There are 6 ways to get from Palo Alto to South Lake Tahoe by bus, train, car, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus
best- Take the bus from San Jose Park and Ride to Heavenly Valley Ski Lodgebus Heavenly Ski Lodge
6h 8m$136–143Drive 199.8 mi
cheapest- Drive from Palo Alto to South Lake Tahoecar 199.8 mi
4h 16m$37–53Train, bus
- Take the train from Santa Clara Amtrak to Sacramentotrain Capitol Corridor
- Take the bus from Sacramento - Amtrak to South Lake Tahoe Wyebus Sac/SLT Connecting Bus
8h 13m$47–103Fly San Francisco International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport, bus
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO)plane SFO - RNO
- Take the bus from Reno-Tahoe International Airport to Margaritavillebus
5h 55m$246–524Fly Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport, bus
- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO)plane SJC - RNO
- Take the bus from Reno-Tahoe International Airport to Margaritavillebus
5h 45m$400–595Fly San Francisco International Airport to Sacramento International Airport, bus
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Sacramento International Airport (SMF)plane SFO - SMF
- Take the bus from Sacramento - Amtrak to South Lake Tahoe Wyebus
7h 5m$448–779
Palo Alto to South Lake Tahoe by train and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Palo Alto to South Lake Tahoe is to drive which costs $35 - $55 and takes 4h 16m.
The fastest way to get from Palo Alto to South Lake Tahoe is to drive which takes 4h 16m and costs $35 - $55.
No, there is no direct bus from Palo Alto to South Lake Tahoe. However, there are services departing from San Jose Park and Ride and arriving at Heavenly Valley Ski Lodge via . The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 6h 8m.
The distance between Palo Alto and South Lake Tahoe is 270 miles. The road distance is 201 miles.
The best way to get from Palo Alto to South Lake Tahoe without a car is to bus which takes 6h 8m and costs $135 - $145.
It takes approximately 6h 8m to get from Palo Alto to South Lake Tahoe, including transfers.
Palo Alto to South Lake Tahoe bus services, operated by Tahoe Ski Trips, depart from San Jose Park and Ride station.
Palo Alto to South Lake Tahoe bus services, operated by Tahoe Ski Trips, arrive at Heavenly Valley Ski Lodge station.
Yes, the driving distance between Palo Alto to South Lake Tahoe is 201 miles. It takes approximately 4h 16m to drive from Palo Alto to South Lake Tahoe.
There are 638+ hotels available in South Lake Tahoe.
What companies run services between Palo Alto, CA, USA and South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA?
Tahoe Ski Trips operates a bus from San Jose Park and Ride to Heavenly Valley Ski Lodge on demand. Tickets cost $104 and the journey takes 5h.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–250
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Sacramento International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 1m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–240
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 2m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $35–280
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Santa Clara Amtrak to Sacramento
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 8m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $40–90
- Website
- Amtrak
- 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
- 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
- Phone
- +1 866-898-2463
- Website
- southtahoeairporter.com
Bus from Reno-Tahoe International Airport to Margaritaville
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 36m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $31–33
- Schedules at
- southtahoeairporter.com
- Adult
- $31–33
- Local
- $29
- Child (4-12)
- $20
Bus from Reno-Tahoe International Airport to Margaritaville
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 36m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $31–33
- Schedules at
- southtahoeairporter.com
- Adult
- $31–33
- Local
- $29
- Child (4-12)
- $20
Want to know more about travelling around United States
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the US: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide





