There are 10 ways to get from Southern California to South Lake Tahoe by bus (Amtrak), taxi, train, bus, car, plane, or bus (Amtrak, Greyhound)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus via Bishop
best- Take the bus from Barstow Amtrak Bus Stop to Mojave Amtrak Bus Stopbus
- Take the bus from Mojave - Carl's Jr., 44812 Sierra Highway to Bishop - Vons/Kmart, 1200 N. Main Streetbus 395
- Take the bus from Bishop - Vons/Kmart, 1200 N. Main Street to Gardnerville - Smith's, 1341 US 395bus 395
14h 2m$163–226Drive 410.2 mi
cheapest- Drive from Southern California to South Lake Tahoecar 410.2 mi
8h 49m$75–109Taxi, train, bus
- Take the taxi from Southern California to Victorville Amtraktaxi
- Take the train from Victorville Amtrak to Los Angelestrain
- Take the train from Los Angeles to Sacramentotrain
- Take the bus from Sacramento - Amtrak to South Lake Tahoe Wyebus
24h 31m$363–642Taxi, bus to Los Angeles International Airport, fly to Reno/Tahoe International Airport, bus
- Take the taxi from Southern California to Barstow Stationtaxi
- Take the bus from Barstow Station to Los Angeles Downtownbus
- Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO)plane LAX - RNO
- Take the bus from Reno-Tahoe International Airport to Margaritavillebus
10h$444–820Bus
- Take the bus from Barstow Amtrak Bus Stop to Bakersfieldbus
- Take the bus from Bakersfield Train 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
16h 37m$166–256Taxi, bus to Harry Reid International Airport, fly to Reno/Tahoe International Airport, bus
- Take the taxi from Southern California to Barstow Amtrak Bus Stoptaxi
- Take the bus from Barstow Amtrak Bus Stop to South Strip Transit Terminalbus
- Fly from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO)plane LAS - RNO
- Take the bus from Reno-Tahoe International Airport to Margaritavillebus
9h 34m$298–621Taxi, bus to Burbank Bob Hope Airport, fly to Reno/Tahoe International Airport, bus
- Take the taxi from Southern California to Barstow Stationtaxi
- Take the bus from Barstow Station to Los Angeles Downtownbus
- Fly from Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) to Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO)plane BUR - RNO
- Take the bus from Reno-Tahoe International Airport to Margaritavillebus
10h 39m$633–917Bus to Long Beach Airport, fly to Reno/Tahoe International Airport, bus
- Take the bus from Barstow Station to Los Angeles Downtownbus
- Fly from Long Beach Airport (LGB) to Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO)plane LGB - RNO
- Take the bus from Reno-Tahoe International Airport to Margaritavillebus
11h 30m$188–513Taxi, bus to Ontario International Airport, fly to Sacramento International Airport, bus
- Take the taxi from Southern California to Barstow Stationtaxi
- Take the bus from Barstow Station to San Bernardino Downtown Transit Centerbus
- Fly from Ontario International Airport (ONT) to Sacramento International Airport (SMF)plane ONT - SMF
- Take the bus from Sacramento - Amtrak to South Lake Tahoe Wyebus
11h 34m$270–883Bus to John Wayne Airport Orange County, fly to Reno/Tahoe International Airport, bus
- Take the bus from Barstow Station to Santa Ana Bus Stopbus
- Fly from John Wayne Airport Orange County (SNA) to Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO)plane SNA - RNO
- Take the bus from Reno-Tahoe International Airport to Margaritavillebus
12h 35m$402–968
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Southern California to South Lake Tahoe is to drive which costs $75 - $110 and takes 8h 49m.
The fastest way to get from Southern California to South Lake Tahoe is to drive which takes 8h 49m and costs $75 - $110.
No, there is no direct bus from Southern California to South Lake Tahoe. However, there are services departing from Barstow Amtrak Bus Stop and arriving at Us 50 via Mojave - Carl's Jr., 44812 Sierra Highway, Bishop - Vons/Kmart, 1200 N. Main Street, Douglas County Community/Senior Center and Stateline Transit Center. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 14h 2m.
The distance between Southern California and South Lake Tahoe is 459 miles. The road distance is 412.6 miles.
The best way to get from Southern California to South Lake Tahoe without a car is to bus via Bishop which takes 14h 2m and costs $160 - $230.
It takes approximately 14h 2m to get from Southern California to South Lake Tahoe, including transfers.
Southern California to South Lake Tahoe bus services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Barstow Amtrak Bus Stop station.
Southern California to South Lake Tahoe bus services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Mojave Amtrak Bus Stop station.
Yes, the driving distance between Southern California to South Lake Tahoe is 413 miles. It takes approximately 8h 49m to drive from Southern California to South Lake Tahoe.
There are 916+ hotels available in South Lake Tahoe.
What companies run services between Southern California, CA, USA and South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA?
You can take a vehicle from Southern California to Us 50 via Barstow Amtrak Bus Stop, Mojave - Carl's Jr., 44812 Sierra Highway, Bishop - Vons/Kmart, 1200 N. Main Street, Gardnerville - Smith's, 1341 US 395, Douglas County Community/Senior Center, and Stateline Transit Center in around 14h 2m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–310
Flights from Harry Reid International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–310
Flights from Harry Reid International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via Burbank Bob Hope Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $60–360
Flights from Burbank Bob Hope Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–320
Flights from Burbank Bob Hope Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via Harry Reid International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Tuesday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $60–360
Flights from Long Beach Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–350
Flights from Long Beach Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via Harry Reid International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $65–380
Flights from Ontario International Airport to Sacramento International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–370
Flights from Ontario International Airport to Sacramento International Airport via Harry Reid International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $75–420
Flights from John Wayne Airport Orange County to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via Harry Reid International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 48m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $65–380
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–310
Flights from Ontario International Airport to Sacramento International Airport via San Francisco
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 33m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $65–380
Flights from John Wayne Airport Orange County to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via San Francisco
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–380
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–310
- Website
- jsx.com
Flights from Harry Reid International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $45–310
Flights from Burbank Bob Hope Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–320
Flights from John Wayne Airport Orange County to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–350
Flights from John Wayne Airport Orange County to Reno/Tahoe International Airport via Harry Reid International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $65–380
- Website
- flyfrontier.com
Flights from Harry Reid International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–290
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–310
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Victorville Amtrak to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–80
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Los Angeles to Sacramento
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 58m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $170–370
- Website
- Amtrak
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Barstow Amtrak Bus Stop to Mojave Amtrak Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $24–35
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Barstow Amtrak Bus Stop to Bakersfield
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–65
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Lodi Amtrak Station to Sacramento
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $12–17
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Barstow Amtrak Bus Stop to South Strip Transit Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–70
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 760-872-1901
- [email protected]
- Website
- Eastern Sierra Transit Authority
Bus from Mojave - Carl's Jr., 44812 Sierra Highway to Bishop - Vons/Kmart, 1200 N. Main Street
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Website
- Eastern Sierra Transit Authority
Bus from Bishop - Vons/Kmart, 1200 N. Main Street to Gardnerville - Smith's, 1341 US 395
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $28–45
- Website
- Eastern Sierra Transit Authority
- 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 Barstow Station to Los Angeles Downtown
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $18–30
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Barstow Station to Los Angeles Downtown
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $18–30
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Barstow Station to Los Angeles Downtown
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $18–30
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Barstow Station to San Bernardino Downtown Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $11–19
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
- 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
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
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
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Bakersfield Train Station to Lodi Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–75
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Barstow Station to Santa Ana Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $17–35
- Website
- Greyhound
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 42m
- Estimated price
- $75–190
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
Need to know: Greyhound
Read the travel guide








