Chambers Landing Beach Lake Tahoe

The short answer: Chambers Landing is a small public beach on Lake Tahoe's West Shore, between Homewood and Tahoma, on National Forest land. It is free, open sunrise to sunset, and has no services. The only public parking is along the paved entrance road, and it fills early in summer. Next to it is the Chambers Landing Bar & Grill, a seasonal lakefront restaurant with a pier. The bar dates to 1875 and bills itself as the oldest bar on the water at Lake Tahoe. Come for a quiet swim and a late lunch on the pier, and expect to share a small strip of sand.

We manage five homes close to Chambers Landing, three in Homewood and two in Tahoma, so this is a beach our guests ask about all the time. Below: how to get there, where the public beach ends and the private one starts, parking, dogs, the bar, and what to do if it is full. We checked the facts against the Forest Service, the Lake Tahoe public beach listings and the restaurant's own website in September 2026.

Chambers Landing quick facts

Sources: the Lake Tahoe Public Beaches listing for Chambers Landing and chamberstahoe.com. Rules and hours can change from year to year, so check both before you go.

Where is Chambers Landing and how do you get there?

Chambers Landing is on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe in Placer County, off Highway 89 (called West Lake Boulevard here). It sits between Homewood to the north and Tahoma to the south. From Tahoe City it is roughly 15 minutes' drive south along the lake, and from the Tahoma shops it is a few minutes north.

Coming from Tahoe City, you pass through Homewood first, then watch for the Chambers Landing sign and Chambers Lodge Road on the lake side of the highway. The road runs down toward the water past the Chambers Landing condominiums to the restaurant and the beach.

• From Tahoe City: south on Highway 89 through Sunnyside and Homewood.
• From South Lake Tahoe: north on Highway 89 past Emerald Bay, Meeks Bay and Tahoma. The Emerald Bay stretch can close after winter storms, so check Caltrans QuickMap in the off season.
• From Reno or Truckee: Highway 89 south from Truckee to Tahoe City, then south along the West Shore. See our guides to flying into Reno and driving from the Bay Area.

In summer, biking is often easier than driving. The paved West Shore bike path follows much of this shoreline south of Tahoe City, and from Homewood or Tahoma, Chambers is a short ride.

Public beach vs. private beach: know the line

This is the part most guides skip. Chambers Landing is not one big public beach. The public side is a small Forest Service beach. Much of the surrounding shoreline and the piers belong to private associations:

• Chambers Landing Home Owners Association: the lakefront condominiums, with a private beach, buoys, pool and tennis courts for owners.
• Chamberlands Beach and Mountain Club: a members' club for owners in the Chamberlands neighborhood west of the highway, with its own beach access.

Look for signs, stay on the public section, and don't set up on private sand or piers. If a staff member or resident asks you to move, you are probably on the private side. None of the MG homes near here includes membership in these associations, so our guests use the public beach like everyone else.

The restaurant's pier and patio are open to restaurant customers when the Bar & Grill is open. Treat them as part of the restaurant, not the beach.

Parking

Parking is the hard part. The Lake Tahoe public beach listing says parking along the paved entrance road is the only public parking. There is no big day-use lot as at Sand Harbor or Kings Beach.

• Arrive early. On July and August weekends, aim for mid-morning at the latest.
• Park only where signs allow. Don't block driveways or use the condominium lots, and use the restaurant's parking only if you are eating there.
• Get dropped off or bike in. If you are staying in Homewood or Tahoma, biking along the West Shore trail is easier than hunting for a spot.
• Have a backup. If it's full, Meeks Bay and Sugar Pine Point, both a few miles south, have paid lots. See "Nearby alternatives" below.

The Chambers Landing Bar & Grill

The bar and grill is the reason most people know the name. Chambers Landing was established in 1875, and the bar bills itself as the oldest on the water at Lake Tahoe. It has indoor tables with lake views, a patio and a pier over the water, and you can arrive by boat or by car.

• 2026 hours: daily, 11 am to 8:30 pm
• Season: late spring to early fall. The last day of the 2026 season is October 4.
• Menu: starters like clam chowder, ahi poke lettuce cups and coconut shrimp; salads; burgers, fish and chips and a chicken sandwich; and grill plates such as salmon, filet mignon and cioppino. There is a kids' menu.
• Drinks: Chambers Punch is the drink the place is known for. Dockside Trading Co. in Homewood also sells what it calls the original Chambers Punch to take home.
• Reservations: OpenTable, through the website. The phone number is (530) 270-9515.

For families, lunch or early dinner works best. The kids' menu is short and easy, and the pier is the draw for children. Later in the evening the bar gets busier. For more places to eat on this stretch of shore, see our guide to Tahoma restaurants.

What to do at Chambers Landing

• Swim. The water is cold even in August, as everywhere at Tahoe. It is clear and usually calm in the morning. There are no lifeguards.
• Paddle. Launch a kayak or paddleboard from the public beach if you can carry it from the road. Mornings are calmest, and afternoon wind often picks up. Clean, drain and dry your gear to keep invasive species out of the lake.
• Picnic. Bring lunch from Tahoma Market & Deli or Dockside Trading Co. There are no tables or grills, so pack a blanket or low chairs.
• Lunch or a drink on the pier. In season, the Bar & Grill makes a good half-day stop after a swim.
• Take photos. The pier and moored boats with the mountains behind make one of the classic West Shore shots, especially in late-day light.
• Fish. Anyone 16 or older needs a valid California or Nevada fishing license. The lake is shared by the two states.

When to go

The best months are July and August for swimming, and June and September for fewer people. The Bar & Grill runs from late spring to early October. Its 2026 season ends October 4, and after that the beach is very quiet. Weekday mornings are the easiest time to park.

In winter the restaurant is closed and the beach is nearly empty. See our winter guide and our summer guide for the rest of the year.

Is Chambers Landing good for families?

Yes, with realistic expectations. It is small and quiet, the water is usually calm in the morning, and kids like the pier and the boats. But there are no lifeguards, no restrooms at the public beach, and no shade to speak of, and the bottom gets rocky. For young children, bring water shoes, a sun shelter and snacks, and stay close at the water's edge. If you want restrooms, a big sandy beach and on-site rentals, Meeks Bay a few miles south is easier with toddlers.

What to bring

• Sunscreen, hats and an umbrella or small sun shelter
• Water shoes
• A blanket or low beach chairs (no tables)
• Plenty of water and snacks, plus a bag to pack out all trash
• A leash, if you bring a dog
• A light jacket: evenings cool off quickly at 6,200 feet
• A card or cash for the Bar & Grill, if it is open

Leave the charcoal grill at home. Wood and charcoal fires are not allowed on Tahoe beaches, and portable gas stoves need a California Campfire Permit.

Rules to know

• Open sunrise to sunset.
• Dogs must be leashed.
• No wood or charcoal fires. Portable gas appliances with an on/off valve are allowed only with a valid California Campfire Permit.
• Pack out everything you bring, and stay off protected shoreline vegetation.
• Respect the private beach and pier boundaries.
• For questions, the Forest Service's Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is at (530) 543-2600.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Arriving at noon on a summer Saturday. With only roadside parking on the entrance road, a midday arrival often means turning around. Come in the morning or late afternoon.
• Setting up on the private side. The condominium and club beaches look like part of the same shoreline. If you are unsure, move toward the Forest Service side and look for signs.
• Counting on the restaurant after early October. The Bar & Grill is seasonal. Its 2026 season ends October 4, and it does not reopen until spring.
• Assuming there is a bathroom. The public beach has no services. Plan around the restaurant (as a customer) or a stop in Tahoma or Homewood.
• Staying out on a paddleboard in the afternoon wind. Calm mornings often turn choppy after lunch. Stay close to shore and head in early.
• Bringing charcoal. Wood and charcoal fires are not allowed on the beach.

Nearby alternatives if Chambers is full

Our Lake Tahoe beaches guide compares the whole lake. For the East Shore coves, see Sand Harbor and Chimney Beach.

A sample Chambers Landing day

1. 8:30 am: coffee at Where We Met in Tahoma, and sandwiches from Tahoma Market & Deli.
2. 9:30 am: bike or drive to Chambers Landing, grab a spot on the public beach, and swim or paddle while the water is calm.
3. 1 pm: lunch on the Bar & Grill pier (in season), or your picnic on the sand.
4. 3 pm: when the afternoon wind comes up, drive south for a lakeside walk at Sugar Pine Point. Hellman-Ehrman Mansion tours ran May 23 to September 30 in 2026 (Sierra State Parks Foundation).
5. Evening: dinner at the Dog & Bear Tavern in Tahoma or Swiss Lakewood in Homewood, then back to your rental.

Staying near Chambers Landing

If you want to keep the car parked, stay close. MG manages three vacation rentals in Homewood and two vacation rentals in Tahoma, all within a short drive or bike ride of Chambers Landing, Meeks Bay and Sugar Pine Point. These are not lakefront homes, and none comes with private beach access. You use the public beaches like everyone else, just with a much shorter trip. Some MG homes have hot tubs (see which ones), which is a good way to end a cold-water day. Our only lakefront home is the Lakeside Luxe Retreat in Kings Beach on the North Shore.

Book on our own site rather than through Airbnb. Our nightly prices on Airbnb are set 28% higher than on our own site (17% higher on Vrbo), and every home page shows the dollar saving for your dates. The details are in booking direct vs. Airbnb at Lake Tahoe. Search your dates, or call us at (530) 317-0291 and we will tell you which home fits your group.

Summary

Chambers Landing is a small, free Forest Service beach next to a lakefront bar that dates to 1875. It suits a morning swim, a quiet paddle and a late lunch on the pier, but parking is scarce, there are no facilities, and much of the shoreline around it is private. Go early, stay on the public side, bring what you need, and keep Meeks Bay or Sugar Pine Point in mind as a backup.