Non-Stop Flights to Lake Tahoe

When people think of skiing in California, the Lake Tahoe region, one of North America’s top ski destinations, is likely one of the first places to come to mind. It’s the ultimate four-season destination, home to the largest alpine lake in North America, miles of trails, and the highest concentration of ski areas in North America. But while many people drive to Lake Tahoe from San Francisco, it’s actually much quicker and more convenient to fly into nearby Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO). It’s then just an hour, and even less in some cases, to many Lake Tahoe ski resorts. Let our flight guide help as you plan your next ski trip to Lake Tahoe.

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Lake Tahoe Flight Guide

About Lake Tahoe 

Lake Tahoe’s stunning alpine lake straddles two states, California and Nevada. Along its 72 miles of shoreline sits tons of charming towns, including Tahoe City, Kings Beach, and Incline Village, which serve as a great basecamp. Surrounding Lake Tahoe are some of North America’s top ski areas dotting the rolling hills and towering mountains.

The Lake Tahoe region is often separated into two distinct regions — North Lake Tahoe and South Lake Tahoe. The bulk of the ski resorts are located in North Lake Tahoe. This includes Palisades Tahoe, Northstar California, and Sugar Bowl Resort. Palisades Tahoe was famously the site of the first televised Olympics in 1960. Other North Lake Tahoe resorts include Boreal Mountain Resort, Diamond Peak, Donner Ski Ranch, Mt. Rose, Soda Springs, and Tahoe Donner.

South Lake Tahoe is the largest town around Lake Tahoe. This is where you’ll find a more bustling business district with the region’s highest concentration of restaurants, bars, and shopping. You’ll also find a number of casinos nearby in the Nevada town of Stateline. South Lake Tahoe is home to one of California’s largest ski resorts, Heavenly, while Kirkwood and Sierra-at-Tahoe are further away. The closest resort to Reno is Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, which is just 30 minutes from Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

Get to Know the Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO)

Reno-Tahoe International Airport is the second-largest airport in Nevada, next to Harry Reid International in Las Vegas. It completed construction on its first terminal in 1960, just in time for the Winter Olympics in Lake Tahoe. Most of America’s major airlines fly through Reno, including Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, and United. JSX’s hop-on jet service, a unique public charter option, also flies in and out of Reno.

If you plan on driving from the airport to Lake Tahoe, the Reno-Tahoe International Airport offers services from most of the major rental car companies. The ride is about an hour for both North and South Lake Tahoe, depending on traffic. If you’re staying at one of the resorts, and don’t need a car, there are other transportation options, including North Lake Tahoe Express and the South Lake Airporter. The North Lake Tahoe Express offers transportation to and from the airport to 10 different locations in the northern region, including Truckee. Advanced reservations are required. For South Lake Tahoe travelers, the South Lake Airporter offers a van and bus service to six popular hotels in the area. One-way or round-trip service is available to be booked ahead of time. Both transportation options can be found at the end of baggage claim outside of Door D. 

Another option, which is even more convenient for those skiing in Lake Tahoe, is Surf Air. This private charter service flies directly to Truckee. Surf Air is a Los Angeles-based electric aviation and air travel company working to expand the reach of electrified aircraft to reduce the environmental impact and overall cost of traditional flights. They fly travelers from across the country to Truckee Tahoe Airport (TRK).

Non-Stop Flights to Lake Tahoe 

Below you’ll find daily non-stop flights to Lake Tahoe from a number of U.S. metros. Some of these flights are seasonal, while others can change without much notice. We recommend checking with the airline for specific times and availability as you plan your trip.

Need to Know Information 

As you’re planning and packing for your trip, consider how you’ll be traveling with your ski gear. Many airlines, including United, JetBlue and Delta (all of which fly out of RNO), count a ski bag and boot bag as 1 checked item so long as they weigh under 50 lbs. combined. For one less thing to think about, consider shipping your skis or snowboard or renting/demoing from one of the many esteemed shops in the area.

Finally, no matter where you’re flying, we recommend giving yourself some extra time. Winter weather, traffic, and the time to check ski gear and get through security can all be unpredictable.

Header image: ©Palisades Tahoe Resort