I recently flew Jet Blue from NYC to FLA.I was very impressed and I will try to plan vacations were they go.Unfortunately the closest place to Tahoe they go is Oakland.How long of a drive is it,and is the drive a pain in the ass.

Oakland to Tahoe is probably a bit over three hours in good weather, non-commute direction. The weekend traffic up/back from the bay area can be a real pain.

Message: Oakland to Lake Tahoe takes about 4 1/2 hrs. Do you want to go to North or South Shore? To go to South Shore take Highway 80 east and exit to Highway 50 east. If you are going to North Shore, continue on Highway 80 east past 50 and exit onto Highway 89 south.

If you get hungry, I recommend a stop at the Coffee Tree in Vacaville for a casual and quick breakfast or lunch.

The only time the trip would take 4 1/2 hours is if there was lots of traffic and heavy snow in the mountains. It will be more like 3 or at the most 3 1/2 hours. Do not drive there on a Friday afternoon. It will take lots and lots of hours.

You'll get 10 miles per gallon on the trip to Tahoe, and about 100 miles to the gallon coming home.

Watch the weather, if it's snowing in the Sierra, you may need chains.

I'd strongly advise getting a 4 wheel drive car (Jeep cherokee or other) to avoid getting stopped in the case of snow, assuming you are going in the winter. It is not a matter of choice on the chains. They do roadblocks when it snows and if you do not have a four wheel drive car you will not be allowed to pass until you go buy chains and put them on.

Having a 4 wheel drive vehicle does not guarantee passage either. If the limitations advance to R2 or beyond they only allow 4 wheel drive WITH snow tires to go without chains.

Oh and a cherokee is a piece of junk in the snow.