If you don't see the answer to your question here, please contact us at info@tahoeconvoy.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Tickets & Passengers
What is the ticket price?
Tickets cost $49 per one-way ticket, which is $44 for the ticket and $5 for the service fee (if you request a refund, this service fee is nonrefundable). Buy tickets at the Tickets page.
– 10 one-way ticket vouchers are only $44 each – 10% off!
– 20 one-way ticket vouchers are only $39 each – 20% off!
These ticket vouchers never expire and are fully transferable – you may keep them for yourself or give them to a friend. Please visit the
Vouchers page to purchase.
How do I buy a ticket?
Please view the Tickets page to review the scheduled dates of operation. Select your trip and buy tickets using any major credit or debit card, or by redeeming a ticket voucher.
Can I buy a one-way ticket?
Yes! All tickets purchased are for one-way trips.
Are bulk discounts available on tickets?
Yes! At the Ticket Vouchers page:
– 10 one-way ticket vouchers are only $44 each – 10% off!
– 20 one-way ticket vouchers are only $39 each – 20% off!
These ticket vouchers never expire and are fully transferable – you may keep them for yourself or give them to a friend. Please visit the Vouchers page to purchase.
Do children need tickets?
Yes. For safety, every passenger needs a seat with a seat belt, including children. Children under five need a child safety seat.
Can children ride Tahoe Convoy without an adult?
There is no minimum age for a child to ride Tahoe Convoy, when they are riding with an adult (age 18 or over).
When purchasing tickets, as prompted in the ticketing portal, please specify if children will be traveling and their age. This enables the Tahoe Convoy captain to be prepared to assist any unaccompannied minors.
Can pets ride Tahoe Convoy?
Sorry, no pets on Tahoe Convoy. However, service animals are always welcome.
Are gift certificates available?
Yes! You can buy a ticket voucher on the Ticket Voucher page and give it away to a friend. Packs of 10 or 20 vouchers are also available, with a discount. These ticket vouchers never expire and are fully transferable.
What is the refund policy, if my travel plans change?
Tickets purchased, and ticket vouchers redeemed, after 12:01 PM on the Wednesday before the scheduled trip can not be refunded or reclaimed.
Further information is available in the
Terms of Service.
Route, Stops & Schedule
At what time does Tahoe Convoy arrive at my stop?
View the scheduled pickup and dropoff times at your local Tahoe Convoy stop on the Stops page, by clicking on your stop location. Or view the Timetable for a list of all stops.
Where does Tahoe Convoy stop in the Bay Area and Central Valley?
In the Bay Area and Central Valley, stops are at BART and Caltrain stations, Park and Ride lots, and major employment centers. View the stop locations on the Stops page
Is weekend parking available at Bay Area and Central Valley stop locations?
Free weekend parking is available at all BART stations, including at the Tahoe Convoy stop at El Cerrito del Norte (where the parking is sheltered). Please note that per BART parking policy, if you park at El Cerrito del Norte (or otherwise do not ride BART prior to boarding Tahoe Convoy), you must purchase a BART ticket, and then enter and exit the paid area of the station.
Where does Tahoe Convoy stop at North Lake Tahoe?
The first available dropoff stops are at Kingvale and Sugar Bowl
, and the last stops are in Incline Village
, with intermediate stops in Truckee, Squaw Valley, Tahoe City, Dollar Point, Carnelian Bay, Tahoe Vista, Kings Beach, and Crystal Bay.
Please note that some Lake Tahoe stops are along the roadway shoulder in residential communities, without any shelter. We don't want you to be standing in a snowstorm while you wait for Tahoe Convoy to arrive, especially if the shuttle is delayed by traffic congestion (which is not uncommon). Therefore, we recommend boarding Tahoe Convoy at a stop that has shelter, if possible.
If there is no pickup stop with shelter near you, please consider traveling to another pickup stop that does have shelter. You may ride the
local TART bus (which makes stops at many Tahoe Convoy stops), to get to a sheltered location.
Taxi and ridehail options are also available.
You can change your Tahoe Convoy pickup stop location as late at 3 PM on the day of travel by calling or texting us at (530) 580-8781. And be sure to watch the
Live Status page on the day of travel to see realtime shuttle location and arrival information.
For visitors who need to procure groceries upon arriving at Tahoe, we make stops at supermarkets that are open late, including the
Truckee Safeway (open 24/7),
Tahoe City Save Mart (open until 11pm on Fridays),
Tahoe City Safeway (open until 10pm on Fridays),
Kings Beach Safeway (open 24/7), and
Incline Village Raley's (open until 11pm on Fridays).
On what days does Tahoe Convoy operate?
Our 2020 winter season commenced on January 3. Tahoe Convoy will operate every other weekend until March 15, for a total of six round-trips (twelve one-way trips).
Visit the Tickets page to see specific days of operation.
Does Tahoe Convoy serve the West Shore of Lake Tahoe?
Not directly. However, Tahoe Convoy does stop at the Tahoe City Transit Center, which is a beautiful indoor heated station where passengers may connect to transit options serving the West Shore.
Does Tahoe Convoy serve South Lake Tahoe?
Not yet! But we do plan to launch a second Tahoe Convoy route, serving South Lake Tahoe via US 50, in the near future per our Vision.
Does Tahoe Convoy serve Northstar?
General
When is Tahoe Convoy operating?
January 2020 launched the third winter season of Tahoe Convoy. There are six weekend round-trips (12 one-way trips) scheduled from January 3 through March 15, 2020 – please visit the Tickets page to see the full schedule.
Per the Tahoe Convoy Vision, we ultimately plan to expand to year-round service.
Do I need a car to enjoy Lake Tahoe?
Not at all! Tahoe has local transit, an extensive bike path network, bikeshare systems, multiple taxi operators and Lyft & Uber coverage. Visit the Car-Free Tahoe page to learn more.
Can Tahoe locals use Tahoe Convoy to travel to the Bay Area?
Yes! Tahoe locals can travel to the Bay Area westbound on any Sunday night and return eastbound on any Friday night.
Or locals may choose to ride Tahoe Convoy only one-way, and use another form of travel for their return journey.
What is the schedule during three-day weekends?
The shuttle schedule expands by one day to align with three-day weekends (MLK and Presidents' Day), with the westbound trip on the Monday holiday evening, instead of Sunday evening.
How is Tahoe Convoy different from a day ski bus?
Day ski buses, such as Tahoe Ski Trips, NAC Ski and Sports Basement, are great options for Bay Area residents without overnight accommodations at Tahoe and skiing for only one day. Day ski buses typically depart the Bay Area between 4 or 5 AM on either Saturday or Sunday, arrive at a single pre-selected ski resort at about 9 AM, and then depart the resort at about 4 PM to return to the Bay Area that night.
How is Tahoe Convoy different from Capitol Corridor or Greyhound?
Capitol Corridor and Greyhound buses operate during the middle of the day, rather than in the evening. Those schedules cannot accommodate weekend visitors who need to travel eastbound on Friday evening and westbound on Sunday evening.
Who created Tahoe Convoy?
Tahoe Convoy is the work of Greg Riessen, who frequently travels between the Bay Area and Lake Tahoe.
Visit Greg's website to learn about his other transportation endeavors.
Who should ride Tahoe Convoy?
Anyone who frequently visits Tahoe for the weekend – and would prefer to spend 8 hours of round trip travel time enjoying the view, sipping a drink, watching a movie, taking a nap or getting work done, instead of focusing on stressful nighttime driving or fussing with tire chains – should consider riding Tahoe Convoy.
What if I miss the bus?
Don't be late for the bus! Tahoe Convoy cannot wait for late arrivals. If you will miss the shuttle, call and text us ASAP at (530) 580-8781 and we may be able to pick you up at another stop.
Shuttles & Winter Conditions
Does Tahoe Convoy do charters?
No, we do not do charters.
However, large groups can secure bulk discounts on tickets by purchasing Ticket Vouchers at up to 20% off. Please reach out to tickets@tahoeconvoy.com to check seat availability on any scheduled trip.
Can I bring skis or snowboards on the shuttle?
Yes! There is ample storage space for your winter gear and luggage on every shuttle.
Can I bring my bike on the Tahoe Convoy?
The shuttle does not have a bike rack. Bikes may only be transported in bike boxes, stored in the luggage compartment.
What amenities do the shuttles have?
On the Tahoe Convoy shuttle, every seat features panoramic windows, reclining seats, seat belts, power outlets, reading lights and fresh air vents. The shuttle also inclues a restroom.
Can I eat and drink on the shuttle?
Yes. You must be 21 or over to consume alcohol on Tahoe Convoy.
Can the shuttles transport passengers in wheelchairs?
Yes! Please let us know if you require wheelchair access when booking your tickets, ideally at least seven days prior to departure, so we can accommodate you.
What happens during winter conditions?
Tahoe Convoy is prepared for winter driving! Our bus drivers are adept with snowy conditions, and our shuttles carry tire chains that the driver is prepared to install.
Furthermore, in addition to the bus driver, every Tahoe Convoy trip has a captain on board. The captain assists passengers, and also tracks weather and traffic conditions during the journey. The captain is in communication with highway transportation agencies that advise on conditions, providing the best and safest route for Tahoe Convoy.
Occasionally, the road will be closed due to snowy conditions, and the bus is forced to wait until it the road is cleared. In this situation, Tahoe Convoy is well equipped for a prolonged delay – the bus is stocked with snacks, water, and a bathroom for passenger convenience.
Typical bus carriers, such as day ski buses and regional transit buses, are scheduled so the driver will complete a round trip during their day of driving. For a long round trip such as from the Bay Area to Lake Tahoe and back in one day, this leaves little room for delay. If the bus is delayed in traffic on the way up to the mountains, and/or during the return trip, the driver might exhaust their available hours – when this happens, the bus must pull over and await rescue by another driver. To prevent this situation, when winter conditions are forecast, the carrier may choose to cancel the trip instead of bear the risk of the bus requiring rescue.
Conversely, the Tahoe Convoy bus driver travels only half the round-trip on Friday, and the other half on Sunday (or Monday during 3-day weekends). When delays occur, the splitting of the driver's journey with a rest between trips prevents the situation described above.
Due to our unique schedule, Tahoe Convoy is less vulnerable to winter storm conditions than typical bus carriers. Therefore, we are less likely to cancel a trip, or abandon a trip enroute and turn around, when the weather is snowy.
1. We will get you to Tahoe (and back) as fast as is safely possible
2. We will get you there at least as fast as if you had driven yourself – and potentially
much faster than driving