Reno - Sparks - Prater & McCarran
A delightful place to take in the sun and water.
Driving on I-80 East, before you leave Sparks to the desert, stop at the Sparks Marina area. A delightful place to take in the sun and water. Grab a bite to eat and a drink at two local restaurants or take a walk around the marina. It’s a nice two mile walk. Take Exit 19 onto McCarran Blvd. If you were heading east already, make a left and drive under the freeway. You will be driving north and Western Village is on the right. Pass it and turn right on Nichols Blvd. to find the Marina. Past Western Village on McCarran is the car wash.
If you go around the marina you will find two nice sit-down restaurants (and several others for more casual fare) and further down Lincoln Way is the RV park. It is at the end of the street on the left.
Back on McCarran, continuing north away from I-80 (having passed Western Village on the right) you will find Mervyns, Wells Fargo, and Wendy's on your right along with a Longs Drug Store, Big 5 Sporting Goods, and a Dollar Store. If you continue to the corner of East McCarran Blvd. and Prater Way, turn left to find Albertson's / Save Mart, Target, El Pollo Loco, and a variety of other small shops.
Spread across the shopping centers at this intersection are virtually every fast food restaurant, as well as Round Table Pizza and Joe Bob's Chicken Joint.
Western Village
815 Nichols Blvd. - 775-331-1019 - map
Western Village consists of a service station, restaurant, hotel/casino and septic dump.
Marina Hand Car Wash
720 Nichols Blvd - 775-358-4134 - map
G Albertson's / Save Mart
565 E Prater Way - 775-359-9060 - map
This Albertson's / Save Mart (same store, soon to be Save Mart) has seen a steadily increasing stream of Burner business for some time, and plans for our numbers by ordering certain novelty items and large quantities of water in August. Moreover, like all Albertson's / Save Mart supermarkets in the area, they too are going green for this year’s burn and beyond...
An area of the parking lot will be set aside to display LOTS AND LOTS of water that may be picked up after being purchased inside — 2.5 and 5 gallon jugs ! They will also be carrying lots of 35 and 55-gallong barrels, spigots and pumps — (Note: The Water Mart is about a mile away to fill up your water barrels, see below for more). Other specialty products will be located inside and outside of the store, including dry ice, tiki torches, medium sized propane tanks, small disposable propane tanks and stoves, bicycle tubes and lighting, large brim hats, vegetarian and vegan sandwich fillers (such as tofurky, tofudogs, and boca burgers), energy, granola, and Odwalla bars, Gatorade, energy and protein powders, reusable cups and other kitchenware and storage containers, and coolers.
Sharing in the Greening Man theme, they are also carrying Cool Neon el-wire ready-kits, Crank flashlights, solar lanterns, solar chargers, rechargeable batteries, bio toilets, bio bags, biodegradable kitchenware, hemp rope, and 7th Generation bathroom-wares. And lots of different kinds of beer in cans!
Lastly, like most Albertson / Save Marts in town, they will also be operating a DRIVE-THRU RECYCLING CENTER in the parking lot for this year’s event! A free, multi-community project to promote recycling, this hopefully multi-year initiative is designed for your convenience, with no strings attached — just please have your recyclables clean as possible, and NO garbage dumping. Bicycles, plastics (HDPE 1,2,4 & 5), plastic bags, glass, all metals (aluminum, tin, lead, steel, etc), paper, cardboard, and rechargeable batteries are all welcome. All proceeds raised from this recycling initiative will be donated to support environmental initiatives and education through the Gerlach High School. Both the store and recycling center will be open 24/7 throughout the event until September 5. No worries, they are set up for maximum capacity!
Longs
590 E Prater Way - 775-359-8704 - map
G The Water Mart
1249 Baring Blvd - 775-358-2500 - map
A very convenient and friendly place to fill up your water containers. Open Sun — Sat, 9-5, but Paul (plee (at) accutec (dot) com) the owner will accommodate after-hours if you call well ahead.
Black Bear Diner
235 N McCarran Blvd. - 775-356-1138 - map
HUGE plates of excellent diner fare in a kitschy place filled with bear paraphernalia. Open early til late, you'll have leftovers unless you've got a monster appetite. Breakfast all day. Across McCarran from Western Village.
Western Village
815 Nichols Blvd. - 775-331-1019 - map
Western Village consists of a service station, restaurant, hotel/casino and septic dump.
Anchors
325 Harbour Cove Dr. - 775-356-6888 - map
The Jib
325 Harbour Cove Dr. - 775-355-9266 - map
Round Table
550 E Prater Way - 775-359-1010 - map
Joe Bob’s Chicken Joint
670 E Prater Way - 775-359-9777 - map
The fried chicken is greasy and good, the beer is cold and plentiful, and the juke box will give you a break from playa techno if you need to unwind for a while.
Hospitals/Urgent Care Facilities
M Northern Nevada Medical Center
2345 E Prater Way - 775-356-1212 - map
This hospital is a little bit away from this shopping hub, but every year it plays an important role vis-a-vis Burning Man. For serious medical care, this is the closest hospital to the playa, and many ambulances will bring folks here rather than head downtown.
Northern Nevada Medical Center is reached from I-80 by the Vista Blvd. exit, where you'll want to head north to Prater Way and turn right.
Wells Fargo
400 N McCarran Blvd. - 775-353-4500 - map
Nevada State Bank
500 E Prater Way - 775-852-6611 - map
Bank of America
700 N McCarran Blvd - 775-685-5910 - map
Big 5
558 N McCarran Blvd - 775-331-1211 - map
Target
505 E Prater Way - 775-331-4600 - map
Mother Lode Bikes
539 E Prater Way - 775-355-6700 - map
Western Village
815 Nichols Blvd. - 775-331-1019 - map
Western Village consists of a service station, restaurant, hotel/casino and septic dump.
Sally Beauty Supply
668 N McCarran Blvd. - 775-331-5520 - map
Factory 2-U
650 E Prater Way # A - 775-331-3116 - map
Big Lots
650 E Prater Way - 775-356-6188 - map
Radio Shack
578 N McCarran Blvd - 775-359-6451 - map
Washoe ARC Thrift & Gift
580 E Prater Way - 775-351-1117 - map
Black Rock International Burner Hostel
Great news! The BRIBH has been a huge success for the last few years!
The bad news? It's been too successful and drawing too many crowds
and too much traffic, leading to tensions with neighbors and local
authorities, including police. At this time, only people who are
actively camping with the Burner Hostel Theme Camp can be hosted in
Sparks, and the Rideshare Project venue has moved to Twin City
Surplus. However, there's always the chance of an exception, so if
you're an old friend of the Hostel but aren't camping with them,
visit them online and contact Hagey to find
out about stopping by.
Western Village
815 Nichols Blvd. - 775-331-1019 - map
Western Village consists of a service station, restaurant, hotel/casino and septic dump.
Sparks Marina
1200 E Lincoln Way - 775-851-8888 - map
Econo Lube
651 N McCarran Blvd - 775-358-7800 - map
Jiffy Lube
215 E Prater Way - 775-359-9682 - map
Pep Boys
300 E Prater Way - 775-358-7200 - map
Midas
245 E Prater Way - 775-355-0508 - map
Kragen Auto Parts
345 E Prater Way - 775-331-7550 - map
Reno Vulcanizing Works
225 E. Prater Way - 702-356-7500 - map
Western Village
815 Nichols Blvd. - 775-331-1019 - map
Once again, Western Village consists of a service station, restaurant, hotel/casino and septic dump.
G Albertson's / Save Mart
565 E Prater Way - 775-359-9060 - map
Cooperating in the 2007 Drive-Thru Recycling Initiative. Read more here. This supermarket goes out of their way for burners!
Need more info?
Try: Reno News and Review, Reno Gazette-Journal, Reno Magazine, National Traffic and Road Closure Information, PlayReno, NevadaNet, goTahoe.com, tahoe.com. 
