
Don't forget about cities near Reno Nevada! According to the US Census, the Reno metro area is home to over 560,000. It covers over 8,500 square miles in Nevada and California and includes top healthcare facilities, outdoor activities, and other exciting attractions. It includes two counties: Washoe and Carson City.
The Reno area is well known for its ski slopes in the surrounding mountains and gambling opportunities. Towns near Reno offer similar amenities to the city of Reno with less urban hubbub and more convenient access to affordable homes and other services.
Yet there are dozens of cities near Reno Nevada, towns close to Reno Nevada, and Census-designated places (CDPs) near Reno Nevada. It can be hard to find the right one to move to or visit, even if you have a lot of time on your hands.
Start by looking at the largest cities near Reno Nevada and figure out what the closest city to Reno Nevada is. Then research some moderately sized cities and towns near Reno. Here's your guide to cities near Reno Nevada, including the nearest city to Reno Nevada.
These cities near Reno Nevada are within 55 miles of Reno and have a population of at least 10,000 people. The Reno area contains large, undeveloped and uninhabited areas, so you need to expand your search to find any community, let alone sizeable cities in Reno. This list includes Census-designated places, which are unincorporated communities that the Census Bureau monitors for population data.
These cities around Reno Nevada do not have incorporated governments, so they receive services from nearby cities close to Reno Nevada, or county governments.

Sparks is the largest city close to Reno Nevada. It directly borders Reno to the east, and it's a large enough city that some people call the Reno area the "Reno-Sparks area." Reno and Sparks are the only cities around Reno Nevada, with populations of over 100,000 people, and both cities are expanding at rapid rates. The Sparks population has more than doubled since 1990.
Sparks is well known for its family-friendly atmosphere with many things to do. The Nugget Casino Resort is the first high-rise casino and resort in the Reno area. It's home to the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook Off, a six-day festival that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors. Sparks Marina Park has a 77-acre lake, walking trails, and beaches open on hot August nights, giving you the chance to swim and sunbathe.
Carson City is the state capital of Nevada. It's unique for being an independent city, meaning it is not part of a county government. The city government acts as a county government, and the US Census treats it as a consolidated city and county. It's home to the Nevada State Capitol and other state government buildings, making it a good place to live for people interested in politics and public service.
Carson City is also a great place to live for museums. It's home to the Nevada State Museum, the official museum commemorating Nevada's history and culture. You can also visit the Nevada State Railroad Museum and the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada.
Fernley is the largest city in Lyon County, though it's not the county seat. Fernley was initially an agricultural and farming community, but it's expanding and is now one of the 10 biggest cities in Nevada. It's also now one of the largest cities close to Reno Nevada. Amazon opened one of its first order fulfillment centers in Fernley. Amazon has since moved out of the city, but other major companies have moved in, including UPS and Sherwin Williams Paint. This makes Fernley a good place to get a job or participate in the local economy.
Fernley is well known for being one of the most affordable cities near Reno Nevada. According to Redfin, homes for sale Fernley NV have a median cost of $405,000, with a median price per square foot of $246. You have plenty of options for buying affordable homes for sale Fernley NV, with some two and three bedroom properties costing less than the median cost. Top attractions in Fernley include the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery and Silverado Casino.
Sun Valley is the largest CDP near Reno, and it's the largest city near Reno that is north of Reno. Sun Valley borders Reno, so you can visit the neighboring city for attractions, jobs, and amenities. Sun Valley does not have many attractions of its own, so it's a good place to live and visit for a quiet life. The most notable attraction in the community is Hobey's Casino and Restaurants, which caters to locals in cities near Reno Nevada. You can enjoy slot machines and table games, and enjoy affordable meals at an on-site coffee shop.
The community is most famous for its mobile home communities, including Sun Valley Mobile Home Park. You can live in an affordable mobile home for less than $500 a month. Most Sun Valley homes for sale have one or two bedrooms and around 1,000 square feet of space, so they're suitable for singles and couples moving to cities near Reno Nevada.

Spanish Springs is northeast of Reno. It's a CDP, and most of the land area is undeveloped rocky space and mountains. The large undeveloped spaces give Spanish Springs a unique rural feel that many retirees or people looking for a quiet life like. However, you're still within driving distance of Reno, so you can access public services and public transportation easily.
Spanish Springs is popular among outdoor enthusiasts. It's home to the Griffith Canyon Petroglyphs, which are Indigenous rock carvings from thousands of years ago. You can go on walking trails around the petroglyphs and enjoy incredible scenic views of the area around cities near Reno Nevada. You can go hunting in the mountains in Spanish Springs, as they're home to elk, antelope, and mule deer.
Truckee is the largest town near Reno, and it's the largest city or town near Reno that's located in California. Truckee has expanded rapidly in recent years; between 1990 and 2000, the population nearly quadrupled. The town has become a prominent skiing and skateboarding destination with resorts like Northstar California.
If you're not into skiing and skateboarding, you can still enjoy water sports on Donner Lake and hiking trails. It's home to an Amtrak railroad station, so you can visit attractions in cities near Reno Nevada, and commute to Lake Tahoe. The Amtrak Truckee railroad station is also home to the Truckee Chamber of Commerce and a visitors center.
Truckee is well known for its unique history. It was a major stop on the Transcontinental Railroad, and it was home to the Donner Party's last camp. You can visit several unique historic attractions, including Donner Memorial State Park.
Dayton is a Census-designated community, and it's the largest town near Reno that's south of the city. It was one of the first White settlements in the Nevada territory, and it was the site of Nevada's first gold discovery in 1849. Dayton became a prominent mining and dam-building community in the mid-1800s.
Dayton today is now best known for its rural charm and access to outdoor destinations. Dayton State Park covers 160 acres and contains 10 campsites and ponds for catch-and-release fishing. Dayton Valley Golf Course is one of the top golf courses in cities near Reno Nevada, and in Northern Nevada cities. You can enjoy 18 holes of golf with 40 acres of water obstacles and eat upscale meals at an on-site bar and restaurant.
Cold Springs is a CDP located to the northwest of Reno. It's adjacent to the California state line, making it convenient for people who need to visit cities near Reno Nevada in California. Like many cities near Reno Nevada that are north of Reno, Cold Springs contains large undeveloped areas. These areas give Cold Springs a rural aesthetic and create easy access to hiking, mountain climbing, and other outdoor activities.
Cold Springs is well known as a quiet and friendly community. It has a few small parks, including Sierra Rock Park, but it has no major attractions. This means that there are very few tourists, so you won't deal with hubbub, traffic congestion, and other problems in major cities near Reno Nevada. Despite its relatively small size, Cold Springs has an active and flourishing real estate market.
You can purchase recently constructed Cold Springs NV homes for sale with four or more bedrooms and over 2,000 square feet of space, making them perfect for large families. These homes cost around $500,000, so they're within most people's price ranges.
The following cities, towns, and CDPs have populations between 1,000 and 10,000 people. They're within 55 miles of Reno, though they can be hard to get to on major roads, as major highways do not run through or near many of them. Ghost towns around Reno Nevada, and unincorporated communities outside of CDPs are not included, as many of them are in or near CDPs.
These towns near Reno may lack the attractions and amenities of incorporated or large cities near Reno Nevada. However, these cities in Reno have convenient access to outdoor attractions, low crime rates, affordable housing prices, and quiet and kid-friendly atmospheres.
| County | Population (2023) | Distance From Reno in Miles | |
| Mogul | Washoe County, NV | 1,068 | 6.7 |
| Incline Village | Washoe County, NV | 9,152 | 30.4 |
| Kings Beach | Placer County, CA | 2,493 | 34.8 |
| Indian Hills | Douglas County, NV | 5,772 | 36.7 |
| Stagecoach | Lyon County, NV | 1,933 | 37.5 |
| Silver Springs | Lyon County, NV | 5,523 | 41.4 |
| Johnson Lane | Douglas County, NV | 6,405 | 41.4 |
| Dollar Point | Placer County, CA | 1,319 | 41.9 |
| Minden | Douglas County, NV | 3,309 | 46.0 |
| East Valley | Douglas County, NV | 1,341 | 48.9 |
| Ruhenstroth | Douglas County, NV | 1,605 | 52.3 |
| Kingsbury | Douglas County, NV | 2,165 | 54.9 |
You can use this map to find these interesting and unique cities near Reno Nevada, and the surrounding area.
These small cities, towns, and CDPs near Reno have populations between 100 and 1,000 people. They're also within 55 miles of Reno. Some of these communities are in remote and rural areas, so they may be hard to get to for a day trip. This table does not include ghost towns near Reno that are no longer occupied, though many ghost towns in Reno are near these communities.
| County | Population (2023) | Distance From Reno in Miles | |
| Virginia City | Storey County, NV | 721 | 21.0 |
| Silver City | Lyon County, NV | 111 | 24.8 |
| Chilcoot-Vinton | Plumas County, CA | 377 | 28.5 |
| Loyalton | Sierra County, CA | 830 | 31.6 |
| Sierra Brooks | Sierra County, CA | 538 | 32.1 |
| Wadsworth | Washoe County, NV | 723 | 32.4 |
| Crystal Bay | Washoe County, NV | 148 | 33.3 |
| Tahoe Vista | Placer County, CA | 821 | 36.2 |
| Sutcliffe | Washoe County, NV | 366 | 36.3 |
| Sierraville | Sierra County, CA | 233 | 37.5 |
| Cedar Flat | Placer County, CA | 926 | 40.2 |
| Beckwourth | Plumas County, CA | 442 | 41.7 |
| Soda Springs | Nevada County, CA | 174 | 44.8 |
| Glenbrook | Douglas County, NV | 274 | 44.9 |
| Nixon | Washoe County, NV | 313 | 46.6 |
| Iron Horse | Plumas County, CA | 575 | 49.2 |
| Fish Springs | Douglas County, NV | 622 | 49.3 |

One of the perks of living in cities near Reno Nevada is that you are near major cities in Nevada, California, and other states. These cities near Reno Nevada have diverse economies, unique things to do, and convenient public transportation. You can visit these towns near Reno for day or weekend trips. You can also commute to these cities for work and business conferences. Many of these cities have their own airports, so you can fly to them from Reno Tahoe International Airport.
These cities have populations of over 100,000 people and are within eight hours of driving time from Reno. This table does not include census-designated communities.
| City | Population (2023) | Distance From Reno in Miles |
| Sacramento, CA | 526,383 | 132 |
| Stockton, CA | 319,537 | 179 |
| Modesto, CA | 218,909 | 204 |
| San Francisco, CA | 808,988 | 219 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 175,861 | 228 |
| Fremont, CA | 226,211 | 236 |
| San Jose, CA | 969,615 | 251 |
| Fresno, CA | 545,717 | 298 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 413,376 | 406 |
| Las Vegas, NV | 660,942 | 442 |
The closest cities near Reno Nevada include Sparks, Carson City, and Fernley.
Sparks is the closest city to Reno. It directly borders Reno to the east, and Downtown Sparks is just 3.3 miles from Downtown Reno.
Major cities near Reno include Sparks, NV, Sacramento, CA, and Stockton, CA.
Sparks is less than 30 minutes from Reno. You can also drive to Sun Valley and Spanish Springs within 30 minutes, though traffic conditions can vary. Sparks is the largest and most notable city close to Reno Nevada.

Cities near Reno Nevada may seem small on a map. But Sparks, Carson City, Fernley, and other cities and towns near Reno have interesting things to do and quaint atmospheres. They're great places to visit on day trips, and you can also travel to major cities like Sacramento in a day.
If you're looking to start moving to towns around Reno Nevada, Move 4 Less can lend a hand. Our Reno movers have performed over 50,000 moves. Call 702-381-1200 for a free quote now.
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