Last week we looked at the Alpine Meadows resort in terms of its snowboarding terrain (and other things).
This week we are looking at the Alpine Meadows lodging (plus how to get there).
If you are planning a snowboarding mission to this picturesque mountain then read on to learn more about where to stay and how to get there.
On Mountain Options
Whilst there isn’t any lodging to speak of right at the base, Alpine Meadows village is practically on mountain-side being just a 5 minute drive away.
For the fitter and more willing among us you could walk it in about 30 minutes depending on where you are staying.
I’ve done some 30 minute stretches carrying a snowboard and whilst it’s doable it’s not that comfortable – but worth it if you have no other options.
Alpine Meadows Village
Alpine Meadows is a small town with a permanent population of around only 500 and offers a few accommodation options for those looking to stay as close as possible to all the action.
Squaw Valley
There are more options at or near the nearby Squaw Valley ski resort.
You might be thinking that if you stay there you might as well ride there. This might be true but since Alpine Meadows merged with Squaw Valley in 2011, you can now ride both mountains on the same lift ticket!
So you can stay at Squaw and ride both Squaw and Alpine or the other way round (stay near Alpine and ride both).
There is a Squaw-Alpine connecting shuttle which runs between the two if you don’t have a vehicle or don’t want to drive.
Tahoe City
Just 15 minutes drive away and nestled along the north-western shores of the beautiful Lake Tahoe is Tahoe City. This is another great option for lodging for Alpine Meadows.
Tahoe City provides heaps more options and the upside is you can stay lake-side.
How to Get there
As mentioned, Alpine Meadows is located near the North-western tip of Lake Tahoe. This means it’s really easily accessible with the Reno-Tahoe international airport less than 1 hour’s drive away.
Flying
There are direct flights to the Reno-Tahoe international airport from heaps of different US cities and also from as far away as London, England and Guadalajara, Mexico.
There are shuttles you can get from the airport or you could hire a car to get yourself the rest of the way to Alpine Meadows.
Driving
If you are driving from outside the area below are some times from different locations in California and Nevada.
Note that all times below are without traffic. Allow for extra time for potential traffic and in case of poor conditions on the day you travel.
Reno: 50 minutes
Carson City: 1 hour 10 minutes
Sacramento: 1 hour 50 minutes
San Francisco: 3 hours 10 minutes
San Jose: 3 hours 30 minutes
Fresno: 4 hours 15 minutes
Bakersfield: 5 hours 40 minutes
Los Angeles: 7 hours 5 minutes
Always make sure that highways are open before you plan your route – some may not be open in winter.
If you are using GPS the address of Alpine Meadows is:
2600 Alpine Meadows Road
Alpine Meadows
CA 96146, United States
Over to You…
Hopefully this has helped you in your research for where to stay on your mission to Alpine Meadows and how to get there. If you’re heading there soon I’m jealous as hell and wish you an awesome time on the slopes!
Any questions or comments are very welcome and can be left in the comments sections below.
Photo Credit
Photo by David Arpi [CC BY 2.0], via Flikr
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