There are 5 ways to get from Palm Desert to South Lake Tahoe by plane, bus, bus (Flixbus, Greyhound, Amtrak), train, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly, bus
best- Fly from Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) to Sacramento International Airport (SMF)plane PSP - SMF
- Take the bus from Sacramento - Amtrak to South Lake Tahoe Wyebus
6h 14m$111–447Bus via Sacramento
cheapest- Take the bus from Indio Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Station Arrivalsbus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Lodi Bus Stopbus
- Take the bus from Lodi Amtrak Station to Sacramentobus
- Take the bus from Sacramento - Amtrak to South Lake Tahoe Wyebus
18h 48m$84–170Bus, train
- Take the bus from Palm Desert Amtrak Bus Stop to Fullerton Amtrak Stationbus
- Take the train from Los Angeles to Sacramentotrain
- Take the bus from Sacramento - Amtrak to South Lake Tahoe Wyebus
23h 7m$214–432Drive 491.5 mi
- Drive from Palm Desert to South Lake Tahoecar 491.5 mi
9h 3m$90–130Bus
- Take the bus from Indio Bus Station to 612 Wall St - Los Angelesbus
- Take the bus from Downtown Los Angeles to San Jose - King Rd Pink Elephantbus
- Take the bus from San Jose Park and Ride to Heavenly Valley Ski Lodgebus
21h 32m$260–310
Palm Desert to South Lake Tahoe by bus and foot
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Palm Desert to South Lake Tahoe is to drive which costs $85 - $130 and takes 9h 3m.
The fastest way to get from Palm Desert to South Lake Tahoe is to fly and bus which takes 6h 14m and costs $110 - $450.
No, there is no direct bus from Palm Desert to South Lake Tahoe. However, there are services departing from Hwy 111 at San Luis Rey and arriving at US 50/ Carson Ave via Indio Bus Station, Los Angeles Union Station, Lodi Amtrak Station, Sacramento - Amtrak and South Y Transit Center. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 18h 48m.
The distance between Palm Desert and South Lake Tahoe is 569 miles. The road distance is 494.3 miles.
The best way to get from Palm Desert to South Lake Tahoe without a car is to bus via Sacramento which takes 18h 48m and costs $80 - $170.
It takes approximately 6h 14m to get from Palm Desert to South Lake Tahoe, including transfers.
Palm Desert to South Lake Tahoe bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from Indio Bus Station.
Palm Desert to South Lake Tahoe bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Los Angeles Union Station Arrivals.
Yes, the driving distance between Palm Desert to South Lake Tahoe is 494 miles. It takes approximately 9h 3m to drive from Palm Desert to South Lake Tahoe.
There are 638+ hotels available in South Lake Tahoe.
What companies run services between Palm Desert, CA, USA and South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA?
You can take a bus from Hwy 111 at San Luis Rey to US 50/ Carson Ave via Hwy 111 & Golf Center Pkwy, Indio Bus Station, Los Angeles Union Station Arrivals, Los Angeles Union Station, Lodi Amtrak Station, Sacramento, Sacramento - Amtrak, and South Y Transit Center in around 18h 48m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Palm Springs International Airport to Sacramento International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–380
Flights from Palm Springs International Airport to Sacramento International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Tuesday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $70–410
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Palm Springs International Airport to Sacramento International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 37m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $65–390
Flights from Palm Springs International Airport to Sacramento International Airport via San Francisco
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 39m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $65–390
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Los Angeles to Sacramento
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 58m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $170–360
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 530 642 5383
- Website
- El Dorado Transit
Bus from Sacramento - Amtrak to South Lake Tahoe Wye
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $1–5
- Website
- El Dorado Transit
Bus from Sacramento - Amtrak to South Lake Tahoe Wye
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $1–5
- Website
- El Dorado Transit
Bus from Sacramento - Amtrak to South Lake Tahoe Wye
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $1–5
- Website
- El Dorado Transit
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Indio Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Station Arrivals
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 19m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $19–35
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Lodi Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $50–110
- Website
- Greyhound
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Lodi Amtrak Station to Sacramento
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $12–17
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Palm Desert Amtrak Bus Stop to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 800-923-1799
- [email protected]
- Website
- Omnibus Express
Bus from Indio Bus Station to 612 Wall St - Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $50–65
- Schedules at
- Omnibus Express
- Phone
- +1 833 766 3553
- Website
- Tufesa
Bus from Downtown Los Angeles to San Jose - King Rd Pink Elephant
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 10m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $75–100
- Schedules at
- Tufesa
- Adult One way
- $75–100
- Phone
- +1 925-382-8320
- [email protected]
- Website
- Tahoe Ski Trips
Bus from San Jose Park and Ride to Heavenly Valley Ski Lodge
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $104
- Website
- Tahoe Ski Trips
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