Truckee Facts & Stats

Sunset over a small town with car light trails on a winding road.
Historic street with colorful storefronts and blooming tree.

Location & Overview

  • Location: Northeast California, 12 miles from Lake Tahoe, 30 minutes from Reno
  • Elevation: ~5,817 feet
  • Founded: 1863 (historic railroad town)
  • Population: ~17,000 (2023 est.)
  • Region: Sierra Nevada, Nevada County
  • Annual Visitors: ~1.2 million
  • Lodging Inventory: Approx. 1,300 rooms (hotels, lodges, short-term rentals)
White shuttle van with open sliding door, branding for TART Connect and Sustainable Truckee.

Access & Transportation

  • Nearest Airport: Reno-Tahoe International Airport (40-minute drive)
  • Driving Distance:
    • San Francisco: ~3 hours
    • Sacramento: ~2 hours
    • Reno: ~45 minutes
  • Train Access: Amtrak California Zephyr (daily service to downtown Truckee)
  • Public Transit: TART (Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit), free park & ride lots
Skier in orange jacket jumps off snowy mountain with lake view in background.

Outdoor Recreation

  • Popular Activities: Skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, paddling, fishing, trail running, climbing, golfing, kayaking, river rafting, stand-up paddleboarding, and horseback riding
  • Nearby Ski Resorts: 12+ ski resorts within a 60-minute drive, including Palisades Tahoe, Northstar, Sugar Bowl, and more, make Truckee one of the most ski-accessible towns in North America
  • Trail Access: 300+ miles of hiking, biking, and multi-use trails
  • Golf: 17 golf courses within a 15-mile radius, including nationally ranked Old Greenwood and scenic mountain courses like Coyote Moon and Tahoe Donner Golf Course

Fun Facts About Truckee

"Tro-kay!" becomes Truckee

The town's name originates from a friendly Paiute greeting misheard by early settlers

Home of historic snowfall

Palisades Tahoe received over 700 inches of snow in the 2022–2023 season

Yes, even July

The area has recorded snowfall in every month of the year

Snow record

Donner Summit holds the Sierra Nevada record—390 inches in a single month (Jan 1993)

Surprisingly sunny

Despite deep snow, Truckee averages 300+ days of sunshine each year

Historic rail town

Still a stop on the first transcontinental railroad, visit the 1891-built Truckee Depot

Donner Party legacy

The tragic 1846 expedition is a defining part of Truckee’s frontier history

Ice capital of the West

In the 1800s, ice harvested from Truckee’s lakes was shipped as far as Hawaii

Gold Rush gateway

Once a critical stop for prospectors headed into the Sierra

Movie magic

Truckee and Lake Tahoe have been featured in 50+ films and TV shows, including True Lies, St. Elmo’s Fire, and Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush