Reno to Black Rock City

The journey from Reno to Black Rock City, Nevada is one of the most famous drives you can take in the country. It’s colloquially called the Burner Byway due to its strong association with the pilgrimage to Burning Man for visitors year after year. And while there are countless breathtaking landscapes you can grab a picture of on the 2 and a half hour drive up to Black Rock from Reno, you might be interested in some of the fun cultural attractions you can find around the area. 

And if you fit that bill then today’s list is going to be just the thing for you. Because today I have a list of 9 great things you can stop and do while you transverse from Reno to Black Rock City. And I tried to get some nice variety on this list because you never know what’s going to sound fun for different people. But for every entry on this list I’ll be sure to give the places’ address so you can find your way there, a brief summary of the location so that you know whether it would interest you or not, and a link to the location's website. On top of that, I’ll be sure to throw you a link anytime one of these great locations accept our convenient digital GiftYa gift cards!

If you are new to GiftYa they are essentially gift cards that exist in an all digital format. And there are a ton of different benefits to using the cards that you simply don’t get with your traditional plastic gift card. Be sure to check out the video on this page if you want to learn more and you can follow this link if you want to search for GiftYas!

But I’ll wrap up the introduction here and get right to that list of fun things to do on the way from Reno to Black Rock City that brought you here in the first place!!!

1 - Nevada Museum of Art

The Best Art Museum in the Entire State of Nevada!

160 W Liberty St | Reno | nevadaart.org

If you want to start your journey off by absorbing some of the arts and culture that Reno has to offer, then I’d definitely recommend stopping in at the Nevada Museum of Art. It’s the largest art museum in the entire state and it makes for such an easy stop if you are spending a day exploring Reno before you set off north towards Black Rock City. And this museum has been around for nearly 100 years at this point so you know they are offering something that keeps patrons coming back decade after decade!

“If you visit Reno or you live anywhere near here, discover gorgeous scenery from the rooftop and enjoy thought provoking art as well. The building itself is art. Check out this museum next time you're in town! The view from the rooftop is priceless.” - Yelp Review 

2 - Sensology

A Fun Recreation Center Right In Reno

2500 E 2nd St | Reno | sensologyreno.com

If you are looking to get some great exercise in or enjoy a large group bonding activity before you set out from Reno, then you should absolutely check out Sensology. This recreation center provides a total immersive experience where you or your group will be divided into teams and challenged by 5 fun mini games where each game is based on another one of your 5 primary senses. So this is a fun experience that people of any age can enjoy and really makes for a great team building exercise!

“Highly recommended, super fun, family friendly game. This is an exciting way to spend time with loved ones and test your own senses! Trinity was a great host, really fun, helpful, and supportive.” - Yelp Review 

3 - Liberty Food & Wine Exchange

A Great Place In Reno to Get An Amazing Pizza and A Stiff Drink

100 N Sierra St | Reno | libertyfoodandwine.com

If you want to grab a great bite to eat while you are in Reno then definitely check out Liberty Food & Wine Exchange. Not only is this a favorite location for locals, but it’s becoming one of the must stop places for people setting out on the Burner Byway. They have an extensive wine menu, a great selection of classic American cuisine, and the best pizza you can find in the city. But be sure to check out their full menu if you want to know everything they have to offer in advance!

“Liberty is a top Reno restaurant for me! Always delicious, high quality, beautiful meals from locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant is large and open and has views of their kitchen which is such a fun experience. The Gnocchi is one of my favorite dishes in the city. I dream about it! Always a great spot!” - Yelp Review 

4 - Greater Nevada Field

Check Out the Reno Aces Play A Ball Game At This Beloved Field

250 Evans Ave | Reno | milb.com

If you want to take in some local culture, or are just interested in catching a great ball game in late August, then you can’t go wrong stopping in and watching the Aces play at Greater Nevada Field. They are a beloved local AAA baseball team that are part of the farm club system for the Arizona Diamondbacks. So this is obviously a must stop location if you are a Diamondbacks fan!

“I have had two suite ticket experiences, and I wouldn't have it another way. Great food and service. Every 20 minutes we have someone making sure we have everything. Food was excellent. They had sausages and shredded chicken and bbq chicken. Premier Aces experience is in the box seats!!” - Yelp Review 

5 - Great Basin National Park

A Beautiful National Park Right Outside Baker, Nevada

100 Great Basin | Baker | nps.gov/grba

If you want to check out some of the most pristine natural features anywhere in the state of Nevada then be sure to check out Great Basin National Park. The park offers breathtaking views of the natural landscape and of course has plenty of trails for backpacking, hiking, and camping. And it’s absolutely beautiful in the late summer so it makes a great stop on the way from Reno to Black Rock City!

“This is such a unique national park, it rises up from the desert below and supports 6 different biomes based on the gained elevation. Some stuff I saw today are alpine lakes, bristlecone pines, Nevada's active glacier, meadowlands with 13,000ft+ Wheeler Peak soaring above, and six miles of hiking bliss. I love this park; the best part is how secluded it is, I felt like I was the only one there.” - Yelp Review 

6 - Lake Tahoe

One of the Most Famous Natural Features in the Whole State!

169 Hwy 50 | Stateline | visitlaketahoe.com

Lake Tahoe is probably the most famous natural landscape in the whole state of Nevada so you won’t be able to go wrong with stopping here on your journey in Nevada. And there’s more than just the lake, there are plenty of places to dine, shop, and stay if you are looking for a longer pit stop on your way to Black Rock!

“Lake Tahoe is one of the places on my bucket list and I'm so glad I checked this one off! Lake Tahoe is beautiful just the way it is. My friends and I came here during the summer of 2022. We experienced the summer part of Lake Tahoe which had crispy blue skies, clear blue waters, and green pine trees on the mountains! Will redo this one in my bucket list in a heartbeat! ” - Yelp Review 

7 - Bruno's Country Club

An Amazing Restaurant in Gerlach on the Way to Black Rock

445 Main St | Gerlach | visitgerlach.com

Bruno’s Country Club is one of the most beloved dining establishments in Gerlach, Nevada. It’s just a few short miles from Black Rock City, so it makes a great place to stop and get lunch or dinner after your two and a half hour journey up the Burner Byway. They serve classic American cuisine like chicken fingers, burgers, and sandwiches on top of a large menu of drinks. And they even have a very popular breakfast and brunch menu if you are looking for somewhere to eat early in the morning before you head to Black Rock. You can check out their full menu to make sure they have your favorites, but I’m pretty sure anybody will be able to find something great to eat at Bruno’s!

“Bruno's is great. we eat there as often as we can on our way north out 34. The food and service are good. Bruno was quite a character, I think he would be happy with the direction Bruno's Country Club is headed.” - Yelp Review 

8 - Fly Ranch

An Incredible Ranch in Gerlach Featuring A Famous Geyser

320 Main Street | Gerlach | flyranch.burningman.org

Fly Ranch is a roughly 6 sq mile ranch that is actually owned by the same people who put on burning man every year. And while there are tons of great animals and plants to see, there are also plenty of interactive arts with plenty of community participation that you can enjoy. But the crown jewel of Fly Ranch is definitely Fly Geyser that is a must see natural feature if you have already made the journey to Black Rock. You won’t want to miss out on seeing the geyser after you already made the trip up from Reno.

“Beautiful geyser and worth a visit. The volunteers were amazing and took into consideration that we were visiting with a baby and accommodating us for the shorter tours.” - Yelp Review 

9 - Dust City Diner

An Amazing 40s Style Diner On the Way to Black Rock

11-1 Deep Playa | Gerlach | facebook.com/DustCityDiner

Dust City Diner is another beloved local dining establishment in Black Rock City. Dust City Diner offers a really cool throwback to the dinner experience of the 1940s. But they build the whole dinner every year just for Burning Man. So you can enjoy the feeling of sitting down at a classic American dinner while also being outside and soaking up the warm Nevada sun at the end of every August!

“Best Grilled Cheese sandwich on the Playa at Sunrise !! My amazing waitress Jude was full of snark and bark to add as a side to my perfectly melted and toasted grilled cheeze sammy !! This meal and atmosphere is Bliss that you shouldn't Miss, stay dusty my friends !” - Yelp Review 

And There You Have A List of 9 Great Things You Can Do On Your Way from Reno to Black Rock City!

I hope something on the list today looks like a great way to fill your schedule while you are making the commute from Reno up to Black Rock City. There are so many beautiful natural landscapes on the Burner Byway that I couldn’t possibly mention all of them in the course of just one article. But even if nothing on the list today looked amazing to you, I can promise that there are going to be countless opportunities to stop and grab a breathtaking feature while you make the 3 hour drive. I hope you have tons of fun in Black Rock City and definitely be sure to check out Fly Ranch once you get there!