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Lake Tahoe Airport

TVL · KTVL · South Lake Tahoe, CA · 6,264 ft elevation · var 16E · Non-towered

Airport information

ICAO / IATA
KTVL / TVL
Coordinates
38.8939, -119.9950
Elevation
6,264 ft MSL
Magnetic variation
16E
Sectional chart
SAN FRANCISCO
Airport use
Public
Control tower
No
ARTCC
OAKLAND (ZOA)
Flight service (FSS)
RENO
NOTAM facility
TVL
Attendance
0700-1600
Beacon
white-green (SS-SR)
Segmented circle
Yes
Wind indicator
lighted
Distance from city
3 SW

Weather

METAR observed

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TAF forecast

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Sun & FAA night 2026-06-21

EventLocal (PDT)UTC
Morning civil twilight
Loggable night ends
05:03 AM12:03Z
Sunrise05:35 AM12:35Z
Sunset08:29 PM03:29Z
Evening civil twilight
Loggable night begins
09:01 PM04:01Z
Loggable night (§1.1)
09:01 PM → 05:03 AM
Night currency (§61.57)
09:29 PM → 04:35 AM

Plan a flight from KTVL

Night operations

Airport lighting
SEE RMK
Rotating beacon
white-green · SS-SR
Pilot-controlled lighting
ACTVT MALSF RWY 18; MIRL RWY 18/36 - CTAF. PAPI RWY 18 ON CONSLY. on 122.85Chart Supplement ↗

Runway lighting aids — 18: 4-light PAPI (left) + MALSF.

FAA night windows (civil twilight, loggable night §1.1, currency §61.57) are in the live weather panel above.

Traffic pattern

18TPANSEW
LEFT traffic
Landing
Rwy 18 · 177°
Pattern
left (turns left)
TPA
7,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
CTAF
122.85

Enter the left downwind for Rwy 18 at 7,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) on a 45°. TPA estimated at 1,000 ft AGL (not charted for this field).

Runway 18/36

8,541 ft × 100 ft · Asphalt (Excellent)

Edge lights: Med. Weight bearing: Single wheel 70k, Double wheel 125k, Dual tandem 210k.

18
Heading
177° mag · 193° true
Markings
nonprecision
VGSI
4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
Approach lights
MALSF
Instrument landing
LDA/DME · CAT I · LOC 108.9 (TVL)
Traffic pattern
Left
Approach obstacle
Brush, 13 ft, 450 ft from threshold, 125 ft L of centerline — 19:1 slope to clear · penetrates the 20:1 visual approach surface
Displaced threshold
800 ft
36
Heading
357° mag · 13° true
Markings
basic
Traffic pattern
Right
Approach obstacle
Trees, 345 ft, 5,700 ft from threshold, 500 ft R of centerline — 15:1 slope to clear · penetrates the 20:1 visual approach surface
Displaced threshold
2,033 ft
ft · ≥1.5× comfortable, under 1.25× tight · saved across airports

Communication frequencies

ServiceFrequencyNotes
ASOS124.725
CNTR127.95OAKLAND CNTR
CTAF122.85
RDO122.25RENO RDO
UNIC122.85UNICOM

Nearby navigation aids

NavAidTypeFreqRadial / Dist magnetic
SWR · Squaw ValleyVOR-DME113.20r127° / 21.5 NM
HNW · HangtownVOR-DME115.50r057° / 36.7 NM

Airport diagram

Open PDF ↗
Preview diagram Open the airport diagram PDF

Procedures at a glance

Lowest mins: RNAV (GPS) · vertical guidance Takeoff mins / ODP ↗

Minimums & Hot Spots

Chart Supplement FAA A/FD

Open PDF ↗
Preview Chart Supplement Open the Chart Supplement PDF

Services

Fuel available
100LL, Jet A
Bottled oxygen
HIGH
Bulk oxygen
HIGH
Airframe service
MINOR
Powerplant service
MINOR
Other services
Charter, Instruction, Aircraft sales

Ownership & management

Owner
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
1901 LISA MALOFF WAY, SUITE 100, SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA
530-542-6182
Manager
JOHN DICKINSON
1901 LISA MALOFF WAY, SUITE 100, SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA
530-542-6182

Remarks FAA

  • AP SFC CONDS: TRML APRON EXCELLENT, TWY - RWY GOOD, NORTH GA APRON POOR.
  • TPA 7500' MSL FOR SMALL ACFT; 8000' MSL FOR TRANSPORT/HIGH PERFORMANCE ACFT.
  • AFTER WINTER STORMS RY 18/36 OPENS BEFORE ALL TWYS ARE CLEAR.
  • PREFERRED ARRIVAL RY 18; PREFERRED DEP RY 36.
  • RECREATIONAL AIRBORNE ACTIVITY ALONG SOUTHERN LAKE SHORE.
  • (E81) APRON ENTRANCE TWYS AND HIGH SPEED TWYS ONLY.
  • FOR LARGE AND HIGH PERFORMANCE ACFT DEP RY 18; RIGHT DOWNWIND DEP RECOMMENDED.
  • BIRDS AND WATERFOWL INVOF ARPT.
  • ADVERSE WEATHER EFFECTS MAGNIFIED BY MOUNTAINS.
  • TFC ADVISORIES & SEQUENCING IN THE TFC PAT ARE BASED ON POSITION REPORTS RECEIVED FROM PILOTS IN THESE AREAS.
  • ARPT SURROUNDED ON E; S & W BY RAPIDLY RISING TERRAIN.
  • ACCESS NOISE RESTRICTIONS: MAX 80 DBA DEP, 84 DBA ARR (TRANSPORT - 86 DBA), MAX 77.1 DBA NIGHT LIMIT.
  • NOISE ABATEMENT, DEP RWY 36 HDG 1 MILE, LEFT 320 DEG TO SHORELINE.
  • FOR NOISE ABATEMENT INFO CALL (530) 542-6182.
  • AVOID DESOLATION WILDERNESS WEST OF ARPT.
  • AP CONDS NOT MMT 1600-0700 DLY.
  • PARAGLIDERS AND MOTORIZED PRCHTS OPR FROM RWY SFC.
  • AP CONDS NOT MNT SAT/SUN.
  • COLD TEMPERATURE AIRPORT. ALTITUDE CORRECTION REQUIRED AT OR BELOW -12C.
  • ACTVT MALSF RWY 18; MIRL RWY 18/36 - CTAF. PAPI RWY 18 ON CONSLY.
  • MULTICOM 122.85
  • UNUSBL BYD 4 DEG LEFT OF RWY CNTRLN & BYD 5 NM.
  • APCH RATIO 22:1 TO DSPLCD THLD.

Weather is live from the Aviation Weather Center; airport facility data is from the FAA NASR (28-day cycle). For planning and education only; always verify against official sources. Open KTVL in a full tool: METAR/TAF decoder, crosswind calculator, sun & night times, or the density altitude calculator. Planning from here? Find the nearest airport with fuel or an approach, or check whether an IFR alternate is required.

About KTVL

Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL · KTVL) is an airport in South Lake Tahoe, CA, at 6,264 ft MSL. It has 1 runway, the longest 8,541 ft, with no control tower (pilot-controlled). This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for KTVL, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.

Does KTVL have a control tower?

No. Lake Tahoe Airport is a non-towered (pilot-controlled) airport; use the published CTAF/UNICOM on the Comms & NavAids tab.

What is the longest runway at KTVL?

Lake Tahoe Airport has 1 runway; the longest is 8,541 ft. See the Runways tab for headings, surface, and lighting.

Where is KTVL?

Lake Tahoe Airport is in South Lake Tahoe, CA, at an elevation of 6,264 ft MSL. Coordinates: 38.8939, -119.9950.

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