Heading to Lake Tahoe This Winter? Officials Ask Skiers To Use “Anything but One Person per Car”
As the ski season gets underway around Lake Tahoe, local officials have a simple request: Use “anything but one person per car.”
In a release, the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Council, which includes groups such as Palisades Tahoe and the California Tahoe Conservancy, noted that the roads around Lake Tahoe are primarily two-lane. That can contribute to serious ski season traffic as people scramble to visit the area’s ample selection of resorts, particularly during storm systems, the weekends, and the holidays.
It’s also given rise to several free-to-the-rider initiatives, from microtransit to shuttle services, aimed at cutting down congestion. “It’s up to all of us—residents and visitors—to plan ahead and continue making use of [these services]. After all, if you’re in traffic, you’re part of the traffic,” said Nettie Pardue, managing director of the Destination Stewardship Council.
The release shared the transportation options skiers, locals, and tourists alike can rely on—other than personal vehicles—when they’re trying to get around the lake.
Keep reading for transportation options around the Lake Tahoe area this winter season. Please consider utilizing one of the many free options to reduce traffic congestion. Lastly, pray for snow!
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North Lake Tahoe to Palisades Tahoe Transportation
Park and Ride: Free shuttle service on weekends through April 12, 2026, park at the Tahoe City Transit Center and take a free shuttle to and from Palisades Tahoe.
TART Connect: Daily on-demand winter service operates throughout the California side of North Lake Tahoe (from Stateline to the West Shore, plus to/from Olympic Valley after 6 p.m.), providing curb-to-curb service for any trip within the defined service area – perfect for short trips or connecting to TART bus stops.
TART Fixed-Route: TART’s hourly Highway 89 route runs along the west shore of Lake Tahoe from Tahoe City to Truckee with additional stops in Olympic Valley. Early morning runs are extended, beginning at Crystal Bay.
Mountaineer: Free, on-demand winter transportation is offered daily in Olympic Valley and Thursday through Monday in Alpine Meadows (plus Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 24-25, Dec. 30-31, 2025, and Feb. 17-18, 2026), and daily between the two valleys.
North Lake Tahoe to Northstar Transportation
TART Connect: Daily on-demand winter service operates throughout the California side of North Lake Tahoe (from Stateline to the West Shore, plus to/from Northstar after 6 p.m.), providing curb-to-curb service for any trip within the defined service area – perfect for short trips or connecting to TART bus stops.
TART Fixed-Route: The hourly Highway 267 Route travels between Crystal Bay and Truckee with additional stops near the Village at Northstar and the Truckee Airport.
Truckee to Palisades Tahoe Transportation
Park and Ride: Free shuttle service on weekends through April 12, 2026, park at the Truckee High School fields/TTUSD parking lot and take a free shuttle to and from Palisades Tahoe.
Truckee to Northstar Transportation
Park and Ride: Free shuttles on weekends through April 12, 2026, are offered to and from Northstar from the Lift Workspace parking lot in Truckee.
TART Connect: In Truckee, daily winter service is offered, and provides curb-to-curb, on-demand service for any trip within the defined service areas. It’s perfect for short trips or connecting to TART bus stops.
TART Fixed-Route: The hourly Highway 267 Route travels between Crystal Bay and Truckee with additional stops near the Village at Northstar and the Truckee Airport.
Truckee to Sugar Bowl/Donner Summit Transportation
Park and Ride: Free daily service is offered between Truckee and Donner Summit through April 12, 2026, when Old 40 is open.
Incline Village to Diamond Peak Transportation
Free Ski Shuttle: Diamond Peak’s free ski shuttle offers convenient access to the resort from a number of locations throughout Incline Village. Morning and mid-day pick-ups are available on weekends and peak periods.
TART Fixed-Route: The hourly TART Mainline Route travels the western shore of Lake Tahoe from Tahoma to the north shore at Incline Village. This route connects to the Diamond Peak free ski shuttle route at the Hyatt.
South Lake Tahoe to Heavenly Transportation
Heavenly Resort Shuttles: Complimentary resort shuttles offer three routes to make getting to the resort’s base areas convenient and stress-free. The California Route connects the California Main Lodge and Heavenly Village. The Kingsbury Route runs from Stateline Transit Center to Boulder and Stagecoach Lodges, and the Lodging Route links major South Lake Tahoe properties with the resort.
Lake Link: Free, on-demand transportation is offered daily in South Lake Tahoe, providing curb-to-curb service for any trip within the defined service area – perfect for short trips or connecting to fixed-route bus stops.
Public Transportation: Offered by the Tahoe Transportation District, fixed-route bus service offered on the South and East shores of Lake Tahoe includes:
- 30-minute service is available along Hwy 50
- Hourly fixed route services along Hwy 50 and into some neighborhoods
- Regional commuter service between South Lake Tahoe and Minden/Gardnerville and Carson City via SR-207
Ground transportation service is also offered from the Reno Tahoe International Airport to South Lake Tahoe via South Tahoe Airporter, and to the North Lake Tahoe and Truckee regions via the North Lake Tahoe Express.
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