Lakeside Beach
South Lake Tahoe, California · on Lake Tahoe
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Lakeside Beach
Lakeside Beach is a sandy, privately operated swimming beach on the south shore of Lake Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe, California, right along Lakeshore Boulevard near the Nevada state line. The swimming hole is run by the Lakeside Park Association, an HOA formed in 1938 that also operates an adjoining marina and beachfront restaurant, and it is open to the public via daily or seasonal passes even though it primarily serves the association's member lodging properties.
The beach sits directly on Lake Tahoe's south shore on Lakeshore Boulevard, within walking distance of the South Lake Tahoe/Stateline casino corridor, and adjoins the Lakeside Marina and a beachfront restaurant (historically 'Lakeside Beach Grill,' operating today as 'Beach House' at the same address and phone number).
Swimming at Lakeside Beach
The association's own description calls it 'one of the finest sand beaches on Lake Tahoe,' explicitly offering visitors 'a refreshing dip in the water.' The swimming area is protected by breakwaters and watched by a daily lifeguard (summer, weather permitting), making it a managed, family-oriented lake swimming spot rather than a wild or unsupervised one.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located on Lakeshore Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe/Stateline, within walking or biking distance of lodging, restaurants, and the casino corridor; reachable in summer via the BlueGo 'Nifty Fifty' trolley, or by water taxi running between Lakeside Marina and Camp Richardson.
Parking: Free on-site parking, per the association's own site, though walking or biking is encouraged given the central location.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up lake beach directly on Lakeshore Boulevard with an on-site parking lot; it's a short walk (well under 5 minutes) from parking to the sand. No trail or hike of any distance is involved.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Sandy, gently-sloping lake beach with breakwaters built specifically to calm the water for swimmers, which is good for kids, but the beach's own current website states 'NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY' - this supersedes the earlier archived page that described a daily summer lifeguard. Parents should supervise closely; there is a fenced/seasonal children's play area on site.
Parking
Free
Free on-site parking lot, per Visit Lake Tahoe's current beach guide; walking or biking is encouraged given the beach's central location in the South Lake Tahoe/Stateline corridor. Note this is separate from beach admission, which is a per-person fee (see fees).
Restrooms
Yes
Men's and women's restrooms at the beach are ADA accessible, per the operator's current site (lakesideparkassociation.org).
Water clarity
Clear
Multiple independent accounts describe the water as notably clear and cold and the sand as clean: visitors in July 2024 described crystal clear water at Lakeside Beach, one guide calls it 'crystal clear blue water perfect for swimming,' and one recent visitor notes 'The sand is so clean. The water was so cold. It was absolutely amazing...' This is consistent with Lake Tahoe's famously high overall water clarity.
Hours
Beach gate open to the public roughly 7:30am-9:00pm, seven days a week (per the operator's current site, lakesideparkassociation.org, July 2026 crawl); operates seasonally in earnest Memorial Day through mid-September/mid-October. Public admission is $30/adult (18+), $20/child (6-17), free for kids 5 and under, capped at 200 general-public visitors per day, day-of purchase only - this replaces the older archived fee schedule which had no listed price.
On the water
Restrictions: Per the operator's current marina page (lakesideparkassociation.org/marina): boats and jet skis are NOT permitted to beach on the shoreline (they must launch/return via the marina), and all watercraft need a current Lake Tahoe boat inspection sticker before launching. Marina/rental operations run daily Memorial Weekend through mid-October, weather permitting.
Rentals (kayaks, paddleboards, pedal boats, jet skis, powerboats up to 27 feet) are available on site through the adjoining Lakeside Marina, run by concessionaire Action Watersports; a water taxi to Camp Richardson and parasailing/sailing tours are also offered from the same dock.
Rentals nearby
Kayaks (single/double), stand-up paddleboards, 2-4 person pedal boats, jet skis, powerboats (hourly/half-day/full-day), plus water taxi, parasailing, and a sailing yacht tour, all launching from Lakeside Marina next to Lakeside Beach
Prices: Kayak/paddleboard/pedal boat rentals from $47.70; jet ski from $221.54 (1-2 hr session, their most-booked option); boat rentals from $209; parasailing from $100.70; water taxi from $37.10 (2 hr); sailing yacht tour from $105 (2 hr)
Lakeside Marina, 4041 Lakeshore Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 - directly adjacent to Lakeside Beach; harbormaster/booking phone 530-541-9800
What regulars say
Visitor reports are mixed on value but consistent on clarity and cleanliness. One visitor discussing midweek trips to Lakeside Beach and Chimney Beach noted booking a stay at a property with beach access specifically to skip the parking hassle, adding 'Not having to park and the thought that it wouldn't be as packed was a big plus' for a Monday or Tuesday visit, suggesting it can get crowded on weekends and that lodging-linked access is a workaround locals use. Another visitor highlighted how clean the sand is and how cold the water runs. Separately, locals and visitors have questioned the $30/person entry charge, indicating the fee is a recurring point of surprise and complaint for first-time visitors expecting a free public beach.
Backstory
The Lakeside Park Association was incorporated in 1938 to provide water, sanitation, and recreation facilities for its member properties, since the area had no city infrastructure at the time; the association's site refers to it as the 'Historic Lakeside Park Beach.'
Lakeside Beach: FAQ
Does Lakeside Beach charge a fee?
Public access requires a daily or seasonal beach pass (purchasable on site from the beach gatekeeper); passes are included for guests of Lakeside Park Association member properties (motels, timeshares, vacation rentals, homeowners). Current prices were not found.
Is Lakeside Beach kid friendly?
Sandy, gently-sloping lake beach with breakwaters built specifically to calm the water for swimmers, which is good for kids, but the beach's own current website states 'NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY' - this supersedes the earlier archived page that described a daily summer lifeguard. Parents should supervise closely; there is a fenced/seasonal children's play area on site.
Do I need to hike to reach Lakeside Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Lakeside Beach?
Free on-site parking lot, per Visit Lake Tahoe's current beach guide; walking or biking is encouraged given the beach's central location in the South Lake Tahoe/Stateline corridor. Note this is separate from beach admission, which is a per-person fee (see fees).
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lakeside Beach?
Rentals (kayaks, paddleboards, pedal boats, jet skis, powerboats up to 27 feet) are available on site through the adjoining Lakeside Marina, run by concessionaire Action Watersports; a water taxi to Camp Richardson and parasailing/sailing tours are also offered from the same dock.
When is the best time to visit Lakeside Beach?
Summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day), when the beach is staffed with a lifeguard and full amenities (umbrella/chair, boat, jet ski, and kayak rentals) are available.
What are the rules at Lakeside Beach?
Privately managed by the Lakeside Park Association; dogs are not permitted. Per the association's historical posted hours: in summer (Memorial Day-Labor Day) the beach is reserved for property-owner pass holders 6-9am and 7-9pm, and open to the public with a daily/seasonal pass 9am-7pm; in winter (Labor Day-Memorial Day) it is open to the public without a pass 8am-9pm. These hours/rules are from an archived version of the operator's site and may have changed.
What water body is Lakeside Beach on?
Lakeside Beach is on Lake Tahoe, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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