Getting to Lake Tahoe
By Air
By Car
By Bus
Getting To Lake Tahoe By Air
To get to South Lake Tahoe you can fly into the Reno/Tahoe, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, or Oakland airports.
From Reno:
The Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) offers more than 180 flights from most major airlines and cities in and out of Reno daily, to 17 cities serviced by twelve airlines. Non-stop service is provided to the following cities from Reno: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis, Phoenix, San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, and Salt Lake City. An additional 20 destinations are serviced via direct, onestop flights from RTIA. CLICK HERE to view scheduled flights to and from Reno/Tahoe International Airport.
Twelve Airlines provide service to/from Reno:
From Sacramento:
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is your gateway to Northern California destinations. Service is available 24 hours a day from 15 major carriers and one commuter airline offering over 150 daily departures. Free wireless internet access is available throughout both terminals. Frequent non-stops flight destinations include Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Guadalajara, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Vancouver B.C., Washington D.C., and all major California cities. Sacramento International Airport Telephone Help Line - (916) 929-5411 - a 24-hour source for all general airport information and passenger paging excluding media inquiries.
General Aviation:
The Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL) at South Lake Tahoe, California, is a year-round all- weather facility with professional services for the general aviation and corporate executive traveler.
Air Taxi & Air Charter Service:
If your prefer air charter over airline travel, Gary Air is here to serve you. Gary Air offers direct flights, travelling on your schedule and arriving to Lake Tahoe from hundreds of other West Coast Airports. Quotes and charters are available 24/7. For more information please call (408) 729-IFLY or visit www.GaryAir.us.
Airport Information:
Getting To Lake Tahoe By Car
NOTE: GPS systems often direct drivers in the Tahoe Basin through neighborhoods and routes that appear to be the most direct route to your destination, but in fact are not. Please see directions below:
Driving Directions from...
Reno:
From Reno/Tahoe International Airport, Head north take a slight left toward Plumb Lane. Continue straight onto Plumb Lane. Turn left at Matley Lane. Merge onto US-395 S via the ramp to Carson City. Exit onto US-395 S/S Virginia St toward Virginia City/Carson City/So Lake Tahoe. Continue to follow US-395 S. Slight right at N Carson St/US-395 BUS S. Continue onto N Carson St. Slight right toward US-50 W. Continue straight onto US-50 W into South Lake Tahoe.
Sacramento:
Take Highway 50 East through Placerville and over Echo Summit through the town of Meyers. Continue northeast on the combined road, CA-89 N/US-50 E (go 4.9 mi.) to the intersection of Hwy 89 and Hwy 50/Lake Tahoe Blvd. (Do not turn on Pioneer Trail). Make a right onto Hwy 50/Lake Tahoe Blvd. You are now in South Lake Tahoe.
San Francisco:
Take I-80 East to Sacramento
Take Hwy 50 East through Placerville and over Echo Summit through the town of Meyers. Continue northeast on the combined road, CA-89 N/US-50 E (go 4.9 mi.) to the intersection of Hwy 89 and Hwy 50/Lake Tahoe Blvd. (Do not turn on Pioneer Trail). Make a right onto Hwy 50/Lake Tahoe Blvd. You are now in South Lake Tahoe.
San Jose/East Bay:
Take Hwy 680 North to Hwy 580 East to Hwy 205 East
Take I-5 North to Sacramento
Take Hwy 50 East through Placerville and over Echo Summit through the town of Meyers. Continue northeast on the combined road, CA-89 N/US-50 E (go 4.9 mi.) to the intersection of Hwy 89 and Hwy 50/Lake Tahoe Blvd. (Do not turn on Pioneer Trail). Make a right onto Hwy 50/Lake Tahoe Blvd. You are now in South Lake Tahoe.
Or
Take Hwy 680 North
Merge onto I-80 East towards Sacramento
Take Hwy 50 East through Placerville and over Echo Summit through the town of Meyers. Continue northeast on the combined road, CA-89 N/US-50 E (go 4.9 mi.) to the intersection of Hwy 89 and Hwy 50/Lake Tahoe Blvd. (Do not turn on Pioneer Trail). Make a right onto Hwy 50/Lake Tahoe Blvd. You are now in South Lake Tahoe.
Los Angeles:
Take I-5 North to Sacramento
Take Hwy 50 East through Placerville and over Echo Summit through the town of Meyers. Continue northeast on the combined road, CA-89 N/US-50 E (go 4.9 mi.) to the intersection of Hwy 89 and Hwy 50/Lake Tahoe Blvd. (Do not turn on Pioneer Trail). Make a right onto Hwy 50/Lake Tahoe Blvd. You are now in South Lake Tahoe.
Or
Take Hwy 395 North to Minden/Gardnerville
Take Hwy 88 and go left to Centerville Lane to Foothill (Hwy 206)
Turn right to Kingsbury (Hwy 207) to South Shore
Mileage to South Lake Tahoe from...
| City |
Approx. distance |
Approx. travel time |
| Carson City |
29 miles |
50 minutes |
| Virginia City |
44 miles |
1 hour 10 minutes |
| Reno |
64 miles |
1 hour 30 minutes |
| Drive around the Lake |
72 miles |
2 hour 30 minutes |
| Sacramento |
100 miles |
2 hours |
| San Francisco |
189 miles |
4 hours |
| Yosemite |
211 miles |
5 hours 40 minutes |
| Las Vegas |
443 miles |
8 hours |
| Los Angeles |
485 miles |
8 hours |
| Portland |
592 miles |
11 hours |
| Phoenix |
743 miles |
13 hours |
| Denver |
1108 miles |
18 hours |
| Dallas |
1667 miles |
28 hours 20 minutes |
| Chicago |
1973 miles |
31 hours 30 minutes |
| New York |
2746 miles |
44 hours |
Road Conditions
Call (877) 687-6237 or visit Nevada Department of Transportation
Call (800) 427-7623 or visit California Department of Transportation
All-Weather Highways to South Lake Tahoe
50 East over Echo Summit
88 North from Stockton
207 Over Kingsbury Grade
395 to 50 West at Carson City
Interstate 80 East from Sacramento
89 and 267 South from 80
431 Over Mount Rose from Reno
Getting To Lake Tahoe By Bus
From Reno:
South Tahoe Express provides shuttle service between Reno-Tahoe International Airport & South Lake Tahoe Resorts & Casinos. Multiple departures daily each way with service to MontBleu Casino Resort, Embassy Suites, Harrah's Lake Tahoe, Harveys, Horizon, & Lakeside Inn. Phone 1-775-325-8944 or 1-866-89-TAHOE.
From Sacramento:
- SuperShuttle (800) 258-3826 departs for South Shore each day. Subject to change
- Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach service - Capitol Corridor Amtrak station is at
South Y Transit Center
1000 Lake Tahoe Blvd.
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96151
1-800-USA-RAIL or 1-800-872-7245
Services: Unstaffed station, payphones, free short-term parking, fully accessible to persons using wheelchairs.
- Sierra at Tahoe provides ski season shuttle service to South Shore Lake Tahoe
- Bus transportation to Harveys Lake Tahoe is provided by:
Mary Rose Tours 1-800-383-2811, Scheduled Trips on Wednesdays
and Great American Stage 1-916-929-8833, Trips Thurs. & Sun.
From San Francisco Bay Area:
