Reno Airport (RNO) Flights & Flight Status

Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is a small and efficient airport that serves the city of Reno as well as being a gateway to the Lake Tahoe region and nearby Nevada and California destinations. Reno boasts that it is “The Biggest Little City in the World,” and I think RNO could be considered the world’s “Biggest Little Airport” with its broad flight access combined with easily manageable size.

Note that Reno Airport is undergoing a major multi-year construction project encompassing the terminals, parking and roadways. I’m starting to see periodic delays and temporary changes to the airport layout, parking and traffic flows. I’d advise to check ahead with the airport or your airline to see if additional time should be allotted for transit. The good news is the airport will have even better access and capacity in the years ahead.

How to get to and from Reno Airport

Reno airport location

Reno Airport is located just southeast of downtown Reno, Nevada, directly off of Highway 395. How convenient is it? I’ve landed from a flight and made it to a Reno casino blackjack table within 20 minutes. In just over 45 minutes I’ve traveled from the airport to the base of a Lake Tahoe ski resort. It’s one of my favorite airports to travel through because of its ease of access and user-friendly operations.

Reno Airport’s location in the high desert environment of Reno helps it avoid most big snows and harsh weather conditions of the nearby mountains, but I’ve found winter drives between the airport and Lake Tahoe to occasionally be challenging. Check ahead for potential highway delays or even closures due to snow, high winds or accidents.

Shuttle services at RNO

Reno’s casino hotels want to make it easy for you to gamble, so almost all of them provide regular free shuttles to and from the airport. It’s a short, 10-minute ride, even with traffic. I’ve only seen delays when sometimes large conventions hit town, and there are longer waits for shuttles. Other area hotels provide free shuttles as well. Reach out in advance to confirm timing and reservations as needed.

Shuttle buses and car services provide transport (for a fee) between Reno Airport and Lake Tahoe resort areas. I’d say these are the best choice if you’re staying at a single Tahoe resort for your trip. Note that Tahoe is a big lake, so North Lake Tahoe and South Lake Tahoe are unique destinations about an hour away from each other with their own shuttles and routes from Reno Airport.

Taxis and rideshare services at RNO

Reno Airport has plentiful taxi services on call and in a lineup outside the terminal. Both Uber and Lyft operate drop-offs directly curbside in front of the terminal, and pickups in a designated rideshare area in the ground transportation lot north of baggage claim. I wouldn’t recommend booking a rideshare for the longer trip to Tahoe, unless the ride specifically calls out its winter capabilities.

Rental cars at RNO

RNO provides convenient access to rental cars. Nine car companies book rentals at counters at the baggage claim area (and ahead of time). Vehicle pickup is in the ground transport garage just outside of baggage claim and across the street with a covered walkway – no shuttles bus service required

For winter driving from Reno Airport to Lake Tahoe, make sure your rental car has four-wheel drive and snow tires, and that you are confident of your ability to drive in snowy conditions. Even as an experienced winter driver I’ve found this drive treacherous at times. Check the latest weather reports and allocate extra time for your return trip.

Navigating RNO terminal

I think Reno Airport is an easy terminal to navigate, just a single building with two main departure concourses. The first floor has airline check-in and baggage claim and the TSA security checkpoint. The upper level centers around the High Mountain concessions and shopping area, with the B and C concourses on either side. The concourses are divided by airline, each side with about a dozen gates.

The airport is small enough where I never have far to go to reach my gate. Forget that 2-hour-in-advance recommended arrival time. I’ve arrived at the airport with less than an hour to go before my flight departure, and made my plane with time to spare – though it would probably be wise for you to allocate a bit more time than that in case of crowds or delays at security.

Airport check-in

Reno Airport’s single airline check-in area is located on the right side of the main terminal’s lower level. Longer lines may form here for cross-country flights where people tend to check more bags. Given the proximity to ski areas, I’ve found RNO to be adept at handling oversized bags with ski equipment within the recently expanded ticketing area. Additional self-service check-in kiosks have been added to facilitate the process.

Airport security

Reno Airport has a single TSA security checkpoint area in the center of the terminal. TSA PreCheck priority access is available. The airport also has an PreCheck office where passengers can enroll in the program. Despite the single security area, I usually get processed quickly through the multiple TSA screening stations.

Airport food and shopping

Reno Airport has the usual assortment of fast-food outlets, but also has some nice local choices for food and drink. I enjoy Reno in-town favorite Mari Chuy’s Mexican Kitchen with great breakfast burritos and full dinner entrees at its location in the first floor before security. It’s a place you can relax with a margarita before saying goodbye to friends and family.

In the second floor after security, the mountain-themed Timber Ridge is a nice (but I think pricey) Tahoe-esque spot for a sitdown meal and runway views, while Liberty Toast is a new local eatery with tasty sandwiches and pizza. The Verdi Market is your place to pick up snacks and treats for the flight with a nice selection of local specialties. Tap and Pour and Reno Draft House both offer a good selection of regional microbrew beers.

Reno Airport’s post-security marketplace section houses an assortment of shops where you can find basic travel necessities, snacks and reading materials. I’d recommend to try Brighton Collectibles for unique gifts from the area, and No Boundaries for outdoor gear shopping.

Gambling at the airport

This is Nevada, so of course Reno airport has gambling. Slot machines and other automated gambling stations attract gamers in both concourses, the terminal lobby before security and at the Reno Draft House bar counter with video poker screens. Traditional wisdom says airport machines are “tight” with bad payoffs, but I have won a little money while waiting for a flight. Players must be 21 or older to gamble at the machines.

RNO Wi-Fi services

Reno Airport provides free Wi-Fi in the terminal which I’ve found easy to connect to and with reasonably fast service. The Escape Lounges Wi-Fi is faster and more reliable if you want to spend the money to enter there.

Art at the airprot

The Reno terminal adds to the visitor experience with rotating local art exhibits, occasional live music performances, and even a cadre of cute therapy dogs roaming the airport to be petted, part of RNOs Paws4Passengers program, really the highlight of some of my trips.

Lounges at RNO

The Escape Lounges franchise provides Reno’s only airport lounge. It is located on the second level after security between the B and C concourses. Access is pay-per-use, or free for holders of an American Express Platinum Card or Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card.

Escape Lounges Reno, like others in the network, I recommend as a pleasant preflight area to grab complimentary food and drink, get some work done on high-speed Wi-Fi and escape from the hustle and bustle of the terminal. The Reno lounge’s relatively high admission price and limited cardmember access means this location usually doesn’t get very crowded. I’ve found the food and drink pretty good, and the service friendly.

Airline service from Reno Airport

Given its size, I think Reno Airport has great national airline connections. RNO hosts flights from 10 different airlines, including all major US carriers and several discount airlines. The airlines at Reno provide direct, non-stop service to more than twenty cities across the US and Mexico with upwards of 120 daily departures. The airport routes are more focused on the western US, but also has direct cross-country flights to New York, Chicago and Atlanta among others.

International travel from RNO

Currently with only one international flight (but with hopes for more) RNO has a small but efficient inbound passport control and separate customs area. The airport doesn’t have any Global Entry kiosks, but the single inbound flight means you probably won’t be waiting too long for processing anyway.

Parking at RNO

Reno Airport is surrounded by multiple official airport parking lots for short and long-term stays, all of them within an easy walk from the terminal with what I think are decently affordable rates. Remote long-term overflow lots offer shuttle service, but are still within a 15-minute walk.