Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) vs William Kent Campground: side-by-side comparison
RVs to 50 ft vs 57 ft · 16.8 vs 7.2 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line).
Verdict: Pick William Kent Campground for room for a longer rig (57 ft longest listed site vs 50 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 | Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) | William Kent Campground |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | Recreation.gov | 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 (52 reviews, Recreation.gov) | 4.0 (568 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 $42/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) |
| Max rig length | Longest RV site listed: 50 ft (20 of 24 RV sites list a length) (listing) | Longest RV site listed: 57 ft (76 of 76 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 | 2 pull-through, 11 back-in (listing) | 0 pull-through, 79 back-in (listing) |
| Road & site access | 24 paved site driveways; 4 hike-in sites (listing) | 76 paved site driveways (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) |
| Bear & food storage | Not listed — check with campground | 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 | Not listed — check with campground | 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): AT&T 1 (11 reports), T-Mobile 0 (6 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 | Not listed — check with campground | 79 of 79 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) |
| Stay limits | Not listed — check with campground | 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 | 16.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 11.8 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, Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) or William Kent Campground?
William Kent Campground is closer: 7.2 miles from the middle of Lake Tahoe versus 16.8 miles for Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) (straight-line distances, not driving).
Can I reserve a site at Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) and William Kent Campground?
Northshore Campground (Loon Lake): Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing). William Kent Campground: Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing).
Which has hookups for an RV?
Northshore Campground (Loon Lake): Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing). William Kent Campground: Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing).
How long an RV fits at Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) vs William Kent Campground?
Northshore Campground (Loon Lake): Longest RV site listed: 50 ft (20 of 24 RV sites list a length) (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 Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) and William Kent Campground?
Northshore Campground (Loon Lake): Drinking water listed (listing). William Kent Campground: Drinking water listed (listing).
Is there cell service at Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) or William Kent Campground?
Northshore Campground (Loon Lake): Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): AT&T 1 (11 reports), T-Mobile 0 (6 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 Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) and William Kent Campground?
Northshore Campground (Loon Lake) is rated 4.0 from 52 reviews on Recreation.gov; William Kent Campground is rated 4.0 from 568 reviews on Recreation.gov.
Go to the campgrounds
- Northshore Campground (Loon Lake): live availability, sites and rules
- William Kent Campground: live availability, sites and rules
Related guides
- Tent camping at Lake Tahoe
- West Shore & Emerald Bay campgrounds
- Campgrounds near Lake Tahoe (nearby areas)
- Glamping & cabins at Lake Tahoe
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)
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 Meeks Bay Resort — Booking, water, access and rig fit side by side