Getting Here & Parking

Q: Why are you making this change and why now?

A: Traffic/road congestion and parking challenges have been a serious topic of conversation within our community for a while, and this past winter has perhaps been the most challenging yet. These are not just Northstar issues – they are deeply felt across all of Tahoe, and certainly at every resort in the region. After taking a deep dive into our current parking practices and traffic patterns, learning from other resorts across our network, and much consideration and conversation here in-resort, we believe that a reservations-based parking program can, and will, make a difference.

We have many choices for guests related to parking, including plenty of free parking options.

Q: Which parking lots are impacted by this change?

A: This winter 2023/24, the Village View lot will become a paid, reservations-based lot on weekends and peak periods, and the Lower Village Preferred Paid parking lot will remain a paid lot but will require reservations on weekends and peak periods. We have many choices for guests who join us, with a mix of paid and free options across our resort.

Q: When will the Village View and Lower Village Preferred Paid lots require reservations and what does that mean?

A: Parking at the Village View and Lower Village Preferred Paid lots during the winter season will require reservations and there will be a fee to park during weekends (Saturday – Sunday) and peak periods. We define peak periods as:

• December 16, 17, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 (please note, NOT on the 25th)
• January 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 27, 28
• February 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
• March 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31
• April 6, 7, 13, 14

Q: What hours of the day will reservations be required and paid parking be enforced during weekends and peak periods at the Village View and Lower Village Preferred Paid lots?

A: On weekends and holidays, we will require reservations to park at our Village View lot, and there will be a fee of $20 for vehicles with 3 or fewer occupants before 1pm; there is no fee for 4+ people in a vehicle, but reservations are still required. After 1pm on weekends and peak period days, parking will be free, and no reservations are required. Village View will remain free with no reservations required on weekdays (unless designated as a peak period).

For the Lower Village Preferred Paid lot, reservations will be required on weekends and peak periods before 3pm. The fees to park in this lot will remain the same as winter 2022/23: $20 during the week (Monday – Friday) and $40 on weekends and peak periods, regardless of how many occupants are in a single vehicle.

Q: What are my options to park for free?

A: The Village View lot will remain free without need for reservations on Monday – Friday during the winter season, with the exception of peak periods; it will also be free (without reservations) after 1pm on weekends and peak periods.

Castle Peak lot will also remain free every day, no reservations required.

Q: How will this parking system be managed?

A: In partnership with a third-party parking management company, our parking attendants will support this new parking system – including parking transactions as appropriate and carpool validations.

Q: When can I start making reservations, and how?

A: We anticipate opening reservations in November, prior to our season starting. At that time, reservations can be made via parknorthstar.com.

Q: How far in advance do you expect parking reservations to fill?

A: We anticipate reservations to go quickly and recommend you secure a spot in advance, should you want to park at the Village View or Lower Village Preferred Paid lots on a weekend or peak period this winter.

Q: How many reservations can I make at once?

A: Each guest may hold five reservations at one time. Once a reservation has been used, guests can add another to their account to return back to five at any one time. There is no limit to how many reservations a guest can make throughout the course of the season.

Q: How can I cancel a reservation?

A: Cancellations can be made for a refund until 8am the morning of the reservation.

Q: What happens if I make a reservation and don’t show up?

A: If you no longer plan to use your reservation, you should cancel by 8am the day of your planned arrival for a refund; we ask that you cancel regardless of if you no longer plan to use your reservation. We reserve the right to restrict anyone’s ability to make future reservations if the reservation system is being abused or manipulated in any way.

Q; Is there a cutoff time to make a reservation?

A: No. Until reservations are sold out for any given day, you can make your reservation up to the time you arrive.

Q: Is there a season-long parking pass I can purchase for every weekend and peak period?

A: Not at this time.

Q: I have an ADA/Disabled license plate or placard. Do I need to make a parking reservation?

A: No. Our ADA parking spots are all located outside of reserved parking areas and will remain available on a first come, first-served basis daily.

Q: If I have a lesson booked with Ski and Ride School, do I need to make a reservation?

A: Yes, you will need to make a parking reservation to park in the Village View and Lower Village Preferred Paid lots during weekends and peak periods.

Reservations for the Village View lot will be free for vehicles with 4+ occupants, and $20 for vehicles with 3 or fewer occupants. For the Lower Village Preferred Paid lot, reservations will now be required on weekends and peak periods, however, the fees to park in this lot will remain the same as winter 2022/23: $20 during the week and $40 on weekends and peak periods, regardless of how many occupants are in a single vehicle.

Q: If my child is on race team, do I need a reservation?

A: Yes, a reservation will be required during weekends and peak periods. We highly recommend and encourage carpooling with other Race Team families, and we will send information to participating families prior to the 2023/24 season beginning.

Q: What if I am driving a rental vehicle and don’t have my plate information yet to make a reservation?

A: When you make your reservation, add your private vehicle license plate number to make the reservation. When you receive your rental car, login to your account and change your license plate number to match your rental car plates.

Q: If reservations-based parking is so effective, why not transition all lots to this model?

A: We know that locating free lots outside of the main base area will reduce congestion by keeping vehicles from the busiest areas. To that end, we don’t see an immediate need to put this system in place universally, and we do want to continue to provide free parking options on weekends and peak periods. We are always watching traffic patterns and evaluating our approach and will make changes to our parking plan as needed in the future.

Q: What is the cost of paid parking during peak periods?

A: Reservations for the Village View lot will be free for vehicles with 4+ occupants and $20 for vehicles with 3 or fewer occupants during weekends and peak periods. For the Lower Village Preferred Paid lot, reservations will now be required on weekends and peak periods, however, the fees to park in this lot will remain the same as winter 2022/23: $20 during the week and $40 on weekends and peak periods, regardless of how many occupants are in a single vehicle.

Q: Do I pay at the parking lot or ahead of time online?

A: Parking at the Village View and Lower Village Preferred Paid lots requires reservations during weekends and peak periods, and payment will be required ahead of time online when you make your reservation. Payment is not required if you have 4+ people in your vehicle – in that case it is free, but a reservation is still required.

Q: How many people do you have to have in your car to qualify for free parking ?

A:During the week (Monday – Friday), all Northstar parking lots are free, except for the Lower Village Preferred Paid lot, and no reservations will be required. During weekends and peak periods, reservations for the Village View lot are required, with a fee of $20 for vehicles with 3 or fewer occupants and free for 4+ in a single vehicle. After 1pm during weekends and peak periods, the lot will be free, and no reservations will be required.

For the Lower Village Preferred Paid lot, reservations will be required on weekends and peak periods before 3pm. The fees to park in this lot will remain the same as winter 2022/23: $20 during the week (Monday – Friday) and $40 on weekends and peak periods, regardless of how many occupants are in a single vehicle.

Q: What if my car doesn’t fit three additional people and ski gear, and I don’t want to pay the flat fee in one of the paid/reservations lots?

A: There are plenty of free lots at Northstar if you are unable to accommodate 4+ occupants in your vehicle.

Q: Where will revenue from paid parking go?

A: Our objective is to create a routine amongst our guests that encourages carpooling. We continually assess needs for reinvestment in parking and transportation efficiency and experience at our resorts, and revenue from paid parking will be prioritized accordingly.

Q: Can I park on neighboring streets?

A: No, there is no street parking in Northstar Neighborhoods – please obey all posted signage about where you can and cannot park, especially within neighboring areas of the resort.