Moving at Lake Tahoe in summer

At 6,655 feet, Truckee stays much cooler than Reno in July: 83.8 F against 93.9 F for the average high. Nights at Truckee drop to 41.4 F. The Tahoe basin in summer is bright, dry and welcoming, and that is why many households choose it for a move.

Cool air, dry roads

Tahoe City is cooler still, with a June high of 69.3 F, July 78.0 F and August 77.4 F, and lows of 40.0 F, 46.0 F and 45.4 F. South Lake Tahoe Airport records a 72.0 F June high and an 80.4 F July high. Precipitation is almost gone, with 0.57 inches in June, 0.26 in July and 0.53 in August at Truckee.

Because the air is thin and the temperature differences are large, drink more water than you expect, and take breaks on the stairs. Elevation at Truckee is 6,655 feet and at South Lake Tahoe 6,260 feet; see moving to high altitude.

Vacation traffic and rentals

Highway 89, US 50 and Interstate 80 carry more traffic in summer, and weekends can be slow. Midweek dates are easier for a truck. Vacation rentals also turn over on Saturdays and Sundays, which affects parking and access in resort neighborhoods.

Ask the HOA or property manager about moving hours, elevator rules and gate codes, and give your estimator the details in advance.

Summer access checklist

• Confirm that the truck can turn around on narrow forest roads.
• Trim low branches near the driveway.
• Ask neighbors to avoid parking in the turning area.
• Plan the drive for the earlier part of the day when traffic is lighter.
• Arrange water and shade for everyone on site.

Storage and the short season

Summer is when owners swap furniture and when new buyers close. Vault storage in Sparks starts from $40 per month. The wooden vaults are 7 ft x 7 ft x 5 ft and shipping stored goods takes about 2 to 3 weeks of notice.

For a hot-weather plan in the valley, read moving in July. For the Tahoe towns, see Lake Tahoe and Truckee and movers in Incline Village.