Lake Tahoe Airport (KTVL)
Medium airport · South Lake Tahoe, California, United States
Airport data
| Name | Lake Tahoe Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | KTVL |
| IATA | TVL |
| Elevation | 6,264 ft (1909 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 38°53'38" W 119°59'42" 38.89390, -119.99500 |
| Location | South Lake Tahoe, California, United States |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/36 | 8,541 ft (2603 m) | 100 ft | ASP | Yes |
Lake Tahoe Airport at a glance
Lake Tahoe Airport is a medium airport in South Lake Tahoe, California, United States, known to airline systems as TVL. The field elevation of 6,264 ft (1909 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at KTVL are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
The single runway, 18/36, offers 8,541 ft (2603 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 18 points roughly 180° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for KTVL shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Lake Tahoe Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Carson Airport | KCXP | 40 km (22 NM) |
| Truckee Tahoe Airport | KTRK | 49 km (26 NM) |
| Reno Tahoe International Airport | KRNO | 70 km (38 NM) |
| Sacramento Mather Airport | KMHR | 119 km (64 NM) |
| McClellan Airfield | KMCC | 124 km (67 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Lake Tahoe Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 6,264 ft field elevation of Lake Tahoe Airport can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 917 airports and airfields we list for United States — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Lake Tahoe Airport
What is the ICAO code of Lake Tahoe Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Lake Tahoe Airport is KTVL, and its IATA code is TVL. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Lake Tahoe Airport above sea level?
Lake Tahoe Airport sits at an elevation of 6,264 feet (1909 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Lake Tahoe Airport located?
The airport lies at 38.8939, -119.9950 — in South Lake Tahoe, California, United States, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Carson Airport, about 40 km away.
Does KTVL publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for KTVL appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Lake Tahoe Airport?
Lake Tahoe Airport has one runway. The longest, 18/36, measures 8,541 ft (2603 m) with a ASP surface.