There are 5 ways to get from Tahoe City to San Rafael by car, train, bus, 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.
Drive, train (Amtrak)
best- Drive from Tahoe City to Colfax Amtrak Stationcar
- Take the train from Colfax Amtrak Station to Richmondtrain California Zephyr
6h 18m$59–113Drive 195.1 mi
cheapest- Drive from Tahoe City to San Rafaelcar 195.1 mi
3h 28m$36–52Bus
- Take the bus from Tahoe Mountain Resort - Northstar to San Francisco - 16th Stbus Northstar
6h 29m$165–185Drive, fly to San Francisco International Airport, bus
- Drive from Tahoe City to Reno-Airport-RNOcar
- Fly from Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane RNO - SFO
- Take the bus from San Francisco Airport to Larkspur - dropoffbus
3h 48m$221–495Drive, fly to Oakland International Airport, bus
- Drive from Tahoe City to Reno-Airport-RNOcar
- Fly from Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) to Oakland International Airport (OAK)plane RNO - OAK
- Take the bus from Oakland International Airport to San Rafaelbus
6h 12m$119–508
Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Tahoe City to San Rafael is to drive which costs $35 - $55 and takes 3h 28m.
The fastest way to get from Tahoe City to San Rafael is to drive which takes 3h 28m and costs $35 - $55.
No, there is no direct bus from Tahoe City to San Rafael. However, there are services departing from Hwy 28 at Mackinaw and arriving at San Francisco - 16th St via Hwy 28 at Stateline Rd and Tahoe Mountain Resort - Northstar. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 6h 29m.
The distance between Tahoe City and San Rafael is 209 miles. The road distance is 196.3 miles.
The best way to get from Tahoe City to San Rafael without a car is to bus which takes 6h 29m and costs $160 - $190.
It takes approximately 6h 18m to get from Tahoe City to San Rafael, including transfers.
Tahoe City to San Rafael bus services, operated by Tahoe Ski Trips, depart from Tahoe Mountain Resort - Northstar station.
Tahoe City to San Rafael bus services, operated by Tahoe Ski Trips, arrive at San Francisco - 16th St station.
Yes, the driving distance between Tahoe City to San Rafael is 196 miles. It takes approximately 3h 28m to drive from Tahoe City to San Rafael.
There are 459+ hotels available in San Rafael.
What companies run services between Tahoe City, CA, USA and San Rafael, CA, USA?
Tahoe Ski Trips operates a bus from Tahoe Mountain Resort - Northstar to San Francisco - 16th St on demand. Tickets cost $95 and the journey takes 4h.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Reno/Tahoe International Airport to Oakland International Airport via Burbank
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 3m
- When
- Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $85–440
Flights from Reno/Tahoe International Airport to Oakland International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–450
Flights from Reno/Tahoe International Airport to Oakland International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 7m
- When
- Tuesday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $85–450
Flights from Reno/Tahoe International Airport to Oakland International Airport via San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- When
- Tuesday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $100–490
Flights from Reno/Tahoe International Airport to Oakland International Airport via Long Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $90–450
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Reno/Tahoe International Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $29–200
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Reno/Tahoe International Airport to Oakland International Airport via Portland
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 48m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–1,100
- Website
- jsx.com
Flights from Reno/Tahoe International Airport to Oakland International Airport via Carlsbad
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $100–480
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Colfax Amtrak Station to Richmond
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 57m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–85
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 925-382-8320
- [email protected]
- Website
- tahoeskitrips.net
Bus from Tahoe Mountain Resort - Northstar to San Francisco - 16th St
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $95
- Website
- https://www.tahoeskitrips.net
- Phone
- +1 415-461-4222
- Website
- marinairporter.com
Bus from San Francisco Airport to Larkspur - dropoff
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 6m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $32
- Website
- https://marinairporter.com/
- Adult One-way
- $32
- Phone
- +1 707-837-8700
- Website
- groometransportation.com
Bus from Oakland International Airport to San Rafael
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $25–55
- Website
- https://groometransportation.com/sonoma-county/
- First Passenger
- $25–55
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