Reno has garnered a strong reputation as a classic car lovers’ paradise by hosting Hot August Nights for more than 40 years. The State of Nevada, in turn, supports the preservation of old cars by offering steep registration discounts for cars deemed classic or historical.
So it’s no surprise then that Reno is also home to one of America’s oldest and largest automotive museums, the National Automobile Museum of Reno, Nevada.
Situated in the heart of downtown along the Truckee River, the auto museum is the kind of place you can drop into for an hour or two while you’re touring downtown Reno.
Ford Mustang
The museum consists of three main areas: staging rooms full of rows of cars from all the different eras of automotive history; a long hallway with automotive highlights, photo opportunities and era-specific building facades; and a small movie theater that shows videos about important developments in the automobile, particularly around the Ford Model T.
The auto museum is full of classic car favorites, such as old Ford Mustangs, but there are also cars that may also appeal to “non-car” people, such as an antique Delorian, an early model 1947 Volkswagen, the Volkswagen Shagmobile from the Austin Powers movies, the original 2008 Tesla and the original Ford Model T battery-powered version.
Delorian
As temperatures head toward winter, a daytrip to the auto museum is a great way to turn a cold, dreary day into one that sparkles with the shiny artifacts of automotive history.
Volkswagen Shagmobile
National Automobile Museum
1 Museum Drive, Reno
(775) 333-9300
Hours:
Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission:
General Admission: $16
Senior (65 and older): $15
Active Military, Veterans, First Responders (with ID): $14
Youth (6 - 17 years old): $13
Children (5 and younger): $3
Members: Free
Parking: Free
Photos by Dan Bablinskas
About the Author Dan Bablinskas
Dan Bablinskas is a relentlessly curious person with a passion for travel, foreign languages, affordable food and lodgings, well-fashioned cappuccinos and refreshing craft brews. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in creative writing, he traveled through Europe and South America while working as an English teacher and travel blogger. After trying a number of different careers, he settled into technical and content writing for his day job. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring the Reno-Tahoe area by foot, car, bike and ski. He lives in Reno with his wife and two kids. 
