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Highway 28: Incline Village to Spooner, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Photo: Ken Lund · CC BY-SA 2.0 · cropped

Drives Nevada Reno, Carson City and Lake Tahoe

Highway 28: Incline Village to Spooner

NV 28, Tahoe Boulevard · Incline Village → Spooner Junction

Sweeping11 mi20 min1,200 ft climbHigh point ≈ 7,000 ftOne way
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The drive

Nevada State Route 28 follows the northeastern shore of Lake Tahoe through Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park. This drive runs south from Incline Village, where the road meets the Mount Rose Highway at a roundabout, for 11 miles to Spooner Junction at US 50.

Near Sand Harbor the road passes the site of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. The state park describes Sand Harbor's beaches as sloping gently into clear water with interesting rock formations. The road has been a scenic byway since 1994 and became part of a National Scenic Byway in 1996. The drive takes about 20 minutes and has mostly gentle curves.

Along the way

  1. Incline Village
  2. Sand Harbor
  3. Spooner Junction (US-50)
Elevation
1,200 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 7,000 ft
Incline VillageSpooner Junction
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
Incline VillageSpooner Junction
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Sand Harbor is busy from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and the park warns of closures in that season.
  • Sand Harbor requires day-use reservations for vehicle entry from May 15 through September 30.
  • Parking or dropping off on Highway 28 anywhere other than designated parking is prohibited at Sand Harbor, and you won't be admitted if you do.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Nevada 511: road conditions.

Questions about this drive

How long does Highway 28 along Lake Tahoe's east shore take?

Highway 28 from Incline Village to Spooner Junction is 11 miles and takes about 20 minutes without stops.

Do you need a reservation for Sand Harbor on Highway 28?

From May 15 through September 30, day-use reservations are required for vehicle entry to Sand Harbor, which sits on Highway 28.

What does Highway 28 on Lake Tahoe's east shore pass?

It passes Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park and Sand Harbor, and ends at US 50 at Spooner Junction.

What you get in the app

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Highway 28: Incline Village to Spooner, from Incline Village to Spooner Junction