Interstate 80 - California Travel Information

Interstate 80 Westbound - Alta to Sacramento County

Westbound Interstate 80
	Ridge Road (Historic U.S. 40) arcs 2.1 miles west from Alta to Dutch Flat. The historic alignment of U.S. 40 turns west onto Lincoln Road parallel to Interstate 80 between Dutch Flat and Gold Run. Ridge Road continues south from Lincoln Road to junction Interstate 80 at the Exit 145 diamond interchange. High Sierra Drive ties into the interchange from Monte Vista (el. 3,320 ft.) to the south. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	High Sierra Drive parallels Interstate 80 from Monte Vista west to Gold Run. A half-diamond interchange joins the surface road with the freeway at Exit 144. Gold Run (el. 3,250 ft.) itself lies west of Exit 144 along Lincoln Road (Historic U.S. 40), the Union Pacific Railroad, and Gold Run Road. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Westbound at the High Sierra Drive over crossing and an upcoming exits sign listing the distances to the Gold Run Rest Area and Exit 143. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Interstate 80 west at the Gold Run Rest Area. Although no sign indicates this, the Gold Run Rest Area is the second to last facility along the freeway in California. The final rest area resides at Vallejo (milepost 34). Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Historic U.S. 40 crosses paths with Interstate 80 again at the Exit 143 diamond interchange. The route follows Gold Run Road west to Magna Road west from Lincoln Road and Gold Run. Magna Road crosses Interstate 80 and turns west adjacent to the freeway en route to Magna itself. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	San Francisco debuts as the final westbound control city of Interstate 80 at the Magna Road over crossing. San Francisco, 143 miles to the west at this point, represents the western terminal of transcontinental Interstate 80. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Interstate 80 continues west to the Exit 140 partial-cloverleaf interchange with Rollins Lake Road. Rollins Lake Road joins the parallel Secret Town Road and Magna Road across the freeway. Photo taken 09/09/05.

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	Truckers "Let Er' Drift" warning sign advising 50 mph on the Interstate 80 descent toward Magra (el. 2,850 ft.). Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Exit 140 departs Interstate 80 westbound for Rollins Lake Road. Secret Town Road ties into the interchange from the Rollins Reservoir area north of the freeway. Magra Road (Historic U.S. 40) continues to parallel the freeway to the south through community of Magra. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Another in the series of "reduce speed when wet" overheads on Interstate 80 westbound. The descend toward Auburn remains fairly steep, so travelers should caution during rainy or snowy events. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Magra Road (Historic U.S. 40) continues west and again intersects Interstate 80 at Exit 139. There Magra Road name changes to Rollins Lake Road and proceeds northwest to Rollins Reservoir. The Rolls Lake Campgrounds lie three miles to the north in a steep canyon. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	The Union Pacific Railroad travels across Interstate 80 via this trestle bridge at Cape Horn/Long Ravine. According to Dave Waters, "the road is located at a spot where the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad crossed under the (then-) Southern Pacific. Cape Horn is the prominent outcropping of rock to the south and a community a mile or two further east along the railroad" (email dated 5/8/06). The railroad line skirts the hill south of Interstate 80 on the edge of the American River Canyon. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Interstate 80 nears the Colfax vicinity and junction California 174 (Central Street / Canyon Way). California 174 travels north-south between Colfax and Grass Valley (junction California 20). The state highway serves Chicago Park, Peardale, Cedar Ridge, and Union Hill on the 13-mile journey. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	A California 174 shield was added after the fact on the approach guide sign for Exit 135. California 174 travels Canyon Way west to Auburn Avenue north from Interstate 80. The state highway turns onto Central Street on its northward trek out of town. California 174 follows the Colfax Highway west of Rollins Reservoir to Grass Valley. Photo taken 09/09/05.

	Exit 135 departs Interstate 80 westbound for Auburn Street south of its intersection with California 174 (Canyon Way). Auburn Street and Canyon Way comprise a frontage road system south to Exit 133. Iowa Hill Road meanders east from Canyon Way to the Auburn State Recreation Area, Iowa Hill, and Pine Reservoir within the Tahoe National Forest. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Exit 133 serves southern reaches of Colfax via connections with Auburn Street and Canyon Way. A folded-diamond interchange connects the freeway with the adjacent frontage roads. Canyon Way represents Historic U.S. 40 between Colfax and Weimar. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Westbound at the Exit 133 off-ramp to Auburn Street. A connector road travels above Interstate 80 between Canyon Way (Historic U.S. 40) and Auburn Street. Placer Hills Road continues Auburn Street southwest to Meadow Vista. Canyon Way remains close to Interstate 80 through Weimar and Twin Pines. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Weimar Cross Road intersects Interstate 80 between Canyon Way (Historic U.S. 40) and Placer Hills Road. A partial-cloverleaf interchange joins the two roads at Exit 131. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Interstate 80 westbound at the Exit 131 ramp departure to Weimar Cross Road. Weimar Cross Road ends 1.3 miles to the west at the intersection of Placer Hills Road and Lake View Drive. The road continues beyond Canyon Way (Historic U.S. 40) into the hills east of Weimar (el. 2,280 ft.). Historic U.S. 40 follows Ponderosa Way south through Weimar to Paoli Lane. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Interstate 80 next meets West Paoli Lane at Exit 130. A folded-diamond interchange joins the freeway with West Paoli Lane and Geisendorfer Road on the west side of the freeway and Paoli Lane (Historic U.S. 40) on the east side. Use Exit 130 for the Weimar Institute of Health and Education. West Paoli Lane and Geisendorfer Road comprise a frontage road system southward through Twin Pines. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Geisendorfer Road transitions into Applegate Road at Heather Glen. The road turns south across Interstate 80 at the Exit 129 diamond interchange. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Drivers bound for Geisendorfer Road north to Twin Pines and Applegate Road south to Applegate travel the Exit 129 off-ramp from Interstate 80 west. Historic U.S. 40 (West Paoli Lane) ties into Applegate Road at Heather Glen nearby. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Interstate 80 west approaches the Exit 128 diamond interchange with Crother Road to Orchard Avenue at Applegate. Crother Road starts at Placer Hills Road, crosses the Interstate 80 freeway, and then travels down to intersect with Applegate Road on the south side of the freeway. Lake Arthur Road starts where Crother Road begins to cross the freeway. Orchard Avenue travels west from Hazel Avenue and Burgen Drive to Crother Road west of the freeway. Crother Road links Orchard Avenue with Placer Hills Avenue near Meadow Vista (elevation 1,722 feet). Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Westbound Interstate 80 reaches the Exit 128 off-ramp to Crother Road to Orchard Avenue. Hazel Avenue links Orchard Avenue with Applegate Road (Historic U.S. 40) at the settlement of Applegate. Historic U.S. 40 continues southward along the freeway between Applegate and Clipper Gap. Lake Arthur Road follows Interstate 80 westbound from Orchard Avenue to Clipper Gap as well. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Placer Hills Road returns to Interstate 80 at Exit 125 in Clipper Gap. Placer Hills Road loops ten miles west of Interstate 80 between Clipper Gap and Colfax. The roadway reaches Meadow Vista in 2.5 miles. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Placer Hills Road ends at the Exit 125 diamond interchange with Interstate 80. Applegate Road (Historic U.S. 40) ties into the junction from the east and ends nearby as well. Lake Arthur Road continues to parallel the freeway west to Lake Arthur itself and Dry Creek Road. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Next in line for westbound travelers is the Exit 124 diamond interchange with Neil Road (signed as "Dry Creek" since Neil Road spurs into Dry Creek). Neil Road spurs east from Lake Arthur Road to Interstate 80. Lake Arthur Road intersects Dry Creek, Borman, and Christian Valley Roads just west of Neil Road. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Christian Valley Road, north of Lake Arthur and Dry Creek Roads is the home of the California Conservation Corps. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Exit 124 leaves Interstate 80 westbound for Neil, Lake Arthur, and Dry Creek Roads. Dry Creek Road stems west 3.75 miles to junction California 49 (Grass Valley Highway). Christian Valley Road arcs northwest and Bowman Road takes the place of the westbound side frontage road southward to Auburn. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Bell Road intersects Interstate 80 at the Exit 123 diamond interchange between Bowman and Musso Roads. Bell Road travels east-west three miles between California 49 (Grass Valley Highway) and Musso Road. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Interstate 80 westbound at the Bell Road off-ramp (Exit 123). Bell Road meets New Airport Road two miles to the west. New Airport Road travels north and serves the Auburn Municipal Airport. Photo taken 09/09/05.

Interstate 80 enters the greater Auburn area south of the Bell Road overpass. A number of traveler services greet road weary drivers as they leave the sparsely populated trek through the Sierra Nevada. Photos taken 09/09/05.

	Exit 122 departs Interstate 80 westbound for the Bowman community north of Auburn. A short connector links the parallel Bowman Road and Lincoln Way (Historic U.S. 40) with the freeway here. Use Bowman Road south for Luther Road west. Historic U.S. 40 parallels Interstate 80 east from Covey Road south to downtown Auburn. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Foresthill Road crosses paths with Interstate 80 at the next westbound interchange. Foresthill Road stems 17 miles east from Auburn through the Auburn State Recreation Area to Foresthill (el. 3,225 ft.). Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Auburn Ravine Road continues Foresthill Road southwest to Elm Avenue north of downtown Auburn. Auburn Ravine Road intersects Shockley Road in 0.75 miles, Dairy Road in 1.1 miles, and Palm Avenue in 1.6 miles. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Westbound at the Foresthill diamond interchange (Exit 121). Adjacent Bowman Road ends at the Foresthill / Auburn Ravine Road intersection. Historic U.S. 40 (Lincoln Way) meanders southward from Foresthill Road to Russell Road before its turn toward downtown Auburn. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Russell Road heads west from its intersection with Historic U.S. 40 (Lincoln Way) to meet Interstate 80 at Exit 120. The east-west road serves residential areas north of downtown Auburn. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Russell Road passes over Interstate 80 ahead of the Exit 120 ramp departure. Russell Road ends at Hilltop Drive nearby. Hilltop Drive provides no outlet however due to the Union Pacific Railroad nearby. East of the freeway, Russell Road wanders southeast to Canyon Drive and Foresthill Avenue. Canyon Drive provides a connection to California 49 (El Dorado Street). Photo taken 09/09/05.
	The next two exits serve the downtown Auburn Area. A pair of interchanges (Exits 119C/B) join Interstate 80 with Elm Avenue and California 49 (Grass Valley Highway). Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Interstate 80 passes over the Union Pacific Railroad line one quarter mile north of the Elm Avenue half-cloverleaf interchange. Elm Avenue comprises an east-west arterial between California 49 (Grass Valley Highway) and California 49 (High Street). California 49 loops into downtown with Elm Avenue providing a half mile long bypass to the north. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	The Exit 119C loop ramp departs Interstate 80 westbound for Elm Avenue in downtown Auburn. Elm Avenue meets Auburn Ravine Road between the freeway and California 49 (Grass Valley Highway). Interstate 80 directly interchanges with California 49 in one half mile at Exits 149B/A. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Drivers merging onto Interstate 80 westbound from Elm Avenue form the exit-only lane for Exit 119B (Junction California 49). California 49 travels Grass Valley Highway southward to Lincoln Way and High Street through downtown Auburn. The state highway ventures 10.5 miles north to Higgins Corner and 22 miles to Grass Valley. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	A sharp loop ramp joins Interstate 80 west with California 49 (Grass Valley Highway) at Exit 119B. The geography of the area requires tight movements between the two highways. California 49 follows Lincoln Way (old U.S. 40) east to High Street, and High Street northeast to El Dorado Street east and the El Dorado County line. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	The end of the Exit 119B off-ramp at California 49 (Grass Valley Road). Travel California 49 south six miles to Cool and junction California 193. California 49 and California 193 follow independent paths from Cool southward to Placerville. Placerville, the El Dorado County seat, lies at the state highway junction with U.S. 50, 26 miles to the southeast. Photo taken 09/09/05.
	Interstate 80 continues west a short distance to the Exit 119A modified-diamond interchange with Nevada Street. Nevada Street travels northward from the freeway to Fulweiler Avenue, Mt. Vernon Road, and California 49 (Grass Valley Highway). Photo taken 04/03/05.
	Exit 119A departs Interstate 80 westbound at the Maple Street Extension overpass. The extension joins Placer Street north of the freeway and Maple Street to the south. Exit 119A joins Nevada Street at its intersections with Andrews and Placer Streets. Maple Street and Lincoln Way (Historic U.S. 40) tie into Interstate 80 eastbound ramps at Sacramento Street. Photo taken 04/03/05.
	Drivers merging onto Interstate 80 westbound from Nevada Street to form the exit-only only lane for Exit 118 (Ophir Road). The Union Pacific Railroad travels high above the freeway in this scene. The original alignment of U.S. 40 passed underneath the railroad span between Exit 119A and Ophir Road. Photo taken 04/03/05.
	Ophir Road (Historic U.S. 40) departs Interstate 80 westbound via the Exit 118 partial "Y" interchange. Ophir Road travels three miles west from Auburn to Newcastle north of Interstate 80. Historic U.S. 40 intersects Wise Road in three quarters of a mile. Photo taken 04/03/05.
	A traditional reassurance marker for Interstate 80 posted along westbound between Ophir Road (Exit 118) and Newcastle (Exit 116). Photo taken 04/03/05.
	Interstate 80 continues 19 miles west to Roseville and 33 miles to Sacramento. The six-lane freeway becomes increasingly busy on the drive west from Auburn. Photo taken 04/03/05.
	California 193 emerges from Interstate 80 at the Exit 116 folded-diamond interchange with Taylor and Ophir Roads. The state highway exists in two portions: the western segment links Lincoln with Newcastle, the eastern portion provides an alternate route to California 49 between Auburn and Placerville. Photo taken 04/03/05.
	Interstate 80 westbound descends to 1,000 feet for the first time within the Golden State. The freeway peaks at Donner Pass (el. 7,239 feet) in the Sierra Nevada. From there it's a rapid descend toward Sacramento at 20 feet above sea level. Photo taken 04/03/05.
	This guide sign references California 139's formal name of Taylor Road. Taylor Road continues the Historic U.S. 40 alignment west through Newcastle to Loomis and Rocklin. Taylor Road overtakes Ophir Road at Exit 116. Photo taken 04/03/05.
	California 193 (Taylor Road) westbound departs Interstate 80 west at Exit 116. The state highway ventures ten miles west to junction California 65 at Lincoln. California 193 turns westward onto the Newcastle Highway one half mile west of Exit 116. Taylor Road continues through the town of Newcastle itself on the 2.5-mile drive to Penryn. Photo taken 04/03/05.
	Interstate 80 turns southward briefly and passes under the Union Pacific Railroad line again ahead of the Newcastle Road modified-diamond interchange (Exit 115). Indian Hill Road stems east from Newcastle Road and Exit 115 2.3 miles to Auburn Folsom Road south of Auburn. Newcastle Road flows south from Newcastle three miles to Auburn Folsom Road near the Folsom Lake area. Photo taken 04/03/05.
	Exit 115 departs Interstate 80 westbound for New Castle Road south and Old State Highway. Old State Highway links the area with Taylor Road (Historic U.S. 40) & California 193 (Newcastle Highway) to the north and Kellogg Street to the west. Photo taken 04/03/05.
	Mileage sign listing the distances to Sacramento and San Francisco on Interstate 80 westbound near Newcastle. Photo taken 04/03/05.
	Interstate 80 leaves the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and descends into the Central Valley near Penryn and Loomis. The six-lane freeway becomes quite busy on the approach to the Sacramento metropolitan area. Photo taken 04/03/05.
	One mile northeast 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). Penryn itself lies north of Interstate 80 via Penryn or Taylor Roads. Photo taken 04/03/05.
	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 04/03/05.
	King 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 04/03/05.
	Interstate 80 westbound 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 04/03/05.

Page Updated July 23, 2006.