Use alternative transportation or carpool if you’re headed to Tahoe to enjoy fresh snow

Published Jan. 8, 2026

With roughly nine feet of snowfall at Tahoe's popular ski resorts over the last two weeks, local officials are encouraging visitors and residents alike to plan ahead and do their part to help reduce traffic congestion throughout the region.

From micro-transit services to park and ride programs , fixed-route bus services, employee vanpools and ski area carpool incentives, there are numerous ways to reduce single-occupancy vehicles on Tahoe's two-lane mountain roads.

Visitors should also be aware of parking reservations and restrictions . Free parking reservations are sold out and paid parking is anticipated to sell out this weekend at Palisades Tahoe. Northstar offers free parking Monday-Friday, but requires reservations on weekends. Preferred paid parking is sold out at Northstar for Saturday, Jan. 10 and anticipated to sell out on Sunday. If you're skiing or riding, have a plan for alternative transportation or carpool with someone in possession of a parking reservation. But note that even carpool vehicles require a reservation on weekends and holidays at both resorts.

North Tahoe residents are urged to complete errands early in the week and arrange plenty of time to reach destinations this weekend to mitigate potential delays.

"We're in close coordination with our ski resorts, the Town of Truckee, local law enforcement and our roads crews to ensure we're doing everything we can to reduce traffic congestion and make this an enjoyable weekend for everyone who lives, works and recreates here," said District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson. "We know delays can happen, but we're working hard to ensure we optimize our resources and work together throughout these busy times."

Regional Transit

The county offers many free transit services, including Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit (TART) and TART Connect. If you have travel plans with family and friends, carpooling is strongly encouraged. The TART bus service is free and runs from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Tahoe City, Truckee, and the north and west shores with a direct stop in Olympic Valley. Expect some route delays due to traffic congestion over the weekend.

TART Connect is an on-demand and door-to-door shuttle service that provides free, app-based ride-share services, ideal for short trips or connecting to TART Bus stops day and night (check app for zones and times):

Zone 1 (including Tahoe City, West Shore and Carnelian Bay) and Zone 2 (including Kings Beach, Brockway, Crystal Bay, Tahoe Vista and Carnelian Bay): 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays with extended hours to midnight every Friday and Saturday night.

Zone 4 (including Olympic Valley as well as zones 1 and 2) and Zone 5 (including Northstar and zones 1 and 2): 6 to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays. Service is extended to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Download the TART Connect app to get started or call (530) 553-0653.

View TART schedules here .

Use Park and Ride

Take advantage of free shuttles from Truckee and Tahoe City to The Village at Palisades Tahoe or to Northstar California every Saturday and Sunday. Shuttles run frequently from 7 a.m. to roughly 5:30 p.m. Learn more about Park & Ride service in North Lake Tahoe here .

Sherwood Shuttle: On weekends, weather and conditions permitting, guests can park at the Sunnyside Resort parking lot on the West Shore and catch a free shuttle directly to the Sherwood Chairlift at Alpine. The first shuttle departs at 8:30 a.m., with the last return at 4:00 p.m. This service offers a direct and scenic route to the slopes, bypassing the main base area congestion.

Mountaineer Shuttle: Enjoy free, on-demand rides within Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows. No need to worry about parking-just request a ride and go! Mountaineer expanded its fleet for this season, making it a seamless and hassle-free way to get around. Download the Mountaineer app and request a ride here .

Click here to find out more about parking reservations and services for Martin Luther King Jr. weekend .

Required Parking Reservations

For skiers and snowboarders, notable resorts require parking reservations prior to planned activities on their respective mountains. At Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Meadows, Reserve 'N Ski, a reservations-based parking plan, is required in all lots for weekends. Parking mid-week is free. Find more details here: www.parkpalisadestahoe.com/parkingbasics

Please do not attempt to park in Palisades Tahoe lots before 1 p.m. without a reservation. Be aware that arriving before 1 p.m. on weekends and holiday periods without a reservation will result in a parking violation. If you currently hold a reservation and had a change of plans, please be considerate and open a space for others.

At Northstar, California, the Village View parking lots offer convenient parking in close proximity to Northstar Village, but guests must make reservations on weekends (Saturday-Sunday) and during peak periods between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. Castle Peak lots open once Village View lots are full. The preferred paid lot is closest to Northstar Village and is a paid lot every day of the week. Learn more about Northstar's parking reservations here .

Winter driving conditions can change rapidly in the Sierra, so be sure to check road conditions regularly at quickmap.dot.ca.gov and monitor weather forecasts frequently.