Lake Tahoe sits at 6,225 feet on the California-Nevada border — a glacially carved lake 22 miles long, 12 miles wide, and 1,645 feet deep. The water is so clear that the Secchi depth exceeds 70 feet and the deep water is an intense blue that shifts to turquoise in the shallows over white granite boulders.

In summer it's one of the best lake destinations in the country — swimming, kayaking, hiking, and mountain biking with the Sierra Nevada as a backdrop. In winter it's one of the premier ski destinations in the country with over a dozen resorts around the lake. The shoulder seasons — particularly fall with the aspens turning and spring with the snowmelt waterfalls — are the secret seasons that locals prefer.

Getting there with an RV

Highway 50 from Sacramento — the main western approach. Climbs from the Central Valley through the Sierra foothills to South Lake Tahoe. Well-maintained and handles most RV sizes with some steep grades on the Sierra crossing.

Interstate 80 to Highway 267 or Highway 89 — the northern approach from Reno or Sacramento via Truckee. The most common approach for northern California visitors.

Highway 395 to Highway 88 or 89 — the eastern approach from Nevada. Connects directly to Highway 395 making Tahoe a natural addition to an Eastern Sierra road trip.

The lake loop — Highway 89 on the west shore and Highway 28 on the north and east shores. 72 miles around the entire lake. Most sections handle most RV sizes — the Emerald Bay section on Highway 89 has some tight curves and is not recommended for rigs over 35 feet.

South Lake Tahoe

The largest town on the lake straddles the California-Nevada border — the Nevada side has casinos, the California side has the beach access and state parks. It's the most developed part of the lake and the best base for first-time visitors.

Emerald Bay State Park

The most iconic spot on Lake Tahoe — a narrow glacially carved bay with water so intensely turquoise it looks tropical. Fannette Island — the only island in Lake Tahoe — sits in the center of the bay. The Scandinavian-style Vikingsholm castle built in 1929 sits at the bay's edge.

The overlook pullout on Highway 89 is free and accessible — the view of Emerald Bay from above is one of the great lake views in California. The trail down to Vikingsholm is 1 mile one-way with 500 feet of elevation loss — and 500 feet back up on the return.

Eagle Falls

A short trail from the Emerald Bay parking area to a two-tiered waterfall above the bay. 0.5 miles round trip with excellent views of Emerald Bay from the falls area. One of the best short walks on the lake.

D.L. Bliss State Park

The best beach on Lake Tahoe's California side — white granite boulders, crystal clear water over sand, and views across the lake to the Nevada mountains. The Rubicon Trail runs 4.5 miles along the west shore from Bliss to Vikingsholm — one of the best lake-level hikes in Tahoe with continuous water views.

Cascade Falls

A seasonal waterfall above Cascade Lake near Emerald Bay — 200 feet visible from the highway. A short trail leads to the base of the falls from the Bayview trailhead. Best in spring when snowmelt is at full volume.

Baldwin Beach

A large sand beach on the south shore near the California Tahoe Conservancy — one of the best swimming beaches on the lake. Less crowded than the city beaches in South Lake Tahoe. Good kayak launch point.

North Lake Tahoe

The north shore is less developed, more scenic, and closer to the best hiking terrain. Smaller towns, better beaches, and direct access to Squaw Valley, Northstar, and the wilderness areas above the lake.

Sand Harbor

Nevada State Park — the most beautiful beach on the entire lake. Large granite boulders create natural swimming pools in crystal clear turquoise water. The views across the lake to the Sierra are extraordinary.

Arrives early — the parking lot fills by 9am on summer weekends and the park closes entry when capacity is reached. Nevada State Parks day use fee. America the Beautiful pass not accepted.

Kings Beach State Recreation Area

A public beach on the north shore with good swimming and the most accessible parking on the lake. Consistent summer sun — the north shore gets more sun than the west shore which is shadowed by the Sierra in the afternoon.

Tahoe City

The main town on the north shore — a small, walkable town on the lake with good restaurants, the Fanny Bridge salmon viewing in fall, and the Truckee River outlet where the lake drains westward.

Watson Cabin — a historic 1909 log cabin on the lake in Tahoe City. Free to visit when open. One of the oldest surviving structures on the lake.

Sunnyside Restaurant — the best lakeside dining on the north shore. The deck over the water at sunset is one of the better dining experiences in Tahoe.

Hiking around Lake Tahoe

Mount Tallac — The best summit hike Difficulty: Strenuous Distance: 9.4 miles round trip Elevation gain: 3,294 feet

The best summit hike in the Tahoe Basin — climbs from the south shore to 9,735 feet with views of the entire lake below and Desolation Wilderness behind. The snow cross on the north face is visible from the south shore throughout summer. Start before 7am to avoid afternoon thunderstorms on the exposed upper mountain.

Desolation Wilderness — Day hikes

The most visited wilderness area per square mile in the United States — a granite wilderness of lakes, polished rock, and peaks immediately west of Lake Tahoe accessible from multiple trailheads.

Eagle Lake — a beautiful alpine lake accessible in 2 miles round trip from the Bayview trailhead near Emerald Bay. Good introduction to the Desolation Wilderness terrain.

Velma Lakes — a series of lakes deeper in the Desolation Wilderness accessible from Bayview in about 10 miles round trip. Excellent overnight destination with a backcountry permit.

Rubicon Trail — the 4.5-mile lakeside trail from D.L. Bliss to Vikingsholm is the best easy lake-level hike in Tahoe.

Tahoe Rim Trail

A 165-mile trail circling the entire Lake Tahoe Basin — one of the great long-distance trails in the Sierra Nevada. Day hikers can access sections from multiple trailheads around the lake for excellent ridge views looking down on the water from above. The section above Incline Village on the east shore delivers the best overhead lake views.

Water activities

Lake Tahoe's clarity and temperature — cold even in summer, rarely above 68°F at the surface — make it one of the best kayaking and paddleboarding lakes in the country. The clear water means you can see the bottom in 30–40 feet of depth while paddling.

Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available from multiple operators at South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City, and Kings Beach. Half-day and full-day rentals. The Emerald Bay paddle from Camp Richardson is one of the classic Tahoe water experiences — paddling into the bay and seeing the turquoise water from water level is completely different from the overlook view.

Sailing — Tahoe sailboat rentals available through multiple operators. The afternoon winds on the north shore are reliable in summer.

Zephyr Cove — a beach and marina on the Nevada east shore with boat tours, parasailing, and kayak rentals. The MS Dixie II paddlewheel boat runs two-hour scenic cruises of the lake from Zephyr Cove — an excellent way to see Emerald Bay and the lake's geography from the water.

Skiing and winter

Lake Tahoe has more ski terrain within driving distance than almost anywhere in the country.

Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) — the largest ski resort in the Tahoe area and one of the largest in North America. 6,000 acres, 3,600 vertical feet, and the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. World-class terrain for all levels.

Northstar California — a full-service resort with excellent groomed terrain, ski-in/ski-out lodging, and a village at the base. The best resort for families and intermediate skiers.

Heavenly Mountain Resort — straddles the California-Nevada border at South Lake Tahoe with views of both the lake and Nevada's Great Basin. The gondola from the South Lake Tahoe base is worth riding for non-skiers.

Sugar Bowl — a historic resort off Interstate 80 near Donner Summit. Smaller and less crowded than the major resorts with excellent skiing and a classic mountain atmosphere.

Truckee and Donner Summit

The town of Truckee 15 miles north of the lake is worth a stop — an authentic western mountain town with a historic downtown, excellent restaurants, and the Donner Memorial State Park where the famous Donner Party was stranded in the winter of 1846-47.

Donner Memorial State Park — a museum and memorial at the site of the Donner Party's camp. The interpretation is excellent and the surrounding lake and mountains are beautiful. Worth an hour regardless of your knowledge of the Donner Party story.

Donner Lake — a smaller lake adjacent to the state park with swimming, fishing, and camping. Less crowded than Tahoe and equally beautiful in a smaller scale.

Camping at Lake Tahoe

D.L. Bliss State Park Campground — forested sites above the lake with beach access. One of the most sought-after campgrounds in California. Books up months in advance on Reserve America.

Book on Reserve America → [affiliate link]

Emerald Bay State Park Campground — boat-in sites on the bay and walk-in sites above. No RV hookups — self-contained rigs only for the walk-in sites. Extraordinary setting.

Book on Reserve America → [affiliate link]

Fallen Leaf Lake Campground — Forest Service campground on a smaller lake adjacent to Tahoe near South Lake Tahoe. Full hookups on some sites. One of the best-positioned campgrounds for Desolation Wilderness access.

Book on Recreation.gov → [affiliate link]

Tahoe Valley Campground — the best full-hookup private campground near South Lake Tahoe. Large sites, good facilities, close to town amenities.

Book on Campspot → [affiliate link]

Lake Forest Campground — a city campground in Tahoe City on the north shore. Electric hookups, directly on the lake, excellent location for north shore exploration.

Practical notes

Summer weekends are extremely crowded. The lake draws day trippers from Sacramento and the Bay Area — Highway 50 backs up for miles on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Arrive Friday morning or Monday to avoid the worst of it.

Fire restrictions apply throughout summer. Campfire restrictions are common in the Tahoe Basin from July through October. Check current fire conditions before building any campfire.

Bears are present. The Tahoe Basin has an active black bear population that has learned the campground routine. Use food storage at all campgrounds.

The Nevada east shore has different rules. Sand Harbor and other Nevada state parks charge separate fees — the America the Beautiful annual pass is not accepted at Nevada state parks. Bring cash or a card for Nevada day use fees.

Gear for Lake Tahoe

• Surge protector — campground power quality varies. Best RV Surge Protectors →
• Leveling blocks — mountain sites are rarely flat. Best RV Leveling Systems →
• Solar kit — some campgrounds have limited hookups. Best Solar Kits for Full-Time RV Living →
• Bug spray — mosquitoes around the lake in early summer. Best Natural Bug Sprays →
• RV tires — mountain passes demand good rubber. Top 10 RV Tires for 2026 →
• Wireless internet — cell service is good around the lake. Starlink for wilderness areas. Best Wireless Internet Setups for RVs →

Part of the Central California RV Road Trip

The Ultimate Central California RV Road Trip →

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