UPDATE - MAY 8, 2026:
Drivers heading to Chimney Beach next month will see a major change aimed at cutting down on the roadside parking issues that have continued along State Route 28.
The Tahoe Transportation District announced the Chimney Beach Trailhead parking area is expected to reopen this spring after receiving approval from the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit to move forward with paid parking operations at both Chimney Beach and Secret Harbor trailheads.
The reopening comes as agencies continue trying to address safety concerns along the SR 28 corridor, where roadside parking has remained an issue despite added no parking zones and increased enforcement efforts in recent years.
The updated Chimney Beach parking area includes a new pedestrian crossing on SR 28 with advance warning features designed to alert drivers about people crossing the highway.
Once open, the lot will provide about 130 parking spaces at Chimney Beach and another 30 spaces at Secret Harbor.
Officials say the additional parking is expected to help reduce the number of cars parked along the roadside and allow NDOT to expand no parking zones farther south toward the Washoe County and Carson City line.
Parking at both locations will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. beginning June 1. Overnight parking will not be allowed.
Drivers will pay a flat daily rate of $12 to use the lots.
Officials say money collected through the paid parking program will go back into improvements along the SR 28 corridor, including safety upgrades, environmental protection efforts and future access projects.
Construction is also expected this summer on a restroom facility and additional amenities at the Chimney Beach parking area, which could temporarily reduce available parking spaces.
“This project reflects years of collaboration to protect Lake Tahoe’s East Shore while improving the visitor experience,” said Daniel Cressy, Public Services Staff Officer for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. “By providing designated and managed parking, we are reducing impacts to sensitive resources and creating safer, more sustainable access to public lands. Our partnership with Tahoe Transportation District helps advance the shared goals of the Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan.”
“The Chimney Beach parking area is a key piece of the broader corridor strategy,” said Jim Marino, Executive Director of the Tahoe Transportation District. “This investment helps manage demand, improve safety, and ensure that access to Lake Tahoe’s East Shore is both enjoyable and environmentally responsible for years to come.”
Officials say both parking areas are also expected to eventually connect to the Tahoe East Shore Trail, which is still in the design phase.
For details on Tahoe Transportation District’s current projects, visit
www.TahoeTransportation.org or call (775)-589-5500.
ORIGINAL STORY - JUNE 12, 2025:
According to NDOT, every year more than 2.5 million cars travel on State Route 28, mixing with 2,000 pedestrians and bicyclists that recreate near the roadside on peak days.
Over the last few years, NDOT has been slowly adding more "No Parking" signs along roadsides to decrease safety risks in Lake Tahoe.
"If you've driven in Tahoe, you know that there's a lot of blind curves, a lot of roadways that you can't see around.," said Sergeant Chris Brown, Nevada State Police Highway Patrol Division.
Some of the most common areas people continue to illegally park is along State Route 28 near beaches.
Several cars lined up along the shoulder near Chimney Beach. A couple of them even parking right next to "No Parking" signs.
One driver even left their window down and belongings out in the open.
"I'm a bad guy or intend to do bad things, this vehicle is fully accessible to me. As well as it's illegally parked," said Brown.
He left multiple citations on the owner's windshields that day.
Neighbors are saying while they want people to be able to come up and enjoy the lake, they ask that visitors be mindful of the parking laws and not cause any safety risks.
"It's really a life hazard sort of a situation when people park along the roadway and their kids are running around or they're popping in and out of the highway with their gear," said Greg Pryor, a Lake Tahoe resident. "It just makes it very difficult, especially when there's oncoming traffic."
While parking around Tahoe can be limited, Sergeant Brown says that there are other solutions to transportation.
"NDOT has installed a lot of parking that is off highway," he said. "There's plans in the works to install more parking as well as transit."
Lake Tahoe offers multiple bus services for both the north and south shore. And next year NDOT will begin construction on additional transit stops along State Route 28, plus adding more than 250 parking spots.
Parking has long been an issue at the lake.
Over the last few years, NDOT has been slowly adding more "No Parking" signs along roadsides to decrease safety risks in Lake Tahoe.
You can learn more about transportation services and NDOT's future parking projects at Lake Tahoe.
