Trek Around Tahoe Road Trip
Rachel Burkett
Most Californians have their go-to lakeside town, but this road trip lets even a Tahoe expert seeing Lake Tahoe like never before!
Total Driving Time: 3 hours
Total Driving Miles: 72 miles
Recommended Length: 2-3 days
While you can make this trip in about three hours with no stops, a trip to Tahoe isn’t complete without visiting at least a few beaches, lookout points, and all of Tahoe’s best hits that can be seen on this 72-mile drive around the Jewel of the Sierras.
Stops
Incline Village, Crystal Bay, & Sand Harbor
Explore the shops, restaurants, and bars of Incline Village, and walk along the shoreline in Crystal Bay after trying your luck at one of the world-class casinos. Paddleboarding through Sand Harbor State Park offers an up-close view of iconic boulders in the water set against the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Kings Beach
Stroll through the shops and restaurants to meet the locals, or hang out on one’s Tahoe’s most popular beach in the sand or out in the crystal clear waters on a rented kayak.
Tahoe City
Touted as America’s Best Mountain Town, Tahoe City is a highly walkable downtown community with 300 days of sunshine. Check out the Fanny Bridge over the Truckee River or stretch your legs on the Truckee River Bike Trail, and treat yourself to lunch on the lake.
Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point & DL Bliss State Beaches
Explore the beaches of Sugar Pine Point lined with dense forests of fir, aspen, juniper, and, of course, pine trees. Be sure to check out the United States’ highest elevation lighthouse DL Bliss State Park, too!
Emerald Bay State Park
This might be Tahoe’s most photographed area, and for good reason. Inspiration Point offers panoramic views of Fannette Island, and is a must stop for selfie lovers at any time of day.
South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe offers enough must-sees to make it an entire trip of it’s own. Take a gondola ride or go zip lining at Heavenly Ski Resort, visit one of the many marinas and rent a water toy, go horseback riding through the hills, or even find a hot spring to soak in and relax at the end of your Trek around Tahoe.
Reno
Finish your Trek around Tahoe in Reno to grab dinner or explore the city’s nightlife; be sure to check out the city’s murals in downtown, or stroll through the Reno Riverwalk District in downtown!
