LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA
Best Time to Visit California
Lake Tahoe (in the Gold Country California and in Nevada State), is North America's largest alpine lake, and a top skiing resort. Lake Tahoe is also a top summer beach location and its margins are full of bustling casinos, restaurants, spas and shopping spots. Lake Tahoe is 100 miles/160 Kms from Sacramento and 200 miles/320 Kms from San Francisco.
See:
Best time to visit Lake Tahoe
When not to go to Lake Tahoe
What to visit in Lake Tahoe
Hotels, tours and flights to Lake Tahoe
Weather map - Lake Tahoe
MAIN GEOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES
WHAT TO VISIT IN LAKE TAHOE
The main travel references in Lake Tahoe are:
- South Lake Tahoe, in the south margin of the Lake, relatively close to Sacramento through I-50
- Tahoe City and Homewood, in the Central Northwest side of the Lake
- Northern resorts as Squaw Valley, Northstar, Kings Beach or Incline Village (Nevada).
Lake Tahoe map
Explore the map below for details:
Larger map
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL TO TAHOE LAKE
The best time to visit Tahoe Lake depends most on what you are looking for.
If you don't want to ski, then the best time to visit Lake Tahoe is the summer, when the margins of Tahoe Lake become great beach centers and temperatures don't freeze (they often average the 40°F-50°F/4º-10ºC in Winter).
September and October (and mid-Spring) are also very good months, without big crowds and with a normally nice and pleasant weather. These are also the cheapest months for accommodation.
But if you want to ski, then November through May are the best choices (one shouldn't forget that Tahoe's downhill resorts are home to North America's largest concentration of skiing facilities).
WHEN NOT TO GO TO TAHOE LAKE
If you want to avoid the crowds, then... avoid the Summer months and holidays. On weekends, visitors and their cars - namely on Highway 89, near to Tahoe City, and on U.S. 50 near to South Lake Tahoe - congest all the main roads, facilities and beaches and other travel references (in these summer months, weekdays are better though also busy).
In Winter ski months the weekends are also packed, although not as bad as during Summer. If possible, just avoid the weekends. Besides, if you come midweek, you'll have great discounts on accommodation.
Note:
Tahoe is also a very popular wedding and honeymoon destination, namely on Valentine's Day.
LAKE TAHOE Weather Map
HOTELS AND FLIGHTS TO TAHOE LAKE
Either in the Tahoe Lake's Southshore or in Tahoe City and the Northshore resorts, there are many motels and lodging. Just book accommodation early if you plan on visiting during the summer months or winter weekends.
