The University of Nevada, Reno campus tour options include guided walks and a virtual self-guided tour of campus locations. The university is in Reno, Nevada, and its main campus covers 290 acres; from the Victorian Inn in Sparks, the drive to campus takes about seven minutes.
- Location: Reno, Nevada, near Sparks.
- Guided tours: In-person walking tours last 90 minutes and are held year-round.
- Virtual option: A self-guided tour covers 43 campus locations.
- Hourly visitor parking: $2 per hour, with a four-hour maximum at designated locations.
Finding your way around campus
The university’s main campus occupies 290 acres, with Morrill Hall at the south end of the Old Quad. To orient yourself, use the campus map to identify the main-campus boundaries: Virginia Street to the west, McCarran Boulevard to the north, Evans Avenue to the east and Ninth Street to the south.
Morrill Hall was the university’s first building. Originally called the Main Building, it was constructed in 1885 and still stands at the south end of the Old Quad. The university was founded in 1874.
Campus tours and visit options
The university offers guided in-person campus tours and virtual visit options. A guided walking tour takes 90 minutes and is led by a student ambassador; tours are held year-round for prospective students, parents and other visitors.
For an in-person tour, choose an available date and time through the university’s campus-tour registration calendar. The virtual self-guided tour covers 43 campus locations, making it an alternative for seeing more of campus at your own pace.
Group tours follow a separate request process. Requests are typically offered Monday through Thursday at specified times, with no group tours on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Requests are not guaranteed, and availability cannot be guaranteed for requests made within two weeks of the requested date. Attendees must be registered at least three days before the tour and wear an identifier provided by the university while on campus.
Visitor parking and arrival
Visitor parking is available in designated campus locations, with hourly and daily options. The campus paid visitor parking map identifies seven locations, including West Stadium, Brian J. Whalen and Gateway, as well as areas near the Center for Molecular Medicine, Lombardi Recreation Center, the Knowledge Center and Knudtsen Resource Center.
Hourly parking costs $2 per hour, with a maximum stay of four hours at designated locations. These include level 1 of the Brian J. Whalen and Gateway parking complexes.
Pay at a meter or permit dispenser, or use the PayByPhone app. Hourly parking is enforced Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For a daily option, parking on the top level of the West Stadium Parking Complex costs $7. Purchase a permit from a dispenser on that level.
Daily ADA parking permits cost $5; the vehicle must display a state-DMV-issued disability placard, and the placard owner must be in the vehicle. Overnight campus parking is prohibited unless the vehicle belongs to a campus resident student with the appropriate permit.
Getting to campus from Sparks
The campus is in Reno, while Sparks is a nearby city. The university’s campus map can help you identify the main-campus area and visitor parking once you arrive.
Sparks has its own city centre, separate from the university campus; the Sparks city centre visitor guide covers that part of the city.
Checking campus access before you go
Tour registration and parking arrangements can depend on availability and campus rules. Check the official site before you go for tour dates, group-tour details, parking locations and current payment requirements.
FAQs
How long is a guided University of Nevada, Reno campus tour?
A guided walking tour lasts 90 minutes and is led by a student ambassador.
Does the University of Nevada, Reno offer a virtual tour?
Yes. Its virtual self-guided tour covers 43 campus locations.
How much does visitor parking cost?
Hourly parking costs $2 per hour at designated locations, with a four-hour maximum. Parking on the top level of West Stadium costs $7 per day.
Is the University of Nevada, Reno in Sparks?
No. The university is in Reno, Nevada; Sparks is a nearby city.