Finding parking can be a challenge in Tahoe, especially at the most popular spots on busy weekends. But parking in the right places isn’t just about avoiding a ticket—it’s about keeping the lake clean and keeping people safe.
Why It Matters
When cars go off-road and park in undesignated areas, they kick up dirt and sediment. That runoff eventually makes its way into the lake, affecting Tahoe’s famous clarity. Keeping wheels on pavement helps keep the lake blue.
Know Before You Go
Planning ahead can save you time and stress. Visit the most popular spots early or late to avoid peak times – sunrise at Emerald Bay is incredible! Check for public lots, use a park-and-ride service, or take advantage of Lake Link, Tahoe’s free shuttle system. Less time circling for parking means more time enjoying Tahoe.
Stay Safe, Stay Legal
Parking in the wrong place can be dangerous—not just for your car, but for pedestrians, cyclists, and emergency vehicles. If a parking lot is full, resist the urge to create your own spot. Instead, arrive early or consider alternative ways to get around. The downtown area and many attractions are highly walkable or just a quick LakeLink away! Beyond that, law enforcement in the Tahoe basin are proactive about ticketing for illegal parking, so parking legally ensures your visit doesn’t include an extra hidden charge in the form of a parking ticket or payment to a towing company.
Lake Tahoe’s stunning beauty is world famous and it took millions of years and a whole host of unique conditions to form this natural wonder. Preserving it is now in our hands. There are hundreds of dedicated conservationists and countless local and visiting volunteers working hard to ensure we take good care of this magical place. Leaving less means making thoughtful choices that protect the lake and surrounding wilderness.
Pack It In, Pack It Out
When you’re exploring the outdoors, you may not always find a trash can nearby. That’s why it’s essential to bring a small bag to pack out your own waste, including food scraps, wrappers, and even biodegradable items like orange peels and pistachio shells. Bonus points if you pack out someone else’s litter and leave it even better than you found it.
Pick Up After Your Pets
Pet waste doesn’t just disappear—always bring waste bags and dispose of them in proper bins. Nobody wants to see a stunning trail dotted with dog poop bags. Don’t be that person. Pack it out.
Ditch Single-Use Plastics
South Lake Tahoe has banned single-use plastic water bottles, so bring a reusable bottle and Drink Tahoe Tap! Tahoe’s tap water is some of the cleanest in the country and it tastes amazing. One of the biggest contributors to lake pollution is micro-plastics, so avoiding using plastics while here is a wonderful way to contribute and also gives you the chance to practice plastic-free living by shifting to resuables and biodegradable items – there are lots of amazing alternatives out there.
Clearly Tahoe’s Blue Crew helping to keep Lake Tahoe beautiful.
Celebrating Success: Cleanup the Lake
Local efforts, like Cleanup the Lake’s Litter Summit, and the work of the Destination Stewardship Council, have made a huge impact in keeping Tahoe clean. Lakewide coordinated efforts led to a 75% decrease in pounds of trash following the Fourth of July in 2024 as compared with 2023. Through strategic messaging (both leading up to and over the holiday), increases in services like additional restrooms and dumpsters, and increased presence of stewardship ambassadors and law enforcement on the Fourth of July, we turned the tides and collectively sent the message that stewardship is the norm here.
The LTVA Team Doing our part to help cleanup the Lake.
Life can move fast, but Tahoe invites you to slow down, unplug, and truly be present. Instead of rushing from place to place, take a deep breath, look around, and soak in the awe-inspiring beauty that surrounds you.
The Science of Awe
Studies show that experiencing awe can make our experience of time slow down. When we take in something vast—like a golden sunrise over Emerald Bay or towering pines covered in fresh snow—our perception of time expands, making our experiences feel richer and more memorable. Research suggests that when we rush, our brains process experiences faster, making time feel shorter. By intentionally slowing down, we create deeper, longer-lasting memories. So take a pause, breathe in the fresh alpine air, and let Tahoe work its magic.
Be Here, Now
Tahoe Time isn’t just about relaxing—it’s about fully immersing yourself in the moment. That could mean watching the light shift on the lake, feeling the crunch of fresh snow underfoot, or simply enjoying a quiet morning with a hot cup of coffee. When we move at a slower pace, we are also more likely to spot the wildlife around us.
Coyotes can be well camouflaged, as are many of the native species to the Tahoe Basin.
Connecting with Locals
Beyond that, the south shore of Lake Tahoe receives the highest volume of visitors on weekends and over the summer. Our business community does their absolute best to staff accordingly, but during peak times, expect waits to be longer. If you can, dine early or late, and if not, show patience to the staff, who will do their best to serve you. With respect and kindness, you’ll be more likely to get insider tips on the best hidden gems to add to your itinerary and a memorable positive experience all around. Also, word from the wise: many restaurants can’t take “to go” orders during peak business hours, so either call it in early or expect to dine in.
Lake Tahoe is home to incredible wildlife, from black bears and bald eagles to tiny chipmunks and the elusive pika. While it’s exciting to spot these animals in the wild, it’s important to respect their space—for their safety and yours.
An elusive pika enjoys the sunshine.
Stay Bear Wise
Black bears are a natural part of the Tahoe landscape, but they should never be approached or fed. Keep food and scented items locked away in bear-proof containers or provided bear bins, never left inside your car. Leaving food unattended can attract bears and encourage bad habits that put both people and bears at risk.
Always drive the speed limit. One of the biggest threats to Tahoe’s black bears is being hit by a car. Slowing down helps protect both your vehicle and our furry neighbors. To learn more about how to stay safe and keep bears wild, visit Bear Wise.
Give Wildlife Space
Seeing a coyote on the trail or a beaver near the shore is exciting, but remember, wild animals should stay wild. Keep your distance, stay quiet, and observe from afar. Chasing or feeding animals can stress them out and disrupt their natural behavior.
The magic of the Lake Tahoe region comes from the delicate balance between people and nature. By respecting wildlife, we help keep that balance intact for future generations.
One of Tahoe Toogee’s trail cams took this image, thus not disrupting the coyote’s natural behavior.
Stick to the Trails
Tahoe’s forests and meadows are full of delicate plant life that takes years to grow but only seconds to destroy. Staying on designated trails helps prevent erosion, protects fragile ecosystems, and keeps the landscape healthy for wildlife. Plus, it makes it easier to spot and avoid hazards like hidden roots or unstable terrain. Leave No Trace. Keeping dogs on leash helps protect local wildlife and ensures everyone enjoys the trail safely.
As a community, South Lake Tahoe has a lake-first mentality, and we aim to be on the leading edge of practices and policies that protect the awe and then some of our gorgeous home basin for generations to come. In October 2022, the city council of South Lake Tahoe took a big stride, by voting in favor of a single-use plastic water bottle ban, which went into full effect on Earth Day, April 22, 2024. South Lake Tahoe is among the first cities to adopt such a ban, followed shortly by Truckee, and Breckenridge, CO. There are many ways you can support sustainability in Tahoe.
While it may seem convenient to buy a pack of water bottles for a vacation, the impact lasts far longer than a weekend – try 450 years. And those bottles don’t turn into fertilizer but instead, become harmful microplastics which humans and wildlife alike then ingest. These tiny particles are consumed by wildlife and eventually make their way up the food chain to humans. The single-use plastic water bottle ban sends a signal that the people of Tahoe want to encourage sustainable choices.
Why drink Tahoe Tap?
What’s more, Tahoe tap is among the finest in the world. Why buy plastic bottled water when the water on tap is 99.99% pure? Of course, it is understandable to be hesitant when not all tap water is as pure. Tahoe tap is far more rigorously tested than anything that comes in a plastic bottle. If you’re planning a trip, make sure to pack your reusable water bottle!
In conjunction with the City of South Lake Tahoe, Visit Lake Tahoe purchased refillable water bottles for guests and residents. Beginning on Earth Day, the water bottles were delivered to properties that opt in from Zephyr Cove to Emerald Bay. We are also sharing information with hotel staff to educate and encourage guests to drink Tahoe tap.
Fill it Forward Water Bottles for a Better Future
For the water bottles, we partnered with local non-profit Drink Tahoe Tap and Fill it Forward. Fill it Forward provides custom products with a QR code for giving back to meaningful causes. In the case of Visit Lake Tahoe, our water bottles support the following local organizations:
Clean up the Lake| Our mission is to activate local communities in taking action to protect the environment. Since 2020 we have removed over 36,000 pounds of litter from Lake Tahoe!
Sugar Pine Foundation | We are dedicated to restoring sugar pines in the Lake Tahoe region and beyond. The Sugar Pine foundation organizes community plantings each year to plant 10,000 sugar pine seedlings and other native trees.
The Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) | TAMBA is dedicated to the stewardship of sustainable, multiple-use trail. They preserve access for mountain bikers through advocacy, education and promotion of responsible trail use.
Tahoe Rim Trail Association | The mission of the Tahoe Rim Trail Association is to maintain and enhance the Tahoe Rim Trail system. They practice and inspire stewardship and preserve access to the natural beauty of the Lake Tahoe region.
Given that the League to Save Lake Tahoe picked up 20,100 plastic bottles, 31,300 plastic caps and 163,800 unidentifiable plastic pieces from 2014-2023, plastic litter in Lake Tahoe is a big deal. By removing plastic water bottles from stores, we take a big step towards keeping Tahoe pristine for all those who visit to enjoy. One of our goals at Visit Lake Tahoe, is to be among the top 10% of destination marketing organizations known for leading sustainable tourism within the next 10 years, and our team is thrilled to support our city making moves towards a sustainable future for all. Learn more ways you can help protect the awe with our Rules to Lake By.
In early 2025, Visit Lake Tahoe was awarded Fill it Forward’s Changemaker Award, which “recognizes those who have taken significant strides to reduce their carbon footprint, leading the charge in combating climate change by implementing sustainable practices that contribute to a greener and more resilient planet.”
Updated January 28, 2025
Keep Tahoe Awesome
The clearest blue water. The brightest green mountains. It’s awe and then some, but all this awesome doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from mutual respect for the South Shore, from locals and visitors alike. That’s why we created Rules to Lake By: five ways to practice responsible tourism at Lake Tahoe, so we can keep this place awesome today and awesome tomorrow.
