Trade your sanity on the streets for Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.  It’s the busiest area in the region.

US-395 Exits #62 and #63  -  South Virginia Street, South Kietzke Lane, and South McCarran Blvd.

This area is a good example of how to confuse locals and visitors alike. This two-square mile area is awash in suburban shopping potential while, as noticeable with the freeway on- and off-ramps here, getting and leaving here can be a bit confusing.

Decades ago when the city planners mapped out and built the US-395 interchanges here, they made three exits for southbound travelers, and only one exit to this area for northbound travelers (at Neil Road).

So if you’re interested in shopping here but are new to the area, please read closely the following directions.  Otherwise, scroll down to see what the area has to offer.

NORTHBOUND on US-395, South Virginia

If you are traveling northbound on US-395, there is only one exit to access these vast lands of shopping. Take the Neil Road exit #62, turn right, going east one block to South Virginia. At the left part of this intersection is Whole Foods Market for a huge variety of healthy foods and playa merchandize.  Moreover, they will be ready to take your recyclables as well as your garbage off your hands – see below for all the details.  At the right part of this intersection is Home Depot. Turn right on South Virginia to get to Target. If you continue southwards, you will eventually come to the South Virginia Exit #62, South Meadows, and then Damonte Ranch hubs.

Northwards up Virginia Street you will find plenty of shopping and fast-food possibilities deep on all sides, some of which may attract your fancy. A navigator comes in handy here, giving them the opportunity to note what’s lining the road while the driver can focus on the traffic in this busy area. Traffic often jams up around here, so please be careful! Some of the more notable burner hot spots are still a little further on, so hang on!  You will soon run into Reno’s largest intersection, South McCarran and South Virginia. At 8-14 lanes to both streets, make sure you know where you want to go ahead of time! Here are two turns you can take from here to some burner hot spots.

South McCarran

Turning right from South Virginia onto South McCarran, you will find eastwards the Smithridge Shopping Plaza immediately to your left, home of Trader Joe’s and various other shops and restaurants. Parking is tight, so you may have to park toward the middle of the lot and hoof it toward Trader Joes, especially if you are driving a large pirate ship (see below for details).

South Kietzke

From the intersection of South Virginia and South McCarran, west on McCarran (a left turn if you were driving north on Virginia) will bring you under the freeway and up a hill, covering about a quarter mile between Virginia and Kietzke.

At the top of the hill, across Kietzke from here on your left is Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, a giant hardware and general building-supplies store with friendly staff and well-stocked shelves. Lowe’s has been very good to burners for years (see below for details).

If you are looking for groceries or sporting goods, turn right on Kietzke from McCarran. At the next light (Redfield Parkway) turn left. Here you will find Save Mart, Sports Authority, Wal Mart and Sams Club (see below).

SOUTHBOUND on US-395, South Kietzke

If you’re traveling southbound on US-395, you have three exits to choose from, but there’s only one that you really need. The first exit for the area is #63, South Virginia and Kietzke Lane.

NOTE that this offramp splits in two, each delivering travelers to either of these big streets.

Following the Kietzke fork of the exit (the left lane of the off-ramp) takes you to Save Mart, Sports Authority, WalMart, and Sam’s Club.

If you turn left from the exit onto Kietzke, you will soon come to South McCarran, and there you will see Lowe's Home Improvement on the right, caretaker of many-a-Burner over the years (see below for details to all these listings).

South McCarran

If you take the South Virginia fork at exit #63 (the right lane), you’ll probably want to turn left at the bottom of the off-ramp. The first light will be the South Virginia and South McCarran intersection. Taking a left on McCarran will place you with the Smithridge Shopping Plaza on your left — home to Trader Joe’s among other things. Further down South Virginia are notably Whole Foods Market and Home Depot (see below).

Now, how do you get out of this area? Aren’t there any onramps for the freeway that arches over everything? Read on for more info on getting back on track for going home!

Getting back on US-395 Northbound

There’s a northbound ramp for US-395 at South McCarran and Virginia, next to the Smithridge Shopping Plaza.

Getting back on US-395 Southbound

There is only one US-395 on-ramp in this area for southbound traffic. From Virginia Street, turn right on Neil Road, on-ramp just ahead.  From Kietzke, take Kietzke south until it merges left, and on-ramp just ahead.

Groceries & Merchandise

Whole Foods Market
6139 South Virginia Street – 775-852-8023 – map
Open 8am-9pm daily. On Aug 25 and 26, open 7am-midnight. A very popular place among burners, Whole Foods is the largest healthy food store in the region, with a HUGE variety of high-quality foods, wine, beer, and spirits, and body products. They also have a section of fun playa-fashionable clothing and accessories – hats, vests, shirts, pants, dresses, coats, el-wire kits, etc. And of course they will have plenty of bulk water in 2.5 and 5 gallon sizes on the side.

And, finally, a most wonderful thing for last, Whole Foods will also again be part of the Exodus Trash and Recycling Network, having a convenient center to dispose of all of your recyclables and trash. Recycling is free and trash disposal is available at $3 per 35-gallon trash bag.  Just PLEASE sort and have your recyclables as clean as possible and removed from bags before depositing in the appropriate containers. Bicycles, plastics (SPI 1,2,3,4&5), plastic bags, glass, all metals (aluminum, tin, lead, steel, etc), paper, cardboard, household batteries, and non-perishable food and water are all welcome. Human and other hazardous waste is NOT permitted.  All proceeds raised from recyclables will be donated to support new local Black Rock Solar installations, and food and water will be donated to local food banks. The center will be open 24/7 from September 1 to September 5.

Trader Joe’s
5035 South McCarran Blvd – 775-826-1621 – map
Open 8am-10pm daily and later during Burning Man.  Call ahead for special hours. In the Smithridge Shopping Plaza, a place to maneuver carefully for parking large spacecruisers, but heck, the legend of Trader Joe's is well worth it! A VERY hot spot among local and world burners for great and novel foods, drinks, and booze absolutely ideal for playa life, …and at great prices!

Save Mart Supermarket
4995 Kietzke Lane – 775-827-5350 / 775-825-3322 – map
Open 6am-1am. This Save Mart has seen a steadily increasing stream of Burner business for some time, and plans for our numbers by ordering many burner-novelty items and large quantities of (2.5 and 5 gallon) bulk water in August.  Dry ice, bulk water, organic produce, camping needs, el-wire kits, sushi are just some of the many items you can find here.

WalMart Supercenter
4855 Kietzke Lane – 775-829-8088 / 775-829-4413 – map
Open 24/7, no dry ice.

CVS/Pharmacy
5019 South McCarran Blvd – 775-826-0818 – map
Open Mon-Sat 7am-10pm, Sun 8am-8pm. Camping supplies, pharmacy.

Big Lots
5017 South McCarran Blvd – 775-826-5565  – map
Open Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm. Sometimes it’s aluminum foil or zip-closure bags, sometimes it’s trash bags or shampoo or haircolor, but there’s always something to be found for cheap at this discount variety store. No telling what they’ll have on the shelves compared to your last visit.

Random Curiosities

Goodwill Thrift Store
6407 South Virginia Street – 775-853-7606 – map
Open Mon-Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm. Fair collection of women’s and men’s recycled clothing.

Beads Etc
5025 South McCarran Blvd – 775-826-0777  – map
Open daily 10am-8pm. This is THE PLACE to load up on beads and other gems for making and gifting jewelry.

Toys R Us
5000 Smithridge Drive – 775-827-8697 – map
Open Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm.

Hardware/Camping

Lowe’s Home Improvement
5075 Kietzke Lane – 775-824-4750 – map
Open Mon-Sat 6am-10pm, Sun 8am-8pm. A bit larger than Home Depot, but just as friendly to burners, carrying all the basic building supplies for your shade or camp, flashlights, batteries, rebar, and other goods you might want.

Home Depot
6590 South Virginia Street – 775-851-9600  – map
Open Mon-Sat 6am-10pm, Sun 7am-8pm. This Home Depot is popular among burners, stocked with all the basic building supplies for your shade or camp, flashlights, batteries, rebar, and other goods you might want.

Big 5 Sporting Goods
4986 South Virginia Street – 775-825-2322 – map
Open Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm.

Sierra Trading Post
6139 South Virginia Street, Suite B – 775-828-8050 – map
Open Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-6pm. Extended hours during Burning Man – Aug 24-25 8am-10pm, Aug 26 9am-7pm. Right next to Whole Foods, Sierra Trading post carries of variety of camping and clothing needs, ranging from tents, sleeping bags, shade, cooking hardware and accessories, hydration systems, goggles, sunglasses, and hiking-wear at pretty good prices.

Sports Authority
4813 Kietzke Lane – 775-828-1234  - map
Open Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm.  Carries some camping supplies and accessories, and clothing.

Restaurants

Whole Foods Market
6139 South Virginia Street – 775-852-8023 – map
Open 8am-9pm daily. Lots of variety and quality, cafeteria-style-served food, and plenty of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.  Also now has a craft beer tap room!

Bangkok Cuisine
5851 South Virginia Street – 775-284-3802 – map
Open Mon-Sat 11am-10pm, closed Sundays. Excellent Thai Cuisine with plenty of vegan/vegetarian options. Best to make reservations.

Einstein Brothers Bagels
5050 Kietzke Lane – 775-825-1045 – map
Open Mon-Fri 5:30am-5pm, Sat-Sun 6:30am-4pm. Bagels, coffee, tea — and an EV charging station too!. 240V. Free charging for customers during business hours, or 24 hour accessible with an MyChargePoint.net account/card.

Great Basin Brewery & Restaurant
5525 South Virginia Street – 775-284-7711 – map
Open 10am-10pm daily. Popular spot with really good beers and food.

Greek Cafe
6405 South Virginia Street, # 5 – 775-284-8844 – map
Open Mon-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat 11am-8pm.  A really nice, yummy menu of greek food.

Gandolfo’s New York Delicatessen
6633 South Virginia Street, Suite A – 775-851-1400 – map
Open Mon-Sat 7am-9pm, Sun 8am-6pm. Wide variety of quality sandwiches, salads, soups, and breakfast items.

Woo Chon
5085 South McCarran Blvd – 775-825-2552 – map
Open Mon-Sat 11:30am-9pm, closed Sundays. All-you-can-eat sushi.

Hospitals / Urgent care

St. Mary’s Family Walk In Health
6580 South Virginia Street – 775-853-3333 – map
Open Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 9am-6pm.

Liquor Stores

Total Wine
6671 South Virginia Street – 775-853-3669 – map
Open daily 8am-11pm. The largest — a massive selection of wine, spirits, and beer in the region, with some very good prices.

Recycling & Trash Disposal

Whole Foods Market
6139 South Virginia Street – 775-852-8023 – map
See above for details.

EV Charging Station

Einstein Brothers Bagels
5050 Kietzke Lane, Reno,NV 89511 – 775-825-1045 – map
Open Mon-Fri 5:30am-5pm, Sat-Sun 6:30am-4pm. 240V. Free charging for customers during business hours, or 24 hour accessible with an MyChargePoint.net account/card. And bagels and coffee etc too!

Car Repair and Parts

Mike’s Automotive Perfection
5301 Longley Lane # 214 – 775-827-5600 – map
Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, closed weekends. An honest, but not inexpensive, mechanic if you need serious car repairs while in the area.

Pep Boys
5000 Smithridge Drive # 1 – 775-827-1700 – 775-827-1912 – map

Preparation