Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 59–74°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PDT Mostly sunny59°F Sacramento8:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny64°F Auburn9 AM PDT Sunny73°F Donner Summit10 AM PDT Patchy smoke59°F Truckee10 AM PDT Mostly sunny64°F California–Nevada line10:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny74°F Reno10:30 AM PDT Partly sunny70°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 58–74°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PDT Partly sunny62°F Sacramento8:30 AM PDT Partly sunny65°F Auburn9 AM PDT Mostly sunny74°F Donner Summit10 AM PDT Mostly sunny58°F Truckee10 AM PDT Partly sunny64°F California–Nevada line10:30 AM PDT Partly sunny72°F Reno10:30 AM PDT Partly sunny70°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 57–75°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PDT Mostly sunny62°F Sacramento8:30 AM PDT Sunny65°F Auburn9 AM PDT Sunny75°F Donner Summit10 AM PDT Sunny57°F Truckee10 AM PDT Mostly sunny62°F California–Nevada line10:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny70°F Reno10:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny71°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 56–74°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PDT Mostly sunny61°F Sacramento8:30 AM PDT Sunny66°F Auburn9 AM PDT Sunny74°F Donner Summit10 AM PDT Sunny56°F Truckee10 AM PDT Sunny62°F California–Nevada line10:30 AM PDT Sunny69°F Reno10:30 AM PDT Sunny70°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 56–74°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PDT Mostly sunny61°F Sacramento8:30 AM PDT Sunny66°F Auburn9 AM PDT Sunny74°F Donner Summit10 AM PDT Sunny56°F Truckee10 AM PDT Sunny64°F California–Nevada line10:30 AM PDT Sunny70°F Reno10:30 AM PDT Sunny70°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 57–75°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PDT Mostly sunny62°F Sacramento8:30 AM PDT Sunny66°F Auburn9 AM PDT Sunny75°F Donner Summit10 AM PDT Sunny57°F Truckee10 AM PDT Sunny64°F California–Nevada line10:30 AM PDT Sunny70°F Reno10:30 AM PDT Sunny71°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 59–76°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PDT Partly sunny63°F Sacramento8:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny70°F Auburn9 AM PDT Mostly sunny76°F Donner Summit10 AM PDT Mostly sunny59°F Truckee10 AM PDT Mostly sunny61°F California–Nevada line10:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny68°F Reno10:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny70°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from San Francisco (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- San Francisco, CAStart 79 ftelevation
- Sacramento, CAMile 85 · 1 h 27 min 27 ftelevation
- Auburn, CAMile 119 · 2 h 1,254 ftelevation
- Donner Summit, CAMountain pass · Mile 177 · 2 h 57 min 7,239 ftelevation
- Truckee, CAMile 186 · 3 h 6 min 5,817 ftelevation
- California–Nevada lineState line · Mile 205 · 3 h 23 min 5,094 ftelevation
- Reno, NVMile 218 · 3 h 37 min 4,496 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at San Francisco, Donner Summit and Reno.
| Month | San Francisco 150 ft | Donner Summit Donner Memorial State Park station · 5,937 ft | Reno 4,410 ft | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 58° / 47° | 41° / 17° | 7.4 | 48° / 26° | 1.6 |
| Feb | 60° / 48° | 43° / 18° | 6.6 | 52° / 29° | 1.6 |
| Mar | 62° / 49° | 48° / 22° | 5.5 | 59° / 34° | 0.8 |
| Apr | 63° / 50° | 54° / 26° | 3.3 | 65° / 39° | 0.1 |
| May | 64° / 51° | 63° / 33° | 1.0 | 74° / 47° | 0 |
| Jun | 67° / 53° | 73° / 38° | 0.2 | 85° / 54° | 0 |
| Jul | 66° / 54° | 82° / 44° | 0 | 94° / 60° | 0 |
| Aug | 68° / 56° | 81° / 42° | 0 | 92° / 58° | 0 |
| Sep | 70° / 56° | 75° / 36° | 0 | 84° / 50° | 0 |
| Oct | 70° / 54° | 63° / 29° | 0.7 | 70° / 40° | 0 |
| Nov | 64° / 51° | 49° / 23° | 2.4 | 57° / 31° | 0.6 |
| Dec | 58° / 47° | 39° / 17° | 6.7 | 47° / 26° | 1.2 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: SAN FRANCISCO DWTN (USW00023272, 150 ft); DONNER MEM SP (USC00042467, 5,937 ft); RENO TAHOE INTL AP (USW00023185, 4,410 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for California and Nevada rather than repeat them.
- For this passCaltrans I-80 highway conditions
- California · CaltransQuickMap conditions and cameras
- California · winter rulesChain controls
- Nevada · NDOTNVroads conditions and cameras
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from San Francisco to Reno with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from San Francisco to Reno?
218 miles, about 3½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-80 over Donner Summit. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Donner Summit, at 7,239 ft. It comes at mile 177, about 2 h 57 min of driving after you leave San Francisco.
Does it snow at Donner Summit in November?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Donner Memorial State Park (5,937 ft), averages 10.1 inches of snow in November, with about 2 days of 1 inch or more (1991–2020 normals).
How cold is Reno in January?
Reno averages a high of 48°F and a low of 26°F in January (1991–2020 normals).