How to Get to Lake Tahoe

Getting to Tahoe any time of the year is not difficult. Whether you enjoy driving from distant locales or prefer a quick trip, you’ll find that the Lake Tahoe area is easily accessible, even when some of the area’s 24 feet-a-year of snow is falling.

Arriving by Air

There are a few different airports to which visitors can fly when heading to the Lake Tahoe area on vacation or business. The closest is Reno/Tahoe International Airport, located in Reno, Nevada. It’s a 45 minute ride to the North Shore, 90 minutes to the South Shore. Seven major commercial airlines fly to this airport – Alaska, Horizon, American, Delta, Southwest, United, and U.S. Airways. Charter airline Allegiant Air also flies here. Non-stop flights head from Reno/Tahoe International to more than a dozen cities around the U.S. including Boise, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Mammoth, Oakland, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle. There are numerous one-stop destinations on the docket as well.

Shuttles from the airport to both North and South Lake Tahoe are available and a few taxi companies offer service to the Lake Tahoe area as well. There are also a number of private limousine companies that can be hired to take visitors to their Tahoe destination. Nearly all the major rental car companies also have a kiosk at this airport, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty.

Another option for those flying to the area is Sacramento International Airport. Those who arrive here will have an approximately 2.5 hour drive to Tahoe. About 15 major carriers fly here and there are more than 150 departing flights each day at Sacramento International to a variety of cities across the country including several East Coast destinations. Super Shuttle heads to Tahoe from the Sacramento Airport or visitors can book a private limo or rent a car.

Arriving by Train or Bus

Those who wish to book train travel to the Lake Tahoe region can do so onboard Amtrak. The train stops in Truckee, which is located about 10 miles north of the lake. A few different forms of public transportation are available from the train station to Lake Tahoe or visitors can grab a taxi.

If you hope to travel by bus, Greyhound will get you there, though you’ll need to grab the bus for the last leg of your trip in either Sacramento or San Francisco. Greyhound Bus Lines serves both South Lake Tahoe and Truckee from both of these major cities.

By Car

If you choose to head to Lake Tahoe by car, the South Shore is easily accessible from U.S. 50 and the North Shore from Highways 89 or 267. Your car should be equipped to withstand winter storms if you’re heading there during ski season. If it’s snowing hard, the California Highway Patrol sets up checkpoints from which they only permit cars with chains or four-wheel drive to pass, so be prepared.

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