Nevada Mining History Tour: South Lake Tahoe to Virginia City
4.2
120 Ratings
Virginia City

Embark on a thrilling Wild West adventure with a day trip to historic Virginia City from South Lake Tahoe. Discover the rich mining history, ride the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, and immerse yourself in the Old West atmosphere of this National Register of Historic Places town.

Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Virginia & Truckee Railroad - 7 mile train ride from Virginia City to Gold Hill and back.
  • Comstock Lode - Comstock Lode - Silver City, Gold Hill, Virginia City
  • Virginia City Visitor Center - On C street
  • The Delta Saloon - Great place for refreshments
  • The Way It Was Museum - Recommended museum by Discover Lake Tahoe Tours
    -…
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What's Included
  • Scenic train ride
  • Comfortable air-conditioned shuttle transport
  • Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Admission to attractions (optional)
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Embark on a journey into Nevada’s storied mining past on this trip from South Lake Tahoe to Virginia City, a prosperous mining town recognized in the US National Register of Historic Places. Accompanied by an expert guide, navigate a portion of the Pony Express on your way to Virginia City, where you’ll enjoy a scenic trip on the Virginia & Truckee…

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Location
Virginia & Truckee Railroad
165 F Street,
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.2
(120 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Crystal_p
Jun 27, 2025
Great day trip - Guide was so experienced and knowledgeable about the area. Had a blast in Virginia City and learning about the surrounding area.
Review provided by Viator
Ilene_g
Jun 13, 2025
Trip to Virginia City - In addition to Virginia City we got to see the area between Lake Tahoe and Virginia City. Virginia City is like an old western town. Our bus driver was super friendly and full of information on the area.
Review provided by Viator
Alma_f
May 30, 2025
It was a fun day trip - We had a great time however we decided to drive our own car and stay as long as we want it rather than to take the shuttle, but if you don’t have a rental car, then the shuttle probably is a fine thing to have
Review provided by Viator
Melissa_s
Jul 12, 2025
Most of this tour happens on a bus, not the train pictured. - The bus ride there is very scenic and informative. Once you get ON the train, it’s a very short ride. Little disappointed in that. The tour guides are very nice and knowledgeable. My highlight of the trip was seeing the wild mustangs. Virgina City was nice to dine and shop in. It’s a pricey tour but I’d recommend it.
Review provided by Viator
Mario_m
Jun 25, 2025
The bus ride from Tahoe... - The bus ride from Tahoe to Virginia City is nice, the driver was on time, very personable and gave a good accounting of area history along the route. The train ride however was short and could benefit from a longer route.
Review provided by Viator
Randy_e
Jun 7, 2025
Nice tour - Very informative. The drive from Lake Tahoe to Virginia City was very interesting. The short train ride once in Virginia City was Okay.
Review provided by Viator
Barbara
May 30, 2025
Very informative and fun - Guide was humorous and was full of information. The scenic backroads were enjoyable. We also liked the train ride and history of the mines
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Heidi_s
Jul 22, 2025
There was not much to see... - There was not much to see on the way to Virginia City although our guide shared information about the area. Train ride was ok, but we had too much time in Virginia City. After lunch we walked around, but we needed something to do..maybe a mine tour?
Review provided by Viator
56sn
Jun 27, 2025
Disappointing and Misleading - Not Really a Train Tour - Disappointing and Misleading - Not Really a Train Tour While the trip was informative and the 2-hour stop in Virginia City itself was enjoyable, the overall experience was not what I expected based on the description. The “train ride” that’s heavily promoted turned out to be just 25 minutes total—back and forth on the same short track. The vast majority of the tour was actually spent on a bus, not a train. That’s a major letdown if you were expecting a scenic rail experience. If you’re mainly interested in visiting Virginia City, I’d recommend just driving there yourself. You can explore the town at your own pace and purchase a cheap ticket for the short train ride if you want it. Definitely not worth the price for what’s advertised as a “Wild West Day Trip with Train Ride.”
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vickym761
Jun 19, 2025
An unpleasant train journey - The trip was unbearable. It was so hot and when we pointed it out to a member of the staff, we were told they are working on it. It is unacceptable in this day and age to travel under these circumstances.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Check Availability
From $80
From $80
up to 6 guests
1 - Adult
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Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).
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