Amtrak Guest Rewards - South Lake Tahoe: Truckee or Reno

We are planning a trip in spring to South Lake Tahoe and will take the CA Zephyr one way and fly back from Reno. Would it be better to use the Reno or Truckee station. We would like to rent a car in the area and return it to the Reno airport. Truckee appears to be closer but I am not familiar with the services available in either area. Suggestions are greatly appreciated.

We are planning a trip in spring to South Lake Tahoe and will take the CA Zephyr one way and fly back from Reno. Would it be better to use the Reno or Truckee station. We would like to rent a car in the area and return it to the Reno airport. Truckee appears to be closer but I am not familiar with the services available in either area. Suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Given you want to fly out of Reno, I'd suggest stay on the train to RNO and pick up your car there. I'm not sure what car rentals would be available in Truckee, but I'm pretty sure you'd end up with a drop fee to turn the car in at Reno airport.

Although the drive from Truckee to Lake Tahoe is much nicer, I still think the cost difference isn't worth it. Plus you could always make the drive to Truckee if you want. Also, I would plan on spending the first night in Reno. The train stops just behind Harrah's and is a short walk to many hotels. Then you can hop a shuttle to the airport the next morning to pick up your car. This will make sure you have plenty of daylight to enjoy the drive Lake Tahoe and not driving a strange road at night.

Above all enjoy your trip.

Thanks for the information. I checked Google maps and it appears the Amtrak station is close to the Reno airport. I will be traveling westbound and arriving at about 8:30am on a Sunday. Hertz and Enterprise locations are also shown in the area, but I assume they would likely be closed on a Sunday.

Hertz and Enterprise locations are also shown in the area, but I assume they would likely be closed on a Sunday.You're assuming a car rental office would be closed on one of the main travel days of the week? That seems odd.

You're assuming a car rental office would be closed on one of the main travel days of the week? That seems odd.

"City" car rental offices, which is what I assume Armani is referring to with the comment about the Hertz and Enterprise locations, are often closed (or open only for limited hours) on Sundays. Of course, all rental car facilities at the airport would be open, I'm sure.

"City" car rental offices, which is what I assume Armani is referring to with the comment about the Hertz and Enterprise locations, are often closed (or open only for limited hours) on Sundays. Of course, all rental car facilities at the airport would be open, I'm sure.Hertz looks like it's open 6am-10pm on Sundays.

http://www.hertz.com/rentacar/location/index.jsp?targetPage=locationDetailsView.jsp&eoag=RNOC05

Thanks. This is good to know. One problem I often encounter when traveling with Amtrak is getting a rental car, especially on weekends or late at night. We often take the train to SLC and all downtown Hertz and Enterprise offices are closed Sundays and only open until about noon on Saturdays. We usually have to take a taxi to the airport to pick up a car, but taxis can be a challenge to find at 11pm in SLC.

Just take a cab over to RNO and get your car. Now you've got options for your drive to SLT. (1) Express route - 395 through Carson to Kingsbury Grade. (2) Fast with some views - 395 to 50 Spooner Summit. (3) (MY PICK) Nice mix - 395 to 431 Mt Rose Highway. You'll go over a huge mountain with views down to the lake & Incline. Follow the E Shore past Sand Harbor down to Stateline & SLT. (4) Taking your time - 80 to 267 through Truckee over Kingsbury Grade to Kings Bch, Incline, E Shore, & SLT. (5) Low & slow - 80 to 89, heading E through Tahoe City, Tahoe Vista, Kings Bch, Incline, & E Shore. (6) Let's make a day of it - follow Truckee R into Tahoe City, down the W shore to Emerald Bay, Eagle Falls, and along the S Shore to SLT. It's 78 miles to circumnavigate the lake and I suggest you do that. Just depends how much driving you wanna do that morning. They might not have your room ready 'till afternoon. If it's a short trip I would head down the W Shore 1st and the E Shore on your way back to RNO. If you've got more days I'd stay a couple nights in N Lake as well. It's a lot nicer. wj

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If you need to pick up a rental car from RNO airport, you can walk over to Harrah's and ride their free shuttle to the airport. It runs every 30 or 60 min depending on the time of day.

https://totalrewards.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/469/~/harrah's-reno---airport-shuttle

I've taken it when arriving from Sacramento on the Amtrak bus. The hotel entrance is around the corner from the station.

Oh yeah, don't know exactly when you're going, but the Grand Sierra in Reno has been running 2 free nights S-Th through 7/31. They've been running this promo or one similar for a couple years now. Since you're not going 'High Season' it still should be around. I've only stayed at 'the Summit' there, but it was really nice. LINK: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hotel-deals/1354689-grand-sierra-reno-2-free-nights-sun-thur-through-july-31-2012-a.html BTW: you could get a decent amount of snow on you until maybe mid-May. wj

Thanks. This is good to know. One problem I often encounter when traveling with Amtrak is getting a rental car, especially on weekends or late at night. We often take the train to SLC and all downtown Hertz and Enterprise offices are closed Sundays and only open until about noon on Saturdays. We usually have to take a taxi to the airport to pick up a car, but taxis can be a challenge to find at 11pm in SLC.

Not directly related to Amtrak per se, but if I'm getting in late at night, I go straight to the hotel and get the car the next morning ... this often saves a days' rental fees, particularly if I have to drop it in the morning.

To get this thread back on track, the OP didn't say where he was getting on the Zephyr -- if it's on the west coast, the ride over Donner is one of the nicest you'll find anywhere.

Bob H