Visiting Lake Tahoe in March: What to Expect & Things to Do!
Visiting Lake Tahoe in March can be hard to plan for since the weather varies greatly year to year and as a result, you may not know what activities you’ll be able to do!
When my husband and I planned our trip to South Lake Tahoe for the end of March 2026, we expected it to be a vacation full of snowboarding and other winter activities.
Well, the weather had other plans, and it ended up as more of a spring trip than a winter trip. But we still had a blast!
This guide covers everything you need to know about visiting Lake Tahoe in the month of March, including weather and snowfall, cost and crowds, and the top activities you should have on your itinerary!
Is March a Good Time to Visit Lake Tahoe?
Even though our trip wasn’t as wintery as we expected, I still think March is a fabulous time to visit Lake Tahoe.
Typically, March is the snowiest month of the year in Lake Tahoe, so if you’re looking to ski or snowboard, this is the best month to visit!
However, I recommend visiting early in the month if this is your main goal, since as it gets closer to April, warm temperatures are more likely to arrive. (We visited at the end of March during a freak warm front).
And if you’re looking to embrace other outdoor adventures besides hitting the slopes, March is still a great time to do that, too.
There are plenty of spring hikes in South Lake Tahoe to take advantage of, and if the weather is warm enough, you can also go kayaking or paddle boarding on the crystal clear waters!
Not to mention, March is not considered peak season for Lake Tahoe like the summer is, so you can expect less crowds and cheaper hotels across the board.
We had some hikes completely to ourselves and didn’t have to wait at any restaurants. It was great!
So yes, I definitely think March is a good time to visit Lake Tahoe!
Weather in Lake Tahoe in March
March marks the beginning of the spring season for Lake Tahoe; however, some years are much warmer than others!
On average, the daily high temperature goes from 45°F to 51°F at the beginning of March to the end of March, and the daily low from 23°F to 27°F. However, there’s always a possibility that it could be colder or warmer.
When we visited at the end of March, the highs were in the low 70s most days!! It was freakishly warm, and this definitely isn’t the norm in Lake Tahoe, so keep that in mind.
In terms of snow versus sunshine, March typically leans towards the former. In fact, March is the snowiest month of the year! On average, Lake Tahoe receives ~74 inches of snow in March.
However, this decreases as the month goes on, so like I mentioned above, I would visit at the beginning of March if skiing or snowboarding is your priority!
While heavy snowfall means less sunshine, that doesn’t mean bluebird days are out of the question! Again, we had an unseasonably warm trip and beautiful sunny skies for the entire 4 days we were in South Lake Tahoe.
If sunshine and warmth are your priorities, you’re better off visiting in the summer months (late May-early September).
Costs and Crowds in March
One of the best parts about visiting Lake Tahoe in March is the lack of crowds!
March isn’t “low season” by any means, but it’s far less busy than the peak ski season around the holidays or peak summer season in July/August.
March in Tahoe is what I like to call “shoulder season” – the time in between peak and off season. While Tahoe doesn’t have a true “off season” like other places around the world, it is very quiet in April – early May and October – November.
And compared to the craziness of summer, it felt extremely quiet everywhere we went in late March.
We had some hikes and viewpoints completely to ourselves, especially when starting early in the morning!
For example, the normally-packed Eagle Falls parking lot was empty when we arrived at 8:30am.
Don’t get me wrong, because March is one of the best months in Tahoe for skiing, it is still a very popular time to visit. However, hotel costs are significantly lower in March than they are in late December or in summer.
When comparing prices, I was shocked by how much they increase as you get into June, July, and August. The same hotel or cabin might be over double the cost in July versus March.
Overall, if you’re looking to visit at the cheapest and least busy time of the year, March may not be the best fit compared to April, October, or November.
But if you want to avoid the peak costs and crowds while still getting to hike or ski, March is a great option!
For help choosing a place to stay, check out my full guide on Where to Stay in Lake Tahoe here! 🌲
Getting Around Lake Tahoe in March
The biggest question I had before our March trip was whether we’d need a rental car. We were nervous about driving on snowy, icy mountain roads with chains, which my husband had experienced in Lake Tahoe before!
However, that ended up not being an issue since it was weirdly warm when we visited.
For the first half of our trip, we stayed near Stateline and didn’t really need a car. Between walking, the free Lake Link shuttle and our hotel’s complimentary shuttle, we could easily get to Heavenly Village, the gondola, restaurants and breweries, and a few hikes.
For the second half of our trip, we picked up a rental car from the Enterprise desk inside Caesars Republic.
Having a car allowed us to explore Emerald Bay, Fallen Leaf Lake, Cave Rock, and other areas on our own schedule. Picking up in town was actually cheaper than renting from the airport, and we got to skip two days of rental fees!
If you do rent a car in March, keep in mind that winter storms can still roll through, and chain controls are common on the roads in and out of the basin. I’d recommend an AWD or 4WD vehicle if you can get one, and to always check road conditions on before you head out!
We got lucky with dry, sunny roads on our trip, but that definitely isn’t a guarantee in March!
🚙 For a full breakdown of the South Tahoe Airporter, Lake Link and where to pick up a rental car, check out my guide to getting around South Lake Tahoe!
Activities in Lake Tahoe in March
My favorite part about visiting Lake Tahoe in March is how you can (usually) take advantage of both summer and winter activities.
When we visited at the end of March, we technically could’ve snowboarded, but it wouldn’t have been the best conditions. But we still got to ride the Heavenly gondola and appreciate the snowy views.
Plus, we also got to enjoy summer activities like hiking and cruising on the lake. It was a little too cold for us to swim personally, but we saw other people doing it!
Below are more details about the top things to do in Tahoe in March, including some of my favorites.
Skiing & Snowboarding
As I mentioned, on average March sees the highest amount of snowfall than any other month in Lake Tahoe. On average, they receive ~74 inches of snow!
The most popular place to ski and snowboard in South Lake Tahoe is at Heavenly Mountain Resort.
There are technically 4 base stations for Heavenly; however, the most popular one for tourists is the gondola at Heavenly Village, right in the heart of the Stateline neighborhood.
The other California station is just down the road at the California Lodge, and there are normally shuttles between these two stations (and the two on the Nevada side).
We stayed right down the road from Heavenly at the Landing Resort during the first half of our March trip to Tahoe, so we were able to walk 15 minutes to the gondola station and get our tickets there.
We planned to snowboard at Heavenly on our trip, but since a lot of the snow was melting, we decided to visit on foot instead, and I am so glad we still made the journey to the top.
You can buy sightseeing tickets for the gondola in winter for just over $100. Your ticket includes round-trip transportation up and down the mountain, where you’ll get to enjoy stunning views of the pine forests and the lake itself as you are whisked up.
There’s also an observation deck at 9,000 feet where you can get out and take in the sprawling views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the towns along the South Shore of the lake. We visited on a beautiful sunny day and could see for miles in all directions!
Once we reached the top of the gondola, we walked around Tamarack Lodge and the surrounding forest.
If your trip in March is not as warm as ours, this is the launch point for many of the Heavenly ski lifts and runs (check out the full lift map here).
This area also has a mountain roller coaster and a tubing run, which were both open when we visited in late March!
(In summer there are even more activities open like the Hot Shot Zip Line, Climbing Wall and Gem Panning).
Spring Hikes
Despite still being “winter” in Lake Tahoe, there are plenty of hikes you can experience when visiting in March, even if the snow hasn’t fully melted yet.
In fact, late March (and early April) are the perfect time to check out the many waterfall hikes around South Lake Tahoe, since the snow melt contributes to gushing falls (we saw this first hand when we visited!).
The most popular hikes in South Lake Tahoe are the ones around Emerald Bay, one of the most picturesque and famous parts of the lake.
We personally conquered both the hike down to Vikingsholm Castle and Lower Eagle Falls and the hike up to Eagle Lake in one morning!
The Eagle Lake hike was a bit muddy/slushy due to the snow melt, but I think the hike down to Emerald Bay would be fine in any season, since it is mostly a paved pathway. But if you’re visiting in the heart of winter, you’ll want snow boots and maybe even crampons to ensure you don’t slip on any ice!
P.S. Don’t want to hike? You can still get incredible views from the road by stopping at this Emerald Bay Lookout that includes Eagle Falls!
My favorite hike from our trip, however, was Fallen Leaf Lake. I wouldn’t even call it a hike, more of a leisurely walk from the campground parking lot to the most stunning alpine lake I had ever seen!!
We spent over an hour here just wandering along the lake and taking in the dreamy views and appreciating the gorgeous weather. This would be an easy one to do in the heart of winter as well.
Another trail we were able to tackle one afternoon was Cave Rock on the east side of the lake. This short and easy trail ends in a quick rock scramble for 360º views of the lake and surrounding mountains right over the road.
It was a little freaky being at the top, so I’m not sure I’d go that far if it was snowing, but the main portion of the hike still offers some incredible views on a short incline path!
Lastly, another spring hike we were going to check out but didn’t have time for was Van Sickle Loop. This moderate hike is a 1.9 mile loop that goes under the Heavenly Gondolas in Stateline and often has waterfalls in the spring!
➡️ Read Next: My Full Guide to South Lake Tahoe Spring Hikes! 🌸🥾❄️
Snowshoeing
If it’s extremely snowy when you are visiting Lake Tahoe in March, another great option to get outdoors besides standard hiking is snowshoeing!
We had snowshoeing on our itinerary originally, but alas, there wasn’t enough snow, so we just hiked instead!
However, if you are visiting when there is snow (highly likely in March), many of the hiking spots I mentioned turn into great snowshoeing spots.
This guide from Visit Lake Tahoe includes a map with all of the best spots, but some of the most popular for beginners are Bijou Park and Rabe Meadows.
(We actually hiked through Rabe Meadow along the Lam Watah Historic Trail during our trip and it was absolutely dreamy, especially the views at the end of Nevada Beach!)
Because I’ve never snowshoed before, I personally would book this 2-hour guided tour with Tahoe Outdoor Adventures that goes to off-the-beaten-path spots while making sure you are safe!
Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling has been on my bucket list for so long, but I still haven’t been able to do it!
Normally, Lake Tahoe in March is the perfect time to go snowmobiling, as there are a ton of trails and runs through the backcountry.
You can get the same views you would from the top of the Heavenly gondola, but also get to take an exhilarating ride on a snowmobile!!
This 2-hour snowmobiling tour is ~$300 for a group of 2, which is very reasonably priced compared to other areas. Plus, it has a 5-star rating on Viator, and the views from the top of the mountain look absolutely insane!
Knight Monsters Hockey Game
One of my favorite things we did when visiting Lake Tahoe in March was attend a Knight Monsters game!
The Knight Monsters are Lake Tahoe’s minor league ice hockey team, and their season typically runs from October through April.
Their home games take place at the brand new Tahoe Blue Event Center, which is conveniently located right in the Stateline neighborhood, just a short walk from the casinos and Heavenly Village!
If you’ve never been to a minor hockey league game, I promise they are so fun, even if you aren’t a big sports fan!
And the arena itself was so impressive – we loved how they served local food and drinks there, not your typical concession junk. You can tell it’s a very community-oriented place.
Tickets to the games are normally very reasonable too – you can snag tickets for under $50!! We had such a blast at the game, and I highly recommend adding this to your itinerary!
Emerald Bay Scenic Cruise
If you still want to get out on the water while visiting Lake Tahoe in March, this scenic boat cruise to Emerald Bay is the perfect option.
This cruise takes place on an old-school paddle wheeler boat, the largest cruising vessel in South Lake Tahoe! It leaves from Zephyr Cove, which is one of the most beautiful spots on the lake to see.
From here, you’ll travel across the lake while learning fun facts about the history of the area and the lake itself (did you know it’s the cleanest and clearest lake of its size in the world?!).
Eventually, you’ll make your way into Emerald Bay, where you’ll get up-close views of Fannette Island, the only island in the entire lake!
The boat has both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a cafe and bar, so even if it’s cold outside, you can still enjoy the beautiful lake views with a warm drink!
Final Thoughts
I hope I’ve convinced you why visiting Lake Tahoe in March is a great idea!
Whether you get a winter trip with lots of snow or spring vibes with plenty of sunshine, Tahoe in March is a magical experience and one of the best times of year to visit.
It’s also much cheaper to visit in March than the height of winter or the height of summer, so it’s a win-win!
We personally got the warm, spring trip when visiting in March and loved every second of it. If you want to see exactly how we structured our trip, check out my 4 day spring itinerary here! 🌷
