Meeks Bay Resort vs William Kent Campground: side-by-side comparison
Booking, water, access and rig fit side by side.
Verdict: Pick Meeks Bay Resort for full hookups.
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 | Meeks Bay Resort | William Kent Campground |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | USDA Forest Service (Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit; Meeks Bay Resort under permit) | USDA Forest Service (Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit; operated by California Land Management) |
| Official RV limit | Not listed — no official limit published | Not listed — no official limit published |
| Guest rating | 4.0 (162 reviews, Recreation.gov) | 4.0 (568 reviews, Recreation.gov) |
| Booking | Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing) | Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing) |
| Price | Lowest listed rate $33/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) | Lowest listed rate $42/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) |
| Max rig length | 23 RV-capable sites, no length limits listed (listing) | Longest RV site listed: 57 ft (76 of 76 RV sites list a length) (listing) |
| Hookups & power | 21 full-hookup, 1 electric sites (listing) | Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing) |
| Pull-through / back-in | 3 pull-through, 63 back-in (listing) | 0 pull-through, 79 back-in (listing) |
| Road & site access | 89 paved, 5 gravel site driveways (listing) | 76 paved site driveways (listing) |
| Water | Water at 81 sites (listing) | Drinking water listed (listing) |
| Generators | Not listed — check with campground | Not listed — check with campground |
| Pets | No pets allowed anywhere at the resort (Recreation.gov); undefined (listing) | Allowed (listing) |
| Bear & food storage | Forest Order 19-24-03: all food and refuse not personally attended must be in a bear-resistant container; use the campground's bear boxes and wildlife-resistant dumpsters (USDA Forest Service) | Forest Order 19-24-03: all food and refuse not personally attended must be in a bear-resistant container; use the campground's bear boxes and wildlife-resistant dumpsters (USDA Forest Service) |
| Season | 2026 opening May 9 (LTBMU opening dates); closing date not listed (USDA Forest Service) | 2026 opening May 22 (LTBMU opening dates); closing date not listed (USDA Forest Service) |
| Cell signal | Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 3 (51 reports), AT&T 2 (45 reports), T-Mobile 2 (26 reports) (listing) | Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 1 (193 reports), AT&T 2 (151 reports), T-Mobile 2 (100 reports) (listing) |
| Shade | 57 of 57 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) | 79 of 79 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) |
| Stay limits | 14 nights max (listing) | Most National Forest campgrounds at Lake Tahoe: 14-day limit per calendar year and six people per campsite (USDA Forest Service); 14 nights max (listing) |
| Getting there | 6.3 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 5.9 mi to Emerald Bay (straight-line, not driving) (listing) | 7.2 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 2 mi to Tahoe City (straight-line, not driving) (listing) |
Questions campers ask
Which is closer to the middle of Lake Tahoe, Meeks Bay Resort or William Kent Campground?
Meeks Bay Resort is closer: 6.3 miles from the middle of Lake Tahoe versus 7.2 miles for William Kent Campground (straight-line distances, not driving).
Can I reserve a site at Meeks Bay Resort and William Kent Campground?
Meeks Bay Resort: Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing). William Kent Campground: Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing).
Which has hookups for an RV?
Meeks Bay Resort: 21 full-hookup, 1 electric sites (listing). William Kent Campground: Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing).
How long an RV fits at Meeks Bay Resort vs William Kent Campground?
Meeks Bay Resort: 23 RV-capable sites, no length limits listed (listing). William Kent Campground: Longest RV site listed: 57 ft (76 of 76 RV sites list a length) (listing). Always confirm the specific site's length before booking.
Is there water at Meeks Bay Resort and William Kent Campground?
Meeks Bay Resort: Water at 81 sites (listing). William Kent Campground: Drinking water listed (listing).
Is there cell service at Meeks Bay Resort or William Kent Campground?
Meeks Bay Resort: Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 3 (51 reports), AT&T 2 (45 reports), T-Mobile 2 (26 reports) (listing). William Kent Campground: Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 1 (193 reports), AT&T 2 (151 reports), T-Mobile 2 (100 reports) (listing). Signal varies by carrier and site.
How do guests rate Meeks Bay Resort and William Kent Campground?
Meeks Bay Resort is rated 4.0 from 162 reviews on Recreation.gov; William Kent Campground is rated 4.0 from 568 reviews on Recreation.gov.
Go to the campgrounds
- Meeks Bay Resort: live availability, sites and rules
- William Kent Campground: live availability, sites and rules
Related guides
- West Shore & Emerald Bay campgrounds
- Glamping & cabins at Lake Tahoe
- Tent camping at Lake Tahoe
- Van & truck camper camping at Lake Tahoe
Other comparisons for Meeks Bay Resort
- Meeks Bay Resort vs Sugar Pine Point State Park — Public-agency campground vs state park campground
- Meeks Bay Resort vs RV Village at Camp Richardson Resort — Listed from $33 vs $50/night · 6.3 vs 11.2 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
- Meeks Bay Resort vs Kaspian Campground — Booking, water, access and rig fit side by side
Other comparisons for William Kent Campground
- William Kent Campground vs Kaspian Campground — Listed from $42 vs $30/night
- William Kent Campground vs Silver Creek-Truckee — RVs to 57 ft vs 30 ft · listed from $42 vs $20/night
- William Kent Campground vs Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) — RVs to 57 ft vs 50 ft · 7.2 vs 16.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)