Moving from Atlanta to Reno

Atlanta is the center of a metro area of about 6.2 million people. The Census counts about 170 people a year moving to Washoe County from Douglas County, Georgia, Fayette County, Georgia and Fulton County, Georgia (2016 to 2020 estimates, with a margin of error), against about 125 a year going the other way. From there the road to Reno is 2,393 miles.

The drive: 2,393 miles from Sparks to Atlanta

The routing tool puts the road at 2,393 miles and 41 h 30 min with no stops, no traffic and no weather. At 500 miles a day a driver needs five days. The map distance is 1,987 miles, so the road is about 407 miles longer than the crow flies. Your written estimate sets the delivery window; the driving time only describes the road.

By mileage the route reads I-80 for 1,388 miles, I-24 for 316 miles, I-70 for 243 miles and I-29 for 119 miles. That makes I-80 the road that matters most, at roughly 58 percent.

Atlanta's route is different from the interstate-heavy runs on this page. It covers 316 miles on I-24, 243 on I-70 and 119 on I-29 before it joins I-80 for the final 1,388 miles. That means the first leg runs west toward the Mississippi valley and the Kansas City and Omaha corridors, and the second follows I-80 through Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah. Metro Atlanta's sprawl matters at the start, since a house in Fayette or Douglas County and a condo in Midtown need different crews and different truck access.

Reading the road numbers

Split into 500-mile days, the 2,393 miles make four full days and a last day of about 393 miles. A pace of 58 miles per hour over the free-flow time shows how the figure is built: it assumes steady highway speeds and no stops. The clock changes too: Reno keeps Pacific Time, three hours behind your starting point.

If you follow the truck in your own vehicle, the long I-80 stretch is where fuel, food and rest stops are easiest to find. The connector roads that make up the remaining 327 miles are the short, busy pieces at the start and end.

Terrain and weather on the way

Atlanta sits at 956 feet and Reno at about 4,930. The routing tool lists no named pass on the route, and the middle of the trip crosses the Mississippi and Missouri river valleys on easy grades. Georgia's winters are mild, but the plains and Wyoming are not, so check the road-condition sites for Missouri, Nebraska and Wyoming in winter. Spring thunderstorms in the Midwest can slow a convoy for a day.

Before loading day, check the state road-conditions site listed below for the start of the route and the Nevada road map (NDOT) for the finish.

Timing the trip and planning your own drive

For a 2,393-mile trip, the calendar matters more than the map. Winter storms on the plains and in Wyoming are the usual cause of delays, while June through August fills the schedule with other households, so spring and fall tend to be the calmer choices.

A route that leans on I-80 for 58 percent of its length is easy to follow and easy to delay, so the plan keeps some room in the schedule. If you drive your own vehicle, split the 2,393 miles into five days of about 500 miles and book lodging near the end of each day.

What changes when you arrive in Reno

Census figures put the median home value in Atlanta at $439,600 and the median rent at $1,711 a month, while Reno city has a median home value of $548,300 and a median rent of $1,556. For household income the Census median in Reno city is $80,760, against $85,652 in Atlanta. The table above puts both ends side by side.

Climate is the change people feel. Atlanta averages about 48 inches of precipitation a year, with a January low of 33.5 and a July high of 90.0 degrees. Reno averages 7.3 inches, with 26.1 and 93.9 degrees and about 21 inches of snow.

Atlanta's July high of 90 degrees comes with humid nights near 70, while Reno's July high of 93.9 drops to about 60 at night. Georgia collects a state individual income tax and Nevada does not tax wages, a point worth raising with your own tax adviser before you set a moving date.

How the move works with O'Brien's

O'Brien's takes your booking in Sparks. From there we coordinate the move from your Atlanta address through the Bekins network, and the Reno end is ours: delivery, unpacking and, if you need it, storage. The delivery window comes from your written estimate.

The estimate is itemized, written and priced by weight. Start with a call to 775-359-6683, an online request or the free in-home estimate, which includes 10 free heavy-duty boxes to keep. You receive an itemized inventory and condition report before packing begins.

If your Reno or Sparks home is not ready on delivery day, the shipment can go into our 30,000 square foot Sparks warehouse; vault storage starts from $40 per month. Our guide to how an interstate move works explains the steps in order.

Getting settled in Reno

Nevada gives new residents 30 days to register a vehicle and 30 days to get a Nevada driver's license. Utilities, schools and county services are covered in our moving to Reno guide, and the Georgia to Reno page covers the state-level changes.