Getting around · Reno
Getting to and from RNO: taxi, rideshare, transit & the cell-phone lot
The quickest way to Reno airport is usually a taxi or a rideshare: a taxi runs about $12–$22 to Downtown Reno, and Uber & Lyft pick up in a marked pickup zone. Picking someone up instead? Wait free at the Cell Phone Waiting Lot. Below: every way to and from the airport, what it costs, whether to park or grab a ride, and how to fold the drive into your Leave-By Time so you reach security with room to get through the line. Check RNO TSA wait times today before you decide when to leave.
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Taxis from RNO — fare and where to find the stand
Typical taxi fare
~$12–$22
to Downtown Reno
Drive time
10–15 min
3 mi to Downtown Reno
A taxi is the simplest door-to-door option and needs no app. Expect about $12–$22 to Downtown Reno on the meter, before tolls and tip — more in heavy traffic.
Curbside on the lower level outside baggage claim. Reno-Sparks Cab 775-333-3333 and other companies. Metered taxis; ~$12-22 to downtown Reno. Lake Tahoe resort trips run considerably higher (~$65-90+).
The RNO cell-phone waiting lot
Picking someone up? Wait free at Cell Phone Waiting Lot. On airport property off Market Street near the terminal; follow airport signage. Wait there until your traveler texts that they're at the curb, then loop in once. Free waiting lot. Driver must remain with vehicle.
Leaving a car for the trip instead of getting dropped off? It's worth checking the lots: compare RNOparking by price & distance.
Where to catch Uber & Lyft at RNO
Uber and Lyft pick up at the lower level baggage claim curbside; follow TNC/rideshare signage.
Dropping off? Drop off on the upper Departures curb; active loading only. Renohas a single terminal, so there's no wrong-curb risk — any door gets you to check-in and security.
Driving to RNO — routes & drive time
RNO sits about 3 miles from Downtown Reno, a drive of roughly 10–15 minutes via US-395 (S Virginia Street north) links the airport to downtown Reno; I-80 runs about 2 miles north of the airport — closer to the high end at rush hour. That drive time is the first input into your Leave-By Time, so the calculator counts it backward from your flight along with today's security wait and the walk to your gate.
Getting to RNO by train or transit
No rail serves RNO. RTC RIDE Route 7 (S Virginia/Airport) runs between the airport and downtown Reno in about 15 minutes for $2. The route also serves the RTC 4th Street/Prater Way corridor to Sparks.
Fare: $2 cash or Ride2 card on RTC RIDE.
Hotel and city shuttles to RNO
Hotel courtesy shuttles from the baggage claim level. Many Reno hotels and casinos offer free shuttle service. If a shuttle is part of your plan, add its ride time to your Leave-By Time — it's easy to forget the 15–20 minutes between the curb and the terminal.
Park or ride to RNO?
Here's the math. Parking starts around $11/day, while a round-trip taxi or rideshare to Downtown Reno runs about $34. So a round trip by car comes out ahead once you're away more than about 3 days — for a quick trip, parking usually costs less; for a long one, getting a ride does.
Want the exact trade-off for your dates? compare RNOparking by price & distance — the closest lot isn't always the one that costs the least.
Accessibility and late-night rides at RNO
RTC RIDE buses are accessible. Accessible taxis and rideshare available at the curb.
Late or overnight arrival? RTC RIDE has limited hours; taxis and rideshare operate around the clock.
Returning a rental on the way out? On-airport consolidated Rental Car facility; follow Rental Car Return signs. (We cover where to return a car, not where to book one.)
Pickup zones and curb rules change — we verified RNO's ground-transport details as of June 29, 2026. Always check the in-app pickup pin and posted signs when you land.
Flying out of a nearby airport instead?
If a fare or a schedule points you elsewhere, the closest airport we cover is SMF (Sacramento), about 112 miles from RNO in a straight line. The same math on this page — drive time, ride cost, security wait — decides whether the extra distance is worth it.
Other airports nearby
Straight-line distance from RNO — check current waits before switching airports.
Before you go RNO
RNO TSA wait times todaySee today's security wait by checkpoint, then time your ride to the airport.Getting-around FAQ RNO
How much is a taxi to or from RNO?
A metered taxi to Downtown Reno typically runs about $12–$22, before tolls and tip and more in heavy traffic. Curbside on the lower level outside baggage claim. Reno-Sparks Cab 775-333-3333 and other companies.
Where do you catch Uber and Lyft at RNO?
Uber and Lyft pick up at the lower level baggage claim curbside; follow TNC/rideshare signage. Open the app after you land and follow its pickup pin, not the curb out front.
Where is the RNO cell-phone lot?
Cell Phone Waiting Lot — On airport property off Market Street near the terminal; follow airport signage. It's free, and you wait there until your traveler texts that they have their bags.
How far is RNO from Downtown Reno?
RNO is about 3 miles from Downtown Reno — roughly 10–15 minutes by car depending on traffic, via US-395 (S Virginia Street north) links the airport to downtown Reno; I-80 runs about 2 miles north of the airport.
Is there a train from RNO to Downtown Reno?
Not directly. No rail serves RNO. RTC RIDE Route 7 (S Virginia/Airport) runs between the airport and downtown Reno in about 15 minutes for $2. The route also serves the RTC 4th Street/Prater Way corridor to Sparks.