Skip to ContentLake Tahoe, Donner Lake and Washoe Lake all have public access, but fees, reservations and dog rules differ at every one. Here they are in one table.
Checked November 3, 2026. Dates, prices and hours change; the official page wins.
- 1,645 ftTahoe maximum depth
- $10Kings Beach and Emerald Bay per vehicle
- May 15Sand Harbor reservations start
- 8public spots below
Every fact on this page was read on the linked It’s Reno place pages, which cite the official pages they came from. Hours, fees and dates change; the place page and the official site win.
Where The Public Can Get In
| Beach or lake | Where | Entry as read on our page |
|---|---|---|
| Sand Harbor | East shore, NV | $10 Nevada vehicles, $15 others; day-use reservations required May 15 to Sept 30 |
| Emerald Bay | West shore, CA | $10 parking per vehicle, $3 for one hour at the Vikingsholm lot |
| Kings Beach State Recreation Area | North shore, CA | $10 per vehicle, $3 hourly parking |
| Commons Beach, Tahoe City | North shore, CA | Run by the Tahoe City Public Utility District; fees not read |
| Zephyr Cove | East shore, NV | Resort beach, cabins and cruises; day fee not confirmed |
| Incline Village beaches | North shore, NV | Pass holders and their guests ($18 adult guest); public visitors use Sand Harbor or Kings Beach |
| Donner Lake (state park beach) | Truckee, CA | $10 per vehicle |
| Washoe Lake State Park | Between Reno and Carson City | $5 per Nevada vehicle |
Lake Tahoe in Numbers
Lake Tahoe is 1,645 feet deep at its deepest and covers about 191 square miles, with about 75 miles of shoreline, per UC Davis as quoted on our Lake Tahoe page. Pick a shore there.
Dogs
Rules differ by beach and conflict on some official pages. Emerald Bay allows no dogs on trails, Donner Memorial State Park allows none at China Cove Beach, and Commons Beach allows none on the beach but leashed dogs on the paved trail. Kings Beach prints conflicting dog rules, so call the park first.
Not Tahoe
Donner Lake has a state-park beach, and its public boat ramp was marked closed for construction when we checked. Washoe Lake has a boat launch, 49 campsites and fishing, and the state warns about mercury in fish from the lake.
Picking a Shore
Compare the two big bases in North Shore or South Shore.
On The Map
What We Could Not Confirm
These items were not read on an official page when we checked, so we do not state them as fact. Who can confirm each one is named.
- Fees at Commons Beach and Zephyr Cove day use (operators).
- Current Sand Harbor reservation rules (parks.nv.gov).
- Dog rules at Kings Beach (California State Parks).
More to Explore
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Tahoe beach is best for visitors without a pass?
Public options we read are Sand Harbor, Kings Beach, Emerald Bay and Commons Beach. Incline Village district beaches are for pass holders and their guests.
Do I need a reservation for Sand Harbor?
The park lists day-use reservations for vehicle entry daily from May 15 through September 30. Check parks.nv.gov for the current rule.
Sources
- Lake Tahoe
- Sand Harbor
- Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm
- Kings Beach
- Incline Village
- Tahoe City
- Donner Lake
- Washoe Lake State Park
Cite this page: It’s Reno editorial team, “Lakes and Beaches Guide: Tahoe, Donner and Washoe,” itsreno.com, checked November 3, 2026.