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A Lake Tahoe weekend with friends

Itineraries · California · South Lake Tahoe, CA · 3 days

A 3-day South Lake Tahoe plan for a group: the Heavenly Gondola, Emerald Bay with Vikingsholm and Eagle Falls, a South Shore beach afternoon, a paddle at Sand Harbor, and the drive home to Reno-Tahoe airport.

This is a summer weekend for friends who want to spend most of their time outside. Day 1 stays on the South Shore, Day 2 is for Emerald Bay and a beach, and Day 3 goes up the Nevada side to Sand Harbor for a paddle before the drive to Reno. Most mornings start early, because the best parking lots fill by mid-morning.

Day 1

South Shore and the gondola

4 stops
  1. 12:00 PM12:00 PMStayThe Landing Tahoe Resort & Spa4104 Lakeshore Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA · Map of The Landing Tahoe Resort & SpaOr wherever the group is staying
  2. 1:00 PM1:00 PMDoHeavenly Gondola1001 Heavenly Village Way, South Lake Tahoe, CA · Map of Heavenly GondolaRuns daily in summer. Get off at the Observation Deck partway up for the lake view
  3. 4:00 PM4:00 PMDoPope BeachPope Beach, South Lake Tahoe, CA · Map of Pope BeachPaid parking, season runs May to October; no dogs
  4. 7:00 PM7:00 PMEatHimmel Haus3819 Saddle Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA · Map of Himmel HausBavarian food; takes large parties, so book ahead
Day 2

Emerald Bay

5 stops
  1. 7:30 AM7:30 AMEatErnie's Coffee Shop1207 Emerald Bay Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA · Map of Ernie's Coffee ShopBreakfast from 7 AM, on the way to Emerald Bay
  2. 8:30 AM8:30 AMDoEagle Falls TrailheadHighway 89, Emerald Bay, South Lake Tahoe, CA · Map of Eagle Falls TrailheadSmall paid lot that fills early. Past the falls you're in Desolation Wilderness, which needs a permit
  3. 10:30 AM10:30 AMDoVikingsholmEmerald Bay State Park, South Lake Tahoe, CA · Map of VikingsholmSteep one-mile walk down from the Highway 89 lot. Tours run late May to September 30, first come, first served. Lower Eagle Falls is a quarter mile behind the visitor center
  4. 1:30 PM1:30 PMDoBaldwin BeachBaldwin Beach, South Lake Tahoe, CA · Map of Baldwin BeachPicnic tables but no drinking water; bring lunch and plenty to drink
  5. 7:00 PM7:00 PMEatRiva Grill900 Ski Run Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA · Map of Riva GrillThe group dinner, on the water at Ski Run Marina; call ahead for a big table

If we have time

  • DoGatekeeper's MuseumAbout 45 minutes north on Highway 89, next to the Lake Tahoe dam; open Wednesday to Sunday, April to OctoberMap of Gatekeeper's Museum
Day 3

Sand Harbor and the drive home

5 stops
  1. 8:00 AM8:00 AMTravelSouth Lake Tahoe, CA to Drive to Sand Harbor2005 Highway 28, Incline Village, NV · Map of Drive to Sand HarborAbout 45 minutes up the east shore on US 50 and NV 28. Check out first
  2. 8:45 AM8:45 AMDoSand Harbor2005 Highway 28, Incline Village, NV · Map of Sand HarborPart of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park. Vehicle entry needs a reservation in summer, and you can't park on Highway 28
  3. 9:30 AM9:30 AMDoClearly Tahoe2005 Highway 28, Incline Village, NV · Map of Clearly TahoeWalk-up kayak and paddleboard rentals inside Sand Harbor; first come, first served, and calm mornings are best
  4. 12:30 PM12:30 PMEatTunnel Creek Cafe1115 Tunnel Creek Rd, Incline Village, NV · Map of Tunnel Creek CafeBreakfast and lunch until 3 PM, a few minutes north of Sand Harbor
  5. 2:00 PM2:00 PMTravelIncline Village, NV to Reno-Tahoe International Airport2001 E Plumb Ln, Reno, NV · Map of Reno-Tahoe International AirportAbout an hour over the Mount Rose Highway

If we have time

  • DoDonner Memorial State ParkGo home through Truckee and I-80 instead; it adds about 30 minutes. The visitor center is open 10 AM to 5 PMMap of Donner Memorial State Park

Tips

  1. Sand Harbor requires a day-use reservation for vehicle entry from May 15 to September 30. Without one, take the free East Shore Express shuttle from Incline Village, which runs daily in summer.
  2. The Vikingsholm lot at Emerald Bay charges by the hour or the day and is gated when it's full. In summer an Emerald Bay shuttle runs from South Lake Tahoe, and parking on the shoulder of Highway 89 is blocked off and ticketed.
  3. Desolation Wilderness, above Eagle Falls, requires a permit for day hikes as well as overnight trips. Overnight permits are booked on Recreation.gov and have a quota from May to October.
  4. In winter, Heavenly turns into a ski resort, Vikingsholm tours stop after September 30, and Highway 89 around Emerald Bay often needs chains or four-wheel drive. Check Caltrans road conditions before you drive.

Plan it together in Freya

Every stop goes on your trip with its place from Apple Maps, so the group gets directions, drive times and the weather. Then swap things out, vote and split the costs.

Add to FreyaCustomize in the builder

Change any stop, move things between days or add your own, then add your version to Freya. Not on an iPhone? Copy the plan for the group chat.

Questions

Is 3 days enough for South Lake Tahoe?

For a first visit, yes. This plan fits 14 stops into 3 days (Day 1: South Shore and the gondola; Day 2: Emerald Bay; Day 3: Sand Harbor and the drive home). Add a day if your group likes a slower pace.

When is the best time to go to South Lake Tahoe?

June to September for the lake; December to April is ski season at Heavenly.

Where should a group eat in South Lake Tahoe?

This plan stops at Himmel Haus, Ernie's Coffee Shop, Riva Grill and Tunnel Creek Cafe. Vote on dinner in Freya if the group can't agree.

What if the group wants to split up?

The ideas under “If we have time” (Gatekeeper's Museum and Donner Memorial State Park) are optional. In Freya, set who's going on a stop so everyone knows where to meet back up.

How do we use this plan as a group?

Tap Add to Freya on an iPhone. Every stop goes on a shared trip with its place from Apple Maps, so the group gets directions, drive times and the weather. Friends join from a link with just their first name, then swap stops, vote on plans and split the costs.

More itineraries

Have your own plan in a Google Doc, a Google Sheet or an AI chat? Paste it into Freya, or import it in the builder. Here’s how, or plan together with our Google Sheets and Docs templates. Or make your own version of this plan in the builder.