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Getting Here
Lake Tahoe, which straddles the California-Nevada state line, is one of the most beautiful lakes in the USA. Located just 200 miles from San Francisco, Lake Tahoe is famous for its clarity, deep blue water, and surrounding snowcapped peaks. It is also the largest alpine lake in North America.
Lake Tahoe waters soak up the colors of the sky and the mountains, creating a kaleidoscope of sparkling blues, greens, and purples.It's no wonder, Mark Twain declared it "the fairest picture the whole earth affords."
Fun Facts About Lake Tahoe
- Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America and the second deepest lake in the U.S.
- If Lake Tahoe was emptied, it would submerge California under 14” of water.
- There is enough water in Lake Tahoe to supply everyone in the United Sates with 50 gallons of water per day for five years.
- The amount of water that evaporates from the surface of Lake Tahoe every year could supply a city the size of Los Angeles for 5 years.
- Due to its depth, Lake Tahoe never freezes.
Lake Tahoe Statistics
- Maximum Elevation: 6,229 feet
- Surface Area:193 sq. mi. or 122,200 acres
- Length: 22 miles
- Maximum Depth: 1,645 feet
- Width: 12 miles
- Average Depth: 989 feet
- Shoreline: 72 miles
- Volume: 39 trillion gallons
- Surface Water Temp: 68 degrees F (max), 41 degrees F (min)
Our South Lake Tahoe Picks
Here are a few of our favorite places around South Shore - where we take our friends & family.
Top 5 Reasons to Go To Lake Tahoe
- The Lake - Blue, deep, and alpine pure, Lake Tahoe offers breathtaking views as well as fun water activities and scenic cruises.
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The Sun - It is sunny in Lake Tahoe 75% of the year, or 274 days.
Check out the 5-day forecast for Sierra-at-Tahoe® Resort. -
Snow, Snow, Snow - At lake level, annual snowfall averages 125 inches. At alpine skiing elevations, the snowfall averages 300-500 inches each year making for spectacular skiing and snowboarding!
Check out the snow conditions at Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort. -
The Great Outdoors - A ring of national forests, recreation areas, and miles of trails make Lake Tahoe a nature lover's paradise year round.
- Gaming & Nightlife - Put on your dancing shoes, grab a lucky penny and check out Lake Tahoe's hotspots for twenty-four hour gaming, cabaret shows, live music & dancing.
Lake Tahoe named as the No. 1 Ski Destination by the Orbitz Insider Ski Index for the second straight year!
Lake Tahoe won TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice awards in the following categories:
- Top 100 World Destinations
- Top 25 United States Destinations
To get to Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort, you can fly into the Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO - 75 miles), or the Sacramento (SMF - 98 miles), Oakland (OAK - 175 miles), or San Francisco (SFO - 181 miles) airports.
Fly Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air to Reno/Tahoe and receive $20 off an all day adult lift ticket at Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort when you show your boarding pass at the ticket window! (Valid any day during the 2012-13 winter season, excluding December 26-December 31, 2012; January 19-20, 2013 and February 16-17, 2013. Must show boarding pass and photo I.D. Boarding pass is valid within two weeks of flight date. Not valid with other promotions. Offer ends closing day of the 2012-13 winter season.
Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) - 75 miles
Located about an hour from the largest concentration of world-class skiing in North America, Reno-Tahoe International Airport offers over 140 daily flights to and from 15 non-stop destinations and 31 same plane, one-stop destinations.
Non-Stop Destinations: Boise, Chicago/Midway (MDW), Chicago/O'Hare (ORD), Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle.
Same Plane One-Stop Destinations: Albuquerque, Austin, Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Boston, Buffalo, Burbank , Calgary, Cleveland, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Grand Junction, Honolulu, Houston/Hobby (HOU), Indianapolis, Kansas City, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Orleans, Newark, New York (JFK), Omaha, Ontario, Orange County, Orlando, San Antonio, Spokane, St. Louis, Tucson and Tulsa.
Airlines That Provide Service To & From Reno
- Alaska Airlines: 1.800.252.7522
- American Airlines: 1.800.433.7300
- Horizon Air: 1.800.547.9308
- Delta Airlines: 1.800.221.1212
- Southwest Airlines: 1.800.I.FLY.SWA® (1.800.435.9792)
- United Airlines: 1.800.UNITED.1 (1.800.864.8331)
- US Airways: 1.800.428.4322
Drive up to Sierra Resort often? Check out the Preferred Parking Season Pass; please call 530.659.7453 x208 for more information.
Save some gas, carbon emissions and money by carpooling to Sierra or sharing a ride! Don't forget to calculate your carbon footprint before heading up or offset your carbon emissions with a SkiGreen Tag.
- Check the most current road conditions.
From San Francisco
- Approximate drive time 2.5 - 3.5 hours
- Take I-80E east into Sacramento
- Continue on US-50 E toward Sacramento/South Lake Tahoe
- Bear right at US-50
- Turn right at Sierra-at-Tahoe Rd
From Sacramento
- Approximate Drive Time 1.5 hours
- Take the I-80-BR E ramp to Reno/Placerville/Fresno (CA-99 S)
- Merge into US-50 E
- Bear right at US-50
- Turn right at Sierra-at-Tahoe Rd
From South Lake Tahoe
- Approximate Drive Time 15 - 30 minutes
- Head west on Emerald Bay Rd/US-50/HWY 89 toward Sacramento
- Continue on US-50 over Echo Summit
- Turn left at Sierra-at-Tahoe Rd
From Reno
- Approximate Drive Time 1.5 - 1.75 Hours
- Take the US-395 S ramp to Carson City
- Continue through Carson City
- Take Exit 38 for Fairview Dr
- Turn Right onto Fairview Dr
- Turn Left onto S Carson St/US-50/US-395
- Turn right to take the US-50 exit to South Lake Tahoe
- US-50 becomes Lake Tahoe Blvd
- Turn left at Emerald Bay Rd/US-50/HWY 89
- Continue on US-50 over Echo Summit
- Turn left at Sierra-at-Tahoe Rd
Zimride: Share a Ride to the Slopes
Zimride is a simple way to find friends, classmates and coworkers who are headed to Sierra Resort. Combining social networks and Zimride's proprietary route-matching algorithm, they makeit easy to share the seats in your car or catch a ride. Catch a ride to Sierra Resort and create social, sustainable and convenient transportation.
Get Social and Start Ridesharing. www.zimride.com/sierra-at-tahoe
Drive up to Sierra Resort often? Check out the Preferred Parking Season Pass. Please call 530.659.7453 x208 for more information or to purchase.
FREE South Shore Shuttle
"Hub" and go with the complimentary South Shore Shuttle providing a comfortable and convenient alternative to driving from South Lake Tahoe.
Please note, 2012-13 shuttle services end March 31, 2013.
Shuttle Bus Info: 530.659.7453
Bay Area Ski Bus
Bay Area Ski Bus is the premier shuttle-bus service from the San Francisco Bay and Stockton areas since 1996! Trips are open to the public and private groups. Sleep in the am, breakfast when you wake up, grab your ticket as you exit, ski or ride all day, return to the bus for the ares ski party, then watch movies on the way home! Pure convenience and fun! With over 1500 bus trips under their belt, they have it dialed.
Enjoy all that's involved with basb's service to the slopes:
- Sleep in our luxury bus seats on the way
- Wake up to continental breakfast
- Grab your lift ticket and a Red Bull before heading for shredding
- Enjoy complimentary snacks, hot drinks and wine during the apres-ski at the buses
- Uunwind on the way back with movies, trivia, or just more sleep!
Enjoy all this and more for not much more than a lift ticket. Please call 925.680.4386 or visit www.bayareaskibus.com for pricing and dates!
North American Charter Ski
North American Charter Ski is offering ski bus trips from South Bay, Mid-peninsular, San Francisco and East Bay on multiple weekends throughout the season. Besides discounted lift tickets, you can also book various rentals, beginners package, group lessons, etc. Please visit www.nacski.com/sierra to reserve your seat. Please email info@nacski.com or visit www.nacski.com/sierra for more information.
Attention College Students! - NAC SKI offers campus pickups from the below locations. Get out of bed, hop on the bus!
- UC Berkeley
- US Davis
- Sac State University
- SF State University
Santa Rosa Ski and Sports
Ride with Santa Rosa Ski and Sports on one of their many premiere shuttle bus trips serving the Greater North Bay and Wine Country for 25+ yrs. Join scheduled public trip dates or book a private excursion for your group throughout the season. Take a nap on the way up, wake to your choice of multiple breakfast options, upon arrival enjoy the multiple amenities Sierra-at-Tahoe has to offer, rendezvous back at the shuttle for movies, trivia, prizes/giveaways before touching back down in Santa Rosa. To sign up, please call Santa Rosa Ski and Sports at 707.578.4754 or stop by 1125 W. Steele Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Scheduled dates and rates can also be found at www.santarosaskiandsports.com/SierraAtTahoe.
Tahoe Snow And Sun Tours
TSAST is a South Lake Tahoe based company specializing in planning and hosting bus trips from the Bay Area. They offer affordable pay-by-seat trips to Sierra-at-Tahoe. Private groups can also take advantage of their well-organized all-inclusive trips. What makes them different? TSAST is family owned and operated by Tahoe locals committed to providing unmatched customer service, resort guidance and end of day cookouts at the bus. Day trips depart from San Jose, San Francisco and Berkeley. Details and dates are available at www.tahoesnowandsun.com/sierra or call 530.318.8821
SkiMela
SkiMela is your one-stop shop for all your skiing / snowboarding trips and to build your own Skiing / Snowboarding Package, which includes discounted lift tickets, round-trip transportation, meals, ski equipment rental (optional) and ski / snowboarding lessons (optional). The all-inclusive ski & snowboard packages offer affordability enhanced through Early Bird discounts and a rewards program which awards you reward points each time you book with us. Promotions like prizes and giveaways provide additional value to consumers who are promised high-quality service and customer satisfaction. Visit www.SkiMela.com or call 866-473-4821.
Quality Assurance Travel
When it comes to bus charters and ski bus charters and ski bus trips in particular, Bay Area passengers and groups turn to the very best. Welcome to Quality Assurance Travel - your Bay Area ski charter bus and bus rental choice. Known for our reliability, unwavering commitment to safety, charter bus fleet with options to match your ski charter needs and our deep knowledge of the Bay Area and beyond, we are family-owned and -operated and, when it comes to ski bus trips, we know Tahoe! Book your group with a minimum of 20 passengers or take advantage of our single rider day trips, visit us today at www.skibusride.com or call 408.885.1040.
Ski Trip Bus
Ski Trip Bus is a social travel company that organizes trips to ski resorts and mountains to Sierra-at-Tahoe. Join a trip from our current list of departure cities or organize a trip with your friends using the Ski Trip Bus digital reservation system and view the status of your trip online. Each bus requires a minimum of 25 reservations to confirm the trip, so help us spread the word by promoting your trip on Facebook and Twitter. Purchase lift-tickets and other services on their site at discounted group rates for the fun, safe and green way to get to the mountains! Please visit http://sierraattahoe.skitripbus.com for more info!
Silverado Stages, Inc.
Silverado Stages, Inc. has been in business 20 years. It is the largest, privately held motor coach company with over 75 motor coaches. Saturday departures from Sacramento leave at 7:00 a.m. from Sports Authority in Natomas, then leave Sierra Resort to head back to Sacramento at 5:00 p.m.
Book now at www.skibusexpress.com or call 916.564.8455.
