Nevada Explorer

Do I need chains to get to Northstar right now?

No, there is no chain control on the drive from Sacramento to Northstar right now. Checked (Caltrans).

Read every five minutes from Caltrans chain control (cwwp2.dot.ca.gov), for the direction you drive up. The signs on the road are what you are bound by: confirm at roads.dot.ca.gov or call 511 before you go.

when chains go up or come off on the way to Northstar

Do you need chains to get to Northstar right now? Live Caltrans chain control on I-80 over Donner Summit and SR-267 from Truckee, checked every five minutes.

The drive from Sacramento and the Bay Area

Northstar is off SR-267 between Truckee and Brockway Summit. From Sacramento the drive is I-80 east over Donner Summit to Truckee, then SR-267 south past the Truckee airport and Martis Valley to Northstar Drive.

The answer above reads Caltrans's I-80 eastbound checkpoints from Colfax to Truckee, and its SR-267 southbound checkpoints at the I-80 junction, Airport Road, Martis Creek and Northstar Road. The last few miles on SR-267 can be chained when I-80 is not. Brockway Summit, past the resort turnoff on the way to Kings Beach, is not on this drive.

The highest Caltrans checkpoint on the way is Castle Peak on I-80, at 7,247 ft; the lowest is Applegate, at 2,020 ft. Snow at the top of the drive is not snow at the bottom, and the checkpoints in between are where the level changes.

Where Caltrans sets chain control on the way

I-80 east from Colfax over Donner Summit to Truckee

15 eastbound checkpoints, highest first · I-80 road conditions

SR-267 south from Truckee to Northstar Drive

4 southbound checkpoints, highest first · SR-267 road conditions

These are the east and southbound checkpoints, the ones you pass on the way up. Coming home, Caltrans's checkpoints in the other direction apply, and they are not always at the same level: read them on the road pages before you leave.

Donner Pass cameras

Traffic camera: I-80 at Donner SummitI-80 at Donner Summit · live videoTraffic camera: I-80 at Donner LakeI-80 at Donner Lake · live videoTraffic camera: I-80 at Castle PeakI-80 at Castle Peak · live videoTraffic camera: I-80 at Soda Springs - EastboundI-80 at Soda Springs - Eastbound · live video

All 5 cameras at Donner Pass: I-80 at Donner Summit · I-80 at Donner Lake · I-80 at Castle Peak · I-80 at Soda Springs - Eastbound · I-80 at Kingvale - Westbound · every pass camera

Truckee cameras

Traffic camera: I-80 at Truckee / SR-267I-80 at Truckee / SR-267 · live videoTraffic camera: I-80 at Truckee Scales EastboundI-80 at Truckee Scales Eastbound · live videoTraffic camera: I-80 at Truckee Scales WestboundI-80 at Truckee Scales Westbound · live video

All 3 cameras at Truckee: I-80 at Truckee / SR-267 · I-80 at Truckee Scales Eastbound · I-80 at Truckee Scales Westbound · every pass camera

What R-1, R-2 and R-3 mean on the drive to Northstar

Caltrans sets chain control at its control points, in three levels:

R-1
Chains, traction devices or snow tires on the drive axle of every vehicle except four-wheel and all-wheel drive, which must still carry chains.
R-2
Chains on every vehicle except four-wheel or all-wheel drive with snow tires on all four wheels. Those must still carry chains.
R-3
Chains on every vehicle, no exceptions.

Trucks and trailers have rules of their own at every level. Both states' rules, side by side, are on chain control levels R1, R2 and R3 explained.

More for this trip

The drive to another resort: Heavenly · Palisades Tahoe · Kirkwood · Sugar Bowl · Boreal · Sierra-at-Tahoe

Chain controls and closures: Caltrans (cwwp2.dot.ca.gov), read every five minutes. Nevada Explorer is not affiliated with Caltrans or with Northstar. Always confirm at roads.dot.ca.gov or call 511 before you travel.