Sierra ski days around a deep blue lake
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City & Truckee
Tahoe City & Palisades to Truckee
Tahoe City & Palisades and Truckee sit about 21 km (13 mi) apart in a straight line, with Truckee to the north. It is leg 2 of 2 on our South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City & Truckee itinerary, a 6-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 21 km · 13 mi
- Est. road distance
- 25–29 km
- Est. drive time
- 35 min – 1 h 15 min
- Direction
- Heading north
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City & Truckee itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 25–29 km (16–18 mi) of road and 35 min – 1 h 15 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Fly into Reno-Tahoe (RNO). Reno to South Lake Tahoe is about 1 hour 15 minutes via US-395 and US-50; South Lake Tahoe to Tahoe City is about 1 hour on CA-89 along the west shore; Tahoe City to Truckee is 25 minutes on CA-89; and Truckee back to Reno is 35 minutes on I-80. CA-89 at Emerald Bay closes during and after big storms, so check Caltrans QuickMap and use the Nevada shore (US-50 and NV-28) if it is shut. Rent an all-wheel-drive car with snow tires and carry chains: chain controls are common on I-80 over Donner Summit and US-50 over Echo Summit. Amtrak's California Zephyr stops in Truckee daily from the San Francisco Bay Area.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Truckee
Old railroad town on I-80; 2 nights for Donner Lake, Northstar and Sugar Bowl.
Truckee Depot
Downtown train depot where Amtrak's California Zephyr stops, with a visitor center and a caboose outside.
Donner Lake
Mountain lake just west of town below Donner Pass, ringed by snowy granite peaks in winter.
Northstar California
Family-friendly ski resort south of Truckee, with long groomed runs and an outdoor ice rink in its village.
Moody's Bistro Bar & Beats
Downtown restaurant and bar in the Truckee Hotel building, with live music most nights.
The Truckee Hotel
Victorian-era hotel in downtown Truckee, steps from the depot and Commercial Row.
Donner Memorial State Park
Park at the east end of Donner Lake with the Pioneer Monument and a museum on the Donner Party and the railroad.
Before you leave Tahoe City & Palisades
North-shore town by the Truckee River outlet; 2 nights for Palisades Tahoe and the west shore.
Palisades Tahoe
Host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, now linking Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows by gondola, with steep terrain on KT-22.
Sugar Pine Point State Park
West-shore park that hosted the 1960 Olympic cross-country races, with snowshoe and ski trails through pines to the lake.
Fanny Bridge
Bridge in Tahoe City over the Truckee River where it leaves Lake Tahoe, beside the dam that regulates the lake's level.
On this curated route
Where Tahoe City → Truckee sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Truckee to Tahoe City & Palisades is the same 21 km in a straight line, heading south. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Tahoe City to Truckee: questions travelers ask
How far is Tahoe City & Palisades from Truckee?
Tahoe City & Palisades is about 21 km (13 mi) from Truckee in a straight line, with Truckee to the north. By road, we estimate 25–29 km (16–18 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Tahoe City & Palisades to Truckee?
An estimated 35 min – 1 h 15 min, assuming 25–29 km of road at average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Tahoe City & Palisades to Truckee?
Our South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City & Truckee itinerary includes this leg. South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City & Truckee runs about 6 days across 3 stops, best in Dec – Mar.
Getting to Tahoe City
Guides for both ends
- Tahoe City & Palisades travel guide
- Tahoe City & Palisades weather best time to visit
- Truckee travel guide
- Truckee weather best time to visit
Truckee by month
Plan Tahoe City → Truckee with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.