Gerle Creek vs Loon Lake: side-by-side comparison
RVs to 50 ft vs 35 ft · 21 vs 17.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line).
Verdict: Pick Gerle Creek for room for a longer rig (50 ft longest listed site vs 35 ft longest listed site).
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 | Gerle Creek | 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 | 5.0 (167 reviews, Recreation.gov) | 4.0 (162 reviews, Recreation.gov) |
| Booking | Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing) | Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing) |
| Price | Lowest listed rate $36/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) | Lowest listed rate $30/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) |
| Max rig length | Longest RV site listed: 50 ft (19 of 19 RV sites list a length) (listing) | Longest RV site listed: 35 ft (39 of 55 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 | 0 pull-through, 47 back-in (listing) | 9 pull-through, 55 back-in (listing) |
| Road & site access | 50 paved site driveways (listing) | 65 paved site driveways (listing) |
| Water | Not listed — check with campground | 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 (66 reports), AT&T 0 (53 reports) (listing) | Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 0 (61 reports), AT&T 0 (47 reports), T-Mobile 0 (22 reports) (listing) |
| Shade | 1 of 47 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) | 1 of 65 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) |
| Getting there | 21 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 15.4 mi to Emerald Bay (straight-line, not driving) (listing) | 17.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 12.2 mi to Emerald Bay (straight-line, not driving) (listing) |
Questions campers ask
Which is closer to the middle of Lake Tahoe, Gerle Creek or Loon Lake?
Loon Lake is closer: 17.8 miles from the middle of Lake Tahoe versus 21 miles for Gerle Creek (straight-line distances, not driving).
Can I reserve a site at Gerle Creek and Loon Lake?
Gerle Creek: Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing). Loon Lake: Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing).
Which has hookups for an RV?
Gerle Creek: Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing). Loon Lake: Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing).
How long an RV fits at Gerle Creek vs Loon Lake?
Gerle Creek: Longest RV site listed: 50 ft (19 of 19 RV sites list a length) (listing). Loon Lake: Longest RV site listed: 35 ft (39 of 55 RV sites list a length) (listing). Always confirm the specific site's length before booking.
Is there water at Gerle Creek and Loon Lake?
Gerle Creek: Not listed — check with campground. Loon Lake: Drinking water listed (listing).
Is there cell service at Gerle Creek or Loon Lake?
Gerle Creek: Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 0 (66 reports), AT&T 0 (53 reports) (listing). Loon Lake: Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 0 (61 reports), AT&T 0 (47 reports), T-Mobile 0 (22 reports) (listing). Signal varies by carrier and site.
How do guests rate Gerle Creek and Loon Lake?
Gerle Creek is rated 5.0 from 167 reviews on Recreation.gov; Loon Lake is rated 4.0 from 162 reviews on Recreation.gov.
Go to the campgrounds
Related guides
Other comparisons for Gerle Creek
- Gerle Creek vs Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) — 21 vs 16.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
- Gerle Creek vs Wolf Creek — 21 vs 24.7 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
Other comparisons for Loon Lake
- Loon Lake vs Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) — RVs to 35 ft vs 50 ft
- Loon Lake vs Wench Creek — 17.8 vs 23.4 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
- Loon Lake vs Yellowjacket — RVs to 35 ft vs 25 ft · 17.8 vs 23.9 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
- Loon Lake vs Middle Meadows — RVs to 35 ft vs 25 ft · listed from $30 vs $13/night