Know The Lake Tahoe Road Conditions Before You Get Behind The Wheel

If you're headed to Lake Tahoe, keep in mind that every route there involves traveling through high altitudes where the weather can change quickly. Because of this, you should make sure that you're up to date on Tahoe road conditions before you get on the road. You can find information about road conditions at tourist sites near Lake Tahoe as well as find maps, though you should keep in mind that any information you get here may possibly be outdated.

The best source of information on the topic is the website of the California Highway Patrol. You can look up any numbered highway in California and get an up to the minute report on road conditions. Another excellent place to find Tahoe road conditions is the website VacationRentals4LakeTahoe.com, which gets its information directly from the California Highway Patrol, along with a detailed map where you can see any road closures or detours along the way to Tahoe.

If you're coming from Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay area or from Reno, NV, the best route is I-80 to the North Shore; from Truckee, then CA 89 south will bring you to Squaw Valley or Tahoe City. To get to the South Shore from Sacramento, take US 50.

If you're headed from Reno, NV to the South Shore of Lake Tahoe, then you're best off going south on US 395 and getting on US 50 headed west once you pass Carson City.

Since the High Sierra has highly variable weather which can shift rapidly from calm skies to fierce storms, Tahoe road conditions can go from clear to hazardous very quickly. Before you head out on your trip, always check Lake Tahoe highway conditions to make your trip a safe one.

* If there is a sign which says you need chains on your tires or if a police officer says the same, then you must put chains on as soon as possible.

* If it's foggy or the roads are even a little icy, slow down and drive carefully. Black ice can easily form along wet road when the temperature gets close to the freezing point and it can be incredibly dangerous. If you're driving during foggy, wet or icy conditions, make sure to maintain a larger distance between you and the car ahead of you - and if you're using chains, drive no faster than 25-30 mph.

* Gas up early and often, since gas can be more expensive in the mountains and service stations are much less common.

* If you're driving in the winter, give yourself plenty of extra travel time, since the weather conditions will slow you down considerably.

* Keep some basic cold weather supplies in your vehicle: a shovel, towels or blankets, an ice scraper and de-icer, extra clothing, water and food are all good things to have in case of an emergency.

* Make sure that you have an extra key on hand (in your wallet or the possession of someone with you), a cell phone, a map and emergency numbers.

* Inflate your tires properly and make sure that you have chains in your trunk as well as a repair kit and a flashlight in case you have to mount the chains at night.

* Make sure your radiator is filled with antifreeze and refill your windshield wipers with solution that will not freeze when the mercury drops below zero.

* Do all of the routine checks (brakes, heater, defroster) that you would do before leaving for a trip.

Some roads in the area may close due to heavy snowfalls, but there are also highways which are kept open year round and plowed regularly. There is the I80, the Mount Rose highway (SR 431) from Reno, US 395 and US 50 to Carson City, NV. There's also CA 207 over the Kingsbury Grade, the US 50 over Echo Summit and the CA 88 to Stockton, CA.