Nevada City - town and County Seat of Nevada County, California, United States

Nevada City is a city in Nevada County in California's Gold Country.

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). 2021-12-28

Get in

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. 2021-10-27

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. 2021-10-27

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.

Get around

By bus

• Nevada County Connects. Local bus service between areas within Nevada County and connecting to Placer county (via Auburn Amtrak Station). 2021-10-27

See

• Scotts Flat Lake, 23333 Scotts Flat Rd, 39.2800468°, -120.9305997°, +15302655302. Beautiful high elevation lake near Nevada City provides camping, day use, boating, and hiking recreation. 2021-10-27
• Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park, 39.370756°, -120.900153°, +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. 2021-12-28

Do

• Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railway Museum, 5 Kidder Ct, 39.249462°, -121.021163°, +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. 2021-12-28
• Firehouse #1 Museum, 214 Main St, 39.263289°, -121.0193397°, +15302653937. Historic museum featuring treasures from the area, including artifacts from the Donner Party. Limited hours. 2021-10-27

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. 2021-10-27

Buy

• The Truffle Shop, 408 Broad St, 39.2630002°, -121.0219376°. Handmade truffles in a variety of flavors and designs, also serves coffee. 2021-10-27
• The Earth Store, 310 Broad St, 39.2628891°, -121.0212551°. Gift shop with nature and science gifts, including an extensive birding selection. 2021-10-27

Eat

• Lefty's Grill, 101 Broad St, 39.2618735°, -121.0185248°, +15302655838. American food specializing in burgers and pizzas with beautiful creek views from the patio. 2021-10-27
• Friar Tuck's Restaurant and Bar, 111 N Pine St, 39.2631191°, -121.021023°. American restaurant focusing on steak in an antique setting. 2021-10-27

Drink

• Three Forks Bakery and Brewing, 211 Commercial St, 39.2629232°, -121.0179655°. Local brewery and bakery with a pizza oven that offers flights of beer. 2021-10-27
• The Mine Shaft, 222 Broad St, 39.2626012°, -121.0182485°. Dive bar with cheap drinks and an old west theme. 2021-10-27
• Nevada City Winery, 321 Spring St, +1 530 265-9463. 2021-12-28

Sleep

• The National Exchange Hotel, 211 Broad St, 39.2625°, -121.016944°, +1 530 362-7605. Historic hotel in downtown Nevada City. 2021-12-28
• Our Sweet Retreat, +1 530 478-6484. A small vacation rental nestling in the hills a couple of miles outside Nevada City. The vacation rental features two cottages and a teepee, together with a natural swimming pond/pool.
• Inn Town Campground, 9 Kidder Ct, +1 530 265-9900, info@InnTownCampground.com. Check-in: 3-10PM, check-out: 11AM. 2021-12-28

Go next

• Lake Tahoe
• Grass Valley (California)
• Reno