Blue skies and soft snow make for a dreamy day on the mountain, with mild temps and just a light breeze. Morning groomers will be fast and smooth, softening up by the afternoon, while off-piste offers a mix of packed powder and wind-blown stashes.
Sugar Bowl offers a range of convenient parking options to help you enjoy the mountain. Choose from free, first-come-first-served parking lots, a 10-minute drop-off zone, or reserved parking.
Whenever possible, consider carpooling! On weekends and holidays, a new dedicated Carpool Parking Zone is available in the Main Lodge Upper Lot for vehicles with four or more passengers. Additionally, a local shuttle service provides transportation to and from Truckee for your convenience.
Stay informed about resort updates before your visit. Parking updates will be shared on this page as needed, and you can also receive text alerts by texting "operations" to 855-835-5599. *Standard text message rates apply.
Sugar Bowl has a variety of ways to park and enjoy the mountain including free lots with first-come-first-serve parking, a 10-minute drop-off zone, and preferred ski school and The Lodge parking. Make a plan to carpool whenever possible.
Sugar Bowl has a variety of ways to park and enjoy the mountain including free lots with first-come-first-serve parking, a 10-minute drop-off zone, and reserved parking options. Remember to carpool when possible.
Park at the Main Lodge
Slopeside parking, most convenient option for chairlift access
Free parking in all three parking lots around Judah Lodge
First-come-first serve basis
Carpool parking available on weekends and holidays in the Upper Lot. Reserviced for vehicles with 4+ passengers
On weekends and holidays, a free shuttles circulates the Judah parking lot to bring skiers and riders directly to the base area.
Sugar Bowl guests are welcome to use the Judah drop-off zone to unload belongings and equipment. Drive through the Judah Lot to the roundabout near Judah Lodge and look for drop-off zone signage. Please do not leave your vehicle unattended and plan to limit your usage to 10 minutes or less.
Snowsports School Parking
There is limited first-come-first-serve parking for ski school participants at the Judah Kids Building. Use the upper parking lot at Judah to access, it will be on your left as you drive into the Judah Lot.
Village Gondola Lot for The Lodge & Village Guest Parking
The Lodge and Village guests have access to the covered indoor parking at the base of the gondola. After parking in the garage, head upstairs to board the Gondola, and you will arrive inside The Lodge in just a few minutes. Please note, we do not offer overnight parking in our Main base area parking lots nor adjacent to The Lodge, so we highly encourage taking the Village Gondola during your stay.
Limited Overnight Parking
There is a small amount of overnight parking available for guests and employees located near the Village Gondola Parking Lot on Old 40. Please do not attempt to park overnight in the main lot. The overnight lot is located east of the gondola on the south side of the road. Look for a small parking lot that runs along the gondola-side of the road.
Please note, there is no overnight parking, including RVs, in the main Judah lot or the main Village Gondola parking lot due to snow removal concerns.
Sign Up Today
Sign Up for Old 40 Text Alerts
Old 40 is the best shortcut from Truckee to Sugar Bowl. If you want to know the status of Old 40 this winter, text "Old40" to 855-835-5599 and we’ll send you a message anytime Old 40 opens or closes.
Sign Up Today
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 from December 9th, 2024, through April 20th, 2025. The shuttle service will make two loops in the morning 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.
