North Lake Tahoe, NV Event Planning

Key Highlights

Hotels	134
Total Sleeping Rooms	26,523
Largest Exhibit Space	120,900 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $99
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $51
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $304

North Lake Tahoe, NV Meeting Planning Overview

Known throughout the United States as Northern America's premier outdoor recreation and skiing locale, North Lake Tahoe is a natural haven for outdoor enthusiasts, as well as a fantastic meeting and event destination with many Lake Tahoe event venues. Located just 44 miles southwest of Reno, 97 miles northwest of Sacramento and 200 miles northeast of San Francisco, North Lake Tahoe straddles California's eastern and Nevada's western state lines. The area's golf courses, ski resorts, casinos, hotels, tourist attractions and countless outdoor and indoor recreational options draw more than three million visitors to the region each year. Bolstered by 200,000 square feet of meeting space throughout the region, Lake Tahoe's natural attractions and mega resorts make the region a perfect spot for your next group event.

North Lake Tahoe is served by several private airports and three large commercial airports, which include the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, and Sacramento International Airport. Located just 45 miles outside of the North Lake Tahoe region, the Reno-Tahoe International Airport serves nearly four million passengers each year, operating 160 daily arrivals and departures throughout the United States and Canada. The Sacramento International Airport, located hours outside of North Lake Tahoe, offers nonstop flight locations throughout the United States on its 14 airlines. Located approximately 210 miles from North Lake Tahoe, San Francisco International Airport has been consistently ranked as among the 30 busiest airports in the world, serving more than 33 million passengers per year, Once in the North Lake Tahoe region, visitors can use the North Lake Tahoe Express which offers convenient daily door-to-door airport shuttle service from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport throughout the North Lake Tahoe area.

North Lake Tahoe offers approximately 7,000 hotel rooms with retreat-like to town-center locations. Properties range from the five-star caliber Ritz Carlton Highlands – which opened in December 2009 – to the lakefront Hyatt Regency Resort, Spa and Casino, the ski-in/ski-out Village at Squaw Valley USA, Resort at Squaw Creek and Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort™, boutique-style PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn, and the all-inclusive Granlibakken Conference Center and Lodge, to the larger and smaller condominium complexes, as well as intimate bed and breakfasts. Over $200 million has been invested in property and facility renovations that are either recently completed or in progress. Occupancy and rates peak from Memorial Day through Labor Day and during winter holiday periods.

Beyond its large resorts, North Lake Tahoe features an array of unique facilities for smaller group functions and events. Dedicated to the exploration of Tahoe's rich history, the Tahoe Maritime Museum houses a vast collection of photographs and objects from the late 19th century and the largest collection of outboard motors on the West Coast, as well as 25 vessels and private event space for up to 100 people. The historic Thunderbird Lodge, one of Lake Tahoe's shining examples of Gilded Age opulence, features exceptional craftsmanship among its many buildings and main house, available for private guided tours and group rentals.

Many of Lake Tahoe's lakefront restaurants offer private meeting space. Big Water Grille in Incline Village offers breathtaking panoramic lake views and basement wine cellar dining for up to 18 guests, while the lively Mamasake specializes in Cal-Japanese fare, innovative sushi and private group dining.

Many of North Lake Tahoe's beautiful resorts, meeting facilities and restaurants form the basis of the region's economic strength. Major corporations, such as State Farm, Microsoft and Lowe's, hold a strong presence in the region. Lake Tahoe's main industry is tourism, made evident by its many multimillion resorts and hotels. Tahoe also features the largest concentration of ski areas in North America, all built around the region's main attraction – the beautiful Lake Tahoe.

About North Lake Tahoe, NV / Additional Info

North Lake Tahoe's sterling reputation as an ideal meeting locale and outdoor enthusiasts' haven is bolstered by its friendly atmosphere, striking surroundings and family-friendly activities. The entire region is literally built around the world-famous Lake Tahoe. The largest alpine lake in North America and the second-deepest lake in the United States at 1,645-feet-deep, Lake Tahoe measures 22 miles long and 12 miles wide and is known for its water clarity and panorama of surrounding mountains on all sides.

The Lake Tahoe region is situated within the Sierra Nevada Range with an average elevation of 6,000 feet. Approximately two-thirds of the Lake Tahoe shoreline lies within California, with the remaining one-third in Nevada. North Lake Tahoe is dominated by Tahoe City along the northwest shore.

Lake Tahoe is nothing short of a national treasure with a rich past built on respect of the beauty of the lake. The region was first inhabited by the peaceful Washoe Indians, who considered Lake Tahoe to be a spiritual site and conducted sacred ceremonies along the south shore. The serenity of the region was disturbed with the 1844 arrival of American explorers. Droves of fortune-seekers flooded the region in the 1860s after silver was discovered in the Sierra Nevada, bringing with them major development. By the turn of the century, word of the region's natural beauty reached the elite families of San Francisco, who flocked to stay in Tahoe's new elite hotels and then built their own summer homes along the shoreline. By the 1950s, the region's roads were plowed year-round, enabling access to permanent residences. Lake Tahoe was placed on the global map in 1960, when the winter Olympics were held in Squaw Valley.

The vast majority of Lake Tahoe's attractions and sites celebrate the region's natural beauty as outdoor and indoor recreational options can be found at every turn, as well as the area's rich early twentieth-century summer estate era. Visitors frequent the beautiful Vikingsholm Castle; built in 1929, Vikingsholm was one of the first opulent Lake Tahoe summer homes constructed, as well as one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture throughout the U.S. today. Another shining example of Lake Tahoe luxury, the Hellman-Ehrmann Mansion operates as a house museum in the Sugar Pine Point State Park. The mansion, completed in 1903, was built using local building materials and was equipped with the latest early twentieth century utility systems, such as electric lights and indoor plumbing.

Lake Tahoe's many outdoor attractions offer world-class skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, boating, camping, and fishing. The Donner Memorial State Park, located along Donner Lake in Truckee, features hiking and nature trails, as well as the Emigrant Trail Museum, which honors those who immigrated to California from the east coast in the mid-1800s. The museum includes an exhibit on the Donner Party, one of the earliest and most famous pioneer wagon trains (which fell victim to tragedy in 1847).. Visitors can scuba drive in crystal clear waters among unusual rock formations at the Sand Harbor Nevada State Park, or explore Lake Tahoe from the lake itself aboard the Tahoe Gal via North Tahoe Cruises.

North Lake Tahoe is also home to six championship golf courses and four executive courses. Another 14 courses are located within an hour's drive of North Lake Tahoe. The area's fantastic courses are designed around Tahoe's spectacular scenery and set around glacially-etched valleys to the shorelines of Lake Tahoe itself.

Lake Tahoe's rich culinary scene includes a variety of California and global cuisine options, as well as a number of beautiful lakefront restaurants. Voted as one of North Lake Tahoe's most romantic restaurants, Christy Hill sits 100 feet above the Lake Tahoe shoreline and uses the freshest and finest seafood in its seasonal California and Mediterranean cuisine. Specializing in French-California fare by award-winning chef Traci Des Jardins, Manzanita at the Ritz-Carlton utilizes organic, seasonal ingredients, all served in a warm atmosphere of natural materials and an open kitchen. Serving world-class cuisine at the beautiful Northstar at Tahoe Resort™, Baxter's Bistro & Lounge serves fresh California cuisine set to the soundtrack of live jazz.

North Lake Tahoe, NV Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Pacific Time (PT)

Hotel at Convention Center? No

Airport(s):

Destination Type(s):

Golf Destination
Historic Destination

Special Event Venues
32
Population
49,000
Restaurants
25
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
7.75%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
10-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Cities Near North Lake Tahoe, NV

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
San Francisco, CA	187 mi	3 hr 22 min	50 min	USD $227+
Las Vegas, NV	483 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 10 min	USD $223+
Los Angeles, CA	485 mi	5+ hrs	30 min	USD $139+

North Lake Tahoe, NV Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	37	39	43	50	59	69	79	78	70	58	47	40
Avg. Low (°F)	17	18	22	26	32	37	43	42	38	31	25	20
Rec. High (°F)	60	58	64	74	88	92	93	94	87	80	66	58
Rec. Low (°F)	-15	-12	-5	1	12	22	26	28	21	11	1	-10
Rainfall (in)	6.1	5.4	3.9	2.2	1.2	0.6	0.3	0.2	0.5	1.6	3.1	5.4

Lake Tahoe's climate is perfect for year-round adventure. The region experiences freezing temperatures each and every month and averages 125 inches of snow per year at lake level and 300 to 500 inches at alpine skiing elevations. Snowfall occurs from late November or early December through March; with an average of 44 inches of snowfall, January is the region's snowiest month. Lake Tahoe averages 300 sunny days per year, as well as low year-round humidity. The region's coldest month is January, with an average high of 41°F and average low of 15°F, while the warmest month is July, with an average high of 79°F and average low of 40°F. Lake Tahoe water temperatures average 32°F in the winter and 68°F in the summer.

North Lake Tahoe, NV Airport Information

Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO)

Approximate taxi fare: $90 USD

The Reno-Tahoe International Airport is located in downtown Reno, just 44 miles outside of North Lake Tahoe. Serving nearly four million passengers each year, the 1,450-acre airport encompasses three runways and one terminal of 23 boarding gates. Reno-Tahoe International operates 160 daily arrivals and departures within the United States and Canada. The airport offers non-stop flights to 15 domestic locations, including Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Seattle. The North Lake Tahoe Visitors & Convention Bureau site offers a new interactive flight mapping tool for visitors to see the available flight options for reaching North Lake Tahoe.

Airport amenities include numerous full-service restaurants and concession stands, retail shops and terminalwide-free wi-fi access. Reno-Tahoe International features a 2,100-car parking structure and 1,532-car long-term parking lot. Short-term parking costs a maximum of $24 per day, while long-term parking costs a maximum of $14 per day. Travelers to North Lake Tahoe can ride the North Lake Tahoe Express shuttle, which provides daily service between the airport and North Lake Tahoe and Truckee from 3:30 AM to midnight.

Airline carriers serving Reno/Tahoe International Airport

Alaska Airlines
Allegiant Air
Horizon Air

American Airlines
Delta
Southwest

United
US Airways

Sacramento International Airport (SMF)

Located 12 miles from downtown Sacramento and 97 miles from North Lake Tahoe, Sacramento International Airport operates 14 airlines and 150 scheduled departures daily. The 26-gate, dual-terminal airport services such nonstop flight locations as New York City, Washington DC, Seattle, Las Vegas, Houston, and all major California cities.

Airport amenities include free wi-fi throughout both terminals and 16,000 parking spots, with parking rates ranging from $9 to $29 daily. Sacramento International is currently undergoing a $1.27 billion modernization project, which will result in a new Terminal B measuring in at three times the size of the current Terminal B. The new terminal and proposed in-terminal hotel are set for a 2012 completion; with the new Terminal B and current Terminal A, Sacramento International will be able to serve 16 million people per year.

Airline carriers serving Sacramento International Airport

Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta Airlines
Frontier Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines
Horizon Air
JetBlue
Mexicana Airlines
Northwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines
United Airlines
United Express
U.S. Airways

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

San Francisco International Airport is located approximately 210 miles outside of the North Lake Tahoe area. Consistently ranked amongst the 30 busiest airports in the world, San Francisco International serves more than 33 million passengers per year. The three-terminal, 90-gate airport is currently undergoing a $383 million renovation of Terminal 2. The renovation project will result in a new 575,000-square-foot terminal with 14 gates, 33,633 square feet of retail space – including 12 restaurants, nine retail stores, a gourmet market, wine bar and spa – and a pedestrian bridge to the airport's fully-automated people mover. Traveling between terminals is easy thanks to AirTrain, a fully-automated people mover that runs 24 hours a day. Air Train's Red Line connects all terminals and terminal garages, as well as provides direct access to the airport's Rental Car Center.

Airline carriers serving San Francisco International Airport

Aer Lingus
AeroMexico
Air Canada
Air China
Air France
Air New Zealand
AirTran Airways
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
All Nippon Airways
Asiana
British Airways
Cathay Pacific
China Airlines

Continental
Delta/Northwest
Emirates
EVA Air
Frontier
Hawaiian Airlines
Horizon
Japan Airlines
JetBlue
KLM
Korean Air
LACSA
Lufthansa
Mexicana

Midwest
Philippine Airlines
Qantas
Singapore Airlines
Southwest
Sun Country
TACA
United
United Express
US Airways
Virgin America
Virgin Atlantic
WestJet

North Lake Tahoe, NV Ground Transportation

Tahoe Area Regional Transit (TART) Bus System

The Tahoe Area Regional Transit (TART) bus system operates in Eastern Placer County, serving North Tahoe and Truckee. TART operates daily from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM.TART runs along 30 miles of North Lake Tahoe's shoreline, stopping in such communities as Tahoma, Homewood, Tahoe City, Kings Beach and Incline Village. The system's three routes include TART Mainline, serving Tahoma to Incline Village; Highway 89, serving Tahoe City to Truckee; and the winter-only Highway 267, serving Crystal Bay to Truckee. The Highway 89 and Highway 267 lines connect with Amtrak and Greyhound service. TART one-way fare is $1.75 for adults and $0.85 for seniors and children ages 6 to 12. TART 24-hour passes are $3.50 for adults and $1.75 for seniors and children, while 10-ride passes are $14 for adults and $7 for seniors and children, 14-day passes $30 for adults and $15 for seniors and children and 30-day passes $53 for adults and $26 for seniors and children. Children under 5 ride TART for free.

North Lake Tahoe Express

The North Lake Tahoe Express (NLTE) provides convenient door-to-door airport shuttle service from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport to the North Lake Tahoe region. NLTE offers daily service on its red, green, and blue lines. The red line snakes along Lake Tahoe's northwest area, with access to Tahoe City, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, while the green line provides direct access to the Truckee Train Depot and Truckee-Tahoe Airport. The blue line provides access to the northern shores of Lake Tahoe, including Incline Village, and Kings Beach. One-way rates range from $40 for one passenger to $240 for 21 passengers, while round-trip rates range from $75 for one passenger to $400 for 21 passengers. Large group rates are available by request. Reservations are required.

Lake Tahoe Greyhound Station

North Lake Tahoe is serviced by the Greyhound station at 10065 Donner Pass Road in historic downtown Truckee, California. The Truckee station is located just 10 miles outside of North Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe Amtrak Station

North Lake Tahoe's Amtrak station is located at 10065 Donner Pass Road in Truckee, California. The Truckee station serves the California Zephyr route, which runs daily between Chicago and San Francisco, with major stops in Sacramento, Reno, Salt Lake City, Denver and Omaha, among others. The Truckee Amtrak station is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 4 PM.

Rental Cars

Rental car companies represented at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport are all located within Baggage Claim and include Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty. Rental car companies represented at the Sacramento International Airport's Rental Car Facility include Advance, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Payless. Rental car companies located at the San Francisco International Airport Rental Car Center include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty.

Taxis

Visitors to Lake Tahoe can access several taxi companies at Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Taxi rates from the airport to North Lake Tahoe average $120. Lake Tahoe visitors can also access taxis from hotel and resort taxi stands.