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Truckee is a pleasant town in the Lake Tahoe region of California.

Understand

Just east of the Donner Pass on Interstate 80, Truckee is an easy entry point for travelers from the Bay Area to the region.

Climate

Truckee
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
5.1
 
 
41
14
 
 
 
5
 
 
44
16
 
 
 
4.4
 
 
49
21
 
 
 
2.2
 
 
55
25
 
 
 
1.3
 
 
64
31
 
 
 
0.7
 
 
74
36
 
 
 
0.3
 
 
83
41
 
 
 
0.4
 
 
82
40
 
 
 
0.9
 
 
75
34
 
 
 
1.8
 
 
64
27
 
 
 
3.8
 
 
49
20
 
 
 
5.4
 
 
40
15
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches
See Truckee's 7 day forecast    Data from NOAA (1981-2010)
Metric conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
130
 
 
5
−10
 
 
 
127
 
 
7
−9
 
 
 
112
 
 
9
−6
 
 
 
56
 
 
13
−4
 
 
 
33
 
 
18
−1
 
 
 
18
 
 
23
2
 
 
 
7.6
 
 
28
5
 
 
 
10
 
 
28
4
 
 
 
23
 
 
24
1
 
 
 
46
 
 
18
−3
 
 
 
97
 
 
9
−7
 
 
 
137
 
 
4
−9
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation+Snow totals in mm

Get in

By car

I-80 bisects Truckee allowing access from Sacramento and the Bay Area from the west, and Reno to the east.

From King's Beach in Lake Tahoe, SR 267 heads north into Truckee.

While easy to approach under clear conditions, travelers should pay close attention to inclement weather during the winter. Roads in and out of Truckee can rapidly become treacherous during heavy winter storms. Donner Pass (over 7,000 ft/2,100 m elevation) in particular should not be attempted during heavy storms without strong winter driving skills and chains or 4-wheel drive. While well-maintained and regularly plowed, the pass can live up to its infamous name under the worst conditions. If the weather becomes too harsh, "chain control" will be put into effect, allowing only cars with 4-wheel drive or chains over Donner Pass. Should the weather render the highway impassable, I-80 will close until conditions improve.

Status on California highways can be seen here.

By plane

Truckee has an airport. Other than Surf Air and charter flights, it does not offer commercial scheduled flights in or out. The closest large airport is located approximately 36 mi (58 km) away in Reno, Nevada. The Sacramento International Airport is also an option, and is about 120 mi (193 km) away, on the north side of Sacramento, California. You can use the Amtrak Thruway buses that connect Truckee to Capitol Corridor trains in Sacramento.

By train

Amtrak has one daily train to Truckee in each direction on its California Zephyr service between San Francisco (Emeryville) and Chicago. Additionally, a number of Amtrak Thruway buses connect Truckee to Capitol Corridor trains in Sacramento. 1 Truckee Station is located at 10065 Donner Pass Rd, across the road from the main street.

Get around

See

Do

Buy

Eat

  • 50/50 Brewing Company. Outstanding local Microbrew with a large menu and live entertainment. 
  • 1 Full Belly Deli, 10825 Pioneer Trail Road, Suite 103 (Pioneer Commerce Center, Donner Pass & Pioneer Trail), ☏ +1 530-550-9516. 7AM-4PM. Housemade breads, huge sandwiches, fresh soup, housebaked goods, full espresso bar, local favorite 
  • Moody's Bistro & Lounge, 10007 Bridge St, ☏ +1 530 587-8688. Pricey, but delicious sustainable food in an elegant setting. 
  • 2 Cottonwood Restaurant and Bar (Hilltop Lodge), 10142 Rue Hilltop (From Brockway Road, turn onto Old Brockway Road; follow signs to Cottonwood on Rue Hilltop), ☏ +1 530 587-5711, . 4:30-10 p.m.. Cottonwood has been a fixture of Truckee's vibrant dining scene for 25 years. Housed in a historical ski lodge, constructed in 1928 to serve as a warming hut for the town of Truckee's ski and toboggan hill, the restaurant is a virtual museum of historic photos and artifacts. With spectacular views of downtown Truckee from the Dining Room or expansive Deck, Cottonwood has a diverse menu that consists of an eclectic menu of steaks, pastas, seafood and vegetarian dishes using fresh organic produce and sustainable meats and seafood whenever possible, complemented by a full bar and adventuresome wine list. Home to a vibrant acoustic music scene, Cottonwood features free live music every Thursday and Friday nights, and features a nightly Happy Hour until 6pm. Groups and special events are welcome. (updated Jul 2015)

Drink

The oldest stretch of "Downtown" Truckee (towards the east end of town) features a string of bars and is a lively scene most nights during the high season. Visitors should take note that the Truckee Police and California Highway Patrol have a zero-tolerance policy for drunk driving, and sobriety stops are not uncommon. While crime rates in the area are very low, a larger-than-expected number of locals boast a D.U.I. on their records due to this enforcement focus.

Sleep

Go next

  • Tahoe National Forest, 9646 Donner Pass Rd, ☏ +1 530 587-3558, . Truckee is at the center of the Truckee District of Tahoe National Forest which offers hiking, hunting, fishing, skiing, off-highway vehicle usage, camping, boating, and swimming. Most of these are free but permits may be required. Check with the ranger station for details. 
  • Tahoe City- 89 South. About 20 minutes away, without traffic.
  • Reno- 80 East. About 35 minutes away with no traffic. Home to a lot of casinos.
  • South Lake Tahoe- 89 South to 50 East. About 1 hour 15 minutes away with no traffic. Home to casinos at Stateline, and Heavenly Mountain Resort.
Routes through Truckee
Sacramento ← Roseville ←  W  E  → Reno → Salt Lake City
Sacramento ← Auburn ← Jct W ←  W  E  → Reno → Salt Lake City
Mount Shasta ← Quincy ← Jct S N ←  N  S  → Tahoe City → Jct N S


This city travel guide to Truckee is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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