13 Awesome Nevada State Parks Near Reno
While not as large or famous as its Las Vegas counterpart, Reno, the biggest little city in the world, is quickly re-gaining ground as a vacation destination.
Sure, you’ll find all the usuals like bars, casinos, and shows. However, what Reno is becoming most known for is family friendly attractions like the Truckee River Walk, National Automobile Museum, and more!
To make Reno even more worthy of your precious vacation time, there are a multitude of outdoor destinations you can easily access from Reno.
So we counted and found not one, not two, but THIRTEEN of Nevada’s awesome state parks just an easy day trip away. Most are within an hour or so.
So we’ve decided to put this list together and show which ones are near Reno, how long it takes to get to each, and what makes them great.
1) Berlin-Ichthyosaur Historic State Park
Distance from Reno: 158 miles (2.5 hours, one-way)
This is the furthest park on the list but trust us when we say, it’s worth the effort to get out to it. Especially if you’re into ghost towns.
Not only does park feature the remnants of one of Nevada’s best mining towns, but it also has the largest concentration of, wait for it, Ichthyosaur fossils!
Berlin is one of the state’s most unique state parks, making visiting a must-do. To read more details about this amazing place, check out our article here.
2) Buckland Station
Distance from Reno: 48 miles (50 minutes, one-way)
Just down the highway from Fort Churchill (coming up later) is Buckland Station. It was built in 1870 and served as a supplier to western emigrants along the Pony Express.
You can tour the interior of the building for just $1.00 per person. Hours for the tour are:
10am to 2pm (Saturdays & Sundays)
10am to 2pm (Thursdays & Fridays between Memorial Day and Labor Day, only).
Across the highway from Buckland is the Orchard Day Use area. Here, you’ll find old farm buildings and equipment along with picnic tables, grills, and a nature trail leading to the Carson River.
3) Cave Rock
Distance from Reno: 52 miles (55 minutes, one-way)
Cave Rock is located in Lake Tahoe, on the Nevada side, along the southeastern shore. It’s small, but the most popular activities here include swimming and boating.
Outside the park boundaries, you can hike a short trail that leads to the top of Cave Rock. Eventually, you’ll reach the base of the rock and then scramble up. The view from there is amazing!
4) Dayton State Park
Distance from Reno: 43 miles (46 minutes, one-way)
Located in the historic mining town of Dayton, this beautiful state park features multiple nature trails, access to the Carson River, and the remains of Rock Point Mill.
The mill was built in 1861 and was one of the first to process ore from the Comstock Lode. The stone walls and mine entrance make it a fun place to explore.
In our opinions, the best to visit this park is during fall when colors are at their peak. It’s simply breathtaking. To read more about Dayton, read our article here.
5) Fort Churchill State Historic Park
Distance from Reno: 48 miles (53 minutes, one-way)
Fort Churchill was an Army fort built in 1861. It provided protection to early settlers and helped guard Pony Express mail runs.
The park features many buildings preserved in a state of arrested decay, a small museum detailing the park’s history, and campground with access to the Carson River.
As with most of Nevada’s state parks, sunrise and sunset are when it really comes to life, especially where photography is concerned. Check out our article about Fort Churchill, here.
6) Lahontan State Recreation Area
Distance from Reno: 50 miles (1 hour, one-way)
The park is named after what was once a massive, ancient lake that covered a good portion of the state and some. These days, it’s much smaller, but serves a purpose.
In the summer, people flock to Lahontan for it’s fishing, swimming, and boating opportunities. During winter, however, the water levels are so low that boat access isn’t possible.
7) Mormon Station
Distance from Reno: 47 miles (50 minutes, one-way)
Originally built in 1851 as a trader post for the Carson Route of the California Trail, Mormon Station is the site of Nevada’s first permanent, non-native settlers.
The post is located in the charming town of Genoa and is surrounded by a beautiful landscape of mountains, mature trees, and lush-green grass.
The post you see today is reconstructed, as the original unfortunately burned down in 1910. It’s a beautiful area where you can gather with family and explore.
8) Rye Patch State Recreation Area
Distance from Reno: 119 miles (1.45 hours, one-way)
The second furthest on this list, Rye Patch Reservoir offers visitors 72-miles of shoreline and, when full, 11,000 acres of water surface.
Ardent Fishermen will revel in Rye Patch’s fishing offerings. Species such as Catfish, Black Bass, Walleye, and White Bass can be found here.
Other activities that are popular here include water skiing, camping, picnicking, and wildlife spotting.
9) Sand Harbor
Distance from Reno: 40 miles (55 minutes, one-way)
Much like Cave Rock, Sand Harbor is located in beautiful Lake Tahoe on the Nevada side of the lake. Popular actives here include water boarding, boating, swimming, and hiking.
This park experiences outstandingly high levels of visitation in the summer months. So much so, that the parking lot often fills within the first couple hours of opening.
Planning accordingly and arriving early is the key to success if you want to visit Sand Harbor.
10) Spooner Lake & Backcountry
Distance from Reno: 47 miles (50 minutes, one-way)
Located in the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Spooner Lake backcountry is a hiking oasis surrounded by 12,000 acres of forest.
With more than 50-miles of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails, you’d be hard pressed to not have a good time here.
A few of the most popular trails include the Tahoe Rim Trail, Marlene Lake, and Red House. There is also a campground and cabins you can rent.
11) Van Sickle Bi-State Park
Distance from Reno: 59 miles (1 hour, 6 minutes, one-way)
Nevada shares Van Sickle with California, as it’s located just a short walk away from the casinos in Stateline and intertwines with the state.
The park offers trails with non-stop rock outcroppings offering endless views of Tahoe’s beautiful blue waters and surrounding mountain-scape.
12) Walker River State Recreation Area
Distance from Reno: 85 miles (1 hour, 38 minutes, one-way)
Located along the East Walker River and just outside the small town of Yerington, Nevada’s newest state park features over 12,000 acres of recreational bliss.
Camping, fishing, hiking, photography, and more can be enjoyed here. It’s truly a beautiful park and criminally underrated. To read our guide about Walker River, go here.
13) Washoe Lake State Park
Distance from Reno: 23 miles (30 minutes, one-way)
Washoe Lake is nestled in a valley surrounded by three gorgeous mountain ranges; Sierra Nevadas, Carson, and Virginia.
It isn’t uncommon to spot Bald Eagles over the lake, making it the perfect location for wildlife photographers to go. You’ll also spot White Pelicans, Canadian Geese, and Waterfowl.
Since the lake is located nearly directly between Reno and Carson City, it makes for the perfect lake to enjoy if you’re trying to avoid the crowds of Tahoe.
*Side Note: We’re often asked about the equipment we use to capture the photos you see on this site. Below, we’ve included links to that equipment on Amazon. If you purchase, we receive a small commission from Amazon. This helps keep our site running and doesn’t cost you anything extra.
Conclusion
It is our hope that you’ve found this article helpful in planning your next adventure. If so, please support our site by sharing it with your friends and family on Pinterest and Facebook. You can also show support by reading one or more of the related articles above.
Thanks for reading and safe travels!