From the casino district at Stateline, US-50 winds along Lake Tahoe’s southeastern shore for over 20 miles, passing by a pair of waterfront parks at Nevada Beach and Zephyr Cove, where you can ride the faux paddle wheeler MS Dixie II on a variety of cruises ($25 and up; 775/589-4906) across the lake. Otherwise, lakeshore access is severely limited, since most of the waterfront is privately owned, though numerous roadside turnouts (most easily accessible to westbound, lakeside travelers) offer ample opportunities to take in unforgettable views.
Midway along the lake’s eastern shore, US-50 turns sharply and begins climbing up and over the 7,140-foot crest of Spooner Summit, all the way giving great views of the tantalizing blue gleam below. At the summit, stretch your legs by taking a quick hike on the Tahoe Ridge Trail, a work-in-progress that will eventually circumnavigate the entire Lake Tahoe basin. Dropping down swiftly from Spooner Summit into the Great Basin desert, US-50 links up with US-395 for the final few miles into Carson City.
