It takes 3-4 hours to drive from the Bay Area to most ski resorts, assuming you don't get stuck in blizzards or traffic. Of course if you leave at 5pm on Friday you are certain to get stuck in traffic. Check our road conditions page for current driving conditions. Make sure you have snow chains (that fit your car) as they are frequently required. (And we mean required, Caltrans stops all traffic on major highways during snow conditions and will not let you pass unless you have chains installed or 4-wheel drive with snow tires). Not many car rental companies offer chains (or ski racks) unfortunately, but you can rent them cheaply from a number of places in the bay area. If you are not used to driving in the snow check out these winter driving tips before you leave.
Among the closest resorts are Dodge Ridge, Bear Valley and Sugar Bowl. The furthest away are Mammoth and June Mountain, since they are on the far side of the Sierras and all of the passes except those close to Tahoe are closed all winter. For distances to specific resorts see our comparison table.
If you can't (or don't want to) drive, here are some more possibilities:
Many ski clubs arrange weekend ski trips where you can car pool with other club members, or sometimes go by bus. Guests are welcome at most ski clubs, check for the club nearest you.
A number of companies arrange bus trips to the mountains, normally leaving (very) early in the morning and returning late at night.
Amtrak has a ski page, but its unclear what, if anything, they offer in Northern California.
In principle, you could fly to Reno (Southwest or Reno Air typically have the best fares), but if you are going to get a plane you might do better to fly all the way to Utah or Colorado.
Got more travel tips to share with your fellow snow enthusiasts? Please e-mail them to us at: tips@jaws.com