Where to Stay in Lake Tahoe: South Lake Tahoe (Stateline) vs North Shore, West Shore & Truckee

The #1 question every first-time visitor asks is: 'Choosing between South Lake Tahoe and North Lake Tahoe?' Because the two ends of the lake sit 45 to 60 minutes apart and have completely different personalities, here is how to choose the base that matches your trip.

1. South Lake Tahoe & Stateline

Located at the southern tip of the lake straddling the California, Nevada border, South Lake Tahoe has 60% of the basin's hotel rooms, meaning it offers both the best budget-to-midrange hotel prices AND the most walkable restaurant-and-gondola village (and sits just 20 minutes from Emerald Bay):

• Luxury & Upscale Right Around Heavenly Village / Stateline: splurge on five-star lakefront Edgewood Tahoe Resort, all-suite Marriott Grand Residence Club & Marriott's Timber Lodge (literally at the base of the Heavenly Gondola), The Landing Resort & Spa (across from Lakeside Beach), or newly transformed Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe and Nevada casino towers (Caesars Republic, Harrah's, Harvey's & Golden Nugget).
• Best Hip Reimagined Boutique Motels : over the last five years, entrepreneurs have transformed classic 1960s South Lake motor lodges into stylish, fire-pit-filled boutique hotels with craft beer bars and free bikes: check out Coachman Hotel, Basecamp Tahoe South, Desolation Hotel, Black Bear Lodge, Station House Inn and historic lakeside cabins at Camp Richardson Resort.

2. The North Shore: 'Incline Village', 'Tahoe City' & 'Kings Beach' (Best for Relaxed Charm & Sand Harbor)

If you prefer quiet starry nights, towering pines and being 5 to 15 minutes from Sand Harbor and the East Shore Trail without casino neon, stay on the North Shore:

• Incline Village: stay at four-star Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino or budget-friendly Incline Lodge.
• Tahoe City, Carnelian Bay & West Shore (California): stay right on the water at historic 20-room Sunnyside Resort & Lodge, boutique Basecamp Tahoe City, Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort (on a private sandy beach in Tahoe Vista), or rustic 1920s lakeside cottages at Meeks Bay / Cedar Crest / Franciscan Lakeside Lodge.
• Mountain Resort Villages (15 Mins from the Lake): five-star The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe (mid-mountain at Northstar), Everline Resort & Spa (Olympic Valley / Palisades), or historic Downtown Truckee.