Move Over Vegas! This Cheaper Desert City Is Surging In Popularity

If you thought “Sin City” was Nevada’s only neon-lit skyline, think again. There’s another desert city full of thrills, but much lighter on your wallet.

Here’s the truth: Las Vegas is riding the struggle bus lately. As a recent visitor to one of America’s most renowned cities, I can see why tourism numbers aren’t where they would like them to be.

Getting around in the heat of summer is no small task, nor is forking over fee after fee in a city that sells the dream of winning big, not losing your shirt before you even have a stack of chips.

With sky-high resort fees, Uber rates out the wazoo, basic cocktails topping $20, and even certain hotels not delivering on their promises, travelers are skimping out on Vegas in search of the best alternatives.

That’s where the “Biggest Little City in the World” comes into play, seeing its best month in decades with nearly 500,000 travelers paying a visit in August.

Welcome To Reno: A Cheaper Alternative To Las Vegas

Vegas is no longer a place you risk losing your shirt on your back betting it all on black. It’s everything else that comes with visiting.

Sin City has taken a page out of neighboring California’s playbook. Gone are the days of Vegas being a budget destination.

With the addition of (soon-to-be) 3 major sports teams, Vegas has become not just a tourist destination, but a bona fide sports capital.

Travelers are arriving in droves every Sunday to visit Oakland’s former beloved team and the championship Golden Knights in the coming months.

Good deals are simply hard to find, no matter what you’re looking to experience. Want to check out the latest event at The Sphere? Good luck…

Those free cocktails and cheap steak dinners? There’s always a catch.

Tickets for a legendary show? Prepare to lift your couch cushions to scrounge up every penny.

Heck, even a ticket to the Mob Museum costs $35 per person and that could easily be the same price your Uber costs just to get here from The Strip.

Reno, though? Yes, there may still be sneaky resort fees at times, but average rates are lower and still offer some of the same names like Circus Circus and Caesar’s (via Eldorado Reno), and it’s easier to score reasonably priced tickets to various shows and attractions.

Gateway To Tahoe

Even more familiar names line the shores of beautiful Lake Tahoe, especially on the Nevada side.

Reno is the main gateway to reach both California and Nevada’s most renowned lake town, as there’s no airport nearby.

With brands like Harrah’s, Golden Nugget, and Margaritaville, there’s even more notoriety here than Reno, unquestionably driving a big chunk of the city’s tourism records here over the ‘biggest little city’.

As Lake Tahoe transforms from a summer cool-down to a gorgeous fall retreat, there’s arguably no better time to visit.

I mean, have you been anywhere in the desert during summer? Yeah, it’s not fun…

No matter how the dice rolls, Tahoe tops Reno during the summer months with pristine blue waters to enjoy, though fall sees Reno gaining ground with its plentiful events calendar and budget-friendly appeal.

What Reno lacks is a fall wonderland of vibrant nature, as Tahoe welcomes aspens and maples that glow in golds and reds surrounding the shimmering lake.

Better yet, it’s common to find shoulder season deals at name-brand stays and even rustic lodges and cabins away from the touristy strip of casinos.

8 New Flights To Reno

Spirit may be hanging on by a thread, ultimately making the tough decision to axe Reno from their network, but there are many others seeing the appeal of flying here.

In the past year alone, there have been 8 new routes launched:

• Los Angeles (LAX) — launched Oct 1, 2024 (Alaska)
• San Diego (SAN) — launched Dec 19, 2024 (Alaska)
• Austin (AUS) — launched Mar 2025 (Southwest)
• Las Vegas (LAS) — launched Mar 2025 (Frontier)
• Denver (DEN) — launched Mar 2025 (Frontier)
• Phoenix (PHX) — starting Nov 22, 2025 (Frontier)
• Las Vegas (LAS) — launched Jun 19, 2025 (JSX)
• Carlsbad, CA (CLD) — launched Jun 19, 2025 (JSX)

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.