There are 4 ways to get from Santa Barbara to Lake Tahoe by car, plane, taxi, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Drive 474.1 mi
best- Drive from Santa Barbara to Sand Harborcar 474.1 mi
9h 21m$81–117Fly from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, taxi
- Fly from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO)plane SBA - RNO
- Take the taxi from Reno-Airport-RNO to Sand Harbor Visitors Centertaxi
5h 46m$176–442Train to Los Angeles International Airport, fly, taxi
- Take the train from Santa Barbara to Los Angelestrain
- Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO)plane LAX - RNO
- Take the taxi from Reno-Airport-RNO to Sand Harbor Visitors Centertaxi
7h 8m$694–960Train to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, fly, taxi
- Take the train from Santa Barbara to Simi Valley Amtraktrain
- Fly from Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) to Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO)plane BUR - RNO
- Take the taxi from Reno-Airport-RNO to Sand Harbor Visitors Centertaxi
6h 53m$219–528
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Santa Barbara to Lake Tahoe is to drive which costs $80 - $120 and takes 9h 21m.
The fastest way to get from Santa Barbara to Lake Tahoe is to fly and taxi which takes 5h 46m and costs $170 - $450.
The distance between Santa Barbara and Lake Tahoe is 477 miles. The road distance is 476.9 miles.
It takes approximately 9h 21m to drive 476.9 miles from Santa Barbara to Sand Harbor.
Yes, the driving distance between Santa Barbara to Lake Tahoe is 477 miles. It takes approximately 9h 21m to drive from Santa Barbara to Lake Tahoe.
There are 388+ hotels available in Lake Tahoe.
What companies run services between Santa Barbara, CA, USA and Lake Tahoe, CA, USA?
You can drive from Santa Barbara to Sand Harbor in around 9h 21m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 41m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $50–300
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $55–310
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–250
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via San Jose
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $45–270
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 47m
- When
- Saturday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $45–280
Flights from Burbank Bob Hope Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $45–300
Flights from Burbank Bob Hope Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–330
Flights from Burbank Bob Hope Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via San Jose
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $50–320
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via San Francisco
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–280
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–280
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–250
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via San Francisco
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 27m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $45–270
Flights from Burbank Bob Hope Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via San Francisco
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 43m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $55–320
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via Salt Lake City
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–360
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–250
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–360
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 8m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–750
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via Seattle
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–750
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 53m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $55–90
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Santa Barbara to Simi Valley Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 43m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $35–60
- Website
- Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 51 min
- Estimated price
- $130–160
Reno Sparks Cab Co.
- Phone
- +1 775-333-3333
- Website
- renocab.com
Whittlesea Checker Cab
- Phone
- +1 775-322-2222
- Website
- taxirenotahoe.com
Yellow Cab Co.
- Phone
- +1 775-355-5555
- Website
- yellowcabofreno.com
Reno Sparks Cab Co.
- Phone
- +1 775-333-3333
- Website
- renocab.com
Whittlesea Checker Cab
- Phone
- +1 775-322-2222
- Website
- taxirenotahoe.com
Yellow Cab Co.
- Phone
- +1 775-355-5555
- Website
- yellowcabofreno.com
Reno Sparks Cab Co.
- Phone
- +1 775-333-3333
- Website
- renocab.com
Whittlesea Checker Cab
- Phone
- +1 775-322-2222
- Website
- taxirenotahoe.com
Yellow Cab Co.
- Phone
- +1 775-355-5555
- Website
- yellowcabofreno.com
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






