Placerville



Placerville is a town in El Dorado County in California's Gold Country. It was a key supply hub during the Gold Rush, and was California's third-largest town when it was incorporated in 1857. In 2021 the permanent population was around 11,000, but visitors flock to the town due to its convenient location halfway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, and also for its historic downtown, with many of the businesses housed in buildings that date back to the mid-1800s.

Get in
Placerville sits 39 miles east of Sacramento and 43 miles from Lake Tahoe. It is accessible from Highway 50 east and west, also Highway 49 east and west, and 193 south. Placerville also has a small private airstrip located a mile or two outside the city, and there is also commuter buses coming in from Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.

Go next

 * - The California Gold Rush began in Coloma in 1848 with the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill, and today travelers can visit the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park to see the exact spot where gold was found. In addition, the park has a recreation of Sutter's Mill, exhibits documenting the Gold Rush, and the opportunity to pan for gold in the American River.  While much of the original town is now essentially a ghost town, there are a few lodging options and restaurants.  For visitors seeking adventure, the American River is a popular whitewater rafting destination, and a number of outfitters offer trips that start in Coloma.