Interstate 80 - California Travel Information

Eastbound - Placer, Nevada, Sierra Counties

Interstate 80 East
	Interstate 80 is designated the Alan S. Hart Freeway east of Sacramento. Hart was a former Caltrans district head and worked for the department for over 40 years. His resume includes the overseeing of both the construction of Interstate 280 in San Francisco and Interstate 80 from Sacramento to the Nevada state line. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	The next exit along eastbound is for Douglas Boulevard. This major thoroughfare bisects the city of Roseville, which connections to Folsom Lake at Granite Bay east of town. Since Interstate 80 has a northeasterly trajectory through the foothills, it intersects both north-south and east-west major arterials through Roseville, Rocklin, and Loomis. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Douglas Boulevard ends 6.3 miles east of Interstate 80 (Exit 103A) at Folsom Lake and Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Now only three lanes carry the through traffic onward through the foothills along eastbound Interstate 80; traffic for eastbound Douglas Boulevard must exit here, while the next exit is for westbound Douglas Boulevard. Use the Douglas Boulevard exit to reach southbound Sunrise Avenue/Placer County Route E-2 (which connects to Sunrise Boulevard/Sacramento County Route E-2). Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Exit 103B loops onto Douglas Boulevard westbound from Interstate 80 east. Douglas Boulevard ends one mile to the west at Riverside Avenue / Vernon Street (Historic U.S. 40) in downtown Roseville. A high flyover ramp was added to the six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange in 2005. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	New reflective (without an exit number) roadside signage for Exit 105A, Atlantic Street and Eureka Road, which lead into Roseville, one of the larger suburbs of Sacramento. Lead Hill Boulevard passes over Interstate 80 in the background. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Arriving at the exit, Interstate 80 continues northeast toward Auburn, Truckee, and Reno, while this exit connects to the growing city of Roseville via Atlantic Street and Eureka Road. Eureka Road follows a somewhat convoluted path from here, winding southeast from the Interstate, crossing Douglas Boulevard, then leading to Auburn-Folsom Road near Folsom Lake. Photo taken 09/10/05.

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	Interstate 80 next meets Taylor Road (Historic U.S. 40) one half mile north of the Atlantic Street over crossing. Taylor Road parallels Interstate 80 northward from Atlantic Street to Pacific Street in Rocklin. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Traffic merging onto Interstate 80 east from Atlantic Street east forms the exit-only lane for Taylor Road (Exit 105B). Two ramps join Taylor Road with the freeway just north of its intersection with Roseville Parkway. Roseville Parkway comprises an arterial between Barton Road and Pleasant Grove Road. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Exit 105B consists of a loop ramp onto Taylor Road (Historic U.S. 40) northbound from Interstate 80. Roseville Parkway passes over the freeway ahead of the ramp departure. Taylor Road otherwise heads north and parallels the Union Pacific Railroad line to Rocklin. Once in Rocklin, Historic U.S. 40 continues north on Pacific Street. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	A look at the same sign bridge pictured in the above photobox. Note the original guide sign for Exit 105B (Taylor Road north) and button copy shields for Interstate 80. Meeting the freeway in one half mile is California 65, a short freeway spur from Interstate 80 northwest to Sunset Boulevard west of Rocklin. Photo taken by Joe Rouse, 09/16/00.
	Interstate 80 eastbound ahead of the Exit 106 trumpet interchange with California 65. California 65 travels northwest from Rocklin to Lincoln and Olivehurst between Interstate 80 and California 70. California 65 was to continue south along a planned freeway between Interstate 80 and U.S. 50 at Rancho Cordova. The Sunrise Boulevard interchange with U.S. 50 was the intended southern terminus. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	The northbound beginning of California 65 departs Interstate 80 east at Exit 106. California 65 meets California 193 at Lincoln in ten miles and California 70 at Olivehurst in 29 miles. California 70 continues the California 65 freeway at Olivehurst four more miles into Marysville. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Rocklin Road intersects Interstate 80 at the Exit 108 diamond interchange. Rocklin Road ventures east from Fifth Street at Rocklin 2.7 miles to Barton Road at Loomis. Photo taken 09/10/05.

	Sacramento County E3 (Sierra College Boulevard) meets Interstate 80 at the Exit 109 interchange in two miles. Sierra College Boulevard travels north-south through the Rocklin and Loomis areas. Drivers bound for Sierra College itself however should use Rocklin Road east. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Eastbound at the Exit 108 ramp departure to Rocklin Road on Interstate 80. Rocklin Road heads west to Pacific Street (Historic U.S. 40) and downtown Rocklin. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Sierra College Boulevard (Sacramento County E3) heads north from its intersection with Rocklin Road at Sierra College one mile to the Exit 109 half-cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 80. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	In addition to the Alan S. Hart Freeway designation, Interstate 80 is also the Purple Heart Trail in California. Guide signs such as this one between Exits 108 and 109 proclaim the designation periodically along the 199.24-mile route within the Golden State. The Purple Heart Trail designation was applied to Interstate 80 in 2001. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Drivers bound for Sierra College Boulevard part ways with Interstate 80 eastbound at Exit 109. Sierra College Boulevard ventures 6.6 miles south to Hazel Avenue at the Sacramento County line. North of the freeway, the road continues north seven miles to Loomis and junction California 193 east of Lincoln. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Intersecting Interstate 80 next is Horseshoe Bar Road at Exit 110. Horseshoe Bar Road comprises a rural road between Taylor Road (Historic U.S. 40) and Brace / Laird Roads. Laird Road in conjunction with Horseshoe Bar Road provides a link to Auburn Folsom Road at Hidden Valley. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Brace Road passes over Interstate 80 one half mile north of the Exit 110 half-cloverleaf interchange. The community of Loomis lies just north of the freeway along Historic U.S. 40 (Taylor Road) between Rocklin and Penryn. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Interstate 80 eastbound at the Exit 110 loop ramp to Horseshoe Bar Road. Horseshoe Bar Road provides connections to the Folsom Lake area and Folsom itself via Laird and Barton Roads to the south. Horseshoe Bar Road itself travels east from Brace and Laird Roads to Auburn Folsom Road. Brace Road heads west across Interstate 80 to Sierra College and Taylor Roads. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Triangular neutered reassurance marker posted for Interstate 80 eastbound after Exit 110. This is one of several examples of this irregular shield posted along Interstate 80 between the Sacramento metro area and Nevada state line. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	One mile southwest of the Exit 112 half-cloverleaf interchange with Penryn Road. Penryn Road travels north-south 1.4 miles between King Road and Historic U.S. 40 (Taylor Road). Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Exit 112 leaves Interstate 80 eastbound for Penryn Road. Penryn itself lies north of Interstate 80 via Penryn and Taylor Roads. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Eastbound Interstate 80 approaching Exit 121, Auburn Ravine Road/Foresthill, 800 feet. Talk about precise! This exit leads to the Foresthill Bridge. Photo taken 01/19/03.

Interstate 80 eastbound near Soda Springs in the high Sierra. The freeway climaxes at Donner Pass (el. 7,239 ft.) nearby. The Donner Summit Rest Area lies at the summit itself. Note the poor shape of the concrete freeway. The combination of ice/snow, heavy truck traffic, and age have really taken its toll on Interstate 80 through here. The right-hand lanes are so rutted from the trucks that many motorists remain in the less damaged left-hand lane. Photo taken 09/09/05.

	Boreal Ridge Road intersects Interstate 80 at Donner Pass (Exit 176). The local road stems north from Bunny Hill Road to the Castle Peak area. Castle Peak, with its distinctive rocky summit, rises to 9,103 feet nearby. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	An older button copy guide sign posted ahead of the Exit 176 diamond interchange with Boreal Ridge Road. Bunny Hill Road links Boreal Ridge Road with Donner Pass Road (Historic U.S. 40) at Soda Springs. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Exit 176 leaves Interstate 80 eastbound for Boreal Ridge Road. Use Boreal Ridge Road to access the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and the Boreal Ski Area. Photo taken 09/09/05.


This suite of photos displays the terrain and Donner Summit Rest Area along Interstate 80 eastbound. The freeway descends rapidly from the summit toward Donner Lake. Trucks must travel the grade slowly as Interstate 80 drops from 7,239 to 5,935 feet between the pass and lake. Snowfall is an issue through here during the late Fall, Winter, and early Spring months. The pass itself derives its name from the Donner family tragedy of November 1, 1846 when five feet of snow fell and stranded the party of 87. 40 of the pioneers lost their lives at the hand of the cold and 30 to 40 foot snow drifts. A vista point midway between the rest area and Exit 180 provides stellar views of Donner Lake. Photos taken 09/09/05.

	Donner Lake comes into view from the Interstate 80 mainline at the aforementioned vista point. Donner Lake Road intersects the freeway at the Exit 180 diamond interchange ahead. The road joins the freeway with Historic U.S. 40 (Donner Pass Road) 1.1 miles to the south. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Continuing the steep grade toward Donner Lake (Exit 180) on Interstate 80 east. Donner Lake lies between the freeway and the Placer County line. Historic U.S. 40 (Donner Pass Road) follows the northern shore of the lake. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Eastbound at the Exit 180 partial-cloverleaf interchange with Donner Lake Road. Billie Mack Road meanders northward from Interstate 80 into the nearby mountains. Photo taken 09/09/05.

			Interstate 80 continues to lower between Exit 180 (Donner Lake Road) and 184 (Donner Pass Road). Advance signs inform motorists of the Donner Pass Road (Historic U.S. 40) attractions of Donner Lake State Park, the Pioneer Monument, and the Donner Summit Sno-Park. Exit 180 is the first of four interchanges to serve the town of Truckee. Photos taken 09/09/05.

	A partial-cloverleaf interchange facilitates the movements between Interstate 80 and Historic U.S. 40 (Donner Pass Road). Donner Pass Road travels west to Donner Lake State Park and east into Truckee from here. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	A Historic U.S. 40 marker lies at the end of the Exit 184 off-ramp to Donner Pass Road. Travelers taking the scenic road west from Donner Lake have a steep climb toward Donner Pass itself. A concrete arch bridge dating from 1925 still carries motorists over a ravine at McGlashen Point. Photo taken 09/09/05.

Page Updated November 8, 2005.