Lake Tahoe is approximately 22 miles long and is situated on the border of California and Nevada. The largest cities nearby are Reno, NV (30 miles east) and Sacramento, CA (75 miles west). The area is accessible from these locales via Interstate 80 (I-80), which passes to the north of the lake.

The shores of Lake Tahoe are surrounded by the alpine forests of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. There are numerous recreational areas surrounding the lake including state parks, sandy beaches, hiking trails, and world-class ski resorts.

The casinos at Lake Tahoe are located close to the California / Nevada border at the northern and southern ends of the lake. South Lake Tahoe is home to several larger Las Vegas-style resorts, whereas the casinos on the north shore are typically smaller and more intimate.

South Lake Tahoe: Bill's, Harrah's, Harvey's, Mont Bleu, and the Horizon casinos occupy a strip of US-50 just inside the Nevada state line. Another casino, the Lakeside Inn, is located approximately one mile north of the strip. On the California side, the town of South Lake Tahoe has numerous shops and restaurants, as well as access to the Heavenly Ski area.