California and Nevada
Pick your shore before you pick a room. The South Shore is for evenings out, Tahoe City for the West Shore, and Incline Village for the East Shore.
from $53/night1,600 hotels compared
1001 Heavenly Village Way
from
$226/night
compared on 2 sites
4133 Cedar Avenue
8.2Very Good809 reviews
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$81/night
compared on 3 sites
3901 Saddle Road
8.8Fabulous727 reviews
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$98/night
compared on 5 sites
944 Friday Avenue
8.5Fabulous1,086 reviews
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$85/night
compared on 5 sites
3961 Lake Tahoe Boulevard
8.3Very Good792 reviews
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$114/night
compared on 4 sites
4130 Lake Tahoe Boulevard
8.3Very Good1,824 reviews
from
$189/night
compared on 4 sites
1,600 hotels compared
Lake Tahoe straddles the California–Nevada border, and its towns are spread out around the shore. Stay in South Lake Tahoe or Stateline for nightlife and Heavenly. Tahoe City, Kings Beach and Incline Village each sit near different beaches and mountain roads.
The South Shore has the most hotels and restaurants. South Lake Tahoe runs west along Lake Tahoe Boulevard. Stateline sits just across the Nevada line, next to Heavenly Village. Stay here for Heavenly ski days and the busier evenings. Emerald Bay is a trip west, not a short walk from the Stateline hotels.
Tahoe City sits on the northwest shore at the outlet of the Truckee River. From there, CA-89 runs down the West Shore to Sunnyside, Homewood and Emerald Bay. Kings Beach and Tahoe Vista are farther east on the North Shore. They have their own beach access and a different road to Truckee and Northstar. A hotel on one shore won’t put the whole lake within walking distance.
Incline Village is on Nevada’s northeast shore, near Diamond Peak. Sand Harbor is farther south on NV-28, and driving in during summer can require a day-use reservation. The East Shore has fewer hotels than the South Shore, so check how far your beach and dinner spots are before you book.
Reno–Tahoe International Airport is the main airport for the lake. The road in depends on your shore: US 50 from Sacramento to South Lake Tahoe, I-80 and CA-89 to Tahoe City, and Mount Rose Highway from Reno to Incline Village. Winter storms can close passes, so check the route before you leave. Summer is drier, with warm days and cool nights at lake level.
This is the busiest shore for hotels and restaurants. Heavenly Village and the Stateline casino blocks sit right at the California–Nevada line. Lake Tahoe Boulevard runs west from there toward quieter beaches. Reno–Tahoe Airport is about 59 miles away by road, so book a shuttle or car before you land.
Around here: Heavenly Village, Stateline, El Dorado Beach
Tahoe City sits where the Truckee River leaves the lake, with shops and a transit center. Sunnyside is farther down the West Shore. Stay here for northwest-shore beaches and drives along CA-89. A night out on the South Shore means a long drive. Reno–Tahoe Airport is about 55 miles from Tahoe City by road.
Around here: Tahoe City Transit Center, Fanny Bridge, Sunnyside
The West Shore is quieter and more spread out than Tahoe City or Stateline. Homewood and Tahoma sit on CA-89 north of Emerald Bay. You stay here for days on the lake and the trails. You’ll need a car for most errands. Homewood is about 58 miles from Reno–Tahoe Airport by road.
Around here: Homewood, Tahoma, Emerald Bay State Park
Kings Beach on the North Shore has a public beach and places to eat. Tahoe Vista is just west. CA-267 runs inland to Truckee and Northstar. TART buses cover parts of the North Shore, but skiing on the South Shore means crossing the basin. Kings Beach is about 37 miles from Reno–Tahoe Airport by road.
Around here: Kings Beach State Recreation Area, Tahoe Vista, CA-267
Incline Village is on the Nevada shore near Diamond Peak. Sand Harbor is farther south on NV-28, and the Tahoe East Shore Trail runs toward it. Plan beach access and summer parking ahead of time. Reno–Tahoe Airport is about 33 miles from Incline Village by road.
Around here: Incline Village, Diamond Peak, Sand Harbor
In South Lake Tahoe, summer has warm afternoons, cool nights and not many rainy days. July and August are the months for beaches and trails. Winter is cold and snowy, good for skiing, and road conditions can change fast. The monthly figures are for South Lake Tahoe; Tahoe City, the higher slopes and exposed shorelines can differ.
Reno–Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is the main airport for the basin. Your road depends on the shore: I-580 and US 50 for South Lake Tahoe, I-80 and CA-89 for Tahoe City, and Mount Rose Highway for Incline Village. Sacramento is the other way in, by air or by road.
31 mi from downtown
The drive from the airport depends on which shore you’re staying on. Shuttles run to parts of North and South Lake Tahoe, and you can rent a car at the airport. Check where the shuttle drops off for your hotel.
88 mi from downtown
From Sacramento, take US 50 for South Lake Tahoe or I-80 for Truckee and the North Shore. Mountain traffic and weather can stretch the drive.
South Lake Tahoe and Stateline have the most restaurants and nightlife. Tahoe City and Kings Beach are better for the North and West Shores. Incline Village is closer to Sand Harbor and Diamond Peak.
No. The lake spans two states, and its roads wind around the whole basin. Pick a hotel near the beach, ski area or town you’ll use most, and treat the other shores as day trips.
1,600 hotels around Lake Tahoe start at $53. Compare the full rate, and check which shore the hotel is on.
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