The water at Lake Tahoe is cold. But it is also so crystal clear. Our kids can’t stop themselves from running straight into it, and neither can we.
We have done Tahoe in August three years running. We hop between campgrounds, we paddleboard, and we wait at the full trailhead lots for someone to leave.
Here is what we have learned: where to camp and how to actually get a site, our favorite beach, the hikes we have done with kids, what else is worth your time, and the stuff that makes Tahoe such a magical wonderland that we keep coming back to.
A Few Things to Know Before You Go
It gets crowded. Plan for lots of new friends, but also limited parking. Tahoe in summer is busy, and you have to work around the crowds. Popular trailheads and beaches fill early on weekends. The Forest Service suggests the same thing we do: go early in the morning or later in the afternoon (USFS).
The water is cold, even in August. Tahoe is not glacier fed like Glacier NP (check out our favorite hikes there). It is cold because it is enormous and deep. Most of the water has been in the lake for hundreds of years, and the deep water stays around 39 degrees while the surface only reaches about 75 degrees by late summer (KQED). Cold water shock can hit in 50 to 60 degree water, and it does not care how strong a swimmer you are (KOLO).
Life jackets, always. We always have life jackets on when we are on our paddleboard. Nevada law requires kids under 13 to wear one at all times on a boat, and Sand Harbor and Cave Rock both have free loaner life jacket stations (KOLO).
There are bears. If you are camping, use the bear boxes and never cook or eat in your tent. Follow the regular bear rules you always follow in bear country. Kids are super messy eaters, so have them eat away from where you sleep. The Forest Service requires unattended food and trash to be stored in bear-resistant containers across the Tahoe Basin (South Tahoe Now).
Check for smoke. The area is prone to wildfire smoke in late summer. Check the news before you go, and check the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map (run by the EPA and the Forest Service) for real-time air quality.
Where We Camp at Lake Tahoe
We hop around campsites. We have stayed at Camp Richardson, Meeks Bay, and Nevada Beach, and we would camp at each one again. Some are more expensive than others. Each one has it’s pros and cons.
Meeks Bay Resort (West Shore)
Meeks is nice because there is no road between the campsite and the water. Tent sites are listed at $45 a night in the shoulder season and $55 at peak, with a 50% non-refundable down payment when you book and no pets anywhere at the resort (Recreation.gov). The Washoe Tribe has been part of the Meeks Bay area of Lake Tahoe, which they call Da ow aga, for millennia.
Camp Richardson (South Shore)
Camp Richardson is nice because it has all these different amenities and a ton of kids ready to play. It is expensive, but it is super nice to be right on the water. The resort has a marina, an ice cream parlor and a general store, and it is pet-free (USFS). The lakeside Badger’s Den tent sites book on Recreation.gov, where 2027 rates are listed at $53 and $106 a night depending on site type, plus weekend and holiday fees (Recreation.gov). The RV area is further from the water and you have to cross a road to get to the beach, but there are MANY people crossing at all times, so less likely something might happen, but still dangerous.
Nevada Beach (East Shore)
Nevada Beach is really nice because you can walk right down to the water. Standard sites are $47 a night in peak season, with flush toilets and drinking water. Pets are allowed in camp but not on the beach (Recreation.gov).
How We Actually Get a Site
If you are a super planner, book ahead. Each campground releases dates on its own schedule, so check the booking window on Recreation.gov:
- Meeks Bay Resort: 11-month rolling window. The 2027 season opens for booking December 1, 2026 at 8 a.m. Mountain.
- Badger’s Den at Camp Richardson: 12-month rolling window, with dates released at 8 a.m. Mountain.
- Nevada Beach: 6-month rolling window.
We are not super planners. We just head to the area. Camp Richardson usually has spots in the RV area, so we camp there and keep checking for canceled reservations. When a multiple-day stretch opens up somewhere else, we reserve it right away. It helps to know that at Meeks Bay Resort, the remaining balance is due 30 days before arrival, and unpaid reservations get canceled and released for others to book (Recreation.gov).
Our Favorite Beach: Meeks Bay
Our favorite beach spot is Meeks Bay. It can get crowded for sure, and you have to work around the crowds. The water is cold, but it is crystal clear and so fun for water sports. There is some wind, but we never found it to be a huge issue.
Our beach setup is simple: a big shade canopy staked in the sand, low chairs, a blanket, life jackets for anyone getting on the paddleboard, and a sun hat on every kid. The gear we actually use is at the end of this guide.
Kid-Friendly Hikes at Lake Tahoe
These are the hikes we have done with kids at Tahoe. All four are short, and all four end at water.
1. Eagle Falls to Eagle Lake
We took both kids to Eagle Lake: one in the carrier, one on foot. Parking was ridiculous. We had to wait for a spot to open up, but we had already committed, so we waited. While we were there, we were treated to seeing the Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile – so not all is terrible. If you want to skip the parking stress, head up super early or go in the late afternoon, around 3 or 4, after nap time.
Good to know: the Eagle Falls lot charges $5 per vehicle per day, has restrooms but no drinking water, and is typically open mid-May through mid-October (USFS). Eagle Lake is inside the Desolation Wilderness, so a free wilderness permit is required. Day users can self-issue one at major trailheads in summer (USFS). In summer, the Emerald Bay Shuttle stops at the Eagle Falls trailhead, and kids under 12 ride at a reduced fare.
2. Cascade Falls
The second waterfall in the Emerald Bay area, and Cypress loved this one. Parking was not as hard as Eagle Falls.
The trail is about a mile each way and mostly level, but rocky, so wear sturdy shoes. You do not need a wilderness permit because the falls are outside Desolation Wilderness. The Bayview lot charges a parking fee, has restrooms when the lot is open and has no drinking water (USFS). Near the falls there are tripping hazards and slippery rock from the spray, so keep small kids close (Tahoe Trail Guide).
3. Chimney Beach and Secret Cove
Halfway up the East Shore, this is a hike to a beach to hang out at. The trail is short and sandy, and the payoff is granite boulders and water that looks fake. We sat on the beach while Ben and Cypress were out on the paddleboard.
Heads up: Secret Cove is a popular clothing-optional beach (Tahoe.com). Chimney Beach, at about half a mile, is the closer stop on the same trail. Parking: the Chimney Beach lot opened in May 2026 with about 130 spaces, $12 per day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and a signalized crosswalk on Hwy 28. The smaller Secret Harbor lot has about 30 spaces at the same rate (South Tahoe Now).
4. Lake of the Sky Trail and Tallac Historic Site
This one is REALLY close to Camp Richardson.
The Lake of the Sky Trail starts at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center and runs 3/8 of a mile through Jeffrey pines, with views of Mt. Tallac across Taylor Creek Marsh, to Baldwin and Kiva beaches. From there, the Tallac Historic Site Trail continues 3/4 of a mile along Kiva Beach past the old Baldwin, Pope and Valhalla summer estates (Taylor Tallac). The half-mile Rainbow Trail from the visitor center is paved and wheelchair accessible, and leads to the Stream Profile Chamber, an underground window into the creek.
There is no fee at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, and leashed dogs are welcome on the trails, but not inside the Stream Profile Chamber or in or near Taylor Creek Marsh (USFS). In 2026 the chamber was open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., starting June 5 (Taylor Tallac).
Beyond the Beach
Bike the Path From Camp Richardson
From Camp Richardson, you can take the bike path all the way toSouth Lake Tahoe and grab lunch, ice cream, coffee, or all three. Ben and Cypress would ride over to get coffee for me in the morning with the bike and the Thule trailer. Now that he is older, Cypress rides his own bike over with Ben.
Donner Lake and Truckee
For a change of scenery, the smaller lakes around Tahoe are worth a day. We like Donner Lake. In Truckee, we just got lunch and found a playground. If you want the playground and the beach in one stop, West End Beach on Donner Lake has playgrounds, a shallow swim area with lifeguards, boat rentals and restrooms. No dogs (Tahoe Public Beaches).
Get Out on a Boat
We have never actually rented a boat at Tahoe. A friend brought his sailboat one year and the kids loved that. If you do rent a boat, we would suggest a pontoon boat for kids.
What We Pack for Lake Tahoe With Kids
This is the gear that earned its spot in the car on our Tahoe trips.
The board our kids actually ride
Badfish Monarch Inflatable Paddleboard
Pros
- Wide and stable at 34 inches
- Packs into a backpack bag for camping trips
- Electric pump, paddle, leash and fin included
Size: 11′ x 34″ x 5.5″ | Weight: 18 lbs | Rider capacity: 100 to 230 lbs
We own two Badfish boards. The Flyweight is super small, so the Monarch is the one we use. At Tahoe that meant a grown-up paddling and a kid along for the ride, with life jackets on, always.
The water is cold, but it is crystal clear and so fun to paddle on.
The short version: our family board, the one that goes on every lake trip.
Pros
- UPF 50+ shade fabric
- 8 sandbags, 4 aluminum poles and 4 wind ropes for anchoring
- 6.5 ft tall, room for chairs, towels and a cooler underneath
Size: 10 x 10 ft (also sold in 10 x 13 ft) | Height: 6.5 ft | UPF: 50+
This is the blue shade canopy in our Tahoe beach photos, staked in the sand with chairs underneath.
The short version: big, anchored shade for a full family setup.
Pros
- Packs to about 17 x 4 x 4 in and weighs 3.9 lbs
- 86.6 x 59 x 48 in inside, room to lie down
- UPF 50+ silver-coated fabric
Size: 86.6″ L x 59″ W x 48″ H | Weight: 3.9 lbs | Packed: 17″ x 4″ x 4″
We have had this one since 2023, and it still comes to the beach with us.
The short version: a light pop-up shelter that has lasted us years.
Pros
- 8 in seat height sits low in the sand
- 300 lb capacity
- Folds to 27 x 7 x 7.5 in with a carry bag
Seat height: 8″ | Weight: 6 lbs 13 oz | Capacity: 300 lbs | Folded: 27″ x 7″ x 7.5″
Our low chair for Tahoe beach days.
The short version: a low, sturdy chair that packs small.
Pros
- Organic cotton waffle with a muslin lining
- Magnetic snaps turn it into a poncho
- Oversized hood
Size: Small (0 to 3 years) medium (3 to 6 years) large (7 to 12 years)
We have had these for over a year. Magnetic snaps turn the towel into a poncho with a big hood.
The short version: a beach towel little kids can wear.
Best sun hat for kids overall
Read our reviewSunday Afternoon Kids’ Play Hat
Sun hats are non-negotiable at this elevation. Our full testing is in our guide to the best sun hats for kids.
Pros
- Bike, jog, stroll or ski (jogging and ski kits sold separately)
- Rain cover and sun canopy included
- Seats one kid in the middle or two side by side
From Camp Richardson, the bike path runs all the way to a shopping center and lunch spots. Ben and Cy would ride it in the morning with the bike and the Thule trailer to get coffee for me. Now that he is older, Cy just rides his own bike over with Ben.
Ours is an older Chariot model. This is the current Chariot Cross 2.
The short version: our bike trailer for the little-kid years.
Is Lake Tahoe Worth It With Kids?
Yes. It is busy, and there are tons of crowds, but everything is pretty fun there. Everything is so beautiful and worth it. Go early, keep the life jackets on, store your food like a bear is watching (one probably is), and plan at least one afternoon around a paddleboard and a cold, clear cove.
Roxy Dawson
I'm Roxy Dawson — New Yorker turned Coloradan, former full-time van dweller, outdoor industry veteran, and co-author of three Falcon Guides. I've spent the better part of a decade testing outdoor gear for adults across some genuinely terrible conditions. Then I had kids, noticed that nobody was doing that work honestly for the 0–14 age set, and built the site I kept wishing existed. Everything on Good Better Best has been tested by my actual children — currently ages two and five, with strong opinions and zero patience for gear that doesn't work. I test first. I write second. I don't recommend things I wouldn't buy with my own money.
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