Nevada City

Understand

Nevada City Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Center, 132 Main St, ☏ +1 530 265-2692. Tu-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 11AM-2PM (may vary based on volunteer availability). (updated Dec 2021)

Getting there

By car From Sacramento take I-80 East to Auburn and then take 49 from Auburn to Grass Valley. From Truckee take I-80 west and take the highway 20 exit towards Nevada City and Grass Valley.

By plane Sacramento International Airport (SMF). The closest international airport to Nevada City is Sacramento International (SMF). This is about an hour and 15 minutes away by car and allows transfer to both bus and rail connections to Nevada City. (updated Oct 2021)

By train Amtrak. Provides regular service to Auburn Amtrak station, 27 miles south of Nevada City. From the station, you would need to take Nevada County Connects bus 5 to central Grass Valley (about an hour bus ride) and then transfer to Nevada County Connects bus 1 to Nevada City. Be sure to check the bus schedule as buses are infrequent and run only limited times per day. (updated Oct 2021)

By bus Local buses. If you have time and the timing work out, you can get to Nevada City from Sacramento by using local buses. From Downtown Sacramento, you can take Sacramento Light Rail to the Watt/I-80 station. Here, you can take Placer Transit Route 10 to Auburn Amtrak Station and then from there, you can take Nevada County Connects bus 5 to central Grass Valley and then transfer to Nevada County Connects bus 1.

Getting around

By bus Nevada County Connects. Local bus service between areas within Nevada County and connecting to Placer county (via Auburn Amtrak Station). (updated Oct 2021)

See

1 Scotts Flat Lake, 23333 Scotts Flat Rd, ☏ +1 530 265-5302. Beautiful high elevation lake near Nevada City provides camping, day use, boating, and hiking recreation. (updated Oct 2021) 2 Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park, ☏ +1 530 265-2740. State park featuring gold rush-era buildings with rock faces carved out by hydraulic mining. Also has access to camping and fishing in Blair lake. (updated Dec 2021)

Do

1 Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railway Museum, 5 Kidder Ct, ☏ +1 530 470-0902. Museum dedicated to preserving local history of narrow gauge used in the region. Features guided tours and a preservation shop for trains. (updated Dec 2021) 2 Firehouse #1 Museum, 214 Main St, ☏ +1 530 265-3937. Historic museum featuring treasures from the area, including artifacts from the Donner Party. Limited hours. (updated Oct 2021)

Events Nevada City Film Festival. World renowned film festival since 2001 considered to be the “Sundance of the Sierra” for its focus on independent film. (updated Oct 2021)

Buy

1 The Truffle Shop, 408 Broad St. Handmade truffles in a variety of flavors and designs, also serves coffee. (updated Oct 2021) 2 The Earth Store, 310 Broad St. Gift shop with nature and science gifts, including an extensive birding selection. (updated Oct 2021)

Eat

1 Friar Tuck's Restaurant and Bar, 111 N Pine St. American restaurant focusing on steak in an antique setting. (updated Oct 2021)

Drink & nightlife

1 Three Forks Bakery and Brewing, 211 Commercial St. Local brewery and bakery with a pizza oven that offers flights of beer. (updated Oct 2021) 2 The Mine Shaft, 222 Broad St. Dive bar with cheap drinks and an old west theme. (updated Oct 2021) Nevada City Winery, 321 Spring St, ☏ +1 530 265-9463. (updated Dec 2021)

Sleep

1 The National Exchange Hotel, 211 Broad St, ☏ +1 530 362-7605. Historic hotel in downtown Nevada City. (updated Dec 2021) Inn Town Campground, 9 Kidder Ct, ☏ +1 530 265-9900, [email protected]. Check-in: 3-10PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Dec 2021)

Go next

Lake Tahoe Grass Valley (California) Reno