With some terrific day trip options in the surrounding area, renting a car makes good sense. Without one, it’d be much harder to soak up all that Cheboksary, 18 miles away, has to offer. Monument of Mother, Chuvash National Museum and Museum of V.I. Chapaev alone make the drive out here worthwhile. Located 60 miles away, Yoshkar-Ola is another place to aim for. If you swing by, don’t miss Museum of the History of the Gulag, Sapaev Mari State Opera and Ballet Theatre and Mari El National Shketan Drama Theater.