California · North Shore

Carnelian Bay vacation rentals and cabins

Carnelian Bay vacation rentals: MG Vacation Rentals, a local manager here since 2017, manages 5 homes in Carnelian Bay, CA (3 houses and 2 cabins), from $152 a night, with 2–4 bedrooms and room for up to 10 guests (2 with a lake view), rated 4.9 out of 5 by 419 guests. Booking direct on this site costs about 21% less rent than the same home on Airbnb.

A small, low-key stretch of shoreline between Tahoe City and Kings Beach, quieter than either and central to both.

homes here
5
lowest open night
$152
with a hot tub
2
from 419 reviews
4.9★
Ready to be mesmerized with the incredibly beautiful lake views?, Tranquil Tahoe Haven, an MG home in Carnelian Bay

Carnelian Bay house and cabin rentals

Also close by

Best vacation rentals in Carnelian Bay, CA

Every home we manage in Carnelian Bay, most-reviewed first, all bookable direct on this site.

HomeTypeBedroomsSleepsHot tubLake viewNearest ski areaFrom / nightGuest rating
Tranquil Tahoe HavenCabin410–YesNorthstar California (4.9 mi)$4004.84 (153)
Restful North RidgeCabin36––Northstar California (4.3 mi)$1654.94 (131)
Lakeview GrandeurHouse410YesYesNorthstar California (4.2 mi)$2705.0 (68)
Patton's Pfeiffer CabinHouse36Yes–Northstar California (3.8 mi)$1714.88 (59)
Tahoe Lake & Mountain RetreatHouse24––Northstar California (3.8 mi)$1524.75 (8)

From each home's live record, rebuilt with every update to the site. "From" is the lowest open night in the next few months; ski distances are straight-line. No MG home accepts pets.

Search Carnelian Bay homes by date

What guests say about our Carnelian Bay homes

Rated 4.9 out of 5 by 419 guests who stayed. The newest review of each home, word for word. All reviews

★★★★★
“We enjoyed our stay in this beautiful property. Perfect for our family with a beautiful view!”
Nathina H. · Tranquil Tahoe Haven · Sep 2026
★★★★★
“We had a great stay! Excellent location and space for 3 adults. The neighborhood and surroundings were beautiful, and we would absolutely stay here again.”
Eliza S. · Tahoe Lake & Mountain Retreat · Sep 2026
★★★★★
“Mg was a great host and responded quickly to messages about extending our stay. The house was beautiful, easy to access, clean, and in a perfect location”
Caroline S. · Restful North Ridge · Sep 2026
★★★★★
“It was a great stay at this beautiful house in Carnelian Bay. The home was comfortable, well located, and a great choice for a Lake Tahoe getaway. Murat was very responsive and helpful throughout the stay, which made everything easy and smooth. Overall, it was a very positive experience, and the house would definitely be worth staying at again.”
Olena K. · Lakeview Grandeur · Sep 2026
★★★★★
“Had a great time! Host was super flexible and let us check in early and check out late. The place is located very close to the water and has everything you need for a weekend stay. Highly recommend!”
Guest · Patton's Pfeiffer Cabin · Jul 2026
Carnelian Bay vacation rentals at a glance
MG homes in Carnelian Bay5 (3 houses and 2 cabins)
Nightly ratesFrom $152 to $400 (each home's lowest open night)
Bedrooms2–4, sleeping up to 10
Private hot tub2 of 5 homes; service fee $100 per stay
Fireplace4 of 5 homes
Lake view2 of 5 homes
Guest rating4.9 out of 5 from 419 reviews
Lodging tax12% (Placer County, TBID Zone 1)
CountyPlacer County, California
Ski resortsNorthstar California 4 mi · Palisades Tahoe 8.5 mi (straight-line)
Nearest big public beachKings Beach State Recreation Area 3 mi (straight-line)
Reno-Tahoe airport25.2 mi straight-line; the drive is longer
PetsNot accepted at any MG home (our policy)
Book direct vs AirbnbAbout 21% less rent (Airbnb rates are set higher to cover its fees)

From the live record of each home, rebuilt with every update to the site. Rates are each home's lowest open night in the next few months; distances are straight-line from the middle of Carnelian Bay.

Staying in Carnelian Bay

Carnelian Bay is a small, mostly residential community on CA-28, between Tahoe Vista and Tahoe City. Homes sit in the trees on the hillside above the highway, with a lakeside restaurant and a few businesses along the shore. It's a good base for splitting days between Tahoe City and Kings Beach, both a short drive away, and for a group that wants quiet over nightlife.

Front of house, Lakeview Grandeur, an MG home in Carnelian Bay
Lakeview Grandeur, Carnelian Bay

Lake access

The shoreline here has small public access points rather than one big beach. For a full beach day, Kings Beach State Recreation Area is a few miles east and Commons Beach in Tahoe City a few miles west. Lake Tahoe beaches compares them.

Enjoy lake views on the second floor deck, Tranquil Tahoe Haven, an MG home in Carnelian Bay
Tranquil Tahoe Haven, Carnelian Bay

Winter

CA-28 is a state highway and plowed as one, but some residential streets above it are steep. Check whether your home's page asks for 4WD, and carry chains: CA-28 toward Tahoe City and CA-267 toward Truckee both get chain controls after storms.

Living Room with gas fireplace, Patton's Pfeiffer Cabin, an MG home in Carnelian Bay
Patton's Pfeiffer Cabin, Carnelian Bay
Around Carnelian Bay

Good to know before you go

  • Roughly midway between Tahoe City and Kings Beach on CA-28.
  • Waterman's Landing and the Carnelian Bay shoreline are the local water access.
  • A convenient base for splitting days between Palisades and Northstar.
  • Kings Beach State Recreation Area3 mi
  • Northstar California4 mi
  • Commons Beach, Tahoe City5.2 mi
  • Sand Harbor State Park8.3 mi
  • Diamond Peak Ski Resort8.5 mi

Distances are straight-line from the middle of Carnelian Bay, not driving distance.

Carnelian Bay vacation rental questions

Are there vacation rentals available in Carnelian Bay, California?

Yes. MG manages 5 vacation homes in Carnelian Bay (3 houses and 2 cabins), all listed on this page and bookable direct. Pick your dates in the search at the top to see which are open and the full price, or call us at (530) 317-0291.

Best vacation rentals in Carnelian Bay, CA?

MG Vacation Rentals, a local manager since 2017, has 5 homes you can book direct: Tranquil Tahoe Haven (4 bedrooms, sleeps 10, lake view); Restful North Ridge (3 bedrooms, sleeps 6); Lakeview Grandeur (4 bedrooms, sleeps 10, hot tub, lake view); Patton's Pfeiffer Cabin (3 bedrooms, sleeps 6, hot tub); Tahoe Lake & Mountain Retreat (2 bedrooms, sleeps 4). They're compared side by side on this page, and none of them accepts pets.

How many vacation rentals does MG have in Carnelian Bay?

5 homes: 3 houses and 2 cabins. They have 2–4 bedrooms and sleep up to 10, and every one is listed on this page with live prices.

How much does a vacation rental in Carnelian Bay cost per night?

Our Carnelian Bay homes start at $152 a night, and the most expensive home's lowest open night is $400 (lowest open nights over the next few months; holidays and peak weeks cost more). The total adds a cleaning fee, a hot tub fee where there is one, and 12% lodging tax, all shown before you pay.

Do any Carnelian Bay rentals have a hot tub?

Yes, 2 of our 5: Lakeview Grandeur, Patton's Pfeiffer Cabin. See every Lake Tahoe cabin with a private hot tub.

What is the lodging tax on Carnelian Bay vacation rentals?

12%, the transient occupancy tax for Placer County, TBID Zone 1. We collect and remit it, and it's shown in the quote before you pay.

Are Carnelian Bay vacation rentals pet friendly?

No. None of our homes accepts pets, in Carnelian Bay or anywhere else, and each home's page says the same. Our pet policy explains why and covers service animals.

Is it cheaper to book Carnelian Bay rentals direct than on Airbnb?

Yes. Our Airbnb rates are set higher to cover Airbnb's fees, so the same home costs about 21% less in rent here, with the same team and the same house. How booking direct works.

Where is Carnelian Bay?

On the California side of Lake Tahoe's North Shore, in Placer County, on CA-28 between Tahoe Vista and Tahoe City.

Are there hotels in Carnelian Bay?

Carnelian Bay is a small residential community, so most visitors stay in vacation homes. Tahoe City and Kings Beach, both a short drive away, have more lodging.

What is Carnelian Bay known for?

A quiet stretch of shoreline between Tahoe City and Kings Beach, wooded hillside homes, and a lakeside restaurant on the water.