Zephyr Cove Marina
- Powerboats
- Pontoons
- Jet ski
- Parasailing
- MS Dixie II
ActivitiesBoating
Boating on Lake Tahoe
A 22-mile lake with marinas on every shore, pontoon and ski boat rentals, and paddlewheel cruises. Every motorized boat must be inspected before it launches.
Conditions today
- Right now
- 72°F, Sunny
- Today
- High 72°, low 48°
- Wind
- 8 mph
- Water temperature
- 65°F
- Lake level
- 6,222.4 ft
- TomorrowPartly Cloudy, 10% chance of rain68° 45°
- ThuMostly Clear, 5% chance of rain74° 50°
- FriPM Storms, 75% chance of rain61° 44°
Best months
- Jan: out of season
- Feb: out of season
- Mar: out of season
- Apr: out of season
- May: possible
- Jun: best
- Jul: best
- Aug: best
- Sep: best
- Oct: out of season (this month)
- Nov: out of season
- Dec: out of season
Inspection stations run from May 1 to September 30, which sets the practical season for trailered boats.
Know before you go
- Inspection
- Every motorized boat must be inspected for invasive species before launching, followed by mandatory decontamination (minimum fee $30). Stations are at Meyers, Spooner Summit and Alpine Meadows.
- Timing
- Allow 30 to 90 minutes at the station. No new inspections start after 4:30pm. An appointment at TahoeBoatInspections.com cuts the wait to about 15 minutes.
- Your seal
- After inspection your boat gets a wire seal. Keep it intact when you haul out and you can skip the line next time.
- Wind
- Afternoon wind builds quickly on open water. Check the forecast and plan the long crossings for the morning.
Best known for
- Zephyr Cove MarinaRentals, pontoons, jet skis, parasailing
- MS Dixie IIPaddlewheel day and dinner cruises
- Tahoe City MarinaNorth shore, guided tours
- Camp Richardson MarinaSouth shore, boat and SUP rentals
- Sand HarborEast shore launch
8 places for boating
Open the map and inspection detailsCamp Richardson Marina
- Full service
- Boat & SUP rentals
- Bar & Grill
Ski Run Marina — SLT
- Powerboat rentals
- Jet ski
- Tours
- South shore hub
Tahoe City Marina
- Full service
- Guided tours
- North shore hub
Lake Forest Boat Ramp
- Free public launch ramp
- Less crowded
- Locals' choice
Kings Beach Boat Ramp
- Public ramp
- East end of Kings Beach
- Water sports nearby
All 8 boating places, A to Z
Gear and rentals nearby
Open the amenities map- Tahoe Paddle & OarRentals, Kings Beach, CAKayak, SUP, pontoon & pedal boat
- Emerald Bay Water SportsRentals, South Lake Tahoe, CAGuided kayak tours, Emerald Bay access
- Zephyr Cove Boat RentalsRentals, Zephyr Cove, NVPowerboats, pontoons, jet ski, parasailing
- Tahoe City KayakRentals, Tahoe City, CAKayak & SUP rentals, Lake access
- Sand Harbor Clear Kayak ToursRentals, Sand Harbor, NVClear kayak tours, Stunning east shore water
- Camp Richardson WatersportsRentals, South Lake Tahoe, CAKayak, SUP, paddleboats, South shore
Guides and official sites
These open on other websites.
- Tahoe Boat Inspections (opens in a new tab)tahoeboatinspections.com
- Boat tours guide (opens in a new tab)visitlaketahoe.com
- Zephyr Cove Resort (opens in a new tab)zephyrcove.com
- Lake Tahoe Water Trail (opens in a new tab)laketahoewatertrail.org