Baxter is an unincorporated community in Placer County, California.

[1] Baxter is located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Dutch Flat.

[1] Baxter started as a travelers' rest stop on the Lincoln Highway, later US 40.

Food, lodging, and gasoline were available at the site, which remained a service stop into the 1980s.

Baxter was also the point at which US 40 was closed over Donner Pass during heavy snow.