Next 7 departures
- FriNov 13
SevereRain near Truckee around 10 AM PST. Also at 4 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PST Chance of light rain58°F Sacramento8:30 AM PST Chance of light rain55°F Auburn9 AM PST Light rain likely54°F Donner Summit10 AM PST Light snow likely36°F Truckee10 AM PST Rain37°F California–Nevada line10:30 AM PST Light rain likely45°F Reno10:30 AM PST Chance of light rain50°F - SatNov 14
CautionFreezing, 30°F near Donner Summit around 10 AM PST. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PST Slight chance of light rain54°F Sacramento8:30 AM PST Partly sunny50°F Auburn9 AM PST Partly sunny50°F Donner Summit10 AM PST Slight chance of light snow30°F Truckee10 AM PST Partly sunny31°F California–Nevada line10:30 AM PST Mostly sunny39°F Reno10:30 AM PST Mostly sunny42°F - SunNov 15
CautionFreezing, 32°F near Donner Summit around 10 AM PST.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PST Slight chance of light rain56°F Sacramento8:30 AM PST Mostly cloudy50°F Auburn9 AM PST Mostly cloudy53°F Donner Summit10 AM PST Partly sunny32°F Truckee10 AM PST Partly sunny35°F California–Nevada line10:30 AM PST Partly sunny44°F Reno10:30 AM PST Partly sunny47°F - MonNov 16
HighLight snow likely near Donner Summit around 10 AM PST. Also at 2 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PST Chance of light rain53°F Sacramento8:30 AM PST Chance of light rain50°F Auburn9 AM PST Chance of light rain52°F Donner Summit10 AM PST Light snow likely29°F Truckee10 AM PST Chance of light snow32°F California–Nevada line10:30 AM PST Chance of light snow33°F Reno10:30 AM PST Chance of light rain41°F - TueNov 17
CautionFreezing, 25°F near Donner Summit around 10 AM PST. Also at 2 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PST Mostly sunny50°F Sacramento8:30 AM PST Partly sunny44°F Auburn9 AM PST Partly sunny47°F Donner Summit10 AM PST Partly sunny25°F Truckee10 AM PST Slight chance of light snow30°F California–Nevada line10:30 AM PST Partly sunny31°F Reno10:30 AM PST Partly sunny39°F - WedNov 18
HighChance of light snow near Donner Summit around 10 AM PST. Also at 3 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PST Light rain53°F Sacramento8:30 AM PST Light rain likely45°F Auburn9 AM PST Light rain likely46°F Donner Summit10 AM PST Chance of light snow25°F Truckee10 AM PST Light snow likely30°F California–Nevada line10:30 AM PST Light snow likely33°F Reno10:30 AM PST Chance of light snow41°F - ThuNov 19
HighLight snow likely near Donner Summit around 10 AM PST. Also at 2 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PST Chance of light rain51°F Sacramento8:30 AM PST Chance of light rain46°F Auburn9 AM PST Chance of light rain46°F Donner Summit10 AM PST Light snow likely25°F Truckee10 AM PST Chance of light snow30°F California–Nevada line10:30 AM PST Chance of light snow30°F Reno10:30 AM PST Chance of light snow37°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).