Managing winter schedules and travel in the Reno-Tahoe area requires planning for variable road conditions and school-year childcare operations.
Winter Transit and Mountain Access
For families planning trips to ski resorts, regional transit options reduce traffic congestion and parking difficulties. Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit (TART) provides free Park & Ride shuttle services from the Truckee High School lower field lots. Weekend shuttles to Palisades Tahoe operate every 15 minutes from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Hourly shuttles to Northstar California Resort run from the Lift Truckee Workspace between 7:09 a.m. and 5:09 p.m.
For local travel within Truckee, TART Connect operates on-demand microtransit service from 6:30 a.m. to midnight daily. Fixed-route buses, including the Highway 89 and Highway 267 routes, also run daily to connect North Tahoe communities and ski areas. Before departing, check the Road conditions hub for the latest closures.
Driving Safety
Winter storms can make roads impassable. Caltrans advises drivers to carry chains and ensure they are the proper size for their tires. Always install chains on the drive wheels. When driving in snow, keep the gas tank full and maintain at least four car lengths of distance behind snowplows. If you encounter storm conditions, slow down; posted speed limits may be unsafe on ice. Before heading into the mountains, review the latest status on I-80 road conditions, SR-431 Mt Rose road conditions, and US-50 road conditions.
Cameras on the I-80 corridor.
Childcare and Sierra Kids Program
The City of Reno operates the Sierra Kids program for children ages 5–12 attending Washoe County School District elementary schools. This recreational enrichment program provides supervised care before and after school.
Weekly Fees:
- Mornings: $41 per week
- Afternoons: $60 per week
- Conference Week Afternoons: $81 per week
Registration is online and sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis. If a site is full, families can join a waitlist. The program is closed on specific holidays, including New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Nevada Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Family Day, and Christmas Day. Sierra Kids also does not operate on teacher professional days or teacher work days.
Parents are responsible for reviewing the Youth Parent Handbook and submitting any necessary allergy information forms at arrival. For registration assistance, contact the registration desk at 775-334-2262 or the Youth Office at 775-334-4280. If you are unable to register online, in-person registration is available at the Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, located at 1301 Valley Road in Reno.
Program Closures and Protocols
Sierra Kids follows Washoe County School District and Washoe County Health District policies regarding COVID response and potential enrollment reductions. No refunds, credits, or transfers are provided for missed, sick, snow, or hazardous air quality days. If a child does not attend for two consecutive weeks, they may be withdrawn from the program. Late pickup fees are $20 per child for the first 1–5 minutes, followed by $1 per minute per child thereafter.