Carson City

From the beginning, Carson City was intended to be Nevada's capital. Its cause was advanced by local fraternal orders and businessmen, chief among them Abraham Curry, who bankrolled and oversaw many of Carson City's early developments. Carson City was once home to an outlet of the US Mint. The collectible "CC" Carson City coins were produced here from 1870-1893.
With several hidden surprises for the history buff, Carson City is a pleasant daytrip from nearby Reno and Lake Tahoe.

Climate

Visitors information

• Carson City Culture & Tourism Authority

  phone: +1 775 687-7410
  address: 716 N Carson St

By plane

The nearest airport for commercial flights to Carson City is Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO), 30 miles north via Highway 395. Carson City has (CSN), a small regional airport for general aviation with no scheduled commercial services via major airlines.

By car

Carson City can be accessed via US Highway 50 from the east and west, and US Highway 395 from the north and south.

From Reno

Highway 395 from Reno comes into Carson City just south of Washoe Lake. The divided freeway ends at the junction with Highway 50.

From California

Highway 395 from Bishop comes into Carson City approximately 30 miles north of the Nevada/California border.
Highway 50 from Sacramento and Lake Tahoe comes into Carson City via Spooner Summit.

From the East

Highway 50 from Fallon, Austin, Eureka, and Ely comes into Carson City just west of Mound House.

By bus

Carson City is served weekday mornings and afternoons via Washoe County RTC's commuter express bus service RTC Intercity.

By bus

Carson City's transit service is called JAC (for Jump Around Carson). Regular scheduled service operates 6 days a week hourly on 3 routes. RTC Intercity shares a few stops with JAC. JAC connects to Douglas County's transit service, DART. The route setup and schedule frequency of the various bus transit services operating in and around Carson City contribute to a strong recommendation against using public transit as your primary means of getting around in the Carson City area.

By car

Interstate 580 Nevada, known until 2012 as US 395, connects Carson City with Reno and terminates at the junction with US-50.
Carson Street, which is also US 395 business, runs north-south through the city. It is supplemented by Stewart Street, Roop Street, and Saliman Rd providing north-south connectivity through Carson City.
Williams Street is also US-50 as it heads east through Carson City. Highway 50 (as it is mostly referred to locally) is joined by 5th Street to the south and College Parkway on the north carrying traffic eastward and westward to and from Carson Street. The west side of Carson Street is known as Carson City's "West Side" and is served mainly by small neighborhood streets.

By foot

Downtown Carson City and the West Side are all easily explored on foot. The Kit Carson Trail, a route of blue lines and bronze medallions on the sidewalk, guides the visitor past a variety of historic and cultural attractions.

• Nevada State Capitol

  address: 101 N Carson St

• Nevada State Museum

  phone: +1 775-687-4810
  address: 600 N Carson St
  Housed in the old Carson City mint with exhibits about the mint, Nevada and it's people.

• Brewery Arts Center

  phone: +1 775-883-1976
  address: 449 W King St

• Nevada Governor Mansion

  phone: +1 775 882-2333
  address: 606 N Mountain St
  Built over a hundred years ago.

• Nevada State Railroad Museum

  phone: +1 775-687-6953
  address: 2180 S Carson St

• Stewart Indian School

  phone: +1 775 687-8333 (main), +1 775 546-1460 (on-site audio tour)
  address: 5500 Snyder Ave

Carson City is the only Nevada city purchasing open space with a dedicated tax source. Those open spaces are in the process of coming online, however outdoor activity is still available in abundance in the area.

Casinos

• Casino Fandango

  phone: +1 755-885-7000
  address: 3800 S. Carson St.

• Carson Nugget Casino Hotel

  phone: +1 775 882-1626 (Casino)

• Gold Dust West Carson CitySlots and sports book, no tables. Also has a 32-lane bowling center.

Golf

• Eagle Valley Golf Course

  phone: +1 651-714-3750
  address: 3999 Centennial Park Dr

• Empire Ranch Golf Course

  phone: +1 775 885-2100
  address: 1875 Fair Way

• Silver Oak Golf Club

  phone: +1 775-841-7000
  address: 1251 Country Club Dr
  Exciting golf course in the hills surrounding Lake Tahoe.

Parks

• Mills ParkSummer kiddie train, events pavilion.

• Fuji Park

  address: 601 Old Clear Creek Rd
  Playground, stream.

• Washoe Lake State Park

  phone: +1 775 687-4319

Carson City is not known for its shopping. You should be able to find any general merchandise you require along Carson Street or Highway 50. Downtown Carson City just near the capitol complex features a variety of small shops.

• El Charro Avitia

  address: 4389 S. Carson St
  Very good Mexican food.

• Q's Barbecue

  address: 230 Fairview Dr
  Western-style barbecue cuisine.

• Bollywood

  address: 2329 N Carson St
  Indian cuisine.

• Cracker Box

  address: 402 E William St
  American breakfast open til 2PM.

• City Cafe Bakery

  address: 701 S Carson St
  Sandwiches & espresso cafe.

• Adele's

  address: 1112 North Carson St
  A local institution of fine dining and a place to be seen.

• San Rafael Coffee Company

  phone: +1 775 461-3113
  address: 711 South Carson Street #3
  Serves hand roasted coffee, espresso drinks and pastries.

• The Fox Brew Pub

  phone: +1 775-883-1369
  address: 310 S Carson St
  Old English-style pub that makes their own microbrews.

• Comma Coffee

  phone: +1 775 883-2662
  address: 312 S Carson St
  Coffee shop that has a unique atmosphere with knickknacks, books, and artwork everywhere in a historic building with courtyard. Live music, jam sessions, and a monthly open mic. They serve breakfast, soups, sandwiches, organic coffee, Italian and French sodas.

• Best Western Carson Station Hotel/Casino

  phone: +1 775 883-0900
  address: 900 S Carson St

• Best Western Pinon Plaza Resort

  phone: +1 775 885-9000
  address: 2171 US Highway 50 E

• Best Western Trailside Inn

  phone: +1 775 883-7300
  address: 1300 N Carson St

• Courtyard Carson City

  phone: +1 755-877-9900
  address: 3870 S Carson St
  Courtyard by Marriott Carson City is next door to Casino Fandango and Galaxy Cineplex.

• Days Inn

  phone: +1 775-883-3343
  address: 3103 North Carson St.

• Hardman House Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 775 882-7744
  address: 917 North Carson St
  Clean, friendly, and reasonably priced, this hotel in the downtown is a bit more expensive than its immediate neighbors, but is in excellent condition and offers amenities such as free wireless internet, continental breakfast, cookies and wine (!) at reception, and covered parking.

• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

  phone: +1 775 283-4055
  address: 4055 N. Carson St

• Motel 6

  phone: +1 775 885-7710
  address: 2749 S Carson St

• Lake Tahoe. Just over Spooner Summit at the south end of town, via Highway 50 West (completely different road than the popular "Highway 50" Williams Street), is Lake Tahoe. Carson City is a direct route to South Lake Tahoe and the Stateline casino area, as well as Heavenly ski area and the rest of what Lake Tahoe has to offer.
• Nevada Outback. The other way on Highway 50 East, Williams Street, you find the Nevada outback. This region of basins and ranges is perhaps best explored via Highway 50. Overnight trips work best for anything beyond Sand Mountain, which lies outside Fallon. Other things to see along the Highway 50 corridor include Fort Churchill State Park, Lahontan Reservoir, and the historic diametric opposite central Nevada mining towns of Austin and Eureka.
• Carson Valley. South along 395, the Carson Valley is home to Genoa, Nevada's oldest settlement (established as Mormon Station in 1851), as well as the towns of Minden and Gardnerville. Gardnerville is home to some Basque food and downtown Minden is quaint and picturesque. Kingsbury Grade climbs the Sierra west of Carson Valley to Lake Tahoe, and is the Nevada side entrance to Heavenly Ski Resort.