How to get there
Where is Heavenly? A 1.5 to 2 hour drive from Reno International Airport,
Heavenly ski resort straddles the Nevada / California state line in the town of South Lake Tahoe. It is located on Highway 50 along the south eastern shore of Lake Tahoe.
Other Ski Resorts Nearby
Some big names, with big annual snowfalls are in and around Lake Tahoe. Sierra at Tahoe is the closest and
Kirkwood ski resort is relatively nearby, although access can be difficult when it has snowed heavily. To the north are the Nevadan resorts of Diamond Peak and Mt Rose, and further around the lake are Northstar,
Squaw Valley,
Alpine Meadows and the under-rated Homewood. Squaw can be accessed via a free daily bus shuttle from South Lake Tahoe.
Getting To Heavenly
Reno is the closest major city to Heavenly ski resort. From Reno airport it is easy to get to Heavenly by rental car or shuttle via Highways 395 and 50.
South Tahoe Express runs cheap and convenient bus shuttles directly from Reno Airport to the door of all of the South Lake Tahoe Casinos, the Embassy Suites and the Lakeside Inn.
Alternatively the San Francisco airport is another convenient arrival point. It’s a 5 hour drive from San Fran to Heavenly. If it has been snowing, make sure to check road conditions. Even the interstates get closed regularly due to heavy snow and dangerous driving conditions.
If you’re in the powder heaven of Utah, it is a long drive across Nevada from
Salt Lake City, but it is do-able in a day. Start early and bring music for the car, as the radio stations along the way are dreadful!
Getting Around
To get between South Lake Tahoe/Stateline and the Heavenly ski area, there is a new high speed Heavenly Gondola that whisks skiers up to the ski area in 12 minutes.
Most of the attractions and services in South Lake Tahoe are accessible on foot, so there’s no real need for bus services. Having said that, if you feel the need to take a bus, or your accommodation is a bit far out of town, the South Lake Tahoe Transit Authority runs a free
‘BlueGo’ ski shuttle on seven different routes to all the Heavenly base areas and major accommodation and attractions (casinos). There are also lots of taxis and limousines in the area.
Free
bus services run to Squaw Valley each day during the season.
If you have a car and intend travelling to other ski hills or attractions, given the heavy snowfalls that can occur in the Lake Tahoe area, we recommend driving a 4WD.