Moving from Auburn and Placer County to Reno

Auburn sits at 1,213 feet in the Sierra foothills, in Placer County, where the median household income is $115,998 and the median gross rent is $2,069. Auburn is one of the shortest interstate routes into Reno, and the I-80 corridor is the one many Placer County residents already use for ski trips.

The drive: one interstate, start to finish

The route data counts 100 of 102 miles on I-80. There is no highway switching, which makes this one of the simplest trips in our route set. From Auburn the road climbs to Donner Summit at about 7,200 feet, then drops through Truckee and Verdi to the Truckee Meadows.

The grades are steady and trucks run slower going up, which is one reason the wall-clock time sits near two hours at free-flow. Winter storms are the real variable: Caltrans can require chains, and in heavy storms close the highway. The crew and dispatcher watch Caltrans QuickMap and NDOT, and the delivery window in your written estimate has room for weather.

In summer, the foothills are hot, with a July high of 94.4 at the Sacramento station, and loading on a hot afternoon is harder on a crew. Early starts help, and they get the truck over the pass before the afternoon traffic.

What the miles mean for a move

Because Auburn is close, some households split the move: a first load of boxes, then furniture a week later. Under a Bekins agent move, each shipment is handled as its own job, with its own inventory and written estimate. Ask the estimator how a two-part move would be set up.

Hillside homes in Auburn often have steps, retaining walls and tight turns. The in-home estimate is the right time to flag them.

Cost and climate at both ends

Auburn city's median gross rent is $1,501 and its median home value is $672,500. Reno city's Census median gross rent and median home value are $1,556 and $548,300. Auburn's July high in the normals is almost the same as Reno's 93.9, but Reno gets cold nights and about 21 inches of snow.

The Census flow of 247 movers a year has a margin of error of 131, and about 585 a year went the other way, so people move in both directions. Placer County to Washoe is a two-way street.

How the move works with O'Brien's

You book with O'Brien's, a Bekins agent in Sparks, and we coordinate the move from your Auburn address through the Bekins network, then deliver, unpack and store in Sparks. Your written estimate sets the delivery window.

The free in-home estimate includes 10 free heavy-duty boxes. See our Auburn area page for local detail.

Getting settled in Reno

Nevada's DMV handles license and registration changes, and our new resident checklist lists the order. For the drive, read winter driving and chain controls.