Origin
Peardale, CA
Late night in Peardale on Friday
Local time
2:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Peardale, CA to Truckee, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
60.5 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Peardale, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Truckee, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Peardale, CA to Truckee, CA covers 60.5 miles and takes about 1h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Alan S. Hart Freeway, Colfax Highway, Donner Pass Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50.2 miles on Alan S. Hart Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.91 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 60.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 16m highway drive covering 60.5 miles, with most of the trip on Alan S. Hart Freeway and Colfax Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 50.2 miles on Alan S. Hart Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Alan S. Hart Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 50.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Alan S. Hart Freeway and Colfax Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 8.7 miles in near Colfax Overcrossing.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 16m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.7 miles (Colfax Overcrossing): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles (Canyon Way): Navigation decision point; at 54.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
8.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
Colfax Overcrossing
Turn left onto Colfax Overcrossing
Navigation decision point
4
8.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
Canyon Way
Turn left onto Canyon Way
Navigation decision point
4
54.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward Donner Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Donner Lake
7
59.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward Central Truckee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 186
Toward Central Truckee
5
60 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
US 40 Hist / Donner Pass Road
Enter roundabout onto US 40 Hist / Donner Pass Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Peardale, CA to Truckee, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Donner Lake along the way.
Donner Lake
54.3 mi in
|
~1h 7m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alan S. Hart Freeway | 50.2 mi | 57m |
| Colfax Highway | 8.7 mi | 14m |
| Donner Pass Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Colfax Overcrossing | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Canyon Way | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Alan S. Hart Freeway
— 50.2 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Peardale, CA and Truckee, CA.
1
Start on CA 174
8.7 mi
·
14 min
·
Colfax Highway
2
Continue on CA 174
306 ft
·
11 sec
·
Colfax Highway
3
Turn left onto Colfax Overcrossing
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Colfax Overcrossing
4
Turn left onto Canyon Way
384 ft
·
7 sec
·
Canyon Way
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
6
Merge onto I 80
45 mi
·
52 min
·
Alan S. Hart Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Toward Donner Lake
8
Merge onto I 80
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Alan S. Hart Freeway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 186
Toward Central Truckee
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto US 40 Hist
169 ft
·
5 sec
·
Donner Pass Road
11
Enter roundabout onto US 40 Hist
107 ft
·
3 sec
·
Donner Pass Road
12
Continue on US 40 Hist
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Donner Pass Road
13
Turn right
78 ft
·
5 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.3 mi from Peardale, CA · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.3 miles from Peardale, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Truckee, CA
The final approach into Truckee, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.91 one way
$27.81 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $14.33 | $28.66 |
| premium | $6.18 | $14.71 | $29.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.36 | $26.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.35 | $2.90 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.47 | $3.87 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Truckee, CA
Late night in Truckee on Friday
Local time
2:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Colfax, CA
30 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 16m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Peardale, CA to Truckee, CA covers 60.5 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Alan S. Hart Freeway, Colfax Highway, Donner Pass Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.3 miles from Peardale, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.91 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 16m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.7 miles (Colfax Overcrossing): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles (Canyon Way): Navigation decision point; at 54.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Peardale, CA to Truckee, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Donner Lake along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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