How to Find Cheap Hotels in Carson City, Nevada

As the state capital of Nevada, Carson City deals with all the business of the state. It's also extremely proud of its importance in the process of Nevada becoming a state in 1864. Named for explorer Kit Carson, Carson City celebrates Carson's legacy with the Kit Carson Walking Trail and more.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plane tickets
• Camera
• Luggage
• Rental car
• Hotel reservation
• Computer
• Map
• Credit card

Know Your Destination

1. Get off the beaten path. Head to Carson City before the major freeways do. Carson City has historically been one of the few state capitals accessible only by smaller roadways rather than an Interstate.

2. Read before you go. To get the flavor of silver-rush Carson City, read famous area resident Mark Twain's account in "Roughing It".

3. Enjoy the variety. Carson City features fairly moderate weather all year long. Enjoy hiking, biking, fishing and swimming in the summer, as well as skiing nearby in the winter.

Choose Your Accommodations

4. To book accommodations, contact Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau at (800) NEVADA 1 or visit their Web site (see Resources below).

5. Look for deals. Carson City offers a few gems of affordable accommodations in the form of independent motels off the highways. These smaller hotels may not have prime amenities, but the savings can make up for it.

6. Visit during an event for extra fun, but be sure to book accommodations early to lock in cheap rates. Like many Western towns, Carson City dwellers love to have a good time. Come for the Nevada Day Beard Contest, or any number of other quirky events in the area.

7. Get outdoors. It's also possible to stay in nearby cabins and campgrounds for an alternative Carson City experience.

Discover the True West

8. See why "True West" magazine named Carson City the Best Western Historical Site. Many of Carson City's original buildings are still intact and beautiful.

9. Visit the immaculate State Capitol Building (now the State Comptroller's Office); it's loaded with history ready to be explored.

10. See how the other half lives. The Silver Rush produced a noteworthy list of wealthy silver barons, many of whom settled permanently in Carson City and built mansions to impress. Check out the Bliss House, the Brougher-Bath House and the Sears-Ferris House, which was the boyhood home of the inventor of the Ferris Wheel.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're headed to Reno or Lake Tahoe but don't want to stay there, Carson City makes a great alternative, particularly for cheap accommodations.