Looking to head to Lake Tahoe, Winter Edition? We just returned from the dreamiest winter weekend in Lake Tahoe, and I have all the tips and recommendations.
Lake Tahoe is an incredible destination all year round, with almost equal amounts of opportunity during the summer and winter months. There are a wide array of activities for almost anyone during both months, but today’s post is going to be all about Lake Tahoe Winters!
This town is so dreamy, magical, romantic and adventurous. Being there just feels like an out of body experience! I recommend anyone go because there really is something for everyone! From intense thrill seekers to those looking for a cozy vibe, you’re sure to find many things to enjoy here. Let’s get into it!
Getting to Lake Tahoe in Winter
Driving
If you’re heading to Lake Tahoe in the winter, I’m so glad you’re reading this post to find out what you need to have before venturing to this part of the country. That would be, snow chains! During some Lake Tahoe weekends, snow chains are required and there are even road checks to make sure you either have snow chains or a 4-wheel drive vehicle. A lot of Californians don’t have 4-wheel drive, so having snow chains on hand for trips to Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, etc. is worth it. There are some places on the way into Tahoe that offer snow chain rentals, but if you’re semi-local it might be a good idea to purchase your own set.
Snow chains aren’t all the same size, so make sure to research what chains work best for your tire size and which tires your car manual instructs you to attach them to. It doesn’t snow every single weekend in Lake Tahoe, but it’s better safe than sorry! If you’re renting a car, I’m sure you’ll either be provided a 4-wheel drive vehicle or snow chains with your rental, but it might be good to double check.
Driving from San Francisco Bay Area to Lake Tahoe
A lot of people make the commute from the Bay Area to Lake Tahoe on winter weekends, so expect traffic to increase immensely from about 3 p.m.-7 p.m. After that 7 p.m. mark, traffic eases off a lot! But if you can’t leave work early, don’t expect to arrive at your destination before the sun goes down! We stopped at In-N-Out on our way up, but I also thought about some of the restaurants on this list. We just wanted to get there as soon as possible to kick off our weekend, but I think making a journey of your Lake Tahoe Winter trip would also be fun.
Which Airport is best for Lake Tahoe?
If you find an incredible deal or have a tight timeline for your weekend, Reno (RNO) is the closest airport to Lake Tahoe, but your options and pricing are probably not going to be ideal. Following Reno, Sacramento is about 120 miles from Lake Tahoe, and deals are going to be hit or miss. San Francisco is around 3.5-4 hours from Lake Tahoe (more with traffic), but you’re probably going to find some cheaper deals there anyways! Then just rent a car, and the drive is straightforward- You’ll need a rental car for your Lake Tahoe trip anyways.
Where to Stay in Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is split almost in half between California and Nevada, and there are quite a few towns with lodging options along the lake ranging from teeny tiny to medium.
Be prepared- Lake Tahoe is a pricier destination. This is a playground for the wealthy all year round, and the town knows that. Skiing and snowboarding itself is on the pricier end, so this isn’t usually a popular budget trip. Lodging is no exception, and we found it was difficult to find a cute and cozy place on a budget! Don’t be afraid to search around the entire lake for something that fits your needs. It really is easy to drive anywhere around the lake that you’re wanting to go, so don’t be too set on one location.
South Lake Tahoe
We personally stayed in a little cabin at Zephyr Cove Resort, and it was so cute and perfect for our very short trip for two people. Heavenly Mountain snow resort is in South lake Tahoe, and it’s one of the most popular destinations for skiers and snow-sport enthusiasts- make sure to decide where you’re most wanting to ski (if you do) before deciding on your lodging options. Renting a cabin in South Lake Tahoe would probably be a good option for a group trip! We saw so many groups during our time there.
Truckee
A lot of people like staying in the cute little town of Truckee (near the site of the infamous Donner Party nightmare – if you’ve never heard of these cannibalistic settlers, YIKES you should listen to a podcast about it on your drive in). It’s a little bit more of a drive in, but people enjoy the atmosphere. We didn’t make it up to the cute town on our last trip, but we really want to make the effort next time.
If you aren’t on a budget, The Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe… Ahhhhh dreamy!
What’s the Weather like in Lake Tahoe for Winter?
We were pleasantly surprised to find out that even the wintery and snowy weather in Lake Tahoe is incredibly mild, like much of Northern California! We packed really warmly, but during the day we really only needed one layer. It does get much colder once the sun goes down, but just keep in mind that it’s not going to be frigid during the day when you’re packing.
Best Restaurants in Lake Tahoe
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What to do in Lake Tahoe: Winter Edition
We did not book much at all in advance of our weekend trip to Lake Tahoe. That’s incredibly unlike me, but we truly were just looking for a relaxing vacation. I think we literally only booked one lunch reservation and that was it! This is a really good spot to just go with the flow. So many of the activities are outdoors, and you don’t really need to book!
Snow Sports
We don’t really ski or snowboard, but this is the place to come if you do! The winter olympics were actually hosted in Lake Tahoe in the 60s! I’m not going to provide too much specific information about snow sports here since I’m obviously not an expert.
Snowmobiling
We were so tempted to do this while we were there! We didn’t get the chance to, but I think it would be really fun. There are a plethora of spots to book your excursion through, so just search online to find the best option for your needs.
Hiking
We really wanted to hike in Emerald Bay, but we didn’t really have the right footwear. We were able to park along the side of the road and find some cute spots for photos and being in the snow, but actually hiking in the deep, deep snow wasn’t working with the footwear we had… which leads me to,
Snowshoeing
This is a really fun way to get outdoors in the winter! Again, I would recommend booking an excursion unless you’re a real expert. It’s easy to get lost in the winter landscape apparently.
Sledding
You can either go sled somewhere specifically or you can buy your own pool float or sled and find a spot along the lake! Either way would be equally as fun.
Eating + Drinking
This is what we mainly did! There are so many restaurants and drink spots to hop between around the lake if that’s more your vibe.
Reading by the Fire
Lake Tahoe is such a good destination for reading. Our cabin had a little fireplace, and it was unbelievably cozy to curl up by the fire with a good book. I highly recommend not planning too much in advance so you can just stay in and read if that’s what you’re in the mood for!
Take a Gondola Ride
We wanted to do this but didn’t really plan in advance enough! With COVID, I think a lot of resorts are not allowing gondola rides to anyone not there to ski, so that was a little bit of a bummer, but it’s fine!! We had plenty to do and plenty of relaxing time instead.
That’s just about everything you need to know for your Lake Tahoe Winter trip! I hope you have just as good a time in Lake Tahoe as we did. Please let me know if you have any questions by commenting below or letting me know on Instagram! I post a ton of travel content there as well as here on my blog, so make sure to see if I’ve ventured to any other destination you’re curious about.
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