Car Hire Lake Tahoe

Guide

Lake Tahoe is considered to be one of the largest, cleanest, highest, deepest and coldest lakes in the world. It is situated in the mountinous and forested regions of California Gold Country. Many tourists and locals visit the lake over the weekend, mainly from the San Francisco Bay. Over the summer period tourists enjoy the beaches and sunny weather, the winter attracts hikers and skiers due to the snow-covered slopes. Car hire in Lake Tahoe is a great idea to help you get around and explore the beautiful landscapes.

Explore Lake Tahoe

Tahoe City, the hub on the lake's northwestern shore, retains its laid-back relaxed atmosphere despite the volume of tourists basing themselves there every year. The city is situated on Lake Tahoe's only outlet, the Truckee River, which is popular for rafting during the summer.

The Gatekeeper's Cabin Museum, at the mouth of the river, contains a well-presented hodgepodge of artefacts from the 19th century, and has a good collection of native basketware. For a spectacular panorama of the lake, hike to the top of Eagle Rock. Chamber’s beach provides an excellent location for swimming and water sports, while to the west lies Squaw Valley, a premier ski resort and host to the 1960 Winter Olympics.

South Lake Tahoe, is home to a number of restaurants, motels, and beautiful pine cottages standing next to glittering casino's, just across the border in Nevada. The area abounds in beautiful hiking trails, parks and beaches, typified by the shores of Emerald Bay State Park and Sugar Pine Point State Park.

The 120-kilometre drive around the lake is often touted as the ‘most beautiful drive in America’, and while it falls somewhat short of the mark, it is nonetheless a rewarding and relaxing experience full of superb scenery.

For an alternative perspective of the lake, take one of the paddlewheel boat cruises or hire your own powerboat, sailboat or kayak. Other recreational activities include: horseback riding, mountain biking, four-wheel driving, hiking, golfing, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling.

There is no shortage of entertainment on the lakeside, with plenty of fine resorts, lively bars and excellent restaurants available. The lake has inspired its own cultural scene, with the many local artists represented by several excellent galleries running almost continuous art festivals during the summer, such as the Sand Harbor Shakespeare Festival in August.

Transport

By air
Reno-Tahoe International Airport provides convenient access to both the North Shore (30 minutes) and the South Shore (one hour). Transport to the lake is supplied by a casino shuttle bus or regular shuttle bus, or you can rent a car. Most international visitors arrive via one of the west coast’s two major air traffic hubs, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Car hire suppliers operating from LAX and San Francisco Airports include Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, Fox, Payless, National and Thrifty. Book cheap car hire in Lake Tahoe online with us today and your car will be ready and waiting for your arrival to the airport.

By car
With California’s beautiful and extensive road network, driving to Lake Tahoe is a great option. From Sacramento, follow US Highway 50 through the American River Canyon to the southern shores of Lake Tahoe. Alternatively you can take I-80, which passes the lake to the north at Donner Summit on its way to Reno, with several connecting highways to the lake’s northern and western shores.

By bus
Greyhound offers a daily service to and from Los Angeles, stopping at Reno, Carson City and smaller places along the way.