Self-Guided Driving Tour from Lake Tahoe to Virginia City
Overview
Drive the road to Nevada’s Silver Rush with a GPS-triggered audio guide that plays automatically as you go. From South Lake Tahoe, climb the Kingsbury Grade for sweeping views over the Carson Valley, then follow prospectors, gunslingers and a young Mark Twain through Genoa (Nevada’s first settlement), Carson City, Silver City and Gold Hill to the boardwalks of Virginia City, the boomtown built on the Comstock Lode.
Voice actors play a frontier lawyer, a desperado, a judge and Mark Twain himself. Hear how the Comstock got its name, how miners worked deep underground and why the Sutro Tunnel came too late.
Great value: a guided day trip to Virginia City usually costs $70-80 per person. This tour is one low price for your whole car (up to 15 people).
Download the VoiceMap app the night before so it works offline. Daytime is best and you can pause any time. Do the Stops if you like (admission is separate) or simply drive past. It’s your choice!
What's Included
- Get unlimited, lifetime use of the the virtual tour option
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
- App for Android and iOS
- Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
- Admission and/or Parking Fees
- Mobile phone or Headphones
- Water and Food
- As this is a self-guided driving tour, transport isn't included
Meeting Location
1001 Heavenly Village Way
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USA
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
86 South C Street
Virginia City, NV 89440, USA
This tour ends at the public parking lot of the Virginia City Visitor Center.
What To Expect
Book Online
Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free
South Lake Tahoe (pass by)
Kingsbury Grade (pass by)
Genoa
10 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Mormon Station State Historic Park
30 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Nevada State Railroad Museum
45 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Carson City (pass by)
Nevada State Capitol Building
20 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Nevada Governor Mansion (pass by)
Orion Clemens House (pass by)
Nevada State Museum
45 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Silver City (pass by)
Devils Gate (pass by)
Gold Hill (pass by)
Virginia & Truckee Railroad
45 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Virginia City (pass by)
Chollar Mine
30 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Historic Fourth Ward School Museum (pass by)
Mackay Mansion Museum (pass by)
St. Mary in the Mountains Catholic Church (pass by)
Virginia City Visitor Center (pass by)
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- This 50-mile driving tour can be completed in about 2 hours without any stops.
- You may stop where you want, when you want, and for as long as you want.
- You can take this tour at any time, but daytime hours are best for this tour.
Frequently Asked Questions (7)
Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Self-Guided Driving Tour from Lake Tahoe to Virginia City?
Cancellation Policy
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Activity code: C-110804P679
Traveler Photos
Reviews
Average 4.04 out of 5 stars based on 25 traveler reviews collected by Cool Lake Tahoe and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Lake Tahoe customers.
Filter by:
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PDT).
- Get unlimited, lifetime use of the the virtual tour option.
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata.
- App for Android and iOS.
- Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start.
- Admission and/or Parking Fees.
- Mobile phone or Headphones.
- Water and Food.
- As this is a self-guided driving tour, transport isn't included.
There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure..
Apr 2025If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025Accessibility information for the Self-Guided Driving Tour from Lake Tahoe to Virginia City is as follows:
- Wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Self-Guided Driving Tour from Lake Tahoe to Virginia City will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Lake Tahoe. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.
Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.
If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.
Oct 2026What's Included
- Get unlimited, lifetime use of the the virtual tour option
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
- App for Android and iOS
- Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
- Admission and/or Parking Fees
- Mobile phone or Headphones
- Water and Food
- As this is a self-guided driving tour, transport isn't included
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- This 50-mile driving tour can be completed in about 2 hours without any stops.
- You may stop where you want, when you want, and for as long as you want.
- You can take this tour at any time, but daytime hours are best for this tour.
