Your Trip to Lake Tahoe: The Complete Guide SEE FULL GUIDE prev next Best Ski Resorts Snow Sports Top Restaurants Nightlife Best Time to Visit Weather & Climate Where to Stay Getting There Top Things to Do Top Hikes Best Beaches Your Trip to Lake Tahoe: The Complete Guide close Overview United States Nevada The 10 Best Beaches in Lake Tahoe By Standley White Standley White Stan White is a freelance writer and outdoor photographer who has lived in the Reno/Lake Tahoe area for 10 years. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 02/04/22 benedek/Getty Images When it's blazing hot in the Reno area, many people head up the hill to enjoy the relative cool at Lake Tahoe. It's usually at least 10 degrees lower in temperature due to the higher elevation, not to mention the massive body of water that imparts its cooling effect throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin. Lake Tahoe beaches are particularly popular places to visit, providing easy access to Lake Tahoe's cool water for swimming and many other forms of water recreation. This roundup of Lake Tahoe beaches features the most popular play places suitable for families with kids. Beaches not included are challenging to find, are not easily accessible or are clothing-optional. (Note that most public beaches do not permit dogs, leashed or otherwise.) A common characteristic of just about all Lake Tahoe beaches is limited parking. It can be a total hassle on busy summer weekends, so try to arrive early if you want to park within reasonable walking distance of your chosen beach. 01 of 10 Sand Harbor TripSavvy / Jamie Ditaranto View Map Address Sand Harbor Beach, Nevada, USA Get directions Sand Harbor is one of the most popular beach parks around Lake Tahoe and is the closest to Reno. Sand Harbor is part of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park and located 3 miles south of Incline Village on Nevada 28. The beautiful, sandy crescent beach is a magnet on hot summer weekends. If you don't get there early, you will not get a parking place and be turned away. Parking along the highway is illegal, and walk-in access to the park is not allowed; instead, park in Incline Village and ride the shuttle bus to Sand Harbor. The bus ride is cheap, and the fare includes entry to the park. 02 of 10 Cave Rock Rachid Dahnoun/Getty Images View Map Address 1430 Hwy 50, Glenbrook, NV 89413, USA Get directions Web Visit website Cave Rock is a recreation area part of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park. Cave Rock has a sandy swimming and sunbathing beach that's nice for kids and families. There is parking, picnic areas, restroom, and boat launching. Like other Lake Tahoe beaches, the parking area fills up quickly on nice summer weekends. Cave Rock is next to U.S. 50, 3 miles south of Glenbrook. The entrance to the park is just south of the twin tunnels through Cave Rock itself—it's hard to miss. 03 of 10 Nevada Beach jentry / Getty Images View Map Address Bittlers Road, Zephyr Cove, NV 89448, USA Get directions Phone +1 530-543-2600 Web Visit website Nevada Beach has both a campground and day-use beach and picnic area and is a National Forest area operated by a private concessionaire. Nevada Beach is located off of U.S. 50, on the east shore of Lake Tahoe, a short distance north of Stateline, Nevada, near Elks Point Road. 04 of 10 William Kent Campground View Map Address 1995 W Lake Blvd, Tahoe City, CA 96145, USA Get directions Phone +1 530-583-3642 Web Visit website There is a day-use beach and picnic area across Highway 89 from the William Kent Campground (a Forest Service facility). It's a sandy beach with swimming, picnicking, and non-motorized boating. William Kent Campground is located on the west shore of Lake Tahoe on Highway 89, 2 miles south of Tahoe City. Continue to 5 of 10 below. 05 of 10 Round Hill Pines Beach and Marina Round Hill Pines Beach Resort View Map Address 300 US-50, Zephyr Cove, NV 89448, USA Get directions Phone +1 775-588-3055 Web Visit website Round Hill Pines Beach and Marina is a private resort operated under a permit from the U.S. Forest Service. There is a half-mile beach, water sports rentals, and many more amenities for a family day at Lake Tahoe. Check the website for daily parking fees. Round Hill Pines Beach and Marina is located off U.S. 50 a couple of miles north of Stateline, Nevada, and Nevada Beach. Look for the Forest Service sign at the intersection. 06 of 10 Kings Beach State Recreation Area Beihua Steven Guo / Getty Images View Map Address Kings Beach State Recreation Area, Bear St, Kings Beach, CA 96143, USA Get directions Phone +1 530-523-3203 Web Visit website Kings Beach State Recreation Area has over 700 feet of sandy beach on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. This popular California state park is day-use only and located right in Kings Beach. From Reno, take the Mt. Rose Highway to Incline Village and Nevada 28. Go right and cross the state line at Crystal Bay, continuing a short distance into California. Kings Beach State Recreation Area is on the Lake Tahoe side of the highway. Visiting the beach is free, but there is a fee to park. There are food concessions and rentals for watercraft and other water play toys. 07 of 10 Commons Beach in Tahoe City Ryan Tuttle/Getty Images View Map Address Commons Beach, 400 N Lake Blvd, Tahoe City, CA 96145, USA Get directions Phone +1 530-583-3796 Web Visit website Commons Beach Park is located on Lake Tahoe in the northwest shore town of Tahoe City. This is a public park with a swimming beach, picnic areas, and a large playground. There is no entrance fee. Tahoe City is located near Highways 89 and 28, a few miles west of the Nevada state line at Crystal Bay. 08 of 10 Meeks Bay Resort and Marina View Map Address 7941 Emerald Bay Rd, Tahoma, CA 96142, USA Get directions Phone +1 530-525-6946 Web Visit website Meeks Bay Resort and Marina offers day-use on a sandy beach, along with concessions and a variety of boat rentals. A campground and lodging are available. Meeks Bay is a private resort on Forest Service land located 10 miles south of Tahoe City off of Highway 89. Continue to 9 of 10 below. 09 of 10 Baldwin Beach and Pope Beach Mariusz Blach/Getty Images View Map Address Baldwin Beach, Baldwin Beach Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USA Get directions Phone +1 530-543-2600 Web Visit website These beaches are located at the Tallac Historic Site on the south end of Lake Tahoe. Baldwin Beach and Pope Beach are named after two of the estates preserved at the site, both of which once belonged to wealthy families from San Francisco. You can visit the beaches and tour the estate grounds on your own for free. Guided tours of the mansions are available during the summer months for a fee. There is a limited amount of free parking. To add interest to your visit, you can take the short hike to the nearby Taylor Creek Visitor Center, which also has parking. The Tallac Historic Site is approximately 3 miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89. There is a prominent sign at the entrance. 10 of 10 Fallen Leaf Lake A K Potts Photography/Getty Images View Map Address South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USA Get directions Phone +1 530-544-2628 Web Visit website Fallen Leaf Lake is right next to Lake Tahoe. Directions are the same as the Tallac Historic Site, except you turn left (away from Lake Tahoe) at the intersection with Highway 89 and follow the signs to the Fallen Leaf Lake Campground. Once there, follow the signs to a small day-use parking area and take the trail to the lake. The beach is gravel rather than sand, but many people make themselves comfortable. The shoreline is shallow and suitable for kids. It's also a bit less hectic than some of the crowded beaches at Lake Tahoe itself. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Share Pin Email