Lake Tahoe MUST drive roads

88,89 + 4 on the California side. In general the California side is more scenic. 88 down to Jackson is pretty country and really anywhere in the Gold Country is beautiful. Pick a route staying south of 80, east of 49, north of 108 and west of 395 and you will not be bored. Lots of cool little towns and history of the Gold Rush. A visit to Angels Camp and Virginia City can round out your Mark Twain experience. Mono Lake and Bodie are interesting sights and history.

Tahoe City on the lake is nice but getting very crowded.

 

Icehouse Road (Exit) off Hwy 50 is a great drive on the way up to Tahoe, will lead you to Icehouse Reservoir which is a nice place to stretch your legs.

Lots of variation in the drive, very fun at higher speed. Definitely put the cars and drivers to the test.

Definitely our favorite route in the Sacramento Area.
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Here is another photo of Ice House, there are a few options for this drive but easiest is to hit it direct from Highway 50.

Another option would be to hit the route via Georgetown.

But as you can see from Google Maps the drive has many turns with different elevation changes.
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These are all great suggestions already, maybe add a climb and descent over Kingsbury Grade 207 either from Carson Valley to south Lake Tahoe or vice versa, nice steep, windy, and scenic.

 

I'll add more ideas later, but heading north on 89 to Graeagle is quite fun also.

 

This is a great drive - I like adding the stretch from Ice House Reservoir to Wrights Lake and down to Twin Bridges. Gives you a nice loop - and it's easily accessible from Tahoe. This would be a 3/4 day to full day drive though, if starting up at the Ritz at Northstar.

 

Extended ideas... I believe all these roads are paved, but I haven't driven all these routes in entirety to know for sure. I'll try to add a little color, from my knowledge of driving these.

Ice House Reservoir: https://goo.gl/maps/yg9m3mkmX242
- This route takes you around Lake Tahoe and includes the extension up towards Wrights Lake and Ice House Reservoir. I've driven all of this and the roads are paved, though the loop near Wrights Lake and Ice House Reservoir isn't really a primary road. It's paved and decently smooth, but it gets narrow, has some odd dips in it, etc. The part looping Lake Tahoe is very scenic, especially near Emerald Bay.
- I've driven my California GT on this whole route with no issues.

Graeagle: https://goo.gl/maps/94qwJJqcJNs
- I've done the 89 to Graeagle as an "out and back." I have not driven the portion of 70 or 49, but they are both real roads and pavement should be fine. This is a pretty fun drive that has twisty hilly portions and a flat run through a valley.
- I've hustled my MDX through this area many times and would love to take one of my fun cars on the route. Unfortunately, the times I've driven it I've had my whole family with me, and lots of camping gear. For anyone with soccer players - the Two Rivers Soccer Camp near Graeagle is very fun - and why I've been up that way a bunch.

Downieville: https://goo.gl/maps/sndF2BQK6rF2
- I've heard this is a fun drive, but I haven't done the portion from Sierraville to Downieville or Nevada City on 49. I have taken 80 (major freeway) to 20 to Nevada City and then 49 on to Grass Valley and ultimately Auburn though.

Virginia City: https://goo.gl/maps/vjs3AReoswn
- I have the least familiarity with this route or what to expect. The ride on 431 over Mt Rose, from Incline Village to where it meets 580 south of Reno is beautiful. And the part on 50 from Carson City back into Tahoe and up to Incline Village is also pretty nice - along the Lake and above some sand beaches and Sand Harbor. But I've not done the 341/342 stretch through Virginia City - I've always been in a rush and had to tale 580 to connect things - a basically boring freeway.

There are lots of beautiful places to explore in Tahoe - though traffic around the Lake can be challenging on busy summer weekends.

Have fun and be safe!
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Awesome routes being provided, if you want some F Car company let me know and I can sent out an invite to Sacramento Chapter FCA members.

 

Are you planning routes for some future event? Curious about this adventure! And will you be in a fun car on these twisty and scenic roads?

 

Awesome routes, I love driving up to Tahoe! Here is a pic I took on my way up in my 458 after I bought her....what an awesome drive that was!
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Sounds fun!! Enjoy the recon and the event. Enterprise....hmm. Not sure what they would have in Reno. Hertz probably has Mustang convertibles.

 

Steve,

Do you know Aaron Hagar, he has a shop in Tahoe called Rat Runners Garage and might be able to store a couple cars Home | Rat Runners Garage

Let me know if you need assistance reaching Aaron.

Cheers,
Mike

 

Did you try this: https://truckeetahoeairport.com/aviation/hangars
Other potential options: Pioneer Boat Storage | Truckee, CA 96161 - website says they can store cars too, and they may have space during summer when a lot of their boats get moved to buoys and docks on the Lake.
Or maybe the Ritz Carlton can arrange something for you in their garage. With the Winter weather we get, I suspect it is underground or under building.

 

Up there a couple years ago went to Calaveres Park to see the Sequoia trees, on the way took Ebbetts Pass through the mountains, my god what a beautiful drive. Only about 1.5 lanes wide and no center markers but the drive was breathtaking.