Are you a thrill-seeker? Do you appreciate breathtaking scenery? Does your dream vacation include powdery slopes and a lively nightlife? When you go from Reno to South Lake Tahoe, you’ll find just what you’re looking for.

Visitors to the Lake Tahoe area have two choices: north and south. North Lake Tahoe is in Nevada, while South Lake Tahoe is in California.

Riding from the airport in Reno to South Lake Tahoe or North Lake Tahoe is easy since neither is very far from the other – at least on a map. The real divide between north and south isn’t geographical, but a difference in atmosphere.

South Lake Tahoe: the Life of the Party

Vacationing in North Lake Tahoe is often described as relaxing escape. Locals sometimes call it “the sleepy North.” South Lake Tahoe, on the other hand, is a beehive of activity with non-stop entertainment options for everyone, making South Tahoe a premiere destination for people with a desire to do it all.

Going from Reno to South Lake Tahoe means being right where the action is, 24 hours a day. There are fewer ski resorts than in the north, but the ones that are there (Kirkwood, Heavenly, Sierra-at-Tahoe) rival North Tahoe in quality.

In South Tahoe, you can follow up a day of skiing the slopes and luxuriating in the resort spa with a busy evening of shopping, dancing, and dining. Follow it up with a trip to one of South Tahoe’s numerous casinos and bars or see a show before doing it all again the next morning.

There is also a vibrant arts scene. South Tahoe has many area art galleries, and thousands of people come from Reno to South Lake Tahoe every June for the Valhalla Arts, Music, and Theatre Festival.

 

Entertainment in South Lake Tahoe

Year-round, you can see the sights of South Tahoe by tour bus, helicopter, or even hot air balloon! Miles of hiking trails go around beautiful Lake Tahoe, many of them open for snowshoeing in the winter.

If you’d rather visit in the warmer months, you can try out any water sport you like from parasailing and jet skiing to kayaking and paddleboarding. There’s also ample fishing and boating in the area.

With a short trip from Reno to South Lake Tahoe, you can also visit Emerald Bay State Park for hiking, camping, beautiful scenic vistas, and even snorkeling and scuba diving. Since entry to the park is completely free, a trip from Reno to South Lake Tahoe just to visit Emerald Bay is well worth it.

People who enjoy venturing from the beaten path can even round out their trip to South Lake Tahoe with a tour of Northern California wine country.

Vacationers love South Tahoe because it’s really the best of both worlds: a mountain ski retreat and a bustling metropolis all at once. With luxurious ski resorts and countless entertainment venues to visit after the sun goes down, the trip from Reno to South Lake Tahoe is one you’ll never forget.