If it’s your first time in Lake Tahoe, you may feel verrry overwhelmed by the number of things to do and see in the famous region. When we arrived in Lake Tahoe for our two-month stay, we had a list of places to see and things to do that was so long, we ended up not doing anything the first weekend because we were solely focused on getting our bearings and figuring out the area. After a week we got the hang of it, and throughout our stay we managed to check out enough of the local beaches to create a ranking of our favorites. Hopefully, our guide to Lake Tahoe’s beaches can help you feel a little less overwhelmed when visiting this majestic area.

Rating beaches in Lake Tahoe

Zephyr Cove

Rating: 7/10

Zephyr Cove description:

Located on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe is a strip of public beach known as Zephyr Cove. The beach is fairly narrow and nestled within a National Forest, so you’re surrounded by trees and vegetation. Since much of the lake around this beach is on the shallow side, the water tends to take on a beautiful light blue color on sunny days. The water is also relatively calm, making Zephyr Cove an ideal place for kayaking and paddle boarding. For vacationers and families, Zephyr Cove Resort features a restaurant, beach bar, general store, and SUP rentals.

Zephyr Cove pros:

• Beautiful clear water that has a gorgeous light blue color on clear days
• Ideal place for a morning kayak or paddle
• Nestled in a National Forest, making the beaches even more scenic
• Free parking along the street (short walk to the beach)
• Zephyr Cove Resort is convenient for supplies or beach snacks
• Restroom facilities available

Zephyr Cove cons:

• Popular for families, so it fills up on the weekends and is very loud (not exactly the place to go if you’re looking for a quiet day on the beach)
• On-site parking can cost anywhere from $12 to $40 per day
• Spotty cell phone service

Kiva Beach

Rating: 9/10

Kiva Beach description:

Kiva Beach is a lesser-known swimming and beach area on the California side of Lake Tahoe. It consists of 200 yards of narrow, sandy shoreline near a marsh zone (which you should be mindful not to disturb!). This beach is a bit more rugged compared to others in the area, but it offers free parking and tends to be slightly quieter than some of the more tourist-heavy beaches.

Kiva Beach pros:

• Rugged beach offering gorgeous views of Lake Tahoe
• Free parking area that doesn’t fill up as quickly as others in the area
• Lesser-known beach with more of a locals vibe
• Excellent place for launching a kayak or SUP
• Restroom facilities available between Memorial and Labor Day
• Lots of vegetation surrounding the beaches (including willows, quaking aspens, and Tahoe Yellow Cress plants)

Kiva Beach cons:

• Can be tricky to find (suggest using Google Maps)
• Beach is less maintained than others in the area
• No food or beverages available for purchase — be sure to bring your own
• No cell phone service

Tahoe Keys Marina

Rating: 8.5/10

Tahoe Keys Marina description:

Tahoe’s largest marina includes a stretch of beach that’s free to access. Visitors can park along the road and walk about a half mile to the shoreline. If you head here, be respectful of the marshes that surround the Tahoe Keys, which are off-limits to protect wildlife and vegetation growth.

Tahoe Keys Marina pros:

• Located at the end of a long road with plenty of free parking spots
• Excellent place to launch a kayak or SUP (recommend starting from the river that leads to Lake Tahoe)
• Quieter beach that doesn’t get as crowded as some of the more popular areas
• Beautiful sunset and mountain views
• Lots of wildlife in the area (including ducks, geese, eagles, and beavers)
• Restroom facilities are available when the Marina is open

Tahoe Keys Marina cons:

• Beach is on the smaller side
• Longish walk to the beach
• Lots of boat traffic (since it’s part of the marina)

Round Hill Pines

Rating: 9.5/10

Round Hill Pines description:

The shoreline of Round Hill Pines, located on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, was our top spot of the summer. The half-mile beach is spacious and can accommodate the large crowds that flock there daily during Tahoe’s warmer months. The beach has a volleyball court, marina and boat pier, grill, picnic area, beach-side bar, and rentable equipment (including kayaks, paddle boats, SUPs, and lounge chairs).

Round Hill Pines has a large parking lot, though parking fees are $12 during prime beach hours (and may increase on holiday weekends). After 5 PM, however, parking is free.

Round Hill Pines pros:

• Large, spacious, and well-kept beach
• Beach-side bar (featuring their specialty cocktail, the Painkiller)
• Equipment like lounge chairs and paddleboards for rent
• Big parking area that is free after 5 PM
• Great place for enjoying happy hour and watching the sunset
• Restroom facilities available

Round Hill Pines cons:

• Gets very crowded during the summer (so much so that the large parking lot can fill up by 10 AM)
• Pay to park ($12) during the day

Baldwin Beach

Rating: 6/10

Baldwin Beach description:

One of the largest beaches on the California side is Baldwin Beach. Open from 8 AM until 8 PM during the summer, the beach has a long and sandy shoreline, restroom facilities, picnic tables, and concessions available. This is a very, very, verrrrrry used beach — meaning that you best arrive early (before 10 AM) to secure a parking spot and expect to be surrounded by large groups and children while recreating on the beach.

Baldwin Beach pros:

• Large beach with great views of the south side of Lake Tahoe
• Big parking lot
• Located on National Forest land, so the beach is very scenic
• Restrooms and concessions available 

Baldwin Beach cons:

• Very busy during the summer (vehicles tend to line up by 8 AM)
• Beach can feel congested and crowded during peak days
• Parking fee

Tahoe City Commons Beach

Rating: 7/10

Tahoe City Commons Beach description:

On the northern side of Lake Tahoe is Tahoe City — a quaint, lake-side mountain town with beautiful views, charming boutiques, and delicious eateries. Within Tahoe City is Tahoe City Commons Beach. While the sandy beach is on the smaller side, it’s located near a walking/bike path and has a lakefront playground. During the summer, Commons Beach hosts free concerts on Sunday afternoons and free movies on Wednesday evenings, making it an exceptional spot for families.

Tahoe City Commons Beach pros:

• With a playground, BBQ area, and beach, there’s plenty to do
• Located on a walking/bike path
• Close to downtown Tahoe City
• Restroom facilities available

Tahoe City Commons Beach cons:

• Small beach area that gets crowded (and loud) during the summer
• Limited (albeit free) parking

Chimney Beach

Rating: 7/10

Chimney Beach description

Chimney Beach is a rugged shore on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. It’s incredibly scenic, with exceptional mountain views and a rocky shoreline. The parking area is small, so most people end up parking on the side of the road, which can be a little tricky. To get to the beach, be prepared to hike down a steep incline. Walking down isn’t too bad, but when it’s time to pack it in for the day, be ready to hike back up the rugged and steep hill to the main road or parking area. That said, this beach probably isn’t a good idea for people who have trouble walking long distances and completing steep inclines.

There are restroom facilities in the main parking area. Other than that, there are no concessions or rentals available at Chimney Beach — so be sure to bring what you need for the day.

Chimney Beach pros:

• Beautiful, scenic beach with amazing views
• Quieter compared to other popular spots like Sand Harbor and Baldwin Beach
• Decent cell phone service

Chimney Beach cons:

• Small parking lot that fills up quickly — be prepared to park along the road
• Steep hike to and from the beach area

El Dorado Beach

Rating: 6/10

El Dorado Beach description:

If you’re looking for a beach and park combo, El Dorado Beach is the place. Located just over the California border, El Dorado Beach features a small, sandy beach with a large, well-kept grass area that’s perfect for lakeside picnicking. The area has restroom facilities, BBQs, picnic tables, a public boat launch, and kayaks, SUPs, and peddle boats are available to rent.

El Dorado Beach pros:

• Large, free parking area
• Well-maintained grass area suitable for picnics
• Restrooms, BBQs, and watercraft available for rent

El Dorado Beach cons:

• Beach is on the smaller side
• Gets crowded quickly
• Close to the road, so not as scenic as some of the other beaches that are on National Forest lands

Noteable other beaches (that we didn’t get to visit)

Sand Harbor State Park

Sand Harbor might be the most popular beach on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. And for good reason — crystal clear water, rock formations, and exceptional mountain views. The downside? Sand Harbor is not exactly under the radar. Rather, it gets insanely crowded during the summer (like cars lining up before the state park opens at 8 AM kind of crowded). So if you’re looking for postcard-worthy views, word on the street is that Sand Harbor is the place. But good luck finding a parking spot or a place on the overly crowded beach during the summer.

Kings Beach

A beach fit for a king — literally since it’s the largest sand beach on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. The sand is soft, the views are incredible, and the water is, well, amazing since it’s Lake Tahoe. Like most of the beaches in Tahoe, Kings Beach gets its fair share of crowds during the summer, and there’s a fee to park ($10). But if you can make it here, we’ve heard it’s a fun place to spend the day.

Pope Beach

We paddled by Pope Beach, and it certainly looked like a nice place to be. Located on the California side and close to South Lake Tahoe, Pope Beach has a long shoreline, a parking area that opens at 8 AM (and not a moment sooner, Karen!), and restroom facilities. Its proximity (less than 3 miles) to South Lake Tahoe makes it a heavily used beach, so be prepared to go early if you want to grab some real estate on the shoreline.