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Economic Impact of Travel in Truckee 2025

Truckee sits at the gateway to one of the West's most loved destinations — and visitors are one of the engines that keeps the community running. In 2025, visitors spent $246.1 million here: on lodging and meals, on groceries and gear and on services. That spending is up modestly from the year before, a sign of an economy that has found its footing rather than one chasing another boom.

The more important story is where those dollars go after they're spent — into local paychecks, into local businesses and into the public services that residents would otherwise have to fund themselves.

Fewer trips, more value.

485,600 visitor volume in 2025

-1.8% fewer overnight visitor trips yet +1.9% more total spending than 2024. Spending rose in 2025 even as visitor volume eased, meaning each visit delivered more to the local economy.

overnight guests spend 6x more than day visitors

Overnight visitors who stayed in any accommodation type spent $209.0 million in 2025 which was nearly six times more than the $37.1 million spent by day visitors and 84.9% of all travel related spending.

Chefs in a kitchen, preparing plates of food.

Tourism Supporting our Local Workforce

Travel spending is also a payroll engine — sustaining jobs across lodging, restaurants, recreation, retail, and the businesses that supply them.

2,191 total jobs supported by travel, including the local businesses visitor spending sustains.
$67.5M in direct earnings for our local workforce - an 11.2% increase from 2024.
63% of travel supported jobs are in lodging & food service - the heart of the local hospitality economy.

Visitor Behavior & Accommodation Trends

Hotels and Lodges

Visitor spending rose from $68.0 million in 2024 to $69.0 million in 2025, a 1.4% increase — extending a multi-year recovery to new highs.

Short Term Rentals (STRs)

STR spending edged up 0.8%, from $100.6 million to $101.4 million. After peaking at $115.6 million in 2022, STR spending has settled near $100 million, a sign of stabilization in this segment.

Private Homes (VFR - Visiting Friends & Relatives)

Up 4.8%, from $22.8 million to $23.9 million.

Season Homes (Second Homeowners)

Increased 4.5%, from $14.1 million to $14.7 million—still a small share of total traveler spending.

Day Travel

Up 3.1% year over year, from $36.0 million to $37.1 million. Day visitors remain a consistent presence, though their economic impact (dining, retail, groceries) is significantly less than that of overnight guests.

Three women smiling and clinking wine glasses at a wooden table.

Where Visitors Spend

Visitor dollars reach across the local economy, but 2025's growth was concentrated in the categories that fill Truckee's local businesses.

Accommodations: $72.0M (+1.4%): The single largest category, reflecting steady lodging demand.
Food Service: $44.9M (+6.7%): The fastest-growing category, pointing to a busy dining scene.
Food Stores: $49.4M (+0.5%): Holding steady—groceries remain a major spend, driven by self-catered stays in rentals and second homes.
Retail Sales: $40.7M (+4.1%): Solid growth at local shops.
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation: $20.9M (−0.3%): Essentially flat YOY.
Local Transportation & Gas: $18.2M (−5.3%): Down, largely tracking lower reduced activity.

Read the Full Report

Every figure in this summary comes from the independent 2025 Economic Impact of Travel analysis, prepared for Visit Truckee-Tahoe by Dean Runyan Associates. Explore the complete report for detailed tables, methodology, and year over year trends.

Read the Report