Parking

As Lake Tahoe’s popularity as a recreation destination continues to grow, traffic congestion and insufficient parking have become ongoing frustrations for both residents and visitors. Parking is a central issue that affects us all, and the Tahoe Basin has long-needed a holistic and fair approach in determining how parking is managed and provisioned. TTD is working to address these issues with a unified parking management strategy to help improve access to popular recreation destinations and make finding parking safer and easier. Since demand for parking regularly exceeds capacity, TTD is also working on solutions to reduce the number of vehicles in the Tahoe Basin. TTD’s goal is to connect parking and transit to a Basin-wide multi-modal transportation system that is safe, convenient, reliable, and sustainable.

Park Tahoe Program

The Park Tahoe pilot program for the Tahoe East Shore Trail is a new paid parking facility with 90 metered off-highway parking spaces located north of Ponderosa Ranch Road. Park Tahoe hourly paid parking begins March 1 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Please pack out your trash, pick up after your dog, and remember bridges can be hot to pup’s paws.

Mobile Payment Option Now Available

You can now pay with your phone by texting ParkTahoe to 727563. You will need your license plate number and credit card information to pay. Or you can visit the kiosk to pay for the parking.

Scroll down to view the Frequently Asked Questions.

Scroll down to view the Frequently Asked Questions.

Comments or suggestions? Please e-mail suggestions@parktahoe.org

If you have a parking refund request, please fill out the refund form here – https://www.tahoetransportation.org/parktahoe-refund-request-form/. If you want to appeal a notice of non-compliance, please go here.

Parking Zones
Coming Soon!
Park & Ride
Learn More
Parking Rates
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Parking Enforcement

You may pay online at the link below. Be sure to have your Notice or license plate number and credit or debit card available. Failure to respond to the Notice within 30 days will result in additional penalties assessed beginning on day 31 and again at day 61. If the fine is not paid after 90 days, the Notice may be sent to collections. In addition to the fine amount, there is a one-time processing fee of $4.00 and beginning on day 31, a 28.5% vendor service fee on the escalated amount.

Pay online with debit or credit card: parktahoe.rmcpay.com

To appeal a notice: parktahoe.rmcpay.com. All appeals must be within 15 days of the Notice issuance date for non-compliance to pay parking fee

Go to parktahoe.rmcpay.com and enter your vehicle license plate or VIN number and your Notice will brought up for payment. You will need your license plate number or VIN number and you will be asked to verify the name of the registered owner of the vehicle. Please have your credit card available

You will see Passport Inc. on your statement with the amount. As a reminder, your bill includes the fine, plus a one-time processing fee of $4.00 and after 30 days, a 28.5% vendor fee on the escalated amount.

$30.00 from day of issuance to 30 days, plus a $4.00 convenience fee.

$60.00 from day 31 to 60 days, plus a $4.00 convenience fee and 28.5% vendor fee on the escalated amount.

$100.00 from day 61 to 90 days, plus a $4.00 convenience fee and 28.5% vendor fee on the escalated amount.

On day 91, the Notice may be turned over to collections.

FAQ's

Ninety off-highway parking spots were constructed near Ponderosa Ranch Road and State Route 28 (SR 28) to provide safer recreational access to the SR 28 Corridor and the Tahoe East Shore Trail. By providing off-highway parking alternatives, transit connections, and a path for pedestrians and bicyclists, motorists can more safely travel along SR 28 on the east shore. By relocating shoulder parking to these parking lots, highway congestion is reduced and allows emergency vehicles easier access along the SR 28 Corridor.

With less vehicles idling due to recreation congestion and highway shoulder parking moving to off-highway parking, the reduced erosion and emissions will improve the environment. Transportation system improvements are critical to protecting Lake Tahoe’s air and water quality because more than 70 percent of the pollutants impacting the lake’s clarity come from the transportation system and built environment.

The card reader may take several seconds to process the transaction. If you have trouble, there are three other meters available in the parking lots that you may pay at.

During peak times, an on-site parking ambassador will be available to help answer questions and ensure a seamless experience. The Parking Ambassador can generally be found near the trailhead or look for their yellow vest with the Park Tahoe logo around the lots to ask any questions or report a broken meter. If no one is available on-site, you may call 775-589-5502.

Additionally, you can pay by text. Please refer to signs for instructions.

Parking pay stations accept CREDIT CARDS ONLY. Or to pay by text- refer to signs for instructions. Park your car and pay at any pay station indicated by the Park Tahoe sign; refer to instructions on the kiosk. (If you do not have a credit card, prepaid credit cards are available for purchase at local grocery stores.)

  • If you do not have a license plate, enter the last four digits of the vehicle identification number (VIN).
  • If you have a license plate with stacked letters or special symbols, enter only the full-size numbers and letters. Special symbols and spaces should not be entered.
  • If a meter is not working, use any other pay station in the lots for payment. This is a license plate based system, there are no stall numbers and no receipt is required on your windshield. If license plate is incorrectly entered, you may receive a notice on non-compliance.
  • Payment for parking is due upon entry. If payment is not received before you leave your car parked in the lot, you risk a fine.
  • The following credit cards are accepted — Visa, MC, and Amex.

Parking fees support annual and long-term operations and maintenance of the parking facilities and the Tahoe East Shore Trail. The revenue is placed in a restricted fund administered by the TTD on behalf of the project partners. The East Shore Corridor Management Team, made up of the operating agencies in the corridor, review the revenues and make budget recommendations to the TTD Board.

The parking non-compliance program is intended to fund itself and is tracked separately, with the non-compliant users paying the cost of the non-compliance program. TTD does not set quotas on the number of parking notices nor will any be established. The data is analyzed from time to time to see where messaging can be improved to encourage users to pay for parking and address problem areas.

The revenue and expense budget information is public information. The public is encouraged to attend the annual budget meeting of the TTD Board generally held in May or June.

The Park Tahoe paid parking program is one part of a comprehensive effort to develop a unified parking management strategy that is consistent and easily accessible for visitors to the Lake Tahoe Region.

The parking facilities are accessible most of the year. The parking lots are not plowed due to water quality improvements associated with the lots, therefore the lots may not be accessible during winter when heavy snowpack occurs.

If you choose to use the parking lot and trail in the winter, it is at your own risk.

A fine will be issued. However, you may extend by using the pay by text feature. Your license plate number and credit card information is required for the pay by text feature.

We recommend arriving early in the morning or later in the afternoon to park at the new Park Tahoe paid parking facility, as parking spots fill quickly—especially during the summer and on weekends!

Please note that Sand Harbor has flashing signs on SR 28 and US 50 advising when parking lots are full.

The East Shore Express Service to Sand Harbor will begin operations on June 28, 2024. This season, hourly paid parking will be available at the Tunnel Creek parking lot, located at 1102 Tahoe Blvd. at the Tahoe East Shore Trailhead. For more information, read the FULL press release HERE.

Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transportation (TART) operates a summer bus service along the north shore of Tahoe to the Tahoe East Shore Trail trailhead and new this year is TART Connect microtransit serving Incline Village. TTD and TART transit services are currently free to ride for all passengers. For more information on TART services, explore their site here.

Please note, the Tunnel Creek Café or parking area are not affiliated with Park Tahoe.

 

Seasonal parking passes are not available for the 90 spaces located on SR 28 near Ponderosa Ranch Road, also know as the Tahoe East Shore Trailhead. Passes associated with Nevada State Parks or Incline Village General Improvement District are not accepted as part of the Park Tahoe system. We encourage all users to come early or come late and pay a lower rate or park for free in the early mornings or evenings. The fee schedule is available on the kiosk and at the top of this page.

Yes, several ADA parking spaces are available throughout the lots. ADA plates, stickers, or placards are required for use of those spaces and all parking fees apply.

Please contact Washoe 311 or Nevada State Parks at 775-831-0494.