
Vacation rentals in Donner Lake
Find and book unique accommodations on Airbnb
Top-rated vacation rentals in Donner Lake
Guests agree: these stays are highly rated for location, cleanliness, and more.

Ruby the Red Caboose
Stay in a REAL train car in historic Virginia City, NV. Authentic 1950s caboose converted into a private guest suite that captures the glory days of train travel. Enjoy the famous 100-mile view from the cupola as you sip your coffee in the morning or your cocktail in the evening. Watch the steam engine (or the wild horses) go by from your private covered deck. Easy access to the V&T Railroad, bars, restaurants, museums, and all that VC has to offer. Choo choo! Please note the pic of the stairs!

AMAZING Downtown & On The RIVER! (13.25% tax incl)
Downtown Truckee, On The River, with a generator! Beautiful, comfortable, fully remodeled one bedroom apartment tastefully decorated. Small weekday office upstairs. 80' of river frontage, large patios, stone stairways to river, on site parking. Walk downtown yet totally private. Note: Due to a very serious allergy of a cleaner, we cannot accommodate animals including service animals. NO smoking, max of 2 guests. No children under 13. 3 bedroom house next door also available STR lic. #008814

Tahoe Cabin in the Trees
Welcome to the Cabin in the Trees. Great work from home location! This A-frame style cabin is located on a beautiful large wooded lot with green space surrounding the home, creating a private wooded sanctuary. This classic cabin has updated bathrooms and appliances, and a kitchen stocked with all the essentials. The front deck provides an outdoor living space and is fully equipped with a BBQ, fire table, and a new luxurious 7-person salt-water hot tub that sits right off the front deck.

Tahoe Harris House Quaint Cabin-Spectacular Views
Enjoy a romantic getaway in this adorable "Old Tahoe" cabin! Beautiful lake views abound from just about every room as well as from the patio, the hot tub and of course from the covered porch! This darling home is about 1000 square feet, but not a single inch has been wasted! After four generations of The Harris family, we have now become the loving stewards of this charming, “Old Tahoe” cabin. We hope you will enjoy it and care for it just as we do! Tag us on Insta @tahoeharrishouse!

Donner Lake Cabin | 1 block to lake 3BD/2BTH
Lovingly remodeled lake home, popular location—1 block from Donner Lake piers and a quick drive to 5 ski resorts (Sugar Bowl, Palisades, NorthStar) in winter (10–20 mins), and a 5 minute drive to charming downtown Truckee! A must do 5 min walk to the lakefront brunch at Donner lake Kitchen, or cozy up with the gas fireplace, board games, pool table and an updated well stocked kitchen. Easy Bay Area access with flat driveway. Max 7 guests, 3 cars/2 in winter. Truckee STR Permit: 003384.

Base Camp for Your Next Tahoe Adventure
Welcome to Base Camp! Our cozy studio (308 SF) is located in the Tahoe Donner Lodge Condominiums. The Lodge HOA is less than 50 yards from the Tahoe Donner downhill ski resort - consistently voted as the best place to learn how to ski. Alder Creek Adventure Center (cross-country skiing, hiking, biking) is less than a mile away. A private parking lot is available for our guests. Please note that our condo is not appropriate for more than two guests, including children of any age.

Rustic Contemporary Donner Lake Home
"Why is it among the most glacial mountain peaks I find the greatest warmth?`Ivan Granger Newly remodeled 4 bedroom, 3 bath home just 1 block from Donner Lake. Enjoy a gourmet kitchen, loft, airlock for coats & shoes and a deck for relaxing and BBQ'ing. The public beach at the West End of Donner Lake is walking distance from the house. 7 minutes from Sugar Bowl ski area, 12 minutes to X-C skiing at Royal Gorge, 10 minutes into downtown Truckee. Parking available for 2 cars.

Donner Lake Getaway
This newly remodeled lovely condo is right on Donner Lake, 4 miles from SugarBowl and right off exit 180 on interstate 80. In the winter this is great access to town, all ski areas, and Donner Memorial State Park. In summer, you are on the lake, across the street to the boat ramp, and have access to a private beach that is a 5-10 minute walk. Perfect for families this condo can sleep up to 6 people. The condo was just renovated in December 2023.

Aspen View Carriage House
Beautiful new studio space over the detached garage of the main house. Spacious and bright. This waterfront property is located on the shores of Summit Creek. Easy backyard launching for your canoe, kayak or stand up board with just a short paddle to Donner Lake. Close to everything - rock climbing, mountain biking, skiing, fishing and hiking. Sleeps four, no pets. No more than four people. Tesla charger.

New|Luxury|Hottub|KidPetFriendly|Fireplace|EVchrg
Top 10% of homes, and guest favorite badge by Airbnb. Welcome to LuxCabin - A brand new, luxury cabin with a hot tub nestled in the heart of Tahoe Donner Summit! Look no further if you're searching for the perfect mountain retreat to unwind and indulge in nature. ☞ Hot Tub ☞ Cozy & Stylish picturesque cabin ☞ 2-mins walk to a fully stocked market ☞ Baby & pet friendly ☞ More photos: IG @luxcabin.tahoe

Donner Lake Family Cabin
Hi, I’m Rob and this is my family cabin! Only minutes off the I-80 Truckee exit, it’s a 1-bedroom/1 bath with a loft. Approximately 800sf and a mere block from the public docks on Donner Lake, downtown Truckee is also only minutes away! Ideally situated near all the big ski resorts; Sugar Bowl, Squaw/Alpine, and Northstar, I invite you to a taste of mountain living in the beautiful Sierra’s! -Rob

[Skislope Cabin] Hot Tub - Dog Friendly
Explore local hiking trails, ski mountains, and lakes just minutes away. Relax in a salt hot tub on the back deck overlooking the Carson Mountain Range. Bring your dog. Sit by the gas fireplace and unwind. Enjoy a free park pass to access D.L. Bliss SP, Ed Z'Berg Sugar Pine Point SP, Emerald Bay SP, Kings Beach SRA, and even Donner Memorial SP for free!
Popular amenities for Donner Lake vacation rentals
Houses for rent in Donner Lake

Tahoe Donner Base Camp

Perfect 3BR Cabin in Tahoe Donner

Casa del Sol Tahoe Truckee

Hot tub, AC, beautiful Tahoe Donner 4/3 house

Cute cozy home available for 2 to 30 day rental

Truckee Tahoe Paradise

Bohemian Chic Chalet

BlackDog Hideaway_Hot Tub, 2 Arcades, Ping Pong
Lake side house rentals in Donner Lake

*NEW*Donner Lakefront Luxury*

Kings Beach Oasis! Cozy Home.

Bear's Lair Walk to West End Beach Donner lake

West Shore Cabin - Walk to the Lake & Sunnyside!

Private, spacious, ground floor Carson/Reno/Tahoe

Beautiful family friendly home near rec. center

Updated Stylish Carnelian Cabin-Hot tub and Garage

Mountain Azure Tahoe semiprivate beach•pets hottub
Other great vacation rentals in Donner Lake

Donner Lake Cabin

Charming 3 Bedroom House with Lake View

Tahoe Home with Donner Lake View WalktoLake Dog OK

Boreal ridge walk to lifts or PCT

Little Owl A-Frame Donner Lake

Donner Lakefront condo w/ boat slip & sandy beach

Donner Lake walk to beach, hot tub, gorgeous views

Donner Dreamin' A Frame + Hot Tub + Dog Friendly!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Donner Lake located?
Donner Lake is nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, near the town of Truckee. Surrounded by forested slopes and alpine scenery, the area has easy access to outdoor recreation year-round.
When is the best time to visit Donner Lake?
Summer months are often recommended for swimming, boating, and hiking, with moderate temperatures and minimal rain. Spring and fall bring lighter crowds and mild weather, while winter has opportunities for nearby snow sports.
What are some things to do near Donner Lake?
You can explore swimming, kayaking, or fishing on the lake, and hike the nearby trails surrounded by pines. Around Donner Lake, there are picnic spots, scenic lookouts, and opportunities to learn about regional history.
How is the weather near Donner Lake?
Donner Lake experiences cold, snowy winters around 26–48°F (-3–9°C), while summers are warm and dry, reaching 60–94°F (16–34°C). Most rain and snow fall between November and April, with clear days common in summer and early fall.
All about Donner Lake
Located on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in northeastern California, Donner Lake sits less than half an hour northwest of Lake Tahoe, which straddles the Nevada border. With its cerulean water and stretches of sandy beach fringed by towering pine trees, Donner Lake is a haven of calm. The lake’s small size makes exploring by kayak or stand-up paddleboard popular activities, and these waters are home to some of the biggest lake trout in California, attracting anglers from far and wide.
The neighboring town of Truckee has a small, historic downtown dating from the 1840s, when travelers made their way along the Truckee Basin to settle on the California coast. Today, Main Street’s 19th-century brick buildings house a string of family-owned boutiques and local breweries. The lake also boasts easy access to the world-famous waters of Lake Tahoe, which are popular with sailors, hikers, and wildlife-spotters — the region is renowned for black bears and mountain lions.
What are the top things to do in Donner Lake?
Donner Memorial State Park
This tranquil alpine park extends along the eastern and southern end of the lake and offers eight miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, while the waters are home to kokanee trout. The 23-foot tall Pioneer Monument commemorates 19th-century emigrants who made the move west, and the Visitor Center provides an insight into the region’s Native American communities and construction of the transcontinental railroad.
Boreal Mountain
Less than 15 minutes’ drive from Donner Lake, year-round outdoor activities are on offer at Boreal Mountain. Skiers and snowboarders head here to explore over 350 acres of fresh powder and make the most of the only night skiing in the area, while mountain biking trails and renowned skate parks offer plenty of warm weather fun.
Lake Tahoe
Around 20 minutes southeast, Lake Tahoe is one of the most scenic spots in northern California and the largest alpine lake in the United States. Visitors line its sandy shores and head out on sailboats on summer days and marvel at the surrounding snow-capped peaks in winter. On the southwestern shore, Emerald Bay State Park features a granite cliff and jaw-dropping panoramic views, and there are miles of hiking trails to explore throughout the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Destinations to explore
- Northern California Vacation rentals
- San Francisco Bay Area Vacation rentals
- San Francisco Vacation rentals
- Gold Country Vacation rentals
- Central California Vacation rentals
- San Francisco Peninsula Vacation rentals
- San Jose Vacation rentals
- Silicon Valley Vacation rentals
- North Coast Vacation rentals
- Wine Country Vacation rentals
- Oakland Vacation rentals
- South Lake Tahoe Vacation rentals
- Lake Tahoe
- Northstar California Resort
- Wild Mountain Ski School
- Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort
- Kirkwood Mountain Resort
- Reno Sparks Convention Center
- Diamond Peak Ski Resort
- Alpine Meadows Ski Resort
- Fallen Leaf Lake
- Homewood Mountain Resort
- Kings Beach State Recreation Area
- Emerald Bay State Park
- Crystal Bay Casino
- Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
- South Yuba River State Park
- University of Nevada Reno
- Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
- Edgewood Tahoe
- Boreal Mountain California
- Granlibakken Tahoe
- Nevada Museum of Art
- Sugar Bowl Resort
- Mt. Rose - Ski Tahoe
- Tahoe City Public Beach





