The Hows & Whys of Ski Resort Parking and Shuttles

March 7, 2024

In response to traffic congestion, both Palisades Tahoe and Northstar California have executed new programs to help alleviate the issues. Reservations are needed for weekend and morning parking. We’ve outlined how to get the space you need ahead of time. Carpooling or riding free public transportation is always recommended, and it’s more fun when you’re riding with friends. There’s a free weekend Park & Ride to Palisades Tahoe every weekend, with parking near the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District administration building and ball fields.

PALISADES TAHOE

https://www.palisadestahoe.com/mountain-information/parking-and-road-conditions/parking-program

WHY A RESERVATION SYSTEM?

Palisades Tahoe’s new system was created to “improve on-mountain experience by reducing traffic congestion and providing assurance there will be a parking space for our guests without them having to arrive hours before first chair. The potential benefits of the program include a reduction in traffic, improved traffic flow, a better guest and employee experience, less impact on our community, and a reduction in our carbon footprint.” -PalisadesTahoe.com.

HOW IT WORKS

Mid-week parking is free and doesn’t require a reservation. Just show up Monday through Friday for first-come, first-served parking (except for some holiday blackout dates).

When to reserve

Advance reservations are required for parking at Palisades and Alpine resorts on weekends and holidays before 1:00 p.m. only. Paid and free parking reservations are mandatory on these dates:

December: 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
January: 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 27, 28
February: 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
March: 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31
April: Reservation requirements will be determined based on demand.

Free reservations

The majority of parking spaces are allocated for free reservations.
Free reservations will be available for booking every Tuesday for upcoming weekends and holidays.
The inventory is released in two segments: 50% at 12:00 p.m. and the remaining 50% at 7:00 p.m.

Paid reservations

$30 per spot, per day

Paid reservations can be made by anyone to secure parking well in advance.
Each guest can reserve up to 10 paid parking spots at once.
Paid reservations were made available for booking for the entire 2023-24 season late this fall.

How to make a reservation

It’s easy! Just create an account at parkpalisadestahoe.com.

Alternatives

If all reservations are booked for a specific date, guests are encouraged to use regional public transportation, park and ride options, or carpool with friends who have reservations.
Carpooling with three or more people may grant access to designated parking spaces closer to the lifts, however, you must have a reservation.

NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA

https://www.northstarcalifornia.com/explore-the-resort/about-the-resort/getting-here.aspx

WHY A RESERVATION SYSTEM?

“Traffic/road congestion and parking challenges have been a serious topic of conversation within our community for a while, and the 2022/23 winter season was perhaps the most challenging yet. These are not just Northstar issues – they are deeply felt across all of Tahoe, and certainly at every resort in the region. After taking a deep dive into our current parking practices and traffic patterns, learning from other resorts across our network, and much consideration and conversation here in-resort, we believe that a reservations-based parking program can, and will, make a difference.”

– NorthstarCalifornia.com

HOW IT WORKS

The Village View lot will remain free without need for reservations Monday – Friday during the winter season, except peak periods; it will also be free (without reservations) after 1:00 p.m. on weekends and peak periods.

Castle Peak lot will also remain free every day, no reservations required.

When to reserve

Parking at the Village View and Lower Village Preferred Paid lots will require reservations and a fee Saturdays, Sundays, and peak periods:

December: 16, 17, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 (please note, NOT on the 25th)
January: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 27, 28
February: 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
March: 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31
April: 6, 7, 13, 14

Cost:

For the Village View lot, reservations for vehicles with 3 or fewer occupants before 1pm will be $20 and free for 4+ people in a vehicle on weekends and peak periods.

For the Lower Village Preferred Paid lot, reservations will be required on weekends and peak periods before 3:00 p.m. Cost is $20 during the week (Monday – Friday) and $40 on weekends and peak periods, regardless of how many occupants are in a single vehicle.

How to make reservations:

Parking at the Village View and Lower Village Preferred Paid lots requires reservations during weekends and peak periods, and payment will be required ahead of time online when you make your reservation. Payment is not required if you have 4+ people in your vehicle if parking at Village View – in that case it is free, but a reservation is still required.

Reservations can be made via parknorthstar.com

FREE PARK + RIDE!

Skip the reservations, paid parking, and driving and jump on a free shuttle to Palisades Tahoe or Northstar California.

Northstar California Park & Ride

Free shuttle service to Northstar California is available Saturdays and Sundays through March. Park at Lift Workspace at 10266 Truckee Airport Rd, near the Truckee Tahoe Airport.

Palisades Tahoe Park & Ride

This season, you can take advantage of a free, convenient shuttle to the mountain every Saturday and Sunday through March 31st, 2024. TART Park & Ride shuttles will run frequently between both Tahoe City and Truckee to The Village at Palisades Tahoe starting between 6:30 and 7:45 each morning. Plus, the return shuttles run until 5:45 p.m., so you can stick around for apres!

The TART Park & Ride is open to anybody who wants to use it. It is totally free — all you need to do is show up. The Park & Ride is an especially great option for families or for solo skiers. This initiative is one of Palisade Tahoe’s many efforts to combat traffic and parking in the Tahoe basin.

The Truckee Park & Ride location is 11611 Donner Pass Rd, the parking lots near the TTUSD administrative offices and ball fields.

Please note: The Park & Rides drop off at The Village at Palisades Tahoe only. There is no drop-off at Alpine Lodge or anywhere in the community of Alpine Meadows. You can take the Base to Base Gondola to Alpine. The Gondola runs between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily, weather and conditions permitting.

For more information on all of TART’s schedules and services, visit tahoetruckeetransit.com.