Directions + Parking

Your path to powder.

Sugar Bowl offers a range of convenient parking options to help you enjoy the mountain. Choose from free, first-come-first-served lots, a 3-minute drop-off zone, or reserve a Paid Parking space in the Upper Lot at Main Lodge for $35 (weekends and holiday periods). Paid Parking is limited and can be reserved online in advance to guarantee your spot and eliminate guesswork upon arrival.

Carpool whenever possible. On weekends and holidays, vehicles with four or more passengers can park for free in the Paid Parking area in the Upper Lot, a $35 value. A dedicated Carpool Parking Zone is also available in the Main Lodge Upper Lot. Space is limited and fills early, so plan ahead. Carpooling frees up parking for fellow skiers and riders, reduces emissions, and gets your crew up the hill together.

A local shuttle service provides transportation to and from Truckee for added convenience, and Sugar Bowl operates parking shuttles to provide convenient access from the lots to Main Lodge.

View Parking Map

Reserve Parking

Parking Alerts

Stay informed before your visit. Parking updates will be shared on this page as needed, and you can receive text alerts by texting operations to 855-835-5599. Standard text message rates apply.

Your Guide to Parking at Sugar Bowl

Cell Phone Updates

Text Message Updates

Stay in the know with real-time updates on parking, road conditions, and more—delivered straight to your phone via text for ultimate convenience!

Old 40 Road Condition + Parking Alerts / Text notifications

Text old40 to (855) 835-5599 for updates on the open/closed status of Highway 40.
NOTE: These text messages are sent anytime Old 40 opens or closes which could be anytime including late at night and early mornings. Status alerts/updates are not sent out aside from an opening or closing of the road.

Text operations to (855) 835-5599 for important operational updates, such as resort closures, parking notices and more.
NOTE: These text messages could be sent as early as 6:00am, to provide updates on the resort operating status for the day.

From Sacramento, San Francisco and San Jose

Take interstate 80 east, towards Donner Summit. Exit Norden/Soda Springs, Exit 174. Turn right onto Highway 40 eastbound, and continue 3.5 miles to Sugar Bowl's Main Entrance. Turn right at Sugar Bowl Road and park in one of three lots offering convenient parking near the main Lodge.

From Reno

Take Interstate 80 west to Truckee. Turn left onto Highway 40 eastbound, and continue 3.5 miles to Sugar Bowl's Main Entrance. Turn right at Sugar Bowl Road and park in one of three lots offering convenient parking near the main Lodge.

From Truckee

Take Donner Pass Road past Donner Lake. Head three miles up and over the summit. Once atop Donner Summit, continue for another 1/4 mile. Turn left at the Main Entrance at Sugar Bowl Road.
Note: Donner Pass Road (Highway 40) is frequently maintained and open as conditions permit. It's the fastest route from Truckee, and much quicker than Interstate 80.

From Tahoe City

Take Highway 89 north to Highway 80. Continue under the freeway to Donner Pass Road at the Gateway Shopping Center in Truckee. From Truckee, see above.

Free Sugar Bowl/Donner Summit Shuttle

This winter, Sugar Bowl is operating a free, public shuttle that connects Truckee with Donner Summit, running daily through April 20th, 2026. The shuttle service will make two loops in the morning, one mid-day and two in the afternoon, with stops at the Sugar Bowl Mt. Judah Lodge, Donner Ski Ranch, the West End of Donner Lake (old TART stop), and the Coldstream TART stop, where riders can make a timed transfer to and from the TART Truckee Local Route. The shuttle service will NOT operate when Old 40 is CLOSED.

The shuttle will be equipped with exterior ski storage. No dogs, apart from qualified service animals, are permitted on the shuttle.

The Sugar Bowl / Donner Summit Shuttle is funded by the TOT-TBID Dollars at Work Program. The NTCA and Placer County invest funds generated by tourism in North Lake Tahoe to support community vitality, environmental stewardship and economic health. Learn more at north-tahoecommunityalliance.com.

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