5 Closest Airports to Lake Tahoe (Tips and Planning Options)

Lake Tahoe is a really popular vacation destination for people from all over the world. The lake sits half in Nevada and half (well, a little more than half, truth be told) in California. Lake Tahoe is easily accessible by air, even though you can’t land directly ‘in’ Lake Tahoe.

Here are the airports that are the closest and most convenient for reaching Lake Tahoe.

Map of the Closest Airports to Lake Tahoe

Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO)

aerial view of reno-tahoe international airport Image from Flickr by Ken Lund

The closest and most popular airport to fly into for Lake Tahoe is Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) in Reno, Nevada. This airport is less than 60 miles (and therefore less than an hour’s drive) from Lake Tahoe. The airport offers a variety of airlines and direct flights from major cities across the United States.

Though not every state has flights directly to Reno. Still, if you ask me, this is the airport that’s the best one to choose in order to have a quick, easy and beautiful drive down to Lake Tahoe. Even if it means two flights (and a layover) to get to Reno.

In addition to having the shortest driving distance to Tahoe, you’re also flying into a smaller airport when you land in Reno. So it’s not as insane when it comes to picking up your rental car. And you’ll obviously need to plan for a car rental in order to road trip around Tahoe!

All of the major car rental companies at Reno-Tahoe International Airport are housed in one building right at the airport. So it’s easy and much more convenient to stroll over and grab your car without needing to wait for any shuttle buses that take you to an off-site location.

Road Trip Routes

Once you’ve picked up your rental car and are ready to drive down to Lake Tahoe, Shaka Guide offers not one, but two awesome road trip routes to choose from to get down to Tahoe. And each of these routes meanders through the scenic Sierra Nevada mountains along the way. The difference is that one route is more direct.

Mount Rose

The Mount Rose route offers a direct 45-minute journey, crossing the breathtaking Mount Rose pass at 8,260 feet elevation. Enjoy stunning views of the mountains and the lake as you make your way to Incline Village. Located at the north end of Lake Tahoe.

Virginia City

The other Shaka Guide route from Reno to Tahoe takes you through the back-in-time, historic silver-mining town of Virginia City. The route also introduces Nevada’s state capital — the adorable historic district of Carson City.

This route takes closer to an hour to drive, but you see more landmarks along the way. You’d reach Lake Tahoe near Cave Rock and Zephyr Cove, near the south side of the lake.

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Overnight Stay

If you’re arriving at Reno Tahoe airport later in the day and want to stay overnight in Reno in order to get a fresh start the next morning on your road trip to (and around) Lake Tahoe (which I’d highly suggest).

I’d recommend picking up your rental car upon landing. Then heading to my favorite hotel in Reno: Aloft Reno-Tahoe International Airport (by Marriott).

And before you ask — I did not get paid or gifted a free room in order to say that. I’m simply looking out for you (read on to find out what I mean…)

You can also return your car rental in Reno once you finish at Lake Tahoe. After that, stay overnight at Aloft if you need a place to crash before heading back to the airport for your flight.

Free Shuttle Service

So if you’re going to stay at Aloft either before or after your road trip to Lake Tahoe, Aloft will shuttle you. It is free of charge, back and forth from the airport to their hotel in Reno.

This is a very clean, beautiful, super cool and modern hotel with fun, quirky art and a pool, where you’ll be safe and comfortable. You can get a good night’s sleep and then leave first thing in the morning to begin your road trip around Tahoe.

Warning about choosing hotels in Reno

I will also warn you that if you’re thinking about staying at a hotel or motel in Reno that’s not the Aloft or one of the major resort casinos, be very, very (did I mention very?) careful in trying to save a few bucks.

I once went for the cheapest, closest ‘hotel’ that was a brand name and it was actually completely run down, unsafe, unsanitary and in a dangerous area of the city. (And yes, I wrote a review to warn others of this horrific tragedy of a hotel.) Online photos, descriptions and reviews of even brand-name hotels aren’t always what they seem. Buyer beware.

By the way, if you’re flying into and out of Reno and find yourself with some time on your hands to explore Reno, there’s gambling (obviously), or, take an outdoor stroll along Reno’s Riverwalk! You can begin at the City Plaza and walk west, following the Truckee River. (Don’t get confused — Reno isn’t actually all that close to Truckee — it’s just the path the river takes!)

Riverwalk and its attractions

The Riverwalk is dotted with walkers and you’ll pass dog-friendly parks. If you were to walk the entire Riverwalk all the way to the outer edge of Idlewild Park, that’s about two miles. (And then another two miles back.) You’ll also find a few public sculptures in City Plaza.

Plus, further west along Riverwalk, you’ll find the Rotary Club Sculpture Garden at Bicentennial Park. You can also find and pose under the iconic Reno Arch that says “Biggest Little City in the World,” at the intersection of Virginia Street and Commercial Row.

reno arch Image from Flickr by Ken Lund

Returning to Lake Tahoe

Now if you really wanna live it up and load up on Nevada fun, you could — either on your way to Reno Tahoe or on your way back — fly to Vegas! (There are super short, super cheap flights from Vegas to Reno).

Then you could take a day or two for Shaka Guide’s road trip tours of Red Rock Canyon in Vegas, and Hoover Dam/Lake Mead National Recreation Area! But, alas, I stray. So let’s get back to Lake Tahoe.

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Sacramento International Airport (SMF)

aerial view of an airport in sacramento Image from Flickr by Dave

The second most popular airport option when heading to Lake Tahoe would be Sacramento International Airport (SMF) in Sacramento, California. This airport is approximately 120 miles from Lake Tahoe.

It offers a variety of airlines and some direct flights from major cities across the United States. This is still not the largest of airports, so you might not get a direct flight here, either, but some say the prices for flights and rental cars are sometimes less than Reno.

To drive from Sacramento to Lake Tahoe, there are two different routes you can take. Luckily, Shaka guide also offers road tripping tours along both of these routes! You are, however, looking at a drive of two to three hours to reach Tahoe from Sacramento along either route.

The drive that would bring you from Sacramento to the north side of Lake Tahoe (Kings Beach) would take you along Interstate 80 (over Donner Pass). The other route from Sacramento would take you along Highway 50 to South Lake Tahoe.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

The third most popular airport option when heading to Lake Tahoe would be San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Located in San Francisco, California, this is the closest major airport to tahoe.

All of the other airports mentioned in this article are smaller-scale airports. So if you’re looking for a direct flight without having to change planes along the way, you’d have a much better chance of finding one that lands at this airport. But, then you’d face a longer drive to Tahoe. (Car rentals seem to often be cheaper from this airport, if that’s a factor for you.) San Francisco Int’l Airport is approximately 210 miles from Lake Tahoe.

It offers a variety of airlines and direct flights from major cities across the United States and around the world. The drive to Lake Tahoe from here is over three-and-a-half hours. You’re basically driving to Sacramento (see the description above in the Sacramento section) and then on to Tahoe along the same routes I mentioned from Sacramento.

Oakland International Airport (OAK)

upper view of oakland international airport

The fourth most popular airport option when heading to Lake Tahoe would be Oakland International Airport (OAK) in Oakland, California. This airport is quieter and less hectic than San Francisco, but it’s still approximately 200 miles from Lake Tahoe.

It offers a variety of airlines and direct flights from some major cities across the United States and around the world. It’s basically — again — the same route that you’d take from Sacramento to reach Lake Tahoe. But you’d have to drive to Sacramento first…and then over to Lake Tahoe which is about three-and-a-half hours, just like from San Francisco.

Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH)

The final option for airports that I’ll mention is slightly outside the box. But if you have a week or longer for vacation and want to hit up Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe, you could fly into (or out of, on your way back from Tahoe) Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) in Mammoth Lakes, California.

This airport is approximately 266 miles from Lake Tahoe. The trip would take you about five hours to drive to South Lake Tahoe. The airport offers a variety of airlines and direct flights from major cities across the United States.

However, it’s important to note that the route from Yosemite to Tahoe is only possible in summer and fall when Tioga pass (the mountain pass) is open.

Explore with Shaka Guide

Shaka Guide doesn’t offer a road trip tour along the route to and from Tahoe to Yosemite. But check out this article on how to road trip between both locations, and what to see along the way.

And, once you’re in Tahoe and/or Yosemite, be sure and use the Shaka Guide tour apps to navigate each of those awesome places!

Now, go ahead and book that vacation to beautiful Lake Tahoe, and get ready to make some lifelong memories!

We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at aloha@shakaguide.com.

For more detailed information to help you plan, check out our Lake Tahoe Itinerary and Know Before You Go.

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airplane on sunset