Wondering what it's like to live in Truckee, California? You're in the right place.
Truckee is a small, charming mountain town located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Northern California, about a 20-minute drive from North Lake Tahoe. It's known for its outdoor recreation, artsy boutiques and cafes, and historic roots.
Since moving to the Lake Tahoe area, I have lived in South Lake Tahoe, Carson City, Reno, and now Truckee. This post will cover what I consider to be the pros and cons of living in Truckee, California.
PROS:
Living in Truckee comes with its advantages! Here are a few...
1. BEAUTIFUL SCENERY
Living in Truckee is like living in a postcard- the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. You're surrounded by the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, which you can see from almost anywhere in Truckee. With Donner Lake, the Truckee River, a handful of state parks, and nearby Lake Tahoe, there's no shortage of natural beauty to enjoy.
2. OUTDOOR RECREATION
If you love the outdoors, Truckee is the place to be. You'll find picturesque hiking trails, both easy and challenging, along with plenty of opportunities for kayaking, paddleboarding, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and, of course, skiing and snowboarding.
Looking for the best things to do in Truckee? Check out my outdoor guide:
3. CLOSE TO SKI RESORTS
If you love to ski or snowboard, it doesn't get any better than living in Truckee. Truckee offers convenient access to some of Lake Tahoe's premier ski resorts. You're just minutes from Northstar Resort, Palisades Tahoe, Sugar Bowl Resort, Boreal Mountain, and Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort.
4. CHARMING HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
In the heart of Truckee is the charming Historic Downtown section. The main strip along Donner Pass Road has a rustic, old-western vibe and features colorful and historic buildings comprised of artsy shops, cozy local eateries, cafes, and bars.
6. PROXIMITY TO RENO
Another great thing about living in Truckee is its proximity to Reno. About a 40-minute drive from Truckee, Reno offers quite a bit more to do as far as shopping, dining, and entertainment. Plus it's an easy drive to the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, making traveling convenient.
7. PROXIMITY TO LAKE TAHOE
Living in Truckee also means you're super close to Lake Tahoe. Tahoe City and the North Shore are just a 20-minute drive from Truckee, and Incline Village and the east shore (one of the most picturesque sections of Lake Tahoe) are about a 45-minute drive.
CONS:
Now that you've heard the good, here are a few drawbacks that come with living in Truckee.
1. HIGH COST OF LIVING
Truckee's charm and close proximity to Lake Tahoe and the slopes comes at a cost. Rent, gas, groceries, even a cup of coffee—everything is more expensive here.
2. LACK OF HOUSING
Finding affordable housing in Truckee is tough. Actually finding housing in general (affordable or not) is tough. With high demand and limited supply, housing options are extremely limited.
3. HARSH WINTERS
If you're not a fan of the snow (and driving in it), then living in Truckee might not be for you. To say that Truckee gets a lot of snow is an understatement. Snowstorms can make getting around and getting to work an issue.
Certain roads like Donner Pass can be especially dangerous, often leading to closures due to poor visibility and icy conditions (you'll never catch me driving over Donner when it's snowing!). You'll need to have that snow shovel handy when living in Truckee.
4. TOURISTS
Truckee's popularity as a tourist destination means that you'll likely encounter crowds and increased traffic, which can be a tad annoying. The day after a big snowstorm when people are trying to get to the ski resorts or during holiday weekends tend to be especially busy.
5. LACK OF JOBS
Truckee, being a small mountain town, naturally has a limited job market. The majority of available opportunities revolve around the tourism, hospitality, service, and real estate sectors. However, even within these industries, finding employment can be a challenge.
6. LITTLE NIGHTLIFE
If you're craving big-city vibes, Truckee might not cut it. Many of the bars and restaurants around Truckee (and there are only a handful) close pretty early, around 9 or 10 pm. Depending on your personality, living in a small mountain town might begin to feel monotonous.
I hope you enjoyed my guide on Living in Truckee, California!
For more on what to do in Truckee, check out my post: 12 Fantastic Things To Do In Truckee, California: The Ultimate Outdoor Guide!
Before you go, be sure to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss the latest blog posts, videos, and other good stuff. You can also check out more adventures on Instagram and YouTube!
