Lake Tahoe, CaliforniaSouth Lake Tahoe
Basecamp Tahoe South
Campfire-inspired motor lodge
South Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe, California
Renovated
2016
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Social LocalOutside the door
The house
Basecamp HotelsCampfire-inspired motor lodge
The converted roadside motel runs like a social cabin, gathering skiers and hikers around open-air fire pits and craft taps.
“Basecamp South Lake Tahoe is just a four-minute walk to the gondola and offers a variety of rooms from bunks to luxe tents.”
What it’s good at
Listed
Courtyard fire pits host nightly s'mores roasting alongside South of North craft beers.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
The lobby, with its deep leather sofas, wood-burning fireplace, and racks for storing your gear, is pleasingly outdoorsy.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Set near the Nevada state line, the lodge sits an easy stroll from Lake Tahoe's shores and the Heavenly Mountain ski lifts.
The rooms
Rooms are fitted with repurposed wood furniture, retro camping lanterns, and sturdy racks for mountain gear.
The hot tubs
Outdoor hot tubs sit beside the courtyard lawn and on the rooftop deck facing the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Bar
South of North Brewing Co.
Garage doors open onto courtyard picnic tables, where the brewery serves draft kombucha and hosts nightly live music.
At the table
Inside the lobby, Trailfolk Coffee Co. brews morning espresso, and a quiet bar pours wine and beer for guests.
How it began
The property sat abandoned for three years before a complete gut renovation revived the mid-century motor lodge in 2012.
Good to know
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Basecamp Tahoe South
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Lake Tahoe
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.