Getting Around Truckee Without a Car - Guide to Sustainable Transportation

Planning a trip to Truckee-Tahoe? Be sure to explore our transportation homepage where we give you all the information on how to get here and move about our region. And if you’re considering a car free vacation, we’ve put together this guide on getting around Truckee, including to and from the airport without one. Whether you’re staying in our historic district or up in the Tahoe Donner area, here's how to enjoy Truckee-Tahoe without a car.

Getting Here

Depending on where your journey begins, you have two options to get to Truckee and not have to rent a car - by train or via a shuttle.

Take the Train to Truckee

Take in the scenery on a scenic Amtrak ride up to Truckee. Regardless if you fly into Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) or live in the Bay Area or Sacramento, Truckee-Tahoe is one of the few mountain towns where you have an opportunity to get here via train. The California Zephyr line of Amtrak runs daily and connects Truckee to the Bay Area, Reno, and as far as Chicago. The Truckee Amtrak Station is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Truckee. For a full schedule visit Amtrak’s website.

For a full schedule visit Amtrak’s website.

Take the Reno Airport Shuttle to Truckee

Another option to get to and from Truckee from Reno is the North Lake Tahoe Express. They provide year-round, scheduled service between Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) and Truckee. At the airport, North Lake Tahoe Express is located past the baggage claim area outside of door D.

Pro Tip: Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for the North Lake Tahoe Express.

Once Here

Once you’ve settled into your lodging, you’ll find that Truckee-Tahoe is arguably one of the easiest mountain towns to get around without a car if you do a bit of planning. The Truckee and North Lake Tahoe region is served by Truckee-Tahoe Area Regional Transit (TART) which consists of buses and on-demand shuttles providing FREE service within the area. Truckee’s free public transit will whisk you off to popular events such as Truckee Thursdays, so you can spend more time enjoying the festivities and less time looking for a parking spot.

Free On-Demand Shuttle in Truckee - TART Connect

In addition to the bus network, Truckee has a free shuttle that provides on-demand curb-to-curb service. The shuttle (TART Connect)  services ALL Truckee neighborhoods from 6:30am to midnight daily.

• Winter - Dec 12, 2024 - April 6, 2025, 6:30am-midnight daily
• Extended Holiday Hours: Dec 26-31, 2024, 6:30am-1:30am daily

How to Use:

1. Download the TART Connect APP 
2. Order a ride through the app
3. Get picked up in as little as 15 minutes

Free Bus Transit

TART runs bus transit routes throughout Truckee and North Lake Tahoe. With regular connections to our legendary ski resorts as well as the beaches of Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake, they provide easy access for residents and visitors alike. Downtown Truckee is a perfect hub for catching the bus and exploring all the region has to offer! Check schedule and routes.

26+ Miles of Scenic Paved Bike Trails

Just within Truckee, there are more than 26+ miles of scenic paved trails that you can access via a bike (open to e-bikes!). Over twenty miles of these trails are even plowed or remain snow-free during the winter months. And many of the lodges in Truckee provide courtesy bikes or provide a rental fleet for their guests to use. Or rent one from a Truckee bike shop.

The Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition has developed the most comprehensive map of bike routes, lanes, and multi-use trails in the Truckee-Tahoe region. View interactive map

Truckee Walking Experiences and Summer Outdoor Recreation

For city dwellers, many think of the bus as a way to get from point A to point B but that you still need to drive to a trailhead. Not so in Truckee-Tahoe. Our bus and shuttle network provides you easy access to hikes, mountain biking singletrack trails, and even the beach. Here’s just a small sampling of experiences that can be accessed via Truckee-Tahoe’s free buses and shuttles.

Donner Memorial State Park & Donner Lake

Accessed via: 

• TART Connect - free, on-demand shuttle.
• Truckee Local - Donner Pass Rd at Donner Memorial State Park (Bus)

This California state park offers over 8 miles (12.9 km) of hiking within its boundaries including the alignment of the primary Emigrant Trail, which connects to the U.S. Forest Service trails and the Pacific Crest Trail. You’ll also find summer camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, and water-skiing, and even tons of history within the Visitor Center. With plenty of shoreline trails and scenic beaches, the park is a great spot to soak up the natural beauty of Donner Lake.

Recharge In Truckee’s Parks

Accessed via: 

• TART Connect - free, on-demand shuttle.
• Walking distance from Downtown Truckee

Having a lazy day and don’t feel like heading to a trailhead? No problem! From downtown it’s merely a ten minute stroll to the Truckee Regional Park. Within it you’ll find dog-friendly paths along the river, a disc golf course, and skatepark. There’s even a playground with slides for kids to expend some energy. 

Truckee Bike Park

Accessed via: 

• TART Connect - free, on-demand shuttle.
• ‍Hwy 267 - Brockway Road at the Rock(Bus)

Sometimes you need to play in the dirt… as in a bike park! Truckee’s bike park contains perfectly sculpted flow lines as well as a smoother strider/pump track for all skill levels to progress. If getting as high as Matt Hoffman is your thing or you’d like to be, they have beginner to advanced jump lines. You don’t even need to bring your own bike! Just stop by the bike shop at the park to pick from a rental fleet of dirt jumpers.

Truckee River Legacy Trail

Accessed via: 

• TART Connect - free, on-demand shuttle.
• Walking distance from Downtown Truckee

Starting right in the center of Truckee Regional Park, the paved trail winds its way along the Truckee River connecting the historic downtown to the Glenshire neighborhood. A 10 mile round trip that’s both dog and stroller friendly. Easy walk from Downtown Truckee - 1.0 mi from East River trailhead and 0.7 mi from Regional Park trailhead.

Carpenter Valley

Accessed via: TART Connect - free, on-demand shuttle.

A hub of biodiversity, Carpenter Valley is home to an expansive lush meadow, wetland, and other habitats that support a variety of wildlife species including black bear, mountain lion, bobcat, coyote, and various birds. The preserve has a wild, off the beaten path feel, despite being so close to Truckee. From start of the dirt road on Alder Creek Road, follow Carpenter Valley Road 2.25 miles to the gate with Truckee Donner Land Trust signage. Directly across from Carpenter Valley Road is the Emigrant Trail (Alder Creek Trailhead) for even more hiking and biking.

Martis Valley

Accessed via: Truckee Northstar - Sawmill (Bus)

Near Northstar Village, the Martis Valley region offers relatively flat trails for Tahoe and yet jaw dropping mountain views. The network provides both a new paved path (Martis Valley Loop) as well as more natural ones giving you a close look at the lush meadows fed by the snowmelt.

Winter Outdoor Recreation - Ski Area Shuttles

Get to and Around Palisades Tahoe

Resort Shuttle from Truckee & Tahoe City

• Park & Ride: Free weekend shuttle service from Truckee and Tahoe City to Palisades Tahoe. Get dropped off right at the resort entrance.

Where you'll park:

• From Truckee - Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (11611 Donner Pass Rd)
• From Tahoe City - Tahoe City Transit Center (180 W Lake Blvd)

• Dates: Weekends from Dec 7 - April 13, 2025
• Shuttles run every 20 minutes
• View Schedule

Resort Shuttle from Tahoe City

• Sherwood Shuttle: Free resort access from the West Shore to Alpine.
• Pickup location: Sunnyside Resort parking lot
• Dates: Saturdays & Sundays for winter season 2025
• Shuttle operates between 8:30am-4pm

Resort Shuttle to get around Olympic Valley & Alpine Meadows

• Mountaineer Shuttle: Free, on-demand service in Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows with an average wait time of 7 minutes.
• Olympic Valley: Operates daily from 7am-11pm
• Alpine Meadows: Operates Thursday-Monday, 7am-11pm

Get to and Around Northstar California

Resort Shuttle from Truckee

• Park & Ride: In partnership with The Lift, a co-working space near the Truckee Airport, a Park & Ride shuttle service will run throughout the winter.
• Dates: The service operates between December 14- March 30, 2025.
• Shuttle operates hourly
• View Schedule

• Tart Bus Service: On weekends and during peak times, the TART route will be re-routed past the Park & Ride lot. Extra bus service will also be available for the MLK weekend (Jan 18-19) and the last weekend after Presidents Week (Feb 22-23), with added transportation between Northstar and The Lift

Resort Shuttle to get around Northstar California

• Northstar Village Transit App: On-demand shuttle service throughout The Village for easy access to lifts, restaurants, and activities.

Getting to Sugar Bowl Resort

Sugar Bowl / Donner Summit Shuttle

• Free public shuttle connecting Truckee with Donner Summit (Dec 9, 2024 - Apr 20, 2025).
• Morning loop: 7am-9am, Evening loop 4:10pm-6pm
• View Schedule

Key stops:

• Coldstream TART stop
• West End of Donner Lake (former TART stop)
• Donner Ski Ranch
• Sugar Bowl Mt. Judah Lodge

Riders can make a timed transfer between the Sugar Bowl | Donner Summit Shuttle and the TART Truckee Local Route at the Coldstream stop.

• Exterior ski storage available on the shuttle.
• No dogs, except for service animals.
• Shuttle won’t operate when Old 40 is closed.

Learn more!