Olympic Valley Vacation Rentals

Our Olympic Valley vacation rentals allow you to stay in this mountain community with easy access to Palisades Tahoe. The resort offers skiing and snowboarding in winter; hiking and mountain biking in summer as well as Village dining, mountain views, and gondola rides. Staying in our vacation rentals means you can make breakfast before heading to the lifts, leave an afternoon open for the trails, and enjoy a home that gives your group room to relax between outings.

Located between Truckee and Tahoe City in North Lake Tahoe, Olympic Valley lets you build your stay around the mountains while keeping both towns within reach. Check the available homes below, and find the right property for the trip you have in mind.

Staying in Olympic Valley

Olympic Valley suits a trip centered on Palisades Tahoe, whether you're here for a ski getaway or a summer stay with hiking and sightseeing. The Village has shops and restaurants together beside the lifts, but the community extends beyond the base area.

Pro Tip: Check each listing's location carefully. For a ski trip, decide how you'll reach the mountain before choosing your home. For summer, consider how much of your time you want to spend on trails versus at Lake Tahoe. Olympic Valley is a mountain base; if being near the lake is your priority, compare our Tahoe City vacation rentals, Carnelian Bay vacation rentals or Kings Beach vacation rentals.

Olympic Valley at a glance

Location: Off Highway 89 between Truckee and Tahoe City, Olympic Valley is home to Palisades Tahoe.

Winter adventures: Palisades Tahoe spans 6,000 skiable acres across two mountains. Its challenging steeps attract expert skiers and riders, while beginner slopes and intermediate runs give families and kids room to learn and have fun.

Tram and gondola: Ride the Aerial Tram to High Camp for mountain views, or use the Base to Base Gondola to explore both mountains during winter operations. Check schedules and conditions before heading out.

Summer exploring: Choose a forest walk, tackle a longer mountain hike or ride the tram to shorter trails at High Camp.

Olympic heritage: Olympic Valley hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics.

Skiing at Palisades Tahoe

Palisades Tahoe is one resort with two peaks. If skiing is the focus of your trip, staying in Olympic Valley puts you near the Village and the Palisades base area, with restaurants nearby for a meal after the slopes. When the Base to Base Gondola is operating, you can ski Alpine too without driving between the mountains, giving your group more terrain to choose from throughout your stay.

Not sure if Palisades Tahoe is the right resort for you and your group? Check our Northstar vs. Palisades Tahoe guide to compare them.

Parking and Getting to Palisades Tahoe in Winter

Driving to the lifts requires some advance planning on winter weekends and holidays. Reservations are required on Saturdays, Sundays and select holiday periods until 1PM, with some exceptions. After 1PM, reservations are not required but parking spaces are not guaranteed. To make reservations and learn more about parking at Palisades Tahoe, check the resort's parking program.

Mountaineer is a free, app-based, on-demand winter shuttle within Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows, with evening service between the valleys. Days and hours can differ by service area, season and year. Please check the schedule before planning your transportation.

North Lake Tahoe's TART shuttle offers a Highway 89 route that serves Olympic Valley between Truckee and Tahoe City.

The resort also lists park-and-ride options from both towns on its parking page.

The Village, Gondola and Aerial Tram

The Base to Base Gondola connects the Village in Olympic Valley with Alpine Lodge in about 16 minutes, so you can explore both mountains without driving between base areas. The gondola runs during winter when both mountains are open, weather and conditions permitting. Check its operating status before planning your day around the connection.

The Village at Palisades Tahoe sits at the base of the Palisades lifts, with shops, restaurants and lodging together in one walkable area. It works as a stop for lunch after skiing, a meal between summer outings or a starting point for the Aerial Tram.

The Aerial Tram climbs from the Village to High Camp at 8,200 feet. In summer, it's an option for enjoying mountain scenery without the strenuous climb from the valley floor. You can take the tram, hike the one-mile High Camp Loop, take in views of Lake Tahoe and leave time afterward for a meal in the Village.

Check the lift status before choosing your sightseeing day, as summer and winter operating dates vary.

Hiking in Olympic Valley

Olympic Valley has trails for most groups, from a paved path along the valley floor to a steep climb with views of Lake Tahoe. The Shirley Canyon Trail starts a short walk from the Village and climbs about 2.9 miles past cascades and Shirley Lake to High Camp, gaining close to 1,900 feet. In summer you can ride the tram back down instead of hiking out. For something flatter, the paved Truckee River bike trail runs 5.1 miles from the Highway 89 end of the valley to Tahoe City and suits families and casual walkers. The short loops at High Camp work well for kids and anyone short on time. For more hiking tips and trail information see our North Lake Tahoe Hiking Guide and our Top 10 Hiking Trails in North Lake Tahoe.

A trail rated as "easy" is not the same as an accessibility rating. For a list of accessible activities, see our Accessible Activities in North Lake Tahoe guide.

Nearby Towns and Resorts

Truckee and Tahoe City are each a short drive for meals, shopping and outings beyond the resort. From the Village at Palisades Tahoe, clear-road driving estimates are:

Alpine base area (Alpine Meadows): About 15 minutes.
Tahoe City: About 15 minutes.
Downtown Truckee: About 20 minutes.
Kings Beach: About 35 minutes.
Northstar: About 35 minutes.
Reno-Tahoe International Airport: About 65 minutes.

Allow more time on winter weekends and during storms. These estimates start at the Village and your rental's location will affect the journey.

FAQs: Olympic Valley Vacation Rentals

Is Olympic Valley the same place as Palisades Tahoe?

Olympic Valley is the community; Palisades Tahoe is the ski resort within the community. Alpine Meadows is a part of Palisades Tahoe but a separate valley closer to Tahoe City. The two peaks are linked by the gondola. Staying in Olympic Valley allows you access to both peaks and resort amenities, while being near both Truckee and Tahoe City.

Is Palisades Tahoe suitable for beginners?

Yes. Palisades Tahoe has beginner terrain on both mountains, intermediate runs for when confidence grows and expert areas for skilled skiers and snowboarders.

Do I need chains or four-wheel drive in winter?

Caltrans often posts chain controls on Highway 89 and Interstate 80 during storms. When signs say chains are required, drivers must comply. In chain control areas, four-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles must still carry chains or other traction devices. We recommend checking Caltrans QuickMap for current conditions and chain requirements before you drive.

Can I walk to the ski lifts from my Olympic Valley rental?

It depends on the home's location. If walking to skiing, restaurants and shops is a priority, confirm the property's route and distance to the Village before booking or explore our Northstar vacation rentals.

Find Your Olympic Valley Stay

See the Olympic Valley vacation rentals below to compare homes and check availability for your dates. For more options nearby, browse our Tahoe City vacation rentals and North Lake Tahoe ski cabins.