or the monorail, which help with quick transportation.

There are also many ride-sharing apps and taxis. In summary, transportation in Reno and Las Vegas is pretty straightforward and not something to worry about.

• Reno has a walkable downtown area and taxis, Uber, Lyft, and public transport.
• Las Vegas has good transportation in each casino hub, but navigating it can be tricky.

Unusual Things to See in Reno, Nevada, and Las Vegas, Nevada

While the biggest draw of both Reno and Las Vegas has to be the gambling, some off-the-beaten-path attractions draw those looking to tap into these spots' history and natural wonder, too.

Attractions like Las Vegas's Neon Museum or Reno's incredible Pyramid Lake are two things you should consider seeing while visiting.

• Top Vegas Off-the-Beaten Path: Neon Museum
• Top Reno Off-the-Beaten Path: Pyramid Lake

Which Is Better To Live In: Reno Or Las Vegas, Nevada?

The final verdict on whether Las Vegas or Reno is better

Regarding which place is better to live, Reno or Las Vegas, this depends on what a person wants from their everyday life. One surprising fact about Reno is that it's more expensive than living south in Sin City, which makes it more of a premier destination for those retiring.

However, Las Vegas has more appeal in terms of glitz and glam, with hundreds of hotels, restaurants, and things to do. Of course, that's not to say Reno has nothing to do, but it's undoubtedly not Las Vegas.

However, a major pro of being in Reno is that those living there are within an hour's drive of Lake Tahoe.

• Reno is more expensive to live in than Las Vegas.
• The weather is better in Reno than in Sin City.
• Reno is closer to the beach and California.

On top of that, Reno's weather and overall conditions are much better than in Vegas, as it's the northern section of Nevada. The summers in Las Vegas can be unforgiving, often hitting triple-digit weather for months on end with zero rain.

In contrast, it snows, rains, and gets rather chilly in Reno, so that could be a con, depending on what someone likes. Reno is also within 30 minutes of California, so this area is excellent for anyone wanting to be closer to the ocean/beach.

Breaking It All Down: Reno vs. Las Vegas

The ultimate list of pros and cons to help you decide on a Reno vs. Las Vegas vacation

Which is better depends on what the person is interested in. If one wants the nightlife, the shows, the extravagant casinos, and the glittery lights, then there is no competition. Las Vegas wins, hands down.

Reno could be the better choice if one wants a more chill vacation in Nevada with more pleasant weather and some gambling and pokies. Of course, as a bonus, it's much cheaper.

• Living in Las Vegas comes with more glitz and glam
• Reno is more chill, often boasting a quiet, laid-back feel

But What If You're Not Interested In Gambling?

For most people, the whole point of visiting Vegas is the gambling and the vices of it being Sin City. If this is the attraction, there is no competition between the cities. But the towns are also getaways to some of the United States' most fantastic outdoor desert playgrounds.

If one is more interested in whether Reno or Vegas is the better gateway, they become much more difficult to compare. Las Vegas is the gateway to the hot Mojave Desert. From Vegas, one can explore Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam, the scorching deserts of the Mojave Desert, and enjoy day tours to the famous Grand Canyon.

Reno is entirely different. It is set in the Great Basin Desert — a cool high-country desert. This desert is much more pleasant to explore during the hot summer and has many attractions.

Within easy distance of Reno is America's largest alpine lake, Lake Tahoe (half in California and half in Nevada), many ghost towns and Old West towns (like Virginia City), and Pyramid Lake with its unique formations.

If you would like to explore around Reno, you'll need to take a self-driving tour, whereas plenty of organized tours operate out of Vegas.