Nearest Airports to Lake Tahoe [Best Ways to Lake Tahoe] (2023)

If you're looking for the closest airport to Lake Tahoe, you're probably looking forward to seeing the beautiful crystal clear lake or want to get to the ski slopes as quickly as possible.

The quickest way to get to Lake Tahoe is to fly into Reno-Tahoe International Airport and rent a car for the 45-minute drive to the northern portion of the lake.

There are several airports near Lake Tahoe to choose from such as:San Francisco International(SFO),Sacramento International(SMF),Oakland International(OAK) andReno-Tahoe Internationalas the closest airport to Lake Tahoe.

This guide will help you choose the best airport for Lake Tahoe and will cover the options available to get from the airport to the lake.

Now, check out these options for the closest major airports to Lake Tahoe and see which one best suits your travel needs.

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The closest airports to Lake Tahoe

There are several airports to choose from when visiting Lake Tahoe, depending on where you are flying from and how much travel time you are comfortable with.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO)is the closest airport to Lake Tahoe, with only a 45 minute drive to North Lake in clear conditions.

This 34-mile ride takes you on a scenic drive over Mount Rose Pass at an elevation of 8260 feet.

Conditions can be very snowy in the winter months and you may need a 4WD vehicle with winter tires or you may need to wear chains. The other option is to take Highway 80 to Kings Beach, but that's a longer drive.

The second closest airport to Lake Tahoe is theSacramento International Airport (SMF) that is 2 hours and 120 miles from the lake.

If you drive, you have two options to get to the lake. The first is Highway 50, which takes you straight to South Lake Tahoe, and the second option is Highway 80, which takes you north to Tahoe City and Kings Beach.

If you're traveling from international destinations or flying overland, the closest major airport is to Lake TahoeSan Francisco International Airport (SFO).

This leaves you 3 hours and 40 minutes and 210 miles from San Francisco by car.

Oakland International Airport (OAK)is another international airport closest to Lake Tahoe. This is a good option for flights within the United States as fares to this airport can be really good from some destinations.

Oakland is a slightly shorter drive at 3.5 hours than San Francisco Airport which is almost the same distance of 200 miles for the drive.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO)

• Distance to North Lake Tahoe:34 km
• Driving time to North Lake Tahoe:45 minutes
• W-lan: Frei
• Transportation options to Lake Tahoe:Rental car, ridesharing (Uber/Lyft), taxi, shuttle service

When you fly to Lake Tahoe, you surely want to get to your lodging and onward to enjoying this alpine lake and surrounding recreational opportunities as quickly as possible.

Flying into Reno Airport is the quickest and shortest option as you can be at the lake in less than an hour after landing.

Non-stop flights to Reno-Tahoe Airport in California

Non-stop flights to Reno-Tahoe Airport outside of California

How do I get from Reno Airport (RNO) to Lake Tahoe?

There are several ways to get to Lake Tahoe from the Reno Airport, from a pre-booked shuttle service to ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft.

The price varies greatly depending on where you stay on this vast lake. Trips to South Lake Tahoe will cost you more than the shorter trip to the northern areas.

You can also rent a car if you want flexibility to explore the area and circle the lake.

Rent a car at RNO

There are several car rental companies at Reno Airport (RNO) located in the terminal. If you rent a car in winter, be sure to get four-wheel drive.

• Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National Car, Payless Car, Thrifty

Find your rental car atMietwagen.comto get the best prices.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) or Taxi from Reno Airport to Lake Tahoe

• Estimated costs:$83-84 for Standard and $140-141 for XL
• travel time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• meeting point: For Uber/Lyft, follow the signs outside the D doors, north of Baggage Claim and look for the ridesharing shelter. For taxis, the waiting area is just outside the D doors, north of baggage claim.

Shuttle from Reno Airport to Lake Tahoe

• Estimated costs:$32 bis $150
• travel time: 1 Std. 30 Min

One of the best ways to get to Lake Tahoe from the Reno Airport is to book a shuttle. There are two companies available depending on which side of the lake you are on.

Nord-Lake-Tahoe-Express

• Estimated costs:$150/person one-way, $50/person for five shared one-way trips when traveling with a group
• Schedule & Route

South Tahoe Airporter

• Estimated costs:Adult single fare $32.75, round trip $59.50
• Schedule & Route

Related:How to Adapt to Lake Tahoe's Elevation

Sacramento International Airport (SMF)

• Distance to Lake Tahoe:119 miles
• Driving time to Lake Tahoe:2 Std. 9 Min
• W-lan: Frei
• Transportation options to Lake Tahoe:Rental car, bus, train
• airlines: American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Frontier, Hawaiian Airlines, Horizon, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit

If you plan to visit places other than Lake Tahoe on your trip,Sacramento Airportis a great jumping off point to most Northern California destinations.

This airport is right in the middle of Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Yosemite, Mount Shasta and more.

The drive from Sacramento Airport to Lake Tahoe takes about 2 hours and flights here are usually a hair cheaper than Reno Airport.

Another benefit of flying into Sacramento International Airport is that since Reno is higher up, your flight is less likely to be delayed or canceled during storms.

How do I get from Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Lake Tahoe?

There are several intricate ways to get to Lake Tahoe from Sacramento Airport, but the best option is to rent a car.

This is the quickest and most direct option available, in addition to requiring transportation once you arrive.

If you can't drive or don't want to rent a car, there are other options that will take longer but get you to the lake safely.

Rent a car from SMF

The best option to get to Lake Tahoe from Sacramento Airport is to rent a car. Driving to Lake Tahoe from Sacramento Airport takes just over 2 hours and there are several rental car companies to choose from:

• Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, EZ, Hertz, National, Payless, Thrifty, Zipcar

Find your rental car atMietwagen.comto get the best prices.

Bus from Sacramento Airport to Lake Tahoe

• Estimated costs:Uber/Lyft ($18-$30), Bus ($34)
• travel time:2,5 Std
• Suggested route:Uber/Lyft ab Sacramento Airport > Sacramento Amtrak Train Station or Greyhound Bus Station
• bus company:Greyhound,Eldorado-Transit

If you don't want to drive to Lake Tahoe by rental car, you can also take the bus.

For this route, the bus does not depart directly from the airport, but rather from the Sacramento Valley Station (Amtrak), which is a 15-minute cab/Uber ride away, or the Greyhound bus stop on Richards Blvd.

The bus that departs from the Amtrak station takes you to South Lake and departs only once a day at 10:00 am. If this does not match your arrival time, you may need to spend the night in Sacramento and travel the next day.

Greyhound has two trips to Truckee, one in the morning and one in the evening. From the bus station you can take an Uber/Lyft or hop on the busRegional transit in the Tahoe Truckee area(TART) Bus to the north coast.

From Sacramento to Lake Tahoe by train

• Estimated costs:Uber/Lyft (18-30 $), Amtrak-Zug (~$55-$70), Uber/Lyft
• travel time:3,5 Std
• Suggested route:Uber/Lyft from Sacramento Airport > Sacramento Amtrak Station > Train to Truckee/Reno > Uber/Lyft to Lake Tahoe

Another way to travel from Sacramento Airport is by train. This option requires you to take a 15 minute taxi/Uber from the airport to the Sacramento Amtrak station.

Depending on which side of the lake you are going to, you should get off in Reno at the South Shore and Truckee station if you are staying on the North Shore.

The trains that depart to both stations do not depart until 11:00 every day. So keep that in mind when planning your arrival time.

From the Truckee/Reno Amtrak station, you will then need to take a taxi/Uber to get to the lake.

CONTINUE READING: Read thisdetailed instructionsTop ways to get from Sacramento to Lake Tahoe without a car.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

• Distance to Lake Tahoe:204 mi
• Driving time to Lake Tahoe:3 Std. 40 Min
• W-lan: Frei
• Transportation options to Lake Tahoe:rental car, bus,Ski bus, train, plane

If you are flying in from international destinations,San Francisco InternationalThe airport will most likely be your final destination.

This might also be the best airport for Lake Tahoe if you're looking for the cheapest flight, as major hub airports have cheaper fares.

When flying into San Francisco, you have a few options for getting to Lake Tahoe, with a rental car being the quickest and best option.

The drive from San Francisco Airport to Lake Tahoe takes approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes, depending on traffic.

If you come by public transport you can take itGreyhoundbus, but you have to bring yourself to itBus stopin downtown SF and then Truckee to the lake.

The second option is to take itAmtrakTrain that includes a BART ride to the Richmond station and then a transfer to the Amtrak train to Truckee.

These are more sophisticated options but cheaper overall than car rental.

CONTINUE READING: If you want to take a fun road trip from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe,Check out this article.

Oakland International Airport (OAK)

• Distance to Lake Tahoe:197 mi
• Driving time to Lake Tahoe:3,5 Std
• W-lan: Frei
• Transportation options to Lake Tahoe:Rental car, bus, train, plane

Oakland Internationalhas flights just as cheap as SFO, but the airport is quieter and much less hectic.

Renting a car is the most convenient way to travel to Lake Tahoe as there are several car rental companies to choose from.

Driving time from Oakland Airport to Lake Tahoe is approximately 3.5 hours, which can vary depending on traffic.

If driving is not an option, you can take the 5-hour bus ride (Greyhound) to Truckee, then take a 15 minute Uber/Lyft or DieRegional transit in the Tahoe Truckee area(TART) to the north coast.

Another option is to travel by train (Amtrak), which departs once a day and will drop you off in South Lake in about the same time as the bus.

Is there an airport in Lake Tahoe?

The closest airport to Lake Tahoe is Reno-Tahoe International Airport, which is 34 miles from Lake Tahoe and takes about 45 minutes by car. Lake Tahoe Airport does not operate commercial flights, so the nearest airport is in Reno.

Lake Tahoe Fast Facts

Best travel time:Spring and fall are the best times to visit if you want to avoid the crowds. Winter is best for snow sports, while summer is best for great weather but also the busiest.

Where to sleep: The most conveniently located hotel in South Lake Tahoe is thisBasecamp-Hotel and theHyatt Regency Resort & Spa north of Lake Tahoe.

Get there:The closest airport to Lake Tahoe is Reno-Tahoe International which is 35 miles away. Use for the best flight dealsHimmelsscannerto browse different airlines and prices.

Cumin:The best way to explore Lake Tahoe is by car. Use Mietwagen.comto get the best car rental deals.

Best Self-Guided Tour:DiesAudio tourby GyPSy Guide provides engaging commentary to make your trip more fun and interesting at such an incredible price!

Summary: The closest airports to Lake Tahoe

If you're visiting this epic alpine destination for the first time or looking to save time by flying, you need to know which airport is closest to Lake Tahoe.

The best and closest airport to Lake Tahoe is Reno-Tahoe International Airport, which is literally right over the ridge of the lake and is an easy and beautiful drive or drive to the lake. How you get there is up to you.

If you decide to fly into one of the more distant airports in the area, you might save a few bucks and make the trip to Lake Tahoe part of the adventure.

You can even make a few stops along the way. Book your tickets now and get ready for an amazing trip to Lake Tahoe.

Heading to Lake Tahoe? Check out these articles:

• The best beaches in South Lake Tahoe
• Dog-friendly beaches in Lake Tahoe
• Fun facts about Lake Tahoe
• The best breweries in Lake Tahoe
• Lake Tahoe Lakefront Hotels
• Lake Tahoe Cabins with Hot Tubs