South Lake Tahoe, California
South Lake Tahoe is a city of 21,269 people in El Dorado County, California.
Why visit South Lake Tahoe
Townapedia lists 9 museums and landmarks, 16 parks and trails, 137 places to eat, 95 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Heavenly Mountain Resort, Heavenly Village Cinemas, Pope Estate and Friday's Station.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 80°F; December lows average 18°F.
Weather in South Lake Tahoe
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe is the most populous city in El Dorado County, California, United States, in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The city's population was 21,330 at the 2020 census, down from 21,403 at the 2010 census. The city, along the southern edge of Lake Tahoe, extends about 5 miles (8 km) west-southwest along U.S. Route 50, also known as Lake Tahoe Boulevard. The east end of the city, on the California–Nevada state line right next to the town of Stateline, Nevada, is mainly geared towards tourism, restaurants, hotels, and Heavenly Mountain Resort with the Nevada casinos just across the state line in Stateline.
From the Wikipedia article South Lake Tahoe, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Heavenly Mountain Resort
Ski area · 3.4 mi
Ski resort in California, United States
Museums and landmarks9
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Pope Estate
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Historic house in California, United States
Friday's Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Tahoe Art League's Art Center Gallery
Museum · 0.9 mi
3062 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe
Parks, trails and playgrounds16
South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena
Sports field and stadium · 1.0 mi
1176 Rufus Allen Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe
Lakeside Beach
Beach · 2.7 mi
A beach requiring a pass to access, which can be bought or is included when staying at nearby hotels, motels, and hostels.
4 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes137
Artemis Lakefront Cafe
Restaurant · Greek · 1.9 mi
900 Ski Run Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe
Mo-Su 08:00-22:00
JWB Prime Steak and Seafood
Restaurant · Contemporary, Steak, Seafood · 3.0 mi
4130 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe
Tu-Sa 16:00-23:00
LandShark Bar & Grill
Diner · American · 3.0 mi
4130 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe
Su-Th 11:00-22:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Shangrila Himalayan Kitchen
Restaurant · Indian · 1.8 mi
1142 Ski Run Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe
Tu-Su 11:00-14:00,16:30-20:30; Mo 14:00-20:00
Tahoe Heavenly Pho
Restaurant · Asian, Vietnamese · 1.2 mi
2180 Lake Tahoe Boulevard
Mo-Su 10:00-22:00
The Naked Fish
Restaurant · Japanese, Sushi · 2.5 mi
3940 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe
Mo-Fr 17:00-22:00; Sa,Su 12:00-23:00
Vinny's Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 2.5 mi
3940 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe
Mo-Su 12:00-22:00
125 more on the map.
History
The city was incorporated in 1965 by combining the unincorporated communities of Al Tahoe, Bijou, Bijou Park, Stateline, Tahoe Valley, and Tallac Village. A post office was established in 1967.
Gambling arrived at the Lake in 1944 when Harvey's Wagon Wheel Saloon and Gambling Hall opened in Nevada as one of the area's first gaming establishments. Competition soon sprang up and so did the need for more permanent accommodations. By the 1950s, roads began to be plowed year-round, enabling access to permanent residences. When the 1960 Winter Olympics came to what is now Olympic Valley, Lake Tahoe was put firmly on the map as the skiing center of the western United States.
On December 8, 1963, Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped by Barry Keenan, Johnny Irwin, and Joe Amsler. Sinatra was released, unharmed, soon after.
The disappearance of Donna Lass on September 6, 1970, has been linked to the Zodiac Killer.
The bombing of Harvey's Lake Tahoe in 1980, took place just outside the city limits in Stateline, Nevada.
On May 18, 1987, Herbert James Coddington was arrested for the murder of two women and the kidnapping of two teenagers. He was found guilty of these crimes and sentenced to death in 1988.
In 1991, Jaycee Lee Dugard (age 11) was abducted from a bus stop in South Lake Tahoe; she was found alive in Antioch, California, in 2009.
From the History section of South Lake Tahoe, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay95
Holiday Inn Express South Lake Tahoe
Motel and hotel · 2.6 mi
3961 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe
Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe
Motel and hotel · 3.0 mi
4130 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe
Churches and places of worship7
Heavenly Valley Seventh Day Adventist Church
Church · 1.6 mi
3609 Vanda Lee Way, South Lake Tahoe
Shopping47
Gas and EV charging12
Schools, colleges and libraries18
Elevated Digital Learning Academy
School · 0.8 mi
1201 Lyons Ave., South Lake Tahoe
Healthcare3
Map of South Lake Tahoe
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 18°F | 2.8 in |
| Feb | 43°F | 19°F | 3.8 in |
| Mar | 48°F | 24°F | 2.9 in |
| Apr | 53°F | 28°F | 1.3 in |
| May | 62°F | 33°F | 1.3 in |
| Jun | 72°F | 38°F | 0.6 in |
| Jul | 80°F | 42°F | 0.4 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 41°F | 0.4 in |
| Sep | 73°F | 35°F | 0.3 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 29°F | 1.4 in |
| Nov | 51°F | 23°F | 1.9 in |
| Dec | 43°F | 18°F | 3.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for South Lake Tahoe Ap (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
El Dorado County has had 20 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2022-09-09: Mosquito Fire (Fire)
- 2021-09-12: Wildfires (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Stateline 3 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
- Round Hill Village 6 mi northeast, about 9 min by car
- Kingsbury 7 mi northeast, about 11 min by car
- Meyers 7 mi south, about 11 min by car
- Zephyr Cove 7 mi northeast, about 11 min by car
- Truckee 31 mi north, about 50 min by car
- Reno 43 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Placerville 46 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Sparks 47 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Diamond Springs 49 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- South Lake Tahoe Skyline, Mark Miller, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USA - panoramio (6), bogdanstepniak, CC BY 3.0
- South Lake Tahoe, From Heavenly Gondolas 9-2010 (5758856325), inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0
- Sunset South Lake Tahoe - panoramio, Susan Popielaski, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Lake Tahoe Road (Unsplash), Alexandre Godreau alexandre_godreau, CC0
- South Lake Tahoe, United States (Unsplash), Manik Rathee manikrathee, CC0
- South Lake Tahoe, United States (Unsplash sFBNfLEvf0M), Kimson Doan yaykimmyd, CC0
- Thomas F Regan Memorial Park South Lake Tahoe, California - panoramio, Chanilim714, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Photos on Party Dress South Lake Tahoe, California - panoramio, Chanilim714, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Al Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USA - panoramio, Janusz Cimoszuk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Beach on South Lake Tahoe, California - panoramio, Chanilim714, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Lake Tahoe Banner, Chanilim714, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Lake Tahoe in gloomy day - Flickr - daveynin, daveynin from United States, CC BY 2.0
- Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe, CA, FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Orchid's Thai - South Lake Tahoe (3090922418), brewbooks from near Seattle, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Orchid's Thai - South Lake Tahoe (3090922312), brewbooks from near Seattle, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Lakeside View of the Pope Estate, Mistshine, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gunbarrel-Heavenly, Constantine Kulikovsky, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Emerald Bay with Fannette Island (7617748652), Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0
- Lake Tahoe - panoramio (1), guines, CC BY 3.0
- Lake Tahoe Community College, LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Upper Truckee Marsh - panoramio, Susan Popielaski, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Trout Creek (Lake Tahoe), Jonathan Cook-Fisher, CC BY 2.0
- Al Tahoe, California, LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Truckee Marsh - panoramio, Susan Popielaski, CC BY-SA 3.0
- DSC3082 - panoramio, Robert Dimov, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Upper Truckee Marsh - panoramio (1), Susan Popielaski, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Red Cedar - panoramio, Susan Popielaski, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Al Tahoe Pioneer Cemetery, LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tahoe morning (29897724770), Tom Purves from Toronto, canada, CC BY 2.0
- Lake Valley, California, LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0
- On the deck - Flickr - daveynin, daveynin from United States, CC BY 2.0
- Lake T - panoramio, D BREW, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lake Tahoe, Inn by the lake - panoramio, Николай Максимович, CC BY 3.0
- Lake Tahoe - panoramio (2), Николай Максимович, CC BY 3.0
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