How do I get to Reno Air Races?

To get to the Reno Air Races, you can fly into Reno-Tahoe International Airport and then take a taxi or rent a car to reach the Reno-Stead Airport, which is approximately 8 miles north of downtown Reno, or use US-395 N/Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Fwy to drive to the site. The Reno Air Races, officially known as the National Championship Air Races, is a multi-day event tailored to the aviation community that takes place each September at the Reno Stead Airport, with various accommodation options available, including hotels and RV parks that often sell out early in the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

1. Can I fly to the Reno Air Races?: Every inch of the Reno-Stead Airport is occupied by participants and vendors during the week of the National Championship Air Races, so all non-participating aircraft should choose Reno-Tahoe Airport, Carson City Airport, Truckee Airport, or other Northern Nevada/California airports as their destination.
2. What airport is Reno Air Races?: The Reno Air Races take place at the Reno Stead Airport, a few miles north of Reno, Nevada.
3. How much does it cost to go to the Reno Air Races?: Ticket prices increase each day, with adult general admission tickets ranging from $16.25 on Wednesday to $60 on Saturday and Sunday, and pit passes allowing race fans to get up close and personal with the aircraft from all of the racing classes.
4. Do you need tickets for Reno Air Races?: Pit passes require a General Admission or Reserved Seat ticket, which must be purchased separately, to access the area where crews work on the racing airplanes.

Participation and Safety

5. Why is Reno Air Races shutting down?: The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority has ended the races citing regional growth and safety concerns.
6. Is 2023 the last year for Reno Air Races?: Yes, 2023 is the final year the Reno-Stead Airport will host the National Championship Air Races.
7. Are the Reno Air Races Cancelled for 2023?: The 2023 races have been officially cancelled by the Reno Air Racing Association following a two-airplane accident.

Alternative Events and Locations

8. Where will the 2024 air races be held?: The Las Vegas Air Races are scheduled to take place from October 25 to 27, 2024, at the spaceport.
9. How far is the race from Vegas to Reno?: The Vegas to Reno race stretches over 500 miles, starting 100 miles north of Beatty, Nevada, and continuing through central Nevada on Hwy 95 towards the finish line in Reno.
10. What is the Vegas to Reno Desert race?: The Vegas to Reno Desert race is a 500-plus mile off-road race that has attracted well-known racers and cutting-edge vehicles since 1996.

Attendance and Experience

11. How many people go to Reno Air Races?: The event hosts around 120,000 attendees over the 5-day period, with an average annual income of more than $100,000.
12. What happened at the Reno Air Races?: A mid-air collision occurred in 2023, killing two racing pilots, and in 2022, a jet crashed at the event, resulting in a fatality.
13. When was the last crash at the Reno Air Races?: The last crash occurred on September 18, 2022, when an Aero Vodochody L–29 Super Delfin crashed at the Stihl National Championship Air Races.

Logistics and Scheduling

14. What time is dawn patrol at Reno balloon races?: Dawn Patrol balloons ascend at 5:30 a.m., flown by an elite group of pilots licensed to fly in the dark, with Mass Ascension of balloons taking place at 7 a.m. each day.
15. Is flying into Reno turbulent?: Yes, Reno-Tahoe International Airport is known for being turbulent when flying in or out, due to a permanent patch of rough air, but this is typically short in duration.