They are staying in the City at the end. But having flown from the UK to SFO countless times -- that is a long/tiring flight followed by a long drive. That's why I'm suggesting maybe staying the night and starting fresh the next morning.

janisj - horses for courses. I can grab a few winks on the flight and then like to make progress after I land.

Hey - you never know if there might be something the next day that might cause a travel hassle - at least that's what I take into consideration. If it happens the day you arrive - you can always find a place for the night.

Ferrari's Crown Resort is a motel - not exactly a resort despite its name. I don't know the quality...check TripAdvisor for that.

Again, many thanks for your comments. I have taken it all on board and we have changed our tickets and extended our stay now so that we can stay an extra couple of nights in SF at the end of our trip. My husband is used to driving all over Europe towing a caravan (after a long ferry crossing to Spain sometimes) so he feels he should be ok to drive on the Friday we arrive. It would be good to get the travelling over with in one day, so fingers crossed it all goes well.

Anyone have any ideas where to get a cheap SD card with USA maps on for a tomtom sat nav? They are very expensive in the UK. Just a thought.

Janis, thank you for the snow information, maybe it won't be too bad for us - fingers crossed!

So excited.....

It's been snowing in the last few days, although the fact that resorts are advertising 10 inches of powder shows how desperate they are.

Checked Ebay for the SD card- not sure this is the one you need:http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Genuine-...item53e39a63e8
I prefer my Magellan with the SD card slot.

Oh oh -- Friday

What time do you land? Friday Afternoon generally have heavy eastbound traffic basically all the way from San Francisco to well past Sacramento.

It's not that complicated getting from the Bay Area to Tahoe. Get over the Bay Bridge and head on Interste 80 toward Sacramento - and there stay on 80 to North Shore - or 50 to the South Shore.

Just use the old fashioned maps if you have to.

Here is an overview: http://www.distancebetweencities.net...cisco_ca/route

And I think there has been another front moving in. Might drop a couple of feet all told.

Going east on I-80 on a Friday can make you feel like you are in a parking lot. I see the traffic here in Vacaville when going across the freeway on the overramps. Janisj is correct. I would stay in SF and leave for Tahoe Saturday morning. Btw, coming back on I-80 (going west) on Sunday afternoons and early and sometimes even late evenings is the same situation. Wishing you a wonderful trip!

Tom: "It's not that complicated getting from the Bay Area to Tahoe"

Not complicated at all. But timing on a Friday is everything. Been a while since you lived up here I think. As LI says, SFO all the way through Roseville/Rocklin (on I-80) or Placerville (on hwy 50) can be a parking lot from early Friday afternoon. And if it is a good ski weekend or it is snowing, the parking lot stretches all the way to the Lake.

Whereas - Saturday morning will be free and clear.

And may have mentioned it - but one of our favorite - smaller areas - was Sugar Bowl - and sometimes we would ski it on Sunday afternoons - as it's about a half hour closer to getting back to SF. They used to get the most powder on the North shore.

see: http://www.sugarbowl.com/home

Jani - I was speaking to not having to worry about having some kind of GPS system.

And if you arrive by early afternoon - you can beat the traffic. If not - have dinner in SF and then you can still make the drive - or get as far as say Auburn.

Somehow - it seems there are those that fear for your safety?

Tom, early afternoon is not early enough to leave for Tahoe on Friday. Maybe if they could leave by late morning, it would be OK. it's truly awful (I live near SFO - I'd rather leave home at 8 pm on Friday and get to Tahoe late (or sleep in Auburn) than leave anytime after noon. Not that I'm recommending leaving late to someone who has no idea where they're going - I'm not!

Geesh: What a bunch of worry warts.

You get on the freeway heading to SF and then look for the signs to the Bay Bridge/Oakland/Sacramento/Interstate 80 and you have to work at getting lost from there.

"And if you arrive by early afternoon - you can beat the traffic."

repeat after me . . . Not on <red>Fridays</red>

So far you have heard it from moi (near sacramento) LoveItaly (right off I-80) and sf7307 (works in SF and lives on the Peninsula) . . . please believe us, we know what of we speak. It is a parking lot (or as the OP would say, a Car Park)

Driving I-80 years ago has no similarity to now.

Not to mention there will be a lot of pent-up demand if we ever get any significant snowfall this year - MORE people on the road on Friday!

Another do not drive to Tahoe on a Friday afternoon from SF unless you can leave before noon. I have to drive to Berkeley twice a week from SF and on Friday afternoons in ski season it can take me 1 and 30 mins to drive 13 miles!!!

Ok Ok: It would appear traffic has gotten worse - but hey - sometimes it used to take 45 minutes to get from the Bay Bridge to out even by Albany/Golden Gate Field way back when on Friday afternoons.

Hopefully - they are arriving by 3 PM or so - and I just say go for it and see what happens - and if it's too bad - pull off and have something to eat and get back on later, or find a place where to stay.

Actually - where could they check on arrival what is going on traffic wise - much like AM 1070 on the radio in the greater LA area. And if it was too bad - then would agree - spending a nice night in SF would be fine and if you got up early - you could still get a half day on skis at somewhere such as Sugar Bowl - assuming you wanted to check out what might be a recent powder drop.

Oh yes: Assuming you are going to rent equipment - that also has to be factored into the schedule. Generally - it was less expensive for visitors to rent in SF (Swiss Ski Sports in the old days was great) - but if you were up at Tahoe and wanted to change out boots, whatever - that could be a problem v. renting from right at a place in the Tahoe area.

Here are some shops at South Shore - and there are of course - others at North Shore and almost every ski resort has a shop or two. http://www.virtualtahoe.com/SkiTahoe/SkiRentals.html

BTW -checked out (Ferrari's) Crown Resort - and yes, it's motel type style - but it's right by the lake with what looks like great views and even a hot tub overlooking the lake. King's Beach is a nice area - with even a Safeway/large grocery/liquor store not too far away - so it appears to me it could fit one's needs, such as enjoying some wine (plastic glasses) and cheese and snacks during apres ski relaxing in the hot tub.

http://www.tahoecrown.com/lakefront-rooms