Lake Tahoe
About 3 hr 30 min by car from San Francisco
A huge alpine lake with ski resorts in winter and beaches in summer.
Why locals go
The Bay Area's ski and lake weekend.
Visiting San Francisco?
At 3 hr 30 min by car, it's easy to add a night or two here and still be back in San Francisco for your flight home.
What to book
- Ski Palisades or Heavenly
- Boat cruise to Emerald Bay
- Gondola at Heavenly
Where to stay
One or two nights is enough for most people. Compare places to stay:
See hotels in Lake TahoeDate ideas
For two
- Lake sunset cruise
- Cabin with a hot tub
With friends
- Ski together
- Rent a boat for the day
When to go
Skiing December to April, lake June to September.