{"id":97194,"date":"2021-08-04T08:10:26","date_gmt":"2021-08-04T15:10:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/?p=97194"},"modified":"2022-07-07T17:49:21","modified_gmt":"2022-07-08T00:49:21","slug":"best-time-to-visit-lake-tahoe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-time-to-visit-lake-tahoe\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Time to Visit Lake Tahoe"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Best Time to Visit Lake Tahoe ~ There are <em>plenty <\/em>of reasons to visit Lake Tahoe. As one of the most visited freshwater lakes in North America, Lake Tahoe offers something for all outdoor adventurers. In this article, we\u2019re telling you the best time to visit Lake Tahoe, and giving a full rundown of the top experiences the region has to offer.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-time-to-visit-lake-tahoe\/#Best_Time_to_Visit_Lake_Tahoe\" title=\"Best Time to Visit Lake Tahoe\">Best Time to Visit Lake Tahoe<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-time-to-visit-lake-tahoe\/#About_Lake_Tahoe_%E2%80%93_Natural_and_Man-Made_Attractions\" title=\"About Lake Tahoe \u2013 Natural and Man-Made Attractions\">About Lake Tahoe \u2013 Natural and Man-Made Attractions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-time-to-visit-lake-tahoe\/#Things_to_Do_in_Lake_Tahoe\" title=\"Things to Do in Lake Tahoe?\">Things to Do in Lake Tahoe?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-time-to-visit-lake-tahoe\/#Lake_Tahoe_%E2%80%93_Festivals_Events\" title=\"Lake Tahoe \u2013 Festivals &amp; Events\">Lake Tahoe \u2013 Festivals &amp; Events<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-time-to-visit-lake-tahoe\/#The_Bottom_Line_%E2%80%93_When_to_Visit_Lake_Tahoe\" title=\"The Bottom Line \u2013 When to Visit Lake Tahoe?\">The Bottom Line \u2013 When to Visit Lake Tahoe?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-time-to-visit-lake-tahoe\/#FAQs\" title=\"FAQs\">FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Best_Time_to_Visit_Lake_Tahoe\"><\/span>Best Time to Visit Lake Tahoe<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The best time to visit Lake Tahoe is going to depend on the reason you are visiting Lake Tahoe. In the summer months (May-Sept), the area is packed with visitors enjoying the lake, its beaches, the surrounding natural area, and the surrounding towns. In the winter months (Dec-Mar), Lake Tahoe is home to world-class ski resorts, and draws adventure-seekers from all over the world.<\/p>\n<p>The shoulder seasons are when Tahoe is least visited (Oct-Dec and Mar-May), but also when you can find the best rates on lodging and hotels.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, the best time to visit Tahoe is going to depend on what you want to experience while there. Do you want a classic lakeside vacation? Do you want an extreme <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/8-aspects-to-look-for-on-your-first-skiing-vacation\/\" target=\"_blank\">downhill skiing<\/a> experience? Or something in between? To help you decide, let\u2019s take a closer look at Tahoe\u2019s climate:<\/p>\n<h3>Climate<\/h3>\n<p>Lake Tahoe is characterized by warm spring &amp; summer months, and moderate-cold winters. Summers in Tahoe hit highs of around 80F (27F), and lows of around 45F (7C). Winters have highs of roughly 45F (7C), and lows of about 27F (-3C). Shoulder seasons are in between, and also the least tourist-y.<\/p>\n<p>Lake Tahoe is officially classified as a <strong>moderate continental <\/strong>climate. Summers are warm and sunny, and winters are cold and snowy. This might be of surprise to visitors, given that Lake Tahoe is located in the notoriously hot &amp; sunny States of California and Nevada. The reason for its somewhat colder climate is its high elevation, sitting at 1900 meters above sea level.<\/p>\n<h3>Getting to Lake Tahoe &amp; Where to Stay<\/h3>\n<p>Planning your vacation to Lake Tahoe starts with (duh) getting there! The closest major airport is Reno\/Tahoe International Airport (RNO), which is a roughly 50-mile drive northeast of Lake Tahoe. Many visitors opt to rent a car for the duration of their stay.<\/p>\n<p>Car rental makes sense not only for getting to Lake Tahoe, but also for exploring the Lake itself, seeing as how it is over 70 miles around! Alternatively, from the airport, you can take a shuttle, cab, Uber, or Lyft, but these tend to be pricier options.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-97196 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Beautiful-Lake-Tahoe-California.jpg\" alt=\"Beautiful Lake Tahoe California\" width=\"998\" height=\"613\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Beautiful-Lake-Tahoe-California.jpg 998w, https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Beautiful-Lake-Tahoe-California-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Beautiful-Lake-Tahoe-California-768x472.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In terms of where to stay, Lake Tahoe is a massive region. It consists of 70-mile shoreline around the lake itself, the surrounding ski resorts and nature areas, the casinos, and even the nearby towns and cities. Each of these areas host motels, hotels, AirBnBs, and more. You\u2019re best to decide the reason you want to visit Tahoe, and then to book your lodgings from there.<\/p>\n<p>For example, many summer tourists choose to stay in one of the towns on the shores of Lake Tahoe, such as South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City, or King\u2019s Beach. It\u2019s also worth noting that Lake Tahoe sits on the border of California and Nevada, so you\u2019ll find plenty of lakeside casinos on the Nevada side. In the winter, you can choose to stay in one of the larger ski towns, such as Squaw Valley, Heavenly Ski Resort, Northstar, and more.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, there\u2019s a lot to choose from! Next up, we\u2019ll attempt to make this decision easier. We\u2019ll give you more info on Lake Tahoe\u2019s geography, and also give you the top things to do in Lake Tahoe.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"About_Lake_Tahoe_%E2%80%93_Natural_and_Man-Made_Attractions\"><\/span>About Lake Tahoe \u2013 Natural and Man-Made Attractions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Now that we\u2019ve given you the logistical details to consider as a tourist to Lake Tahoe, let\u2019s get to the interesting stuff. What makes tourists flock to Tahoe in the first place? What\u2019s so special about this place?<\/p>\n<p>Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America, and second to only the Great Lakes in size. Lake Tahoe is situated on the divide between Nevada and California, and has become a major tourist attraction for both States. Tourists come to Tahoe for summer fun, winter sports, and general outdoor recreation.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of geography, Lake Tahoe is roughly 35km x 19 km. It is roughly 116 km around, boasting plenty of shoreline which is occupied by towns, beaches, casinos, and unspoiled nature. Interestingly, Tahoe is also one of the deepest lakes in the United States, only trailing Oregon\u2019s Crater Lake in terms of depth.<\/p>\n<p>The largest city on Lake Tahoe is South Lake Tahoe, on the south side of the lake, located in California. Along the east end of the lake is Tahoe City. Other towns include Incline Village on the north side, and Stateline on the south side of Tahoe, directly on the Nevada border.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Things_to_Do_in_Lake_Tahoe\"><\/span>Things to Do in Lake Tahoe?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s get more specific, what are the best things to do in Lake Tahoe? It really depends what you\u2019re looking for, and <em>when <\/em>you visit Tahoe, but this diverse region features activities to keep just about anyone happy. Here are some of our top picks, but this is far from an exhaustive list!<\/p>\n<h3>Skiing\/Winter Activities<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-97197\" src=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Downhill-skiing-above-Lake-Tahoe.jpg\" alt=\"Downhill skiing above Lake Tahoe\" width=\"841\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Downhill-skiing-above-Lake-Tahoe.jpg 841w, https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Downhill-skiing-above-Lake-Tahoe-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Downhill-skiing-above-Lake-Tahoe-768x356.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 841px) 100vw, 841px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Lake Tahoe is a world-famous destination for alpine skiing, and you\u2019ll have several options at your disposal. Perhaps the most famous ski resorts are <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.squawalpine.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Squaw Valley<\/a> (situated west of Tahoe City) and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.northstarcalifornia.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">NorthStar<\/a> (situated northwest of Lake Tahoe). Both are large ski resort towns, offering lodging, restaurants, bars, and more. Both also offer world-class skiing, with runs that are suitable for beginners to the very advanced. Squaw Valley alone boasts over 4000 acres of skiable terrain, with six peaks.<\/p>\n<p>And if you\u2019d prefer a less commercial alpine experience, there are plenty of smaller ski resorts occupying the Tahoe region, including Homewood Mountain Resort, Sierra-at-Tahoe, and many more.<\/p>\n<h3>South Lake Tahoe<\/h3>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityofslt.us\/\" target=\"_blank\">South Lake Tahoe<\/a> is situated on, you guessed it, the South shore of Lake Tahoe, and is also the region\u2019s largest city. It makes a great home-base for many outdoor activities in the region, and a great place to stay year-round. Known as a \u201cresort city\u201d, you\u2019ll find plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops. It\u2019s adjacent to many beaches, hiking trails, biking trails, and more. You can also access Emerald Bay State Park via a short drive, one of Tahoe\u2019s most popular scenic locations.<\/p>\n<p>South Lake Tahoe is situated on the California side of the State border. Directly, across the border you\u2019ll find another popular town called Stateline, which we\u2019ll cover next.<\/p>\n<h3>Stateline<\/h3>\n<p>Directly across the State border from South Lake Tahoe in Nevada you\u2019ll find Stateline. You\u2019ll immediately notice that you\u2019re in Nevada due to the prevalence of casinos. As you might expect, Stateline carries with it a much livelier, \u201cparty\u201d atmosphere when compared with South Lake Tahoe.<\/p>\n<p>Popular casino resorts include Harrah\u2019s, The Hard Rock Caf\u00e9, Montbleu Resort, and more.<\/p>\n<h3>King\u2019s Beach<\/h3>\n<p>One of the prettiest, most popular beaches in Tahoe, and it\u2019s easy to see why. King\u2019s Beach State Recreation Area is located along Tahoe\u2019s northern shore. The beach itself is wide, sandy, and full of swimmers, sunbathers, and boaters. The recreation area consists of 13-acres of space to explore, and the adjacent town offers shops, restaurants, and bars to check out. An extremely popular spot in the summer, you might have to arrive early to secure a prime spot on the beach.<\/p>\n<h3>Take a Boat Cruise<\/h3>\n<p>Why not explore the lake itself? Boat cruises are offered from all along the shores of Lake Tahoe, and are a great way to check out the views from the centre of this expansive lake. Catch a boat tour from Emerald Bay State Park and you can check out Lake Tahoe\u2019s only island, Fannette Island.<\/p>\n<h3>Emerald Bay State Park<\/h3>\n<p>Perhaps the most popular scenic destination in Tahoe, Emerald Bay State Park has earned its stellar reputation. Emerald Bay State Park is situated along the shores of Emerald Bay, on the southwest side of Lake Tahoe. Emerald Bay Lookout is the most popular tourist destination in the park. The Lookout sits atop a cliff, and offers a stunning panoramic view of the bay, and of the main lake in the distance. Emerald Bay State Park is also a fantastic location for hiking, swimming, and exploring.<\/p>\n<p>The trails in Emerald Bay State Park range in difficulty, featuring unspoiled wilderness and tall trees. But be aware of the black bears in the area.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-97198\" src=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/View-near-Cave-Rock-Lake-Tahoe.jpg\" alt=\"View near Cave Rock, Lake Tahoe\" width=\"993\" height=\"587\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/View-near-Cave-Rock-Lake-Tahoe.jpg 993w, https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/View-near-Cave-Rock-Lake-Tahoe-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/View-near-Cave-Rock-Lake-Tahoe-768x454.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 993px) 100vw, 993px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lake_Tahoe_%E2%80%93_Festivals_Events\"><\/span>Lake Tahoe \u2013 Festivals &amp; Events<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Before we wrap up our guide to Tahoe, let\u2019s check out some fun events to attend while in the region. Lake Tahoe has plenty of events &amp; festivals spread across its various towns, regions, and resort towns. They\u2019re best separated by \u201csummer events\u201d and \u201cwinter events\u201d. Let\u2019s check out some of our favorites.<\/p>\n<h3>Top Lake Tahoe Summer Events<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/laketahoeshakespeare.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival<\/a>: One of the most popular festivals in Tahoe, the Shakespeare Festival in Sand Harbor each summer. The festival hosts many different events, and they\u2019re not just <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/laketahoeshakespeare.com\/?play=monday-night-showcase\" target=\"_blank\">limited to Shakespeare<\/a>. From live music, to ballet recitals, to (of course) Shakespeare plays. The open-air theatre backs onto Lake Tahoe, and there\u2019s not a bad seat in the house!<\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/americancenturychampionship.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">American Century Celebrity Golf Tournament<\/a> \u2013 Taking place at Edgewood Tahoe South, this summer tournament draws a crowd every year. It\u2019s a fun week of golf, with celebrities and pros taking to the links for a good cause. Spectators can buy tickets for about $20 (depending on the day), but many Tahoe residents and tourists also pull their boats along the shore, as the golf course is situated right on the lake.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Top Lake Tahoe Fall\/Winter Events<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tahoesnowfest.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Lake Tahoe SnowFest<\/a>: Lake Tahoe SnowFest was originally started to draw tourists to the region during March, a month that traditionally saw a dwindling ski season. The event was enormously successful, and held annually all across Northern Lake Tahoe. Events include a torchlight parade, the Tahoe City Dog Pull, Cornhole Tournaments, and more.<\/li>\n<li>Autumn Food and Wine Festival: The Autumn Food and Wine Festival is held at Northstar Resort in Lake Tahoe. The event features a congregation of restaurants, wineries, and breweries across Lake Tahoe, and is a great way to experience the local cuisine. It\u2019s a three-day weekend festival, and is capped off with a large Marketplace on Sunday.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line_%E2%80%93_When_to_Visit_Lake_Tahoe\"><\/span>The Bottom Line \u2013 When to Visit Lake Tahoe?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So, the big question, when should you visit Lake Tahoe? Well, as you can see from our comprehensive guide, there really is no bad time to visit Lake Tahoe, it all depends what you\u2019re looking for! For world-class alpine skiing, visit Tahoe in the winter.<\/p>\n<p>For beaches and summer fun, check out Tahoe in the summer. Lake Tahoe is also fantastic in the shoulder months, when the sites are less crowded, lodging is cheaper, and temperatures are still suitable for outdoor activities!<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s something in Lake Tahoe for everyone \u2013 use our guide to decide what\u2019s best for you!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span>FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h4><strong>How Far is Lake Tahoe from Yosemite?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Planning a tour of all the USA\u2019s famous natural attractions? You\u2019ll be happy to learn that Lake Tahoe is a short 2.5-hour drive from Yosemite National Park. Yosemite National Park is popular for its massive cliffs and rock formations, including the world-famous Half Dome. Located in Northern California, Yosemite is a great stop on your USA vacation.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>How Many Days Do You Need in Lake Tahoe?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Of course, it really depends how much you want to see and do, which is why we\u2019ve written our guide above. We would recommend 4-7 days in Lake Tahoe. This allows you time to soak in one specific town or region, or travel around the circumference of the lake, seeing just about everything on offer. If you\u2019re visiting during the winter to ski, you\u2019ll likely book a ski vacation, which usually includes 3-7 days of lift tickets.<\/p>\n<p>Top 10 <a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/top-ten-things-to-do-in-lake-tahoe\/\">Best Things to Do in Lake Tahoe<\/a> Nevada<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/lassen-volcanic-national-park-camping\/\">Lassen Volcanic National Park Camping<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/lassen-volcanic-national-park-things-to-do\/\">Lassen Volcanic National Park Things To Do<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-time-to-visit-crater-lake\/\">Best Time to Visit Crater Lake<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/crater-lake-camping\/\">Crater Lake Camping<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-crater-lake-hikes\/\">The Best Crater Lake Hikes<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Best Time to Visit Lake Tahoe ~ There are plenty of reasons to visit Lake Tahoe. As one of the most visited freshwater lakes in North America, Lake Tahoe offers something for all outdoor adventurers. In this article, we\u2019re telling &#8230; <a title=\"Best Time to Visit Lake Tahoe\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/best-time-to-visit-lake-tahoe\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Best Time to Visit Lake Tahoe\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":97195,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97194"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97194"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97194\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}