South Lake Tahoe, California · field elev 6,268 ft
Density Altitude at Lake Tahoe (KTVL)
Lake Tahoe is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 6,268 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (80 °F) pushes density altitude to about 9,021 ft — the airplane performs like it is 2,753 ft above the field before the wheels roll.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30.6 | 5,886 ft | 42.8 | 6,689 ft ▲ |
| February | 31.3 | 5,933 ft | 43.4 | 6,728 ft ▲ |
| March | 35.8 | 6,231 ft | 47.8 | 7,012 ft ▲ |
| April | 40.4 | 6,533 ft | 53.2 | 7,355 ft ▲ |
| May | 47.6 | 6,999 ft | 62.1 | 7,912 ft ▲ |
| June | 55.1 | 7,475 ft | 72.0 | 8,518 ft ⚠ |
| July | 61.5 | 7,875 ft | 80.4 | 9,021 ft ⚠ |
| August | 60.4 | 7,807 ft | 79.7 | 8,980 ft ⚠ |
| September | 54.4 | 7,431 ft | 73.4 | 8,603 ft ⚠ |
| October | 45.7 | 6,877 ft | 62.2 | 7,918 ft ▲ |
| November | 37.1 | 6,317 ft | 50.9 | 7,210 ft ▲ |
| December | 30.4 | 5,873 ft | 42.8 | 6,689 ft ▲ |
▲ above 5,000 ft · ⚠ above 8,000 ft. These are planning references at standard pressure and dry air — afternoon humidity and low pressure both push the real number higher. Run today's values below.
Run today’s numbers for KTVL
DENSITY ALTITUDE high DA
Field elevation 6,268 ft — the air behaves like 8,998 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 6,270 ft
- ISA DEVIATION
- —
- RULE-OF-THUMB DA
- —
- AIR DENSITY INDEX
- —
- AIR DENSITY
- —
- WATER · GRAINS/LB
- —
For training and reference · verify with official sources and your POH before flight · no tool on this site renders a go / no-go judgment
Nearby California fields
- M45 — Alpine County
Markleeville · elev 5,872 ft
- KTRK — Truckee-Tahoe
Truckee · elev 5,904 ft
- KPVF — Placerville
Placerville · elev 2,586 ft
- KBLU — Blue Canyon - Nyack
Emigrant Gap · elev 5,284 ft
- E36 — Georgetown
Georgetown · elev 2,625 ft
- O79 — Sierraville Dearwater
Sierraville · elev 4,990 ft
- O61 — Cameron Park
Cameron Park · elev 1,287 ft
- KJAQ — Westover Field Amador County
Jackson · elev 1,693 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KTVL in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 80 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Lake Tahoe reaches roughly 9,021 ft at standard pressure. Hotter-than-normal days, low pressure, and humidity all push it higher, so run the day's actual numbers before flying.
What is the density altitude at KTVL on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 5,873 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 7,875 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 6,268 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Lake Tahoe?
6,268 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KTVL (ICAO) / TVL (FAA), in South Lake Tahoe, California.