Remote Surveillance Trailer in South Lake Tahoe, CA

What is the best internet provider in South Lake Tahoe?

Spectrum is the best internet service provider overall for most households in South Lake Tahoe because of coverage, affordability and speed. However, Spectrum service isn’t available everywhere in South Lake Tahoe, so AT&T Fiber or T-Mobile Home Internet are also solid picks, depending on what’s available in your area.

If you’re hunting for the lowest prices or fastest speeds, we’ve also found those top options. The cheapest internet in South Lake Tahoe is Spectrum’s 100Mbps service for $30 per month for some addresses. The fastest internet speed in South Lake Tahoe is AT&T Fiber’s 5,000Mbps plan for $245 per month, though the coverage area is limited.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in South Lake Tahoe

Cheap internet options in South Lake Tahoe

Spectrum sweeps in with the cheapest plan in town thanks to a $30-per-month introductory rate for 100Mbps service at eligible addresses. That price pops up to $50 per month after the first year. If you live in AT&T Fiber’s small coverage area, check out the 300Mbps plan for $55 monthly. That’s a decent deal for symmetrical fiber speeds. Another way to save on home internet is to bundle a mobile plan with T-Mobile’s 5G internet service. You’ll get a nice discount on your home broadband.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in South Lake Tahoe

The best internet deals and top promotions in South Lake Tahoe depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

South Lake Tahoe internet providers, like Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including AT&T Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

How fast is South Lake Tahoe broadband?

Thanks to Spectrum’s widespread network, South Lake Tahoe logged a respectable 193Mbps median download speed on a recent Ookla speed test report. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) That’s not as peppy as nearby Carson City’s 281Mbps, but South Lake Tahoe is a smaller town. Speed varies considerably depending on which ISPs reach your home. Most of South Lake Tahoe can access gig speeds through Spectrum. You can’t top AT&T Fiber’s 5,000Mbps plan, but it’s not cheap, costing $245 monthly.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines -- and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in South Lake Tahoe

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary pricing, availability and speed database that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

What’s the final word on internet providers in South Lake Tahoe?

Spectrum ticks some important boxes for broadband in South Lake Tahoe. It has the widest availability and the cheapest introductory pricing. If you’re lucky enough to live in a neighborhood with AT&T Fiber, give that strong consideration. If Spectrum and AT&T don’t work for you, look into T-Mobile Home Internet as an alternative. For rural homes, check in with satellite providers like Starlink or Hughesnet.

Internet providers in South Lake Tahoe FAQs

What is the cheapest internet provider in South Lake Tahoe?

Spectrum is the cheapest internet provider in South Lake Tahoe, thanks to an introductory deal where you can get the 100Mbps plan for $30 per month. Remember that pricing goes up after the first year, so you’ll pay $50 per month down the line. That 100Mbps plan may not be available everywhere, so check into the 500Mbps plan for $50 per month if needed.

Which internet provider in South Lake Tahoe offers the fastest plan?

AT&T Fiber’s 5,000Mbps plan for $245 per month is the speediest offering in South Lake Tahoe. However, It’s not widely available, so look for Spectrum’s gig plan instead.

Is fiber internet available in South Lake Tahoe?

Fiber internet is available in South Lake Tahoe from AT&T Fiber, but coverage is limited. You’re more likely to end up with a symmetrical cable plan from Spectrum.

Heavy snow and strong winds are in the forecast for the Tahoe area that could potentially create dangerous highway and mountain conditions, the National Weather Service said.

A winter storm warning is in effect through Thursday night for much of the mountains as a storm system is forecast to bring new snowfall to the Sierra Nevada, according to the weather service.

Several feet of snow is expected during the early spring system, which could bring 2025 snowpack levels to “near-normal,” according to Gigi Giralte, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Reno, Nevada office.

High winds could create whiteout conditions during the storm’s peak times, making travel in the mountains difficult, Giralte said.

Much of the Sierra is expected to see between 1 and 3 feet of snow, while high-elevation peaks of the Tahoe basin could receive up to 4 feet, according to Giralte.

The weather service is putting the Greater Lake Tahoe area under a winter storm warning starting at 11 p.m. Tuesday and lasting through 11 p.m. Thursday.

The weather service forecast indicates snowfall could start after 5 a.m. Wednesday and continue through Thursday night.

Giralte said the storm’s peak hours are forecast between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Wednesday, when snow could fall at a rate of up to 4 inches per hour. Winds could reach 70 mph over the mountain ridge, she said.

Two smaller systems are expected to pass through the Sierra Nevada after the large initial storm, according to Giralte.

Additional snowfall is expected on Friday after a brief break overnight Thursday and a Sunday snowstorm after break on Saturday.

John Rice, president and CEO of Ski California, said in an email to The Bee that the organization is hopeful the heavy snow could bring this year’s snowpack to normal levels or more.

“The snowpack typically supplies nearly a third of the state’s water supply in the form of water storage,” Rice wrote. “We welcome these storm events for spring skiing and for our state water supply.”

Early spring snow is “becoming the new normal” in the Sierra, according to Giralte. Snow systems in recent years have been particularly heavy in March, she said.

Rice said ski resorts in the Sierra “always look forward to March, as historically it can be a big producer of snow.”

Weather service historical data shows March had the highest snowfall amounts for the Tahoe area in four of the last seven years.

The California and Nevada transportation agencies had not announced highway or lane closures on mountain roads as of Tuesday.

However, Giralte said travelers could expect chain controls or road closures across mountain paths, particularly during heavy snowfall.

The weather service encourages drivers to complete travel over the Sierra Nevada before 11 a.m. Wednesday to avoid delays of “several hours.”

Travelers can monitor road conditions and closures in the Lake Tahoe area on the CalTrans QuickMap and on Nevada 511.

As of Tuesday morning, the Sierra Avalanche Center said there was a “moderate” risk of avalanche due to loose wet snow.

The Sierra Avalanche Center measures the risk of danger in the Sierra Nevada backcountry on a scale of one to five, with one representing a “low” risk and five presenting an “extreme” risk.

Tuesday’s forecast was at a level two risk.

The avalanche center expects the danger level to rise to level three on Wednesday, which is a “considerable” danger to humans.

As of Tuesday, the Sierra Avalanche Center had not predicted the risk of an avalanche during the storm’s peak or after it.

People are advised to monitor the avalanche center’s website if they are planning on doing backcountry skiing or snowboarding in the new snowfall.

If you’re planning on doing snow sports at a Tahoe-area resort or ski area, Rice shared these tips for safely skiing or riding in deep snow:

You can find more tips for safe deep-snow skiing on the Ski California website.

The weather service’s Reno office forecasts South Lake Tahoe to be sunny on Tuesday, with a high near 48 and a low around 33.

Snow is expected to start after 2 a.m. Wednesday, with up to 2 inches expected during the day. The lakeside city could see 11 inches of new snow in the overnight hours.

The high Wednesday is forecast to be around 41 with a low of 23. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph during the day.

The weather service said Thursday could bring up to 3 inches of snow, and showers are expected to end before 11 p.m.

Temperatures on Thursday are forecast at a high of 30 and a low of 20.

Friday has a high chance of daytime snowfall up to 3 inches, with a high temperature at 34 and low around 23.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.

While there are plenty of convincing reasons to visit Lake Tahoe, this region keeps surprising us with new and exciting things to check out. One of the things you might not know is that Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America, and there are some truly unique things hiding along the shores.

Nestled inside Emerald Bay State Park, one of the best state parks in California (with hotels right around the corner!), is a structure that looks more at home in Europe than on the shores of California.

Tucked in the trees, you'll find a Scandinavian-inspired castle right on the bay. So, why is it there, and how can you visit it? Let's dive in and find out more.

Related

This Underrated California Town An Hour From Lake Tahoe Has National Park-Level Scenery

If you're looking for a nature-filled adventure away from the national park crowds, this California getaway needs to be on your radar.

1

Vikingsholm Is Lake Tahoe's Hidden Scandinavian Castle

Located in the Emerald Bay State Park on the top headland of Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe is the imposing Vikingsholm. This 38-room castle is undoubtedly Scandinavian in its inspiration and design, and it peeks out from the surrounding forest land on its own private beachfront, directly onto the lake.

This castle is so iconic and unique that it was actually added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1996. There are tours available around this amazing house, but most people tend to spot the structure from Fannette Island or by paddling around the bay on a kayak. It's inspired artists in the past and present and has an air of mystery about it.

The castle is now almost entirely open to the public, with tours in the summer, so it makes for a great thing to do in Lake Tahoe, aside from the outdoorsy pursuits. Thanks to the small beach in front of Vikingsholm, many people make this a stop on their summer vacations around Lake Tahoe, as there is a paddling area separated from the larger bay by buoys.

What's The History of Vikingsholm?

Of course, a Scandinavian-inspired castle in California doesn't just appear out of thin air - there's a definite history attached to this place. In 1928, a woman called Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight bought the parcel of land that contained Emerald Bay and Fannette Island for $250,000.

She couldn't help but be reminded of her vacations to Scandinavia when she visited Lake Tahoe and decided to build a summer home that embraced the natural surroundings and gave her that Scandi vibe.

Luckily, her nephew by marriage was a Swedish architect called Lennart Palme, who designed Vikingsholm for Mrs Knight, bringing that Swedish woodland essence to sunny California.

The castle was finished in the fall of 1929 and was enjoyed by the Knight family in the summer until her death in 1945. From that point, Vikingsholm and the surrounding land passed hands a few times before being sold to the state of California in the 1950s.

It's now an integral part of Emerald Bay State Park and one of the best examples of Swedish architecture around!

How Can You Get To Vikingsholm?

If you want to visit Vikingsholm, it's pretty straightforward, but not exactly easy. The Vikingsholm parking lot can be found on Highway 89 at Emerald Bay. From here, it's a steep one-mile trail down towards the bay. This gets even steeper when the elevation drops by 500 feet down to the house.

Safe to say, this isn't a super-accessible trail, and good footwear and fitness are needed here. You can also find a less steep 1.5-mile trail from the Eagle Point Campground as an alternative.

While Vikingsholm is technically accessible and open all year round, in the snowy Lake Tahoe winters, this trail can be treacherous. It's often icy and slick, so make sure you're comfortable with the conditions and have all the appropriate footwear and gear for the season. There are no rides out from this point, so rescues are an issue.

Alternatively, you can also arrive at Vikingsholm by boat. Private boat docking and cruise tours are available at Vikingsholm, and you can always hire a kayak and paddle out across the bay, enjoying Fannette Island at the same time.

So, if you're looking for something different in Lake Tahoe, check out Vikingsholm. This Swedish-style castle is almost a century old and well-worth a visit.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – After lengthy litigation on the citizen’s initiative Measure T, which prohibited short-term vacation home rentals (VHRs) in residential areas, El Dorado County’s Superior Court deemed that the measure’s wording was unconstitutional and struck the entire measure. The city of South Lake Tahoe is now deciding whether or not to file an appeal once they receive entry of judgement.

Measure T was passed in November 2018, though the South Lake Tahoe Property Owner’s Group (SLTPOG) contested it just a month after it was enacted. In September 2020, the court issued an order that found their “unconstitutional” claims were unsubstantiated. SLTPOG appealed the order and requested a stay on the measure while the appeal was in place. The court of appeal denied a request for a stay in April 2021, so Measure T proceeded as written.

Now, Superior Court Judge Gary S. Slossberg’s ruling from the November trial last year has deemed a key part of the measure as unconstitutional: the permanent resident exception. This exception allowed permanent residents to rent their properties on a short-term basis, for up to 30 days a year.

The court found that the city violated the dormant commerce clause, and that the permanent resident exception did not advance “a legitimate local purpose that cannot be adequately served by nondiscriminatory alternatives.” This was the crux of SLTPOG’s argument, as they claimed the measure discriminated against out-of-state property owners in favor of local residents.

The city acknowledged that some of the methods that could reduce nuisances, such as full cost recovery for VHR complaints, establishing a minimum required stay, limiting the number of VHR nights per year, and restricting VHRs from operating in single-family structures had not been tried yet—ideas that the court found as reasonable, nondiscriminatory alternatives, along with alternative ideas in the 2017 study sponsored by the city titled “Socioeconomic Impacts of Vacation Home Rentals in South Lake Tahoe.”

Previously, the city argued that providing income to offset housing costs, which promoted housing affordability for residents was a legitimate local purpose—but it wasn’t brought up during this trial, and thus was deemed waived. Slossberg noted that that outcome could also be accomplished without the exception.

According to the city’s press release from public information officer Sheree Juarez, the city argued that “even if the permanent resident exception were unconstitutional, it should be severed from the remainder of Measure T so that the rest of the measure could continue to be implemented.”

But Slossberg disagreed. He ruled that the entire measure had to be struck down because the exception was unseverable from Measure T without changing the character of what was presented to voters. “Finding that the remainder of Measure T is severable would be putting in place a prohibition on all VHRs in residential zones, a measure that was never put before the voters and therefore not fully considered by them,” he wrote.

The court has not yet officially recorded the court’s decision, a process known as entry of judgement. However, once this occurs, the city will have 60 days to decide if they will file an appeal.

Eli Ramos is a reporter for Tahoe Daily Tribune. They are part of the 2024–26 cohort of California Local News Fellows through UC Berkeley.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. —

The El Dorado County Superior Court on Thursday overturned Measure T, which included voter-approved restrictions on vacation home rentals in South Lake Tahoe.

Measure T was passed in November 2018 and aimed to phase out vacation home rentals in residential areas of the city. Properties in commercial zones were exempt. It included an exception allowing permanent residents to rent their properties on a short-term basis for up to 30 days a year.

That includes Airbnb rentals, Vrbo rentals and other similar marketplaces. Learn more about Measure T here.

According to city officials, soon after the measure was enacted, the South Lake Tahoe Property Owners Group challenged it, arguing it infringed on property rights and discriminated against non-resident property owners.

The California Court of Appeal for the Third Appellate District in 2023 upheld Measure T and the city's authority to ban vacation home rentals in residential areas. However, the court raised concerns about the measure's exemption for permanent residents, suggesting it favored local residents over out-of-state property owners.

The appellate court remanded the case to the El Dorado County Superior Court to address those concerns.

How South Lake Tahoe vacation home rental ban impacts holiday plans

The court found the permanent resident exemption unconstitutional. It also found that the exemption could not be severed from the rest of the measure, thus Measure T was overturned in its entirety.

"The measure could have been to eliminate all VHRs in residential zones. Instead, as a result of the inclusion of the invalid permanent resident exception, it is a measure to eliminate most VHRs in residential zones, excepting those owned by residents, who presumably were eligible to vote for or against the measure," the court noted in its ruling. "As reflected in the ballot materials, this exception is one of the defining features of the measure, not a mere afterthought."

Once the judgment is filed, South Lake Tahoe City Council will have 60 days to decide whether or not it will file an appeal.

According to Community Bankshares Inc., a lending and financial company, the ruling reinstates the possibility for property owners to obtain vacation home rental permits in residential zones of South Lake Tahoe. It also said legal experts suggest the ruling could open the door for potential lawsuits against the city, and property owners affected by Measure T could seek damages for lost rental income.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel