Winter Van Life: Zephyr Cove Resort’s RV Park & Campground
If you want to ski or snowboard at mountain resorts in South Tahoe or North Tahoe’s Nevada side, Zephyr Cove Resort’s RV Park & Campground is the best option. It’s located in a quiet area a few miles from the hustle and bustle of the tourist core in South Lake Tahoe and the Nevada casinos.
We have stayed at Zephyr Cove Resort several times, totaling about two months. It was our temporary home when our condo was remodeled in December 2017 and January 2018. We were there off and on in the few months following the sale of our condo in August 2018. And we stayed again when passing through the area in February 2019 and August 2021.
Our Guide to Zephyr Cove Resort’s RV & Campground
Zephyr Cove Resort offers lodge rooms, lakeside cabins, Airstream camping, winter tent camping, a beach, lake cruises, snowmobiling, and a restaurant. RVer amenities include full hookups, showers, flush toilets, a dump station with potable water, a laundry facility, propane, and a general store.
The resort straddles both sides of Highway 50. The RV camping area is across the street from the main lodge that sits on the lakeside of the highway.
Closest Ski Resorts
South Tahoe – California
- Heavenly – 4.5 miles
- Sierra-at-Tahoe – 23.5 miles
- Kirkwood – 40.5 miles
North Tahoe – Nevada
- Diamond Peak – 20.5 miles
- Mt. Rose – 30 miles
On-Site Winter Activities
Lake & Beach Access
On the lakeside of Zephyr Cove Resort, forested walking trails guide you to several small beaches and coves. Depending on water levels, you may be able to walk the shore continuously for roughly a half-mile.
During winter, the beach and walking trails may or may not be snow-covered but are generally accessible. I usually go in snow boots and my ski pants. When it’s icy, you may want to add traction to your boots. Or, if there is enough snow, you can go snowshoeing.
The main beach at Zephyr Cove Resort doesn’t allow dogs. However, you can head to North Beach for dog-friendly lake access. Just walk up the shore with the lake on your left, moving away from the main lodge.
Snowmobile Tours
In the late nineties, I was a concierge for a timeshare that belonged to a concierge group. One of the group’s perks was complimentary dining and activities, including a full moon snowmobile tour offered by Zephyr Cove Resort.
The tour took us to a ridge top between Kingsbury Grade and Spooner Summit near The Bench. The Bench is literally a bench visited in summer by mountain bikers and hikers but is buried by snow in winter.
I remember the experience being warmer than I expected for snowmobiling at night. The snow machines had excellent heaters, and they outfitted us in warm bibs. The lake was calm, and the full moon looked beautiful, reflecting off Lake Tahoe.
M.S. Dixie II Paddle Wheeler Cruise
Everyone should experience Lake Tahoe from the middle of the lake at least once.
Special Notes
We had never observed Zephyr Cove Resort RV Park & Campground reaching full occupancy during snowy months until 2021. Employees had told us in previous years they sometimes saw an uptick during holidays and powder days. But the resort was almost at full occupancy in mid-April when the ski season was ending. Not only were RV sites full, so were tent sites. This caught us off guard. They accept reservations year-round, so plan ahead!
They no longer offer a monthly rate. You must pay nightly. Bummer!
You can’t reserve a specific site when you book a reservation. Though, you can request one in the reservation comments and hope for the best.
We like to ask for a flat site closest to the showers. If they’re not busy upon check-in, the front desk staff has allowed us to check out open sites and pick one we prefer instead of occupying the site assigned.
Check-in is at the lakeside lodge across the street from the RV park during the winter months. RVs do not fit in either parking lot directly next to the lodge. You must pull into the RV campground and walk across the street to the front desk at the lodge.
We come prepared with our own shovel and a strong body. Tahoe storms can generate FEET of snow. We’ve never had any resort staff offer to help us shovel our site at Zephyr Cove Resort.
We have also found they are a little slow at clearing the RV park roads compared to other RV parks we’ve stayed. In fairness, they do also get more snow than most RV parks.
You may find your site unlevel from snow and ice buildup, and maybe even slushy and puddly, upon arrival. This is not uncommon at RV parks that see snow during winter. Fortunately, at Zephyr Cove Resort, everything is paved, so you won’t be dealing with mud.
The showers at Zephyr Cove Resort are not cleaned every day. When we see the same hairs and pieces of soap day after day, we know this is true.
This is a bummer because when we stayed in December 2017 and January 2018, the showers supposedly got a full remodel just prior. They appeared to be so clean. Every time we’ve stayed since then, we notice how quickly the bathrooms are aging from lack of care.
Bathhouse facilities are not always in service. If I recall correctly, there are five private shower rooms and five rooms with toilets and a sink. On one visit, all but one toilet room was open, and all but two shower rooms. There was an “out of service” sign on the remaining rooms.
Having a single toilet available becomes problematic, depending on the number of people in the campground. You can walk across the street to the main lodge as I did one morning. However, the lodge restrooms were closed for cleaning that morning, and the one toilet in the restaurant was occupied. I was dancing!
Their website mentions their showers are coin-op. However, we’ve never used coins to operate their showers. Call ahead if you want to know if this has changed.
If you’re not staying at Zephyr Cove Resort, you may be able to use their showers if you pay to use the dump station. They’ve always been kind enough to let us use their facilities at no additional cost. Call (775) 220-0578 or inquire at the main lodge across the street during winter.
The water spigot at the dump station says non-potable. However, we have been there several times, and the staff has confirmed it is actually potable water. Don’t take our word for it, though. Ask just in case!
We always ask the front desk the best days and times to fill up on propane. Our experience has been that a certified person is not consistently available. The best odds of getting service are in the AM hours. But sometimes the propane equipment is broken, or there is no propane available. Zephyr Cove Resort is not the only place where we’ve experienced these problems.
We are not aware of public transportation from Zephyr Cove Resort to Tahoe ski resorts. If they did, it would be a near-perfect home base.
AT&T cell service has always been reliable for me here without using a booster, even in summer, when networks can get overloaded. I can work remotely using an AT&T Hotspot and stream entertainment. Verizon did not work for me at all our first time trying it in April 2021.
Services
Grocery Stores
- Safeway (Elks Point Rd) – 2.5 miles in Zephyr Cove
- Raley’s – 5.0 miles in South Lake Tahoe – Order online and pick up in the back of the store, where there is plenty of room for an RV.
Our Favorite Places to Eat Nearby
- Zephyr Cove Restaurant – 0 miles – The restaurant is located inside Zephyr Cove Resort’s main lodge. Some indoor seats have a view of Lake Tahoe, and if the weather is nice, you can sit on the deck with your dog. Our favorite mealtime here is breakfast. We frequently order the Huevos Rancheros or Hash ‘n’ Eggs Skillet. Or we ask them to wrap up a Papas con Chorizo Burrito to go.
- Capisce? – 2.5 miles in Zephyr Cove – When we search for pizza, we have a tendency to seek out places that are strictly about pizza. However, some of the best pizzas can be found at Italian restaurants where pizza isn’t the star on the menu. We love Capisce’s pizza to-go or at the bar.
- Harumi Sushi – 2.5 miles in Zephyr Cove – We’ve never had to wait to get a seat here. I think because Harumi isn’t in the middle of the action of Tahoe’s South Shore. They also offer more seating than other sushi joints in town. Our go-to rolls are the Regulator Roll, White Dragon, and Megan’s Roll.
- Audible’s Sports Bar & Gaming – 4 miles in Stateline – This is another place that’s tucked away. Ron has created a tasty and creative bar menu and also does catering. We always make sure to show up hungry! When we are in the mood for something light, we also head to Audible’s. Their salads are a step up from an iceberg lettuce mix, and we love their homemade bleu cheese salad dressing.
- Brooks Bar & Deck – 4.5 miles in Stateline – Brooks’ Bar is located at Edgewood Tahoe Resort, famed for hosting the annual American Century Celebrity Golf Championship Tournament. It’s my favorite place to eat a meal with a lake view in Tahoe’s South Shore. I don’t see it advertised on their online menu, but I typically order their grilled cheese of the day.
Dry Cleaning & Wash ‘n Fold Services
- Bobby Page’s Dry Cleaning – 2.5 miles in Zephyr Cove
- Kingsbury Coin Laundry – 4.0 miles in Stateline – Pay by the pound to have someone do your laundry for you. Call (775) 588-8615 for more information. We only suggest dropping off your sturdiest clothes and not items with special wash instructions. Your delicate clothes may get singed by their dryers.
Pet Stores
Dog Dog Cat – 5.0 miles in South Lake Tahoe – My favorite Tahoe pet store! I like going in there to browse dog clothing, toys, accessories, and home decor. The staff goes out of their way to help you decide on products for your pet. We purchased our K9 Sport Sack here that we mention in Is full-time van life with a dog right for you?
Dog Boarding & Grooming
K9NV Elite Dog Spa – 20 miles in Minden – Kimbre Plante is the owner, and she makes our Pomeranian look like a little bear. I watched her give a poodle a flat top once like Kid n’ Play. So cool!
Veterinary Services
Carson Tahoe Veterinary Hospital – 19 miles in Carson City – We have been here a few times for pet emergencies.
Notes About Summer
You definitely want to make advance reservations if your plans are inflexible. However, I could almost always get a site for a night or two at the last minute on the weekend, unlike nearly any other campground in Tahoe’s South Shore. Weekdays you can find more available.
The downside is that you will likely end up in the most undesirable sites closest to Highway 50. It will sound like motorcycles are inside your RV all day long. And pedestrians will be feet from your campsite as they walk to and from the beach and their cars.
The upside is that Zephyr Cove Resort has almost every amenity for a summer camping trip and easy access to Lake Tahoe and water activities. You won’t need to leave if you come stocked with the necessities.
It can be very smoky. For some people, camping is not camping unless you have a campfire. The sites at Zephyr Cove Resort are very close together. You’re going to breathe a lot of smoke. In August 2018, there were several wildfires outside of the Tahoe region whose smoke was blowing into the area. It didn’t matter that you couldn’t see across the lake. Campers built their campfires anyway.
Quiet hours are not observed. There is definitely a party vibe in the summer. And nobody seems to enforce quiet time. If you are looking for a peaceful, in the woods camping experience in Tahoe, Zephyr Cove Resort is not it.
