Olympic Valley is compact enough to walk. The village, the lifts, and most restaurants are within a few minutes on foot from the main parking areas. On ski days, the gondola linking Palisades and Alpine Meadows is the key piece of infrastructure — it runs throughout the ski day and is included with a lift ticket.
The aerial tram at the Palisades base runs year-round (weather permitting in summer) to High Camp. It is the main way to access the upper mountain without skiing down, and in summer it serves as the trailhead for routes into the Granite Chief Wilderness.
TART buses connect Olympic Valley to Tahoe City, Carnelian Bay, and Truckee. Tahoe City is the hub for connections around the lake. Schedules are more frequent in ski season but the service runs year-round. A free resort shuttle runs within the base village area during ski season.
Cars are practical if you plan to explore the wider Lake Tahoe region — Tahoe City is 15 minutes south on Highway 89, and Truckee is about 20 minutes north. In winter, always check road conditions before driving; chains are frequently required on Highway 89.