California · GSA non-standard area · FY2027
South Lake Tahoe per diem rates
Federal travelers to South Lake Tahoe (GSA area: El Dorado) can claim up to $262 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidental expenses in FY2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027). Lodging is seasonal: $168 in the cheapest months (Apr, May) and $262 at the peak (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar). That is $149 above the standard CONUS lodging rate of $113.
Lodging cap by month, FY2027
FY2027 rates by season
Exactly as listed in GSA's FY2027 per diem file. Season dates are inclusive; the lodging cap applies to the night that begins on each date.
| Season | Lodging | M&IE | Max per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 – Nov 30 | $198 | $86 | $284 |
| Dec 1 – Mar 31 | $262 | $86 | $348 |
| Apr 1 – May 31 | $168 | $86 | $254 |
| Jun 1 – Sep 30 | $198 | $86 | $284 |
Meals, incidentals and a worked trip
| Breakfast | $22 |
| Lunch | $23 |
| Dinner | $36 |
| Incidental expenses | $5 |
| M&IE, full day | $86 |
| First and last day of travel (75%) | $64.50 |
GSA's breakdown of the $86 M&IE tier, used to deduct meals provided by the government or included in a registration fee (FTR §301-11.21). Meals on a common carrier and complimentary hotel breakfasts are not deducted. All tiers
Worked example · December
A 4-night trip (5 travel days) in December:
| Lodging, 4 nights × $262 | $1,048 |
| M&IE, first and last day at 75% (2 × $64.50) | $129.00 |
| M&IE, 3 full days × $86 | $258 |
| Maximum for the trip | $1,435.00 |
Lodging is reimbursed up to the cap for actual cost (taxes are claimed separately on CONUS trips, FTR §301-11.16). The 75% first-and-last-day rule is FTR §301-11.20. Use the trip calculator for your own dates.
History, FY2015 to FY2027
Listed in every GSA file since FY2015.
South Lake Tahoe: lodging and M&IE by fiscal year
Each fiscal year runs October to September. Dashed line: the standard CONUS lodging rate.
| Fiscal year | Lodging | M&IE | Max/day | Peak change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2027 | $168 – $262 | $86 | $348 | +6.1% |
| FY2026 | $141 – $247 | $86 | $333 | 0% |
| FY2025 | $141 – $247 | $86 | $333 | +42.8% |
| FY2024 | $143 – $173 | $74 | $247 | +16.9% |
| FY2023 | $121 – $148 | $74 | $222 | +9.6% |
| FY2022 | $120 – $135 | $74 | $209 | 0% |
| FY2021 | $120 – $135 | $66 | $201 | 0% |
| FY2020 | $119 – $135 | $66 | $201 | −15.1% |
| FY2019 | $119 – $159 | $66 | $225 | +3.2% |
| FY2018 | $112 – $154 | $64 | $218 | +4.1% |
| FY2017 | $112 – $148 | $64 | $212 | −8.6% |
| FY2016 | $111 – $162 | $64 | $226 | +42.1% |
| FY2015 | $114 | $71 | $185 | – |
How it compares
Peak FY2027 lodging cap: South Lake Tahoe among all 295 non-standard areas
Rank #30 nationally and #6 of 32 in California. All California rates · National rankings
Where this rate applies
GSA defines this area as El Dorado in California. Under GSA's rules a non-standard area includes "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties" (GSA per diem FAQs).
30 ZIP codes map to South Lake Tahoe in GSA's FY2027 ZIP code file
95613 95614 95619 95623 95629 95633 95634 95635 95636 95651 95656 95664 95667 95672 95682 95684 95709 95720 95721 95726 95735 95762 96150 96151 96152 96154 96155 96156 96157 96158
Other California destinations
| Destination | Peak lodging | M&IE |
|---|---|---|
| San FranciscoSan Francisco | $325 | $92 |
| MontereyMonterey | $293 | $92 |
| Santa MonicaCity limits of Santa Monica | $283 | $92 |
| Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara | $277 | $92 |
| NapaNapa | $266 | $92 |
| San DiegoSan Diego | $249 | $86 |
| Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San JoseSanta Clara | $218 | $92 |
| San Mateo / Foster City / BelmontSan Mateo | $217 | $86 |
Questions
- What is the per diem rate for South Lake Tahoe in FY2027?
- Lodging up to $262 a night ($168 to $262 depending on season), plus $86 a day for meals and incidental expenses, for travel from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027.
- How much M&IE do I get on the first and last day?
- 75% of the M&IE rate: $64.50 on the day you leave and the day you return (FTR §301-11.20, as published in the eCFR).
- Are hotel taxes included in the lodging rate?
- No. For CONUS travel, lodging taxes on the reimbursable room cost are claimed separately as a miscellaneous expense (FTR §301-11.16(a)).
Source: U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), per diem rates and per diem files. Not affiliated with GSA. All sources