The historic fire bell found in the center of downtown 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. Today the permanent population hovers around 10,000, 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 California is located approximately 39 miles from Sacramento and 43 miles from Lake Tahoe. Placerville is accessible from highway 50 east and west, also highway 49 east and west, and 193 south. the surrounding area's include Diamond Springs, El Dorado, Coloma, Camino, Pollock Pine's, Grass Valley, Pleasant Valley and Cameron Park. Placerville also has a small private airstrip located a mile or two outside the city, and there is also commuter bus's coming in from Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.

See

• 1 Church of Our Saviour, 2979 Coloma St. The Church of Our Saviour is an historic Carpenter Gothic Episcopal church that is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California. It was built in 1865, and has been renovated several times since then. On November 17, 1977, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour. (updated Apr 2021)
• 2 Combellack–Blair House, 3059 Cedar Ravine Rd. The Combellack–Blair House is a historic house that was built in 1895. It served as a store for many years, but today is a private residence. The landmark house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on February 14, 1985. (updated Apr 2021)
• 3 Confidence Hall. Confidence Hall is a historic Italianate Style, Victorian brick building that was originally built in 1860 to house the volunteer fire brigade. During its lifetime the building has served as the police department, jail, justice court, city hall, and public library. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on January 4, 1982. (updated Apr 2021)
• 4 John Pearson Soda Works, 594 Main St. The John Pearson Soda Works, also referred to as the Placerville Soda Works, is a historic rustic vernacular Victorian brick building that was placed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on December 12, 1985. The building was originally a single story structure built in 1859 to store ice. John Pearson's sons later added a second story in 1897 to house a bottling operation after the business began selling soda water. (updated Apr 2021)

Do

• Apple Hill. This is an area about 10 minutes' drive east of Placerville on Highway 50. There are dozens of apple ranches that cater mostly to Sacramento-area tourists who come seeking every imaginable product made from apples, such as cider, pies, donuts, wine, caramel apples, etc. Excellent family atmosphere. Some of the larger ranches have ponds, ducks, ponies, and picnic areas. Most of the ranches are open September to December only. A few stay open all year. Weekends in October can get very crowded. 
• 1 Community Observatory, 6699 Campus Dr. The Community Observatory is an observatory that houses 17-inch and 14-inch telescopes and is open to the public on weekends in the summer and winter, and for special events (check their calendar). Visitors should check the website prior to arriving at the observatory as cancellations occur frequently due to clouds or weather. The roof of the observatory opens to the sky, so dress as you would for outside activities; there are no heaters and nowhere to warm up if you get cold. The Community Observatory was established in 2006 and is operated by a partnership of a team of volunteers, Folsom Lake College, the El Dorado County Office of Education and the Rotarians of Cameron Park. Cell phones are not allowed while at the observatory to reduce light pollution. Free, parking is $2 at the college. (updated Apr 2021)
• 2 Eddy Arboretum, 2480 Carson Rd. The Eddy Arboretum is located at the Institute of Forest Genetics outside of Placerville. The first plantings were made in 1926, and today it contains what is claimed to be the best-documented collection of native and exotic pines in the world, in addition to many other native and exotic conifers. The arboretum is operated by the US Forest Service and open to the public during business hours. (updated Apr 2021)
• 3 El Dorado County Fair, 100 Placerville Dr. The El Dorado County Fair is held in Placerville every Father's Day weekend. The fair was first held in 1859, and has been using the current site since 1939. The El Dorado County Fair features four full days of exhibitions contests and competitions, concerts and events, carnival rides, and fair food. There is a junior livestock auction and still exhibits, such as photography, artwork, homemade wine and homebrew. Friday night events in the grandstands usually consist of Mutton Bustin' and Humpz and Hornz Bull Riding. Other favorite and traditional activities, include cooking demonstrations, free kid workshops, a funnel cake eating contest, a bean spitting contest, and Big Wheels races. The annual John M. Studebaker Championship Wheelbarrow races take place on Sunday evening in the grandstands. The father and child look-a-like contest happens on the main stage Sunday as part of the Father's Day activities. During the rest of the year the fairground hosts other events including swap meets, concerts, family reunions, and cultural events. (updated Apr 2021)
• 4 Fountain & Tallman Museum, 524 Main St. We-Su, 11AM-4PM. The Fountain & Tallman Museum is owned and operated by the El Dorado County Historical Society. Museum exhibits focus on the natural and human history of the area, and include several Native American and Gold Rush artifacts. The museum is housed inside of the Fountain-Tallman Soda Works, which was built in 1852 and is the oldest building on Main Street. The historic rustic vernacular Victorian stone and brick building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 13, 1984. The original fountain works sold bottled, carbonated spring water to the miners, since the river and creeks were polluted from mining activities and thus unsafe to drink. (updated Apr 2021)
• 5 Placerville Speedway, 100 Placerville Dr (in the El Dorado County Fair & Event Center). Placerville Speedway is a 0.25 miles (0.40 km) dirt track located a few miles west of downtown Placerville. Races are held most weekends Spring-Fall, with the pits opening at 2pm and the grandstands opening at 3pm. Grandstand tickets must be purchased online. (updated Apr 2021)

Buy

• 1 Placerville Hardware, 441 Main St, ☏ +1 530 622-1151. Having been in operation for over 150 years, this is the oldest continuously operated hardware store in west of the Mississippi; serves breakfast and lunch. 

Eat

• Hog Wild Bar-B-Que, 38 Main St, ☏ +1 530 622-3883. Wed-Sun 12-7pm. Texas-style brisket, ribs, chicken & pulled pork are popular picks. (updated Oct 2020)

Sleep

• 1 Best Western Placerville Inn, 6850 Green Leaf Dr, ☏ +1 530 622-9100, toll-free: +1-800-854-9100, fax: +1 530 622-9376. 
• Eden Vale Inn, 1780 Springvale Rd, Placerville, CA 95667, ☏ +1 530 6210901. A luxury bed and breakfast in the Gold Country foothills. (updated Aug 2018)

Go next

Jackson- 49 South. About 45 minutes away.

Sacramento- 50 West. About 45 to 70 minutes away, depending on traffic.

Auburn- 49 North. About 30 to 50 minutes away.

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park- 49 North. About 10 to 20 minutes away.

South Lake Tahoe- 50 East. About 1 1/2 hours away.

Routes through Placerville

Sacramento ← El Dorado Hills ←	W  E	→ Pollock Pines → Carson City
Auburn ← Coloma ←	N  S	→ Plymouth → Oakhurst