Drives California Gold Country and Tahoe
Emerald Bay Road: Highway 89
CA 89, West Lake Boulevard · South Lake Tahoe → Tahoe City
The drive
Highway 89 along Lake Tahoe's west shore is the road to Emerald Bay. Driven north from South Lake Tahoe, it leaves town past Camp Richardson and climbs a grade to Emerald Bay State Park, where it was built into a cliff high above the lake.
At the top of the grade it follows a narrow ridge that barely fits two lanes, with steep drops on both sides, and then curves around high above Emerald Bay itself. The bay holds Fannette Island, the only island in Lake Tahoe, and Vikingsholm, a replica of a Scandinavian castle, reached by a steep mile-long trail down from the parking lot. The park is a National Natural Landmark, named for its glacier-carved granite, and the bay is an underwater state park.
Past the bay the road drops back toward the shore and runs north through Meeks Bay, Tahoma and Homewood before ending at Tahoe City, where Highway 89 turns away from the lake.
Along the way
- South Lake Tahoe
- Emerald Bay (Inspiration Point)
- Meeks Bay
- Tahoe City
Good to know
- Parking at Emerald Bay is limited and paid, and the Vikingsholm lot can be gated when full; the park suggests arriving before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m., or avoiding weekends.
- Trucks over 30 feet aren't advised on this stretch, especially near Emerald Bay.
- Snow can close the road around Emerald Bay in winter, and chains or four-wheel drive are often required.
- Rockfall and slides are a risk here, especially during spring snowmelt or heavy rain.
Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Caltrans: Highway 89 conditions.
Questions about this drive
How long does Emerald Bay Road from South Lake Tahoe to Tahoe City take?
Highway 89 from South Lake Tahoe to Tahoe City along the west shore is about 27 miles and takes about 55 minutes without stops; summer traffic and parking at Emerald Bay can add much more.
Is Highway 89 at Emerald Bay open in winter?
Usually, but not always. Snow can close Highway 89 around Emerald Bay during winter storms, and chains or four-wheel drive are frequently required, so check Caltrans before you go.
Is there a fee to stop at Emerald Bay?
Parking at the Vikingsholm lot in Emerald Bay State Park is paid by the hour or the day, and it often fills early in summer.
Can RVs and trucks drive Highway 89 at Emerald Bay?
Trucks over 30 feet long aren't advised on Highway 89 around Emerald Bay, where the road runs along a narrow ridge high above the lake; long vehicles are better off on another route.
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More drives near here
Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.