Lake Tahoe is a classic vacation destination in Northern California. Like all popular destinations, the Lake has a slight overcrowding problem, especially during peak season. Luckily, the nearby town of Truckee provides visitors with a relaxing getaway -- perfect for a day trip from Lake Tahoe. This article will outline some basic information about visiting Truckee and the nearby Donner Lake.
How To Get To Truckee & Donner Lake
Truckee is a 30-minute drive from Lake Tahoe, depending on where in Lake Tahoe visitors are setting out from. The town is on the northwest side of the Lake in California. The most direct way to get there is via North Shore Boulevard.
- Route: Lake Tahoe to Truckee
- Directions: North on North Shore Boulevard
- Distance: 30-minute drive
Less than ten minutes west of Truckee is Donner State Memorial Park, which is anchored by Donner Lake. The best way to get there is via the I-80 W.
- Route: Truckee to Donner Lake
- Directions: West on I-80 W
- Distance: Ten-minute drive
What To Do In Truckee
Truckee boasts a blend of small-town charm and perennial Christmas. It's full of quaint restaurants and nearby hiking trails. The main street is from an older and simpler time. Downtown Truckee is also a community gathering place. The Old West-style storefronts and houses provide an atmospheric backdrop to the bustle of the street, which is full of art galleries, family restaurants, and curio shops -- ideal for spending a relaxing afternoon with the family.
A lot of visitors who come to Truckee make it a point to patronize Jax On The Tracks, a classic 1940s California diner. The wait staff is warm and welcoming, much like the food. The All-Day Breakfast is a lovely option at any time of the day.
- Restaurant: Jax On The Tracks
- Type: Diner
- Price: $
- Address: 10144 W River St, Truckee, CA 96161
- Hours: 7 AM - 9 PM
- Recommendation: Cheese omelet
If at all possible, visitors should go to Truckee on a Thursday. Every Thursday, the town hosts a weekly festival known as "Truckee Thursdays." The whole town congregates on Donner Pass Road to enjoy live music performances, stand-up comedy, magic shows, and much more. The street is shut down to cars so that vendors can set up shop and sell delicious treats and memorable memorabilia.
- Event: Truckee Thursdays
- When: Every Thursday
- Location: Donner Pass Road, Downtown Truckee
- Admission: Free
- Perks: Food trucks, live shows, community festivities
Visiting Donner Lake
Donner Lake is in Donner State Memorial Park. The Park is packed with acres of natural beauty, and in the winter, it is a great place to go skiing, snowshoeing, and winter hiking. There is a $5 entrance fee for cars entering the Park, but this can be paid at the visitor's center or Emigrant Trail Museum.
Emigrant Trail is a family-friendly museum that provides visitors with a great way to get oriented with the area as it explains the history of Donner State Memorial Park as well as Truckee, specifically covering the native Wahoe Indians, early frontier pioneers, and Chinese railroad workers who built much of the railway infrastructure in Northeastern California.
- Place of interest: Donner Memorial State Museum (Emigrant Trail Museum)
- Address: 12593 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, CA 96161
- Hours: 10 AM - 5 PM
- Tickets: Free, but parking costs $10
There is a large bronze statue nearby commemorating the Donner Party, after whom the area was named. The Donner Party were early New World caravanners who got snowed in the Donner wilderness. The stranding resulted in almost 50% of the party dying of starvation. It is a sober reminder of the sacrifice and hardship that went into taming much of America for modern settlement.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities at Donner Lake. Compared to Lake Tahoe, Donner Lake is tranquil, quiet, and nonchalant. This makes it a great place to fish for salmon and trout. In the summers, the Lake is geared toward light water sports like boating and paddling. At other times, the Park can be used for camping.