French Meadows vs Northshore Campground (Loon Lake): side-by-side comparison
RVs to 85 ft vs 50 ft · listed from $24 vs $36/night.
Verdict: Pick French Meadows for room for a longer rig (85 ft longest listed site vs 50 ft longest listed site) and a lower nightly rate (from $24 a night listed vs from $36 a night listed).
Public-agency campground vs public-agency campground. Official facts link to their source; listing facts say so; anything nobody publishes is marked as not listed. Distances are straight-line.
| Attribute | French Meadows | Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | Recreation.gov | Recreation.gov |
| Official RV limit | Not listed — no official limit published | Not listed — no official limit published |
| Guest rating | 4.0 (124 reviews, Recreation.gov) | 4.0 (52 reviews, Recreation.gov) |
| Booking | Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing) | Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing) |
| Price | Lowest listed rate $24/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) | Lowest listed rate $36/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) |
| Max rig length | Longest RV site listed: 85 ft (73 of 73 RV sites list a length) (listing) | Longest RV site listed: 50 ft (20 of 24 RV sites list a length) (listing) |
| Hookups & power | Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing) | Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing) |
| Pull-through / back-in | 5 pull-through, 70 back-in (listing) | 2 pull-through, 11 back-in (listing) |
| Road & site access | 75 paved site driveways (listing) | 24 paved site driveways; 4 hike-in sites (listing) |
| Water | Drinking water listed (listing) | Drinking water listed (listing) |
| Generators | Not listed — check with campground | Not listed — check with campground |
| Pets | Allowed (listing) | Allowed (listing) |
| Cell signal | Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 0 (42 reports), AT&T 0 (33 reports) (listing) | Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): AT&T 1 (11 reports), T-Mobile 0 (6 reports) (listing) |
| Shade | 75 of 75 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) | Not listed — check with campground |
| Stay limits | 15 nights max (listing) | Not listed — check with campground |
| Getting there | 21 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 11.6 mi to Palisades Tahoe (straight-line, not driving) (listing) | 16.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 11.8 mi to Emerald Bay (straight-line, not driving) (listing) |
Questions campers ask
Which is closer to the middle of Lake Tahoe, French Meadows or Northshore Campground (Loon Lake)?
Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) is closer: 16.8 miles from the middle of Lake Tahoe versus 21 miles for French Meadows (straight-line distances, not driving).
Can I reserve a site at French Meadows and Northshore Campground (Loon Lake)?
French Meadows: Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing). Northshore Campground (Loon Lake): Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing).
Which has hookups for an RV?
French Meadows: Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing). Northshore Campground (Loon Lake): Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing).
How long an RV fits at French Meadows vs Northshore Campground (Loon Lake)?
French Meadows: Longest RV site listed: 85 ft (73 of 73 RV sites list a length) (listing). Northshore Campground (Loon Lake): Longest RV site listed: 50 ft (20 of 24 RV sites list a length) (listing). Always confirm the specific site's length before booking.
Is there water at French Meadows and Northshore Campground (Loon Lake)?
French Meadows: Drinking water listed (listing). Northshore Campground (Loon Lake): Drinking water listed (listing).
Is there cell service at French Meadows or Northshore Campground (Loon Lake)?
French Meadows: Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 0 (42 reports), AT&T 0 (33 reports) (listing). Northshore Campground (Loon Lake): Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): AT&T 1 (11 reports), T-Mobile 0 (6 reports) (listing). Signal varies by carrier and site.
How do guests rate French Meadows and Northshore Campground (Loon Lake)?
French Meadows is rated 4.0 from 124 reviews on Recreation.gov; Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) is rated 4.0 from 52 reviews on Recreation.gov.
Go to the campgrounds
- French Meadows: live availability, sites and rules
- Northshore Campground (Loon Lake): live availability, sites and rules
Related guides
Other comparisons for French Meadows
- French Meadows vs Lewis — RVs to 85 ft vs 50 ft
- French Meadows vs Middle Meadows — RVs to 85 ft vs 25 ft · listed from $24 vs $13/night
Other comparisons for Northshore Campground (Loon Lake)
- Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) vs Gerle Creek — 16.8 vs 21 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
- Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) vs Loon Lake — RVs to 50 ft vs 35 ft
- Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) vs Wolf Creek — 16.8 vs 24.7 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
- Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) vs Lewis — Listed from $36 vs $20/night · 16.8 vs 20.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)