Loop 400 or 500?

[jsmla]

Which do you prefer? This will be my first solo trip in my new camper van and I’m looking for:

1. Near a Comfort Station
2. Quieter (maybe not near the main road?)
3. Easy back in
4. Shade/privacy

Thanks!

 

[Stratman50th]

I've never been in 500. I was in 400 on our October trip.
It's a small loop so probably close to the Comfort Station anywhere,
I don't know about quieter. The bottom side of the loop has the main road going by and there does seem to be more traffic than I've encountered in the 800 loop.
You said you have a camper van? You shouldn't have a problem backing that into any of the sites.
Most of the sites I've seen have a good amount of privacy. Some sites have more shade than others.
I've used this site before to look around. The pictures are pretty good.
https://wildernessprincess.net/loop-site-details/

 

[tiggerdad]

400 my only experience. I liked it. Close to marina and restaurants. It was my first camping trip to FW.

 

[Sjm9911]

I want to see the camper van! Lol.

 

[jbrostek]

500 is a little quieter then the 400 and the two loops share the same comfort station. Either loop in the teens will put you right next to it. 500 being a larger loop of sites there are some that are 'far' in comparison to the comfort station, but none are hikes. Site 413 the CS walkway is right off your awning, my dogs wanted to greet and sometimes bark at passers by. Same holds true for site 515.

https://wildernessprincess.net/loop-site-details/
I been in both loops and think 500 has more sites away from the road so you could assume less noise. I am a horrible judge of noise since I was in a site right next to the comfort station and road and still never noticed the busses or other happenings out there. It just doesn't bother me.

As for backing in. 519 was a breeze with a trailer, 521 was not so breezy as it requires a heck of a jackknife to get a big trailer in. We ended up calling the front desk and trading with a friend who had a motorhome and taking 520 which was easy to get into in comparison. In the 400 loop I've only had 412, 414, 413 and all where easy to get into.

 

[bsjs0708]

Love the 500 loop!

 

[MudQueen22]

500 loop appeared to have a bit less noise. We scratched our truck on branches trying to back into our site. YMMV.

We did not find the walk to the comfort stations, or anywhere for that matter, to be difficult.

 

[Teamubr]

I've never stayed in 500, but I prefer the location of 400. It is closer to the Settlement with the bus stop, trading post and boats to MK.

j

 

[friendofeeyore]

We preferred loop 700 & 900 - Since the RV is 44' 700 became too small. Our last 2 trips were in the 900 loop.

 

[jkh36619]

We preferred loop 700 & 900 - Since the RV is 44' 700 became too small. Our last 2 trips were in the 900 loop.

Is 900 the best premium for larger rigs? I'm in a 40ft 5er. I've booked a premium but I'm trying for a full for Christmas if it becomes available.

 

[2goofycampers]

Some of the full hook ups are pretty long. They aren't as wide as the premiums.

 

[Teamubr]

Is 900 the best premium for larger rigs? I'm in a 40ft 5er. I've booked a premium but I'm trying for a full for Christmas if it becomes available.

I think most of the Premium loops are good for the long rigs (my 5er is 42 ft) except for maybe 400 and 500. We were in the 600 loop 2 years ago. I went around and took pictures of the sites PAHunter would fit on (42 ft 5er and a Volvo HDT semi). It is a Premium Meadow$ loop now) There were quite a few. 1100 loop, where we were for the October DIS Meet last year, has plenty of long sites. The loop has some curves and obstacles, but PA Hunter was able to navigate with is semi.

j

 

[PaHunter]

Is 900 the best premium for larger rigs? I'm in a 40ft 5er. I've booked a premium but I'm trying for a full for Christmas if it becomes available.

Video from October in loop 1100

 

[jsmla]

Thanks, everyone!

I’m leaning towards the 500 loop. I don’t mind a slightly further walk if it means a quieter spot. I’m not a park open-to-close girl. I like site 517. It’s on the inside of the loop and fairly close to a comfort station. Does anyone know if there’s a walkway from the inner loop to the comfort station? I don’t want to walk through anyone’s campsite.

Here’s my new-to-me baby. It’s easy to drive but the grey/black water tanks are teeny tiny. That’s our no-wat-in-heck I’m towing that behemoth 5th wheel in the background.

 

[Stratman50th]

@jsmla, most (if not all?) of the loops have a paved cut through path to the comfort station. Nice RV!

 

[bama_ed]

Thanks, everyone!

I’m leaning towards the 500 loop. I don’t mind a slightly further walk if it means a quieter spot. I’m not a park open-to-close girl. I like site 517. It’s on the inside of the loop and fairly close to a comfort station. Does anyone know if there’s a walkway from the inner loop to the comfort station? I don’t want to walk through anyone’s campsite.

Here’s my new-to-me baby. It’s easy to drive but the grey/black water tanks are teeny tiny. That’s our no-wat-in-heck I’m towing that behemoth 5th wheel in the background.

View attachment 562125

Nice looking Class B, jsmla. Awning too, I notice.

The Comfort Station has a sidewalk from the 500 loop as well as one from the 400 loop IIRC. The CS is situated between the two kind of.

We camp in a popup with cassette toilet which is only for #1 emergencies (in the cold, in the rain, at night combos). So at the Fort, state parks, CoE, our first intent is for a site near a Comfort Station (not always possible). And the second intention is shade.

Bama Ed

PS - I camped once in 400 and didn't find it particularly noisy (it is rather small though 33 sites whereas 500 has 56) - we had an exterior site that faced 500. But since 500 is a bigger loop (to accommodate all those sites) it might be quieter in the back (which is sorta where the CS sidewalk is) or halfway around (middle).

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

Thanks, everyone!

I’m leaning towards the 500 loop. I don’t mind a slightly further walk if it means a quieter spot. I’m not a park open-to-close girl. I like site 517. It’s on the inside of the loop and fairly close to a comfort station. Does anyone know if there’s a walkway from the inner loop to the comfort station? I don’t want to walk through anyone’s campsite.

Here’s my new-to-me baby. It’s easy to drive but the grey/black water tanks are teeny tiny. That’s our no-wat-in-heck I’m towing that behemoth 5th wheel in the background.

View attachment 562125

Love your Travato, we were torn between that and the Era and ended up with the Era instead. You get used to the smaller tanks and figure it all out. Not sure if yours is the G or K? but being able to open the large side and back door with screens is so great in The Fort and other places too, feel like you are literally outside, love it.