We'll be flying out there sometime in February to check out Sierra Nevada College for my daughter . We're trying to decide on which airport to fly into...Vegas is not an option because of the drive to North Lake Tahoe being 8 hours. If we fly into SF, we'll probably take an extra day or so to see some sights but we're more concerned about the traffic and how easy it is to access either airport.
My SIL and DH lived in Incline Village for many years on Martis Peak Drive. Incline is not an inexpensive place to live. Since I read on Sierra Neva College website that freshman and sophmores are required to live on campus you will have plenty of time to figure out housing.
If there is a snow storm when you drive to Tahoe, be prepared for a long drive. I-80 can get closed at Applegate and you may be stuck for hours. If I were you, I would fly into San Jose, sightsee for a few days around the SF Bay area.
Afterward, I would take a SWA flight to Reno. Flight is less than an hour. I fly this route several times a month and can be as cheap as $108 for two round trip. You can then rent a car and drive 80 to 89, check out Squaw Valley and drive on into Incline Village.
Website about Squaw Valley:
http://www.squaw.com/
Directions from Reno Airport to Squaw Valley:
1960 Squaw Valley Rd.
Olympic Valley, CA 96146
Squaw Valley USA is just 42 miles from Reno, NV and it generally takes about 1 hour to drive.
Take Interstate 80 WEST into California and on to Truckee.
Take the Highway 89 SOUTH Exit towards Lake Tahoe/Tahoe City/Squaw Valley.
Follow Highway 89 SOUTH 8 miles to the Squaw Valley Rd. Exit. Turn RIGHT and follow Squaw Valley Rd. to the base of the mountain.
Here are a couple of websites with info about Incline Village:
http://www.gotahoe.com/
http://www.laketahoechamber.com/
Google Map Directions from Squaw Valley To Sierra Nevada College:
http://www.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl&q=
If you have any more questions, send me a pm. Since I have lived in SF Bay area since 1959, been going to Squaw Valley since the 1960's and go to Reno several times a month, I know a great deal about the areas you are planning to visit.