| Whether for a weekend getaway or a weeklong | | | | will show you down. |
| vacation, Tahoe is a favorite of many Californians in | | | | - Keep your tank full of gas. |
| addition to visitors from all over the world. Depending | | | | - Most importantly, slow down. Ice and fog can put you |
| on season, Tahoe offer everything from a day of | | | | out of control in seconds. Keep a much greater |
| skiing to a sunny hike in the woods, to an evening of | | | | distance between you and other cars and stay extra |
| casino live entertainment. | | | | alert for sudden changes in conditions. Maximum |
| Lake Tahoe is found straddling the border between | | | | speed limit with chains is 25-30 mph. |
| California and Nevada. From Tahoe it's 200 miles west | | | | - You must stop and put on chains if told to do so by |
| to San Francisco and 30 miles north to Reno. People | | | | an officer or posted signs. |
| often refer to the North or South shore of Tahoe. | | | | There are several all-weather highways around Lake |
| Things of interest on the North shore, primarily ski | | | | Tahoe except during the most severe weather. These |
| resorts, are mostly in California, whereas most of the | | | | include US 50 east over Echo Summit, CA 88 North |
| activity, including hotels and casinos, of the South shore | | | | from Stockton, CA 207 over the Kingsbury Grade, US |
| are in Nevada. | | | | 395 to US 50 West at Carson City and finally |
| Driving to Lake Tahoe by Car | | | | Highway 431 over Mount Rose going from Reno. |
| The easiest access to the North shore is via I-80 from | | | | Getting to Tahoe by Bus |
| Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay area or Reno. At | | | | Because getting to Tahoe is always a nasty slog |
| Truckee take CA 89 south into Tahoe City or Squaw | | | | during the winter skiing months why not take a bus? A |
| Valley, or take US 50 to South Lake Tahoe from | | | | bus lets you relax and know that an experienced |
| Sacramento or the Bay Area. To get to the South | | | | driver will be dealing with the problems. |
| Shore from Reno take US395 south through Carson | | | | Bay Area Ski Bus will pick you up in Belmont, Corte |
| City, then follow US 50 West to the Lake. | | | | Madera, Novato, Oakland, Pleasanton, San Francisco, |
| In the winter huge snowfalls can make tire chains a | | | | Santa Clara and Walnut Creek at about 4am and |
| requirement for driving to or around Lake Tahoe. | | | | return the same evening. They go to Northstar, at |
| Current driving conditions can be found at the bottom | | | | Tahoe, Kirkwood, Alpine and Squaw Valley but the |
| of this page, or check with CalTrans ( Also look over | | | | destinations vary each week. Check the website for |
| the following winter driving checklist because an ounce | | | | details. |
| of prevention can save a lot of problems. | | | | NAC Ski will pick you up in Berkeley, Concord, Dublin, |
| Winter driving checklist | | | | Milpitas, Pleasanton, Redwood City, San Francisco, San |
| - Check that your brakes, windshield wiper, defroster | | | | Jose, San Mateo and sometimes in Sacramento and |
| and heater are working properly. | | | | go to different destinations each week. |
| - Make sure your antifreeze is fresh and the radiator is | | | | Fly to Lake Tahoe |
| full. It's a good idea to add special solvents to your | | | | You can get to Lake Tahoe by airplane. The closest |
| windshield washer tank to keep it from freezing. | | | | commercial airports are Sacramento and Reno. Big |
| - Check your tires and carry the proper chains for | | | | Foot Air offers charter flights to Lake Tahoe from |
| your vehicle. A flashlight and chain repair kit can be | | | | San Francisco and Gary Air ( offers an air taxi service |
| vital. Have an accurate road map, a cell phone and | | | | from a number of California airports. |
| emergency numbers and keep an extra key in your | | | | Private pilots can fly into the Truckee-Tahoe Airport or |
| wallet or with another person in the vehicle. | | | | the South Lake Tahoe Airport. You can get |
| - Additionally carry an ice scraper or de-icer, a broom, | | | | transportation from several of the ski resorts to and |
| a shovel and towels. In case you really get stuck bring | | | | from the Reno airport. Check with Squaw Creek and |
| food, water, warm clothing and blankets. | | | | Northstar. |
| - Allow extra time for the trip since winter conditions | | | | |