South Lake Tahoe and Stateline are two adjacent towns that straddle the state borders of California and Nevada. Other than the presence of two large casinos, the distinction between the two states isn’t that obvious, and many visitors to the area refer to the two towns (aka cities) collectively as “South Lake Tahoe”.

South Lake Tahoe has a population of about 21,000 and it is very popular with tourists who come to enjoy the beauty of the lake, try their luck at the casinos, enjoy the other activities on offer, or even to get married! During winter and spring, the main focus becomes skiing and snowboarding at the South Lake Tahoe ski resorts.

South Lake Tahoe is a completely mixed bag. It’s very upscale on one hand whilst simultaneously a little dingy in some spots. It’s low key and relaxed in some respects, yet it also has the vibrancy associated with the casinos. Chances are that whatever you’re looking for in South Lake Tahoe, you’ll find it.

Pros of South Lake Tahoe CA

• Perfect location to access Heavenly Ski Resort.
• The town is also well situated to use as a base for the other South Lake Tahoe ski resorts.
• The beach area in particular is very scenic.
• The South Lake Tahoe lodging is very diverse and caters to a range of budgets from dirt cheap to luxurious.

Pro or Con Depending on Your Perspective 

• Stateline is awesome if you like gambling and the casinos offer great nightlife, good value for money lodging, inexpensive food and drink, and the ability to smoke inside if you want. 

Where is South Lake Tahoe CA and Stateline Nevada?

As the names suggest, South Lake Tahoe CA is located on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, whilst Stateline is just on the other side of the border. South Lake Tahoe/Stateline is 100 miles northeast of Sacramento and 190 miles northeast of San Francisco.

The Reno-Tahoe International Airport is the most common gateway airport, which is 56 miles to the northeast, a drive that takes just over an hour.

South Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts

During winter and spring, the main focus becomes skiing and snowboarding at the South Lake Tahoe resorts, and the town is the main lodging base for Heavenly Mountain Resort and Sierra at Tahoe.

The Heavenly Ski Resort is the key South Lake Tahoe ski resort, with the Heavenly Gondola conveniently starting right in the heart of South Lake Tahoe and only a stone’s throw from the Stateline casinos.

Sierra at Tahoe is 15 miles (25 minute drive) southwest of South Lake Tahoe.

Kirkwood Mountain Resort is 34 miles south of South Lake Tahoe.

Other ski resorts close to South Lake Tahoe and Stateline:

• 23 miles away on the west shore of the lake is Homewood
• A little further north and 37 miles away is Alpine Meadows
• Squaw Valley is 37 miles away (1 hour drive)
• Mt Rose is easily accessible to the northeast of Lake Tahoe, 37 miles away
• Diamond Peak in Incline Village is 28 miles north of South Lake Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe Lodging

On the California side, South Lake Tahoe lodging comes in almost every form imaginable from upscale hotels and condos to incredibly cheap motels and lodges:

South Lake Tahoe Accommodations

On the Nevada side, there are various casino hotels which tend to provide very good value for money: 

Stateline Casinos and Hotels Listings