The Best of VRBO: Lake Tahoe

Booking the perfect vacation rental is hard. You’ve gotta sort through locations, reviews, price, availability. It takes time, patience and like—two dozen tabs open on your browser. In the world of VRBO, Tahoe requires expert level searching. There’s so many options; and that’s before you get to questions like west shore or north shore? Near the lake or close to hiking trails?

Let this list of Lake Tahoe vacation rentals make it at least a little easier on you. For all the reasons you might hope, these are some of the best—already vetted as winners by our team. Let’s get your vacation started:

West Shore: Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals

Sleepy, scenic and steps from the lake pretty much anywhere you stay, the west shore is an obvious favorite when it comes to a cabin-in-the-woods type escape. If it’s a mountain retreat you seek, this is your spot. There aren’t casinos, major grocery stores or a laundry list of restaurants. But the views, the hiking trails and the lake access more than make up for it.

West Shore: The Best Vacation Rental For Couples

Simplicity at its best, this 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Cabin sets the vibe for a relaxing weekend in the woods the moment you pull into the driveway. Nestled into a quiet neighborhood on Lake Tahoe’s west shore, this beautifully updated cabin sits less than half a mile from Sugar Pine Point State Park and just over a mile from the pristine Meeks Bay.

Inside, the everything-you-need-and-nothing-you-don’t ethos is strong. Modern in amenities yet rustic in design, the cabin is praised by reviewers for being immaculately clean and comfortable.

With bedside heaters to keep you warm in winter and air conditioners for the warmer months, a soft, foam top bed and a romantic clawfoot tub, it has everything you need for a dreamy couple’s escape. And yes, your four-legged friend can come too.

West Shore: The Cabin You Want When You’re Bringing The Kids

It was actually kind of hard to choose just one vacation rental for this category, as the west shore of Lake Tahoe is decidedly cabin-y and just as much so, family-friendly. But eventually, this 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom cabin won out for its abundance of outdoor living space, convenient location and of course, a bottomless collection of glowing reviews.

Impeccably clean with all the modern amenities, this spacious cabin is perfectly situated for family game nights, home cooked meals and all the outdoor activities your heart can handle. We love the combo of a king bed and fireplace in the master suite alongside a bunk room for hiding away unruly kids.

When it’s time to venture outside, you’re a quick 10-minute walk to the beach, a short drive from grocery stores and restaurants, with easy access to local trails, Homewood ski resort and treasured Tahoe favorites like Emerald Bay. And pets—as any good family spot requires—are welcome.

West Shore: The One With The Luxury Lakefront Lifestyle

If you’ve ever wanted a taste of the good life—no, like the really good life—then it’s time to book a summer stay at this gorgeous 3 bedroom, 3 bedroom, 4 bathroom lakefront masterpiece.

Let’s start by acknowledging the rich person energy that comes with having more bathrooms in your house than bedrooms. That, and panoramic views of the stunning, the pristine Lake Tahoe herself, are scoring major points here. Then there’s what essentially can be equated to three master suites. Three spacious, comfortable rooms—perfect for three couples—and all with lake views.

Of course, as nice as the house is, the best part about this property is the location. You’re actual steps from a private beach and dock, and could pass your entire vacation in the Adirondack chairs facing the lake. If you need venture out, Homewood is just a few minutes drive—as are plenty of local restaurants and markets.

South Shore: Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals

Alright, it’s time to mix up the vibes and leave the quiet oasis of the west shore in exchange for Tahoe’s largest and most energetic area—South Lake Tahoe. Energetic, yes. The casinos at Stateline, the marinas, Heavenly Ski Resort and the village the sprawls beneath it; all contribute to South Lake Tahoe’s reputation as the most bustling zone around the lake.

We’d be remiss to not to mention that there’s sleepy pockets too—epic bike trails and beaches, plus excellent access to endless backcountry. It’s the heart of the basin in many ways, and there’s a lot to love here.

South Shore: The Best Cabin For Families Or Big Groups

Greetings from the gold standard of family-friendly Lake Tahoe vacation rentals. Clean, spacious and in a quiet neighborhood, there’s a lot to love about this 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom retreat. Perhaps nothing more so, then the not one, but two family rooms in the house. That’s right—a game room and a happy hour room, if you will. Good ol’ fashioned separation of powers.

Other than that, there are four spacious suites, a dedicated laundry room and a fully fenced backyard that’s perfect for kids. The house itself is pretty magnificent, but the location is nothing to breeze over. Tucked in the back of South Lake Tahoe, you’re minutes from Fallen Leaf Lake and some of the area’s best trails, yet still a quick ride on the bike path or car ride into town.

South Shore: The Most Homey Feeling Vacation Rental

This one caught us in a bit of a naming dilemma. Do we call it The One With The Hot tub? The Affordable One? The One Groups Will Love? This pet friendly 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom gem really deserved all the titles. But after reading the reviews it was clear; this cabin is the one that feels like home.

This property is equipped with everything (and we mean everything) that a treasured family cabin would have. From games and movies to an exceptionally well stocked kitchen, comfy beds and a cozy fireplace, it’s as it were your very own—only without the mortgage.

We love that your pet isn’t just allowed, but that they’re genuinely welcome to be there. And of course, we really, really, really love that there’s a pristine hot tub on the back porch. At this point, the quiet neighborhood and central location are really just a nice little bonus.

North Shore: Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals

There’s a big debate, you know. Is North Lake Tahoe or South Lake Tahoe better? And honestly, we can’t choose either way. When we’re in Tahoe City or Incline Village, we know—north is the best shore for sure. But the South Lake Tahoe beaches and trails are pretty special. We can’t choose.

But maybe you can. So if you’re looking for a cozy vacation rental on on the north side of the lake, here’s where you start:

North Shore: The One For A Henry David Thoreau Moment

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately.” It could be you writing those words after your stay in this 3 bedroom, 2 bath cottage Tahoe City cottage. Simple in design and amenities, this cabin is quaint and cozy in all the very best ways.

Now, when we say simple it’s not like you’ll be hunting your own food or anything. It’s just that this cabin seems to naturally slip you into a state of calm. There’s a spacious, fenced backyard—and a pet friendly policy—that backs up to a quiet, quarter-mile path to a dog-friendly beach.

In the winter, a wood stove complements the heating system. It’s the perfect post-ski treat after hitting the slopes at one of the many nearby resorts. In the summer, enjoy a lazy swing on the backyard hammock or a sunny walk to the local coffee shop. You feeling the simplicity now?

North Shore: The Ultimate Guys (Or Girls!) Weekend Vacation Rental

Hot tip for planning a friends’ weekend coming your way, so pay attention: you need a house that you don’t want to leave. No, seriously. We know it seems like an easy feat to get a dozen adults in motion at once but we beg you—do not underestimate the difficulty of this. That said, this 4 bedroom, 6 bathroom house has you covered.

Let’s just start with the fact that this property has the best panoramic views in the world. Chilling on that main deck with a cooler full of beer could be activity enough to get you through weeks. But this spot doesn’t stop there. The downstairs game room offers a pool table, foosball, movie streaming, a wet bar and a spacious 6-person hot tub.

Of course, sometimes people need to leave for like, food or sanity. Which is fine for this house, since it’s just a short drive to Tahoe City and its wealth of shops, restaurants and things to do.

North Shore: The Best Of The Best. Period.

In the world of vacation rentals, it’s tough to find that perfect gem. But they do exist. How do we know? This 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom charmer proves it. Located just a few blocks up from the lake in Kings Beach, this cutely renovated cabin has it all.

Walking distance to the beach, a grocery store and several local restaurants, the location is a north Lake Tahoe vacationer’s dream. Central to everything, you’re just 5 miles from the casinos and a 10-minute drive to Northstar.

But honestly, the location is cool and all but it’s not what makes this spot the best of the best. The amenities, guys. They’ve honestly thought of everything. Aside from all-time cabin favorites like a fireplace, hot tub and fully fenced yard, there’s sleds and snowball makers for the winter; a cooler, beach wagon and chairs for the summer.

You’re close to hiking trails when you want to venture out, and well supplied with board game and video games when you want to stay in. The beds are comfy and your dogs are welcome. Heaven does exist.

East Shore: Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals

Even though the east shore of Lake Tahoe is arguably home to the lake’s most gorgeous stretch of shoreline, it’s a relatively quiet zone for vacation rentals. Besides the Zephyr Cove and Kingsbury areas, the east shore is mostly quiet residential zones and distant, secluded coves. Of course, this makes it an appealing place for lakeside mansions with private beach access. And that gets us excited.

East Shore: The Ultimate Splurge

We could almost limit the description of this 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom lakefront palace to one sentence. 

There’s a private dock and buoy included. Boom. That’s it, that’s the whole pitch. 

But we drank our coffee this morning and have more to say about this epic vacation rental, so we’ll keep going. It’s hard to know, though, if we should transition to the panoramic lake views from every room, or the perfect-for-sharing-a-bottle-of-chardonnay deck complete with a lounge area and gas fireplace.

Maybe the tastefully curated, eclectic decor should be the centerpiece. The rec room? The dry sauna? The plush king suite? The intoxicating thought of curling up by a wood burning fireplace as you watch the sun set over Lake Tahoe through floor-to-ceiling windows?

In any case, this one is worth the splurge. (Which, by the way, is hardly a splurge if you account for the costs of boating on Lake Tahoe otherwise.)

—–

The list of pure gold Lake Tahoe cabins could go on forever. There’s so much to offer around the basin, that the ones with the lake views are just as good as the ones tucked in the trees. So, we’ll sign off here. If you book one, let us know! (And invite us over…) Just kidding.