National Automobile Museum
4.8(2.5K)google
4.7(347)yelp
MotorsportHistory
Overview
The National Automobile Museum preserves the rich, roaring industrial heritage of the global automotive revolution, standing proudly along the scenic Truckee River waterfront in downtown Reno. Consistently ranked by media critics among the absolute top ten auto museums in the United States, this spectacular facility houses the legendary William F. Harrah collection of over 200 rare vintage cars. Visitors explore realistically constructed period streetscapes, viewing the historic Thomas Flyer that won the 1908 New York to Paris Race.
Practical Info
Mon–Fri9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat–Sun10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Suggested Duration2-3.5 hours
Best TimeAn outstanding year-round indoor sanctuary, perfect during Reno's freezing winter storms. Visit at 10:00 AM on a weekday when the museum is quiet; its unique simulated historic streetscapes are gorgeously highlighted by period streetlamps, allowing unobstructed views of legendary cars once owned by Elvis and Marilyn Monroe.
Getting TherePositioned on the south bank of the Truckee River in downtown Reno. Highly accessible via public transit: ride the RTC Sierra Spirit or RTC RAPID Blue Line to the Lake St & Mill St station, then walk one block south. For drivers, exit I-80 at Exit 14; the museum provides a massive, rare downtown parking lot completely free for patrons.
Travel Tips
- Anchored at 10 Lake St in downtown Reno; self-driving arrivals have exclusive access to a spacious, complimentary on-site surface parking lot entered via Museum Dr with a clear 14-foot vertical clearance.
- Showcases 200+ historic vehicles across custom period-street galleries; because the floor design integrates vintage brick replicas and technical oil-resistant epoxy, spiked boots or stilettos are barred.
- To block UV degradation of original leather cabins and cellulose windscreens, galleries maintain a filtered low-lux environment; enabling camera flash or autofocus target beams is strictly illegal.
Reviews
Positive
- A world-class vintage car paradise! Packed with over a hundred gleaming, authentic, rare antique autos and Hollywood rides like Elvis's Cadillac, visuals are off the charts.
- Brilliant layout and high immersive fun! It features full-scale replicas of old period streetscapes and retro gas stations; walking on the faux asphalt roads maximizes the vibe.
- Flawless public infrastructure. It features flat, step-free, accessible walkways, clean restrooms, freezing AC, and clear signs, making walking highly comfortable.
- Admission offers massive value relative to the humongous collection size. The gift shop gear is neat, and it boasts a large free parking lot for easy road-trip driving access.
Heads up
- Because the humongous collection scales wide, finishing the full loop demands over two hours of walking. However, comfortable rest benches are noticeably scarce mid-way.
- All informational spec plaques and video logs are strictly in English, lacking multilingual options, making historical data tough for foreign tourists to fully comprehend.
- Certain priceless concept cars are tightly fenced off behind thick railings, forcing you to look from meters away and preventing close views of internal engine bays.
- Set on a side road near downtown Reno. During busy weekend events, the local one-way street grids are confusing, and the free lot fills up fast, making access noisy.