The Perfect Reno + Lake Tahoe Itinerary with Little Kids & Babies

I adore Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America, in every season. Living so close, it’s my go-to for a perfect staycation, and I’ve been bringing my son up there since he was just 7 weeks old.

But beyond the lake, the high desert of Northern Nevada has SO MUCH to explore from rainbow colored geysers to trains through the wild west. Beginning in Reno, the most logical airport to fly into for Tahoe, here’s my perfect itinerary with little kids:

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Visit Reno Tahoe:

Days 1-2: Reno Activities + Hikes

For your first day after arrival, spend some time wandering the free range art in downtown Reno. Much of what you’ll find is art that was at Burning Man and was later purchased by the city of Reno for everyone to enjoy. Here’s a map to help you find it all.

Downtown also has some fun things to do, like The Discovery, an indoor interactive science museum that has exhibits suitable for toddlers all the way to elementary aged kids. We frequent this one in the hottest summer months or when it’s rainy outside (which honestly, doesn’t happen much!). We also enjoy Birdeez indoor mini golf under similar circumstances. I recommend going during daytime hours when it’s less like a bar and more like a fun activity with kids. Kids 4 and under play for free!

The National Automobile Museum is a great indoors option as well, featuring nearly 200 of Bill Harrah’s original 1400 car collection. With vehicles from the early 1900s to a DeLorean, plus an interactive kids’ play area, this is a fun one for kids who love cars.

Keep in mind – most downtown areas in most cities can be a little rough around the edges. Reno’s downtown is where you’ll find many of the casinos as well, so consider visiting for the art and activities and staying elsewhere in town, like the Peppermill or GSR.

And if you’re willing to go north, the Animal Ark is a great stop where you can walk or pre-reserve a golf cart to visit the rescued animals who were either orphaned, injured, or were former pets rescued by the ark. It’s one of our favorite fine-weather activities.

If you happen to be visiting during September, which is one of the best months for warm lake temps and lower crowds, try to make it to the Balloon Race, one of the largest hot air balloon ‘races’ in the US. Reno has loads of events all year long. Check out the event calendar to see what’s on while you’re visiting.

There are also some easy hikes right in town that littles can enjoy. One of our favorites is White’s Creek, which can be done as a loop or a toddle along a flat dirt trail through trees that turn yellow in the fall.

Days 3-4: Fly Ranch Geyser and the V&T Railroad

Fly Ranch is located in the Black Rock Desert, about 2 hours from Reno through a beautiful landscape of wide open spaces. You’ll pass the electric blue Pyramid Lake on your way, and be sure to look for wild horses, too!

You’ll need to reserve a time to see the geyser on a nature walk, which takes place April – October as the roads get impassable in the winter, and it will include a tour with some art viewing as well. I’d recommend bringing a hiking backpack carrier for the littler ones who might have trouble walking on the uneven ground and especially on the boardwalk around the geyser.

While the road to the geyser is paved or gravel the whole way, If you happen to be visiting with a 4WD vehicle and have camping gear, Black Rock Desert can be one of the best places in the world for stargazing due to the lack of light pollution. Keep in mind summertime and fall prior to the rain and snow is the best time to enjoy it.

Alternatively, head out to Virginia City to board the V&T Railroad for a historic ride through old mining country. Virginia City itself is frozen in time, and is full of shops and small eateries that take you back to the wild west days. Depending on when you visit, the train can be Christmas or Halloween themed, and you never know what random event might be taking place in Virginia City, including outhouse races (seriously!).

Days 5-9: North + East Lake Tahoe

As you make your way up the mountain from Reno, absolutely stop at Mt. Rose for some skiing if it’s the season, and a walk around Chickadee Ridge. If it’s winter, you’ll want snowshoes.

While you can find some chickadees lower down, the best lake views will be at the actual ridge itself. Bring some birdseed (please no other kinds of foods) and they’ll land right in your hand!

If it’s a summertime visit, spend your days enjoying the world’s most beautiful lake. The beaches you’ve seen in photos with the electric blue are mostly on the Nevada side, making the Hyatt Lake Tahoe a great jumping off point.

While Hyatt has its own beach area, it’s worth checking out some of the other local beaches for the most picturesque areas.

Sand Harbor is one of the best known local beaches. Be sure to reserve a day well ahead of time, particularly if visiting on a summertime weekend, to ensure entry. This is one of the easiest and most beautiful beaches to access in the area, with no hiking in required.

Farther along the east shore, you’ll find some of the beaches best known for the bright electric blue colors. There’s a new parking lot at Chimney Beach which is the most logical parking spot. From there, it’s a hike to the east shore beaches, many of which are nude beaches (not that this bothers most toddlers!).

Even in the winter, they are stunning:

And in the summer, they are some of our favorite beaches. With little kids, bring an all-terrain stroller or, even better, an e-wagon for hauling kids, towels, snacks and the approximately 4,000 things children apparently require for three hours at a beach. Just know that some of the trails are steep and uneven enough that you may still need to carry everything for portions of the walk. Chimney Beach in particular involves a steeper trail down to the water.

For us (and most kids I know of) spending most of the day at the beach is the perfect way to enjoy Lake Tahoe.

But if you’re looking for some variety, Bowl incline and Sam Choy’s Ohana Diner are the perfect way to wind down the evening or spend a day out of the sun.

If you still have energy, take another walk along the East Shore Trail before leaving. This is one of those trips where the scenery is the activity and traffic can be a real factor, so I’d build in more beach time than you think you need and less driving than you think you can handle, especially if you made your way out to Black Rock and Virginia City in the earlier part of the itinerary.

This part of Nevada has so much more to it than meets the eye, and I hope this itinerary has given you a few ideas you might not have thought of for your next Reno Tahoe trip!

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