Traffic congestion and lack of parking have been areas of frustration for skiers and snowboarders visiting Tahoe ski resorts this season.
To reduce the frequent annoying and time-consuming issues, especially on weekends, the three Vail Resorts in Lake Tahoe – Heavenly Kirkwood, Northstar California – are making changes to their parking plans for next season. No action is being taken for the remainder of this ski season.
Road congestion and parking challenges throughout the Tahoe region remain important issues within the broader community – especially with the historic winter storms and huge snowfall totals during the 2022-23 ski season.
To help alleviate road congestion and parking challenges, the three Vail Resorts will create a combination of free and paid parking options on weekends and holiday peak periods, with a focus on reservations and carpooling incentives.
Specifics on each of the three resorts’ parking plans for next winter can be found on the websites at Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood. Free parking will still be readily accessible at each resort on weekends, holidays and peak periods, in addition to weekdays.
HEAVENLY: Located in South Lake Tahoe, Heavenly will initiate paid reservations and carpooling-based parking approach on peak days to help cut down road congestion in the community. The resort will also promote carpooling and public transportation options.
“Ultimately, it is our goal to improve the experience for our guests, employees, and communities – it’s why we are taking action ahead of next season,” said Tom Fortune, VP & COO of Heavenly and the Tahoe Region. “We are committed to providing our guests with plenty of options – free parking, preferred paid, reservations-based parking, and carpool incentives to reduce congestion and support the environment.”
Reservations for the California Base Area parking lot at Heavenly will be required on weekends and holidays until noon. and will be available online at the start of the season. After the noon hour, all parking in this lot will be free and no reservations will be required.
Reservations will be free for cars with four or more occupants at all times. A flat fee of $20 will be required for cars with three or fewer passengers. If parking at California Base Area on weekends or holidays, guests must secure a reservation on the Heavenly website regardless of the number of people in the vehicle.
Parking will remain free on weekends and holidays in all parking lots on the Nevada side of the mountain (Boulder and Stagecoach lots). On the California side of Heavenly, guests can find free parking on Saddle Road, Keller Road, and overflow parking on Ski Run Boulevard with free daily shuttle access to the California Base Area.
Parking remains the same near the gondola with options at the city parking garage and other private parking lots.
NORTHSTAR: Located off Highway 267 in Truckee, Northstar’s proposed traffic and parking management plan uses multiple management strategies to increase resort accessibility and reduce regional traffic congestion. There will be strategies to reduce visitation impact when it is needed most – during peak periods.
For Village View, reservations will be required on weekends and holiday periods between 7 am to 1 pm, and will be available online at the start of the season. After 1 p.m., all parking will be free and no reservations required. If parking in Village View on weekends or holidays, guests must secure a reservation on the Northstar website regardless of how many people are in the vehicle.
Reservations will be free for cars with four or more occupants at all times. A flat fee of $20 will be required for cars with three or fewer occupants.
For the Lower Village Preferred Paid lot, reservations will be required on weekends and holidays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fees to park in this lot will remain the same as this season – $20 during the week and $40 on weekends and holidays, regardless of how many people are in a single vehicle.
The Castle Peak lot will remain free every day, no reservations required.
KIRKWOOD: Next winter, the resort off Highway 88 will continue to offer choices for guests, with a combination of both free and paid parking options on weekends (Saturday, Sunday) and on holiday peak periods.
In addition to the VIP and Village parking lots, the Chair 9 and Volcano lots will become paid lots on weekends and holidays. On these days, vehicles with four-plus passengers will always park for free. If there are three or fewer passengers, a flat fee or $35 will be required to park in these lots.
Over 80% of the parking will remain free on weekends and holiday peak periods in the Red Cliffs lots, the Timber Creek lots, the Tennis Court lot, and parking on Kirkwood Meadows Drive and Loop Road.
Parking will remain free on non-peak weekdays.
