LA to South Lake Tahoe towing a boat

It's not bad at all. There will be many others doing the same as you. There are passing lanes where cars can get around you, and there are also some large turn out areas where you can pull over.

It's a beautiful drive, so just sit back and enjoy.

My niece was driving up there in a Honda Minivan. She was behind a tour bus for a few minutes, but it left her in the dust! They really can go on those hills! And she had commuted on that road many times, so she knew it well.

I have taken my 30' Bounder towing a Honda CRV on highway 50 several times. I would recommend it. I did not like all the mountain passes on highway 395, so prefer taking I-5 to highway 50.

Have fun up there! If you are staying in South Lake Tahoe campground, they have sites with electrical power and without. Try to get one with, so you do not listen to neighbors with generators!

Have fun camping!

Fred.

I-50 is pretty curvy highway so you will be limited more by curves and slow vehicles than by grades.
It does have passing lanes every few miles, but with boat you are not likely to use it.
Just take your time and enjoy the scenery. Once you get on the other side, the road is having just couple of pull-outs so observe if you can stop there for picture taking.

BTW are you planning to launch the boat? The LT marina has ramps at the end of U-turn with cars park in the center, so you will get a chance to prove your driving skills.

Don't go up there today! It's snowing heavy.

It's not 'I-50'...not an interstate. It's two-lane with a constant climb from Sacramento. It's very doable though.

Another option from Los Angeles is taking CA395 up along the eastern Sierras. It's a beautiful drive with lots of camping spots along the way. This is our favorite.

I just love the answers from the Californians!:B

No road is too windy or too steep and they are all so used to a complete straight drop off at the edge of the road! Heck they are born there and been doing it since they could first drive so none of it is scary to them!

Echo Summit was a pucker upper for sure with a MH towing for me. :W:W

Here is a complete video of driving 50 from Placerville to Tahoe. Including Echo Summit.
62 miles in 6 minutes "time lapse" photography!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyX7SZMrhs4

:B

If you take a look on geographical map - most of California is a pan shape of kidney with only low point at Golden Gate.
Whenever we go, sooner or later we have 5-8,000' climbs.
OP coming from LA to Lake Tahoe will have 2 elevations to pass and I think Grapevine Grade is more stressful for RV than 50.
Still when you compare to Baker grade who is about 30 miles constant climb and only for couple months in a year temperatures drop to 2-digits.

Having lived in P'ville for over 10 years, I've taken that road many times in all kind of weather. P'ville is at 1800' elevation, Echo Summit is nearly 7500'. Tahoe is around 6300'. Using those parameters, it's roughly 50 miles from P'ville to Echo Summit, mostly climbing, good road, narrow at times with passing lanes up and down. Not enough room to use the pull outs if you're pulling a trailer. Once you reach Echo Summit you start your descent which is pretty rapid. It's about 7 miles from Echo Summit to SLT so you get there pretty quickly. The road at the summit narrows and there is a really steep dropoff. Don't let that bother you, just be aware of it. Usually you're awed at the view of Lake Tahoe but keep your eyes on the road. There are some pull offs for picture taking so slow once you've reached the Summit and be prepared for them. Enjoy the trip.

There's a Thousand Trails park in Tahoe that's nice but I'd opt for the quieter park at Zephyr Cove in Nevada. Also, remember the ski lift at Squaw Valley is open year round, and you don't say when you're going. If the snow is gone, the ski runs become hiking trails. Take the gondola up to the top for awesome views of the Tahoe Valley. Be sure to grab some sandwiches, (Subway) before heading up. The gondola stops about half way up the mountain where there are restrooms, a deli (expensive) and picnic tables overlooking the lake. After lunch, get back on the gondola and make it to the top. Great day trip, especially if you're a hiker. The trails at the top make for very easy hiking....Dennis

rockhillmanor wrote:
I just love the answers from the Californians!:B

No road is too windy or too steep and they are all so used to a complete straight drop off at the edge of the road! Heck they are born there and been doing it since they could first drive so none of it is scary to them!

Echo Summit was a pucker upper for sure with a MH towing for me. :W:W

Here is a complete video of driving 50 from Placerville to Tahoe. Including Echo Summit.
62 miles in 6 minutes "time lapse" photography!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyX7SZMrhs4

:B

As mountain passes go, Highway 50 is the second easiest pass over the entire Sierra-Nevada Range. The only easier pass is I-80. Californians don't even consider 50 a challenge.