KOA Campgrounds EXPLAINED!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
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In this video, we're taking a look at Kampgrounds of America, better known as KOA - their history, the cost, the different types, and whether you should consider KOA as a part of your camping plans.
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Parents always called KOA's "concrete parking lots', but one July 4th weekend we were traveling through Iowa in a VW bus and a small pop up. I was one of 5 kids, the smallest a babe in arms. Couldn't make it to our campground reservation because of a flat tire. We had been looking all evening and couldn't find a place to camp.
Dad pulls into a KOA campground at about 11 pm. it's still 90 F outside. Sure enough, campground full, overflow sites taken. This old grumpy guy at the desk takes one look at my Mom, and opens up the clubhouse, turns on the TV and the AC for us kids. Then, goes out with my dad and helps him set up the pop-up in the access road next to the pool. Brought out a fan and plugged an extension cord into the pool shed for our camper.
Next morning he waved us on our way, no charge. "Sorry I didn't have a site for you..."
We don't need hook ups, so if we can't find a free dispersed site, we'd rather stay in a Cracker Barrel or Cabela's parking lot. It's free, you get to choose your site, and we usually have 50-100 feet to the nearest neighbor. There are serious advantages to being self-contained.
Love KOAs because of their app, friendliness, consistency, campstores and cleanliness. We've been overzealous and stayed out on the road too late, but KOA never refused us.
On long roadtrips, we strive to stay at all of our memberships but purposely plan a KOA every 4 days to do laundry, resupply and shower.
We chose wisely-usually a Journey-close to the interstate. As seniors with no children-we don't need a Holiday or a Resort style ammenities.
Thank you, KOA for keeping a site open for us-KOAs are a good bang for our buck!
my folks owned a KOA back in the day, royalties were only 4% then, u say 10% now. KOA's dont discriminate on your rv like many other campgrounds do, by saying only 2000 and newer rv's allowed, and yes people, many campgrounds wont let you in with your vintage 1966 Winnebago no matter how much money you spent restoring it. most KOA owners are families, the whole and extended family work there, giving a more friendly atmosphere. my parents worked from 6am thru midnight when the campground was open, as ours was family owned as well. its a long hard job for the owners making the rv'rs camping experience the best it can be.
I also think there aren't any 55+ KOA parks. The actual royalty is 8% now, and there's a 2% marketing fee that covers things like the website.
@@RVMiles back then, mid-70's it was 4%, no internet reservations then obviously so part of the 4% helped pay for sineage, advertising and the phone in reservations site. then we were required by KOA to have at least 10 complete hook up sites available daily for reservations and KOA club members
A lot of comments are "we prefer mom and pop campgrounds" , when in fact a lot of KOAs are mom and pop.
We've been members since going from tent camping to a rv. Had a couple that we wouldn't return to unless they do some major upgrades, but 90% we would gladly visit again. Our preference is to hit as many different parks/campgrounds as possible, as long as they're not "sardine" sites or loaded with "permanent" sites.
RV Miles, keep up the good work.
Yeah, most of the ones I've stayed at have been family operations, some of them for decades. Running a campground is hard work and while it might be a franchise, you can lose your investment quick if you don't stay on the ball because word gets out fast when that happens.
They typically aren't my first option because I'm a tent camper, but they're a great plan B if there isn't a good budget campground nearby, or if you'll need a place with decent amenities for a few days.
The very best thing about KOA is the reservation system and policies. I have stayed in KOA's going back decades and most are average to above average, have hit a couple of losers and complained to corporate about those being dumps with a KOA sign out front. KOA does need to conduct inspections of their branded campgrounds to maintain some sort of compliance. It's hard to trust some of the independent campgrounds because you never know what you're going to get, when a campground doesn't post lots of pictures of the sites and grounds beware!
We have been KOA members since 2003. When the kids were little, we loved the activities most KOAs offered for families, and the comfort of a safe and secure park. Now that we are older, we appreciate the same comfort of security and generally very well-kept parks, mostly wonderful staff, and clean restrooms and laundry on the road. We also stay at a few private owned campgrounds, Harvest Host, etc, while on the road.
In 2023 we embarked on a 6 week journey from TX to MT, WY, ND and SD and back. We stayed 15 nights in 11 KOA. I chose to use KOA because of the ease of reserving and locations generally 300+/- miles apart. The majority were Journeys. Every one was nice and the owners were friendly. Special thanks to the Casper KOA Journey when we left our lunchbox in the driveway, and by the time we noticed we received a call from them. We were too far to return and since we were staying with them again in 20 days, they said they’d hold it for us. When we checked in, there was our lunchbox.
We’re planning on doing the same but from MT to NY, down to FL, over to AZ, up to WA and back. Planning for it now before we retire in 2026. Have met tons of people on my journey and am going to go see them. Outside states first😉
We recently returned from a 37-day trip. Only one night was at a KOA, and that was because, after much research, it was the only safe park in the town where we needed to spend the night. We paid $100 for a place to park for the night, but it had the security none of the other options appeared to have.
I've stayed at dozens of KOAs. I would say more then 90% of them have been great. I never hesitate to book a KOA. We love staying at the mom and pop camp grounds as well, but we find that KOA has fun amenities. A water park in Great Falls, Rushmore is like an amusement park, hiking trails in flagstaff. Customer service as always been great as well.
The Rushmore KOA was one of the nicest KOA’s I’ve stayed at and I’ve been to at least 40. Also like that most KOA’s don’t have a bunch of people that essentially live there. Idk why but I don’t care for the parks full of live in’s.
Love KOA. Consistent standard, helpful friendly staff. The majority are easy access to main roads, and local areas. We average 40+ nights annually.
I'm fortunate that my self contained Class B contains everything that will fit in a standard sized parking space. Majority of the time, this is something that I rarely worry about, where to stay for the night. All you really need is a place to park overnight safe and get a good night sleep.
I’ve stayed at a dozen or so KOAs. Some are better than others. One thing consistent in my experience is customer service. They are always friendly and quick for check in while explaining everything in the campground.
We traveled full time in 2023, outside of military bases, we stayed at many KOA’s and always had good luck & when we were having difficulty finding reservations, we typically lucked out with reservations at a KOA. We paid the $36 for the membership and it worked out for us, plus we earned enough points where our next years membership is free!
After 20 years of marriage my wife and I finally got a honeymoon and we decided to tent camp across America. Among the places we stayed at were KOA’s in West Virginia, Kentucky, Springfield MO, Amarillo, Moab, Rock Springs WY, Nebraska, Quad Cities Davenport. Never a bad experience, including when a fierce storm came through Amarillo and I grabbed my wallet and ran to the office to upgrade to a cabin and they just gave me keys and told me to hurry and we’d figure out the bill in the morning. Good times and good people at KOA.
We have been KOA members for 5 yrs now. In our travels we tend to gravitate back to places that we have enjoyed. There was only 1 KOA that was so crowded we almost couldn’t fit in. We won’t go back. But over all we have had great stays. I’m retired military so I get the 10% off. We switch between military camp grounds and other favorites.
👍👍 for KOA’s
What I appreciate most about KOA's is that you can easily check online to see if a spot is available, what it will cost, and make a reservation. Mom and pop camps you need to call and you won't know the cost unless asking.
THIS THIS THIS. The number 1 reason why I always book KOA when we travel to a new state.
This is a very accurate report. I am a KOA member and the last couple of years the membership has not paid for itself but does in my opinion make KOA reservations easier. What we've found most important on our decisions whether KOA or independent is location, location, location.
We stayed at our 1st KOA campground in Lincoln , NH. We have 2 more booked for this year. The next is in Lancaster, Pa and the third is in Bar Harbor, Maine. I found the prices similar to other campgrounds in those areas. Our stay in April in NH we found the campground well maintained, the bathhouses were clean and well maintained and the staff friendly and helpful. If we go back to that area, we would definitely check for availability there 1st.
Love KOAs. Always a nice bath house. Makes tent camping extra comfortable.
We normally don't stay at KOA but due to Memorial Day weekend, Blue Ridge / Toccoa River KOA Holiday in Blue Ridge GA was the only park that had an opening. We liked the area and staff so much, we stayed two extra days. We have been traveling full time for over two years and Blue Ridge/Toccoa River KOA was our 4th KOA and we are now more open to considering a KOA again.
Thanks for an in depth explanation of KOA ! How about doing one on Thousand Trails ?
Great suggestion!
Thousand Trails Vegas is a prison in the ghetto. STAY AWAY
Ugh. Don't get me started on Thousand Trails!
@@itllbesuzanarchy SRRY did I hit a nerve⁉
The best KOA we have ever stayed in was KOA Lazydays in Tucson Az. Maybe the worst was Kingman Az.
We normally stay at state or federal campgrounds. We use KOA campgrounds as backups because we feel like we'll get a standard of quality if we stay at one. They've always delivered.
This summers 3 mo trip we stayed at 3 state parks, 4 Thousand Trails/Encore, 5 KOA and 13 regular commercial campgrounds. The 5 KOA's were comparable to nearby commercial campgrounds in amenities and cost. But as you said, you know what you're getting with KOA.
My dad was a full time RVer for 12 years. He and his wife had a Holiday Rambler Class A and they traveled the 48 contiguous United States. They kept it up as long as they could, until she was diagnosed with cancer. They HATED KOAs, calling it Keep On Adding. He occasionally stayed in a KOA, but did so reluctantly when there was no other choice.
We stay at koa often. Recently in Arco Idaho. Reasonable price, great staff. We have stayed in some that were overnight only and others we would like to stay for a week or more. Always reliably clean and safe.
Most of the time, we boondock. But when we need to clean our rig and do laundry, we stop at KOA because we know what to expect. We recently stayed at a KOA in Ourey. It was beautiful and clean - no pool though. Almost all KOAs that I’ve been to have a pool. We stayed at a couple other KOAs on this trip that we’re okay. I love that I can make a same-day reservation online while we are driving into town. KOAs are great for kids and that’s how I became aquatinted with them when my kids were small. As a single parent, I felt safe taking my kids to KOA.
Ouray is a great area!! I workamped at that KOA the past two summers.
Ouray is too high an elevation to bother with a pool. It will cost a mint to keep heated and the season is just too short. It could snow in Ouray tomorrow! Anywhere much higher than Denver and pools become a big expense to keep open 1/3rd of the year.
@@NFL61 wonderful people there!
KOA members and full-timers here. We love KOAs especially when we've been boondocking and need a convenient FHU site to regroup. We don't stay at any with poor reviews. Some have been fantastic. We absolutely LOVE the Devils Tower KOA and even though it's designated as a Journey, it offers so much more than that! The designations in general aren't very descriptive. We've stayed at Holidays that have hardly anything and Journeys that have resort-style amenities. Maybe it makes sense on a corporate level, but for us, if the KOA looks good, we don't care what the designation is.
Devil's Tower KOA is awesome! Great view!
I’ve been on the road for over two and half months, from Colorado to Texas, Florida, up the east coast and into Canada. I’ve stayed at several KOA’s and have not found a bad one. I’ve always found the staff to be friendly and the grounds well kept. I did stay in one on the west coast of Florida that I thought was overpriced for what you got. In its defense, it was still recovering from hurricane damage. Sometimes the sites are to close together, but I’ve stayed at non-KOA parks that when you step out your door if you’re not careful you trip over your neighbors stinky slinky. I’ve been a member since 2017 and every year I’ve recouped the cost of membership.
Keep the good videos.
My family camped at KOA all the time in the 60’s and 70’s and I’ve used them into the early 2000’s. They are fine.
3 years ago I stayed at the KOA Journey in Grants, New Mexico. Nice place, nice location. The new-er owners were very kind and understanding, my tow vehicle broke down and I got stuck there for almost a week.
Most are between 50 and 120 dollars per night way too much!
Isn't that pretty much the range of other commercial campgrounds though?
Your video on KOA is spot on. I’ve been to some good ones and some not so good ones. Yes, their prices are high for what you are getting, in general. However, prices at other campgrounds are rising so much that there’s not as much difference as there used to be. For me, the silver lining of the KOA is that, I feel like their consistent cancellation policies give me more flexibility than the hodgepodge of policies at other private campgrounds. Now, it’s just almost required to have reservations at virtually every campground because of the sheer numbers of RVers out there traveling. With KOA, I know that, if I need to change my routing, it will only cost $10 to cancel with a few exceptions. Some campground’s charge your first nights stay and some refuse to refund at all. As long as KOAs continue this policy, I will keep using them.
In addition to having consistent quality, I think the key to the success of KOA is their reservation system. RV'ers who are not fulltimers are more comfortable dealing with KOA because it is very much like making hotel reservations. I mean, when was the last time you had to submit an application to stay somewhere and hope to get a return call to let you know if you could? I still come across RV parks that conduct business this way - how backward. Love's is taking a page from the KOA playbook on reservations as well.
I’ve stayed at several KOA Campgrounds and have yet to be disappointed. Sure, the one outside of Glacier NP was pricey but generally, I’ve found them to be quite reasonable. I’ve currently been staying at the Palm Spring Joshua Tree KOA since December 1 of 2023. At $950 per month for a full hookup site with all costs included, I have nothing but praise for this park.
Stayed overnight at a KOA in Hurricane, UT last October towards the end of the month in our 40' Super-C motorhome. The site was a gravel pad, way unlevel, and very tight between sites...for $85😮
I just finished a one month 6,000 mile trip around the USA. About 2/3rd of my stays were at KOAs. As he said, some were great and some were ok. Compared to some of the private places they were pretty much the same. The exception was that some of the upper priced camps had staff/registration open hours longer(a couple were open until 7pm) and more amenities (restaurants or snack bars, tent sites and cabins, pool or campground activities, etc.). The biggest reason I used them was the ease of making a reservation. One website multiple sites and stays easy peasy. I more than recouped my membership cost.
I am a KOA member and I know when I stay at a KOA it will be a nice place and I feel safe.
We mostly stay at KOAS and you are correct in your video about nothing being standard. They are mostly family oriented which is why we enjoy them. We just stayed at the Panama city beach holiday koa and we loved it😊
An excellent point I neglected to make. We've often had trouble finding a park in places like Pheonix and Tuscon where everything seems to be 55+ only. KOAs are always an option for us as a family.
I’ve stayed at several KOAs and I have a membership. One common problem I see is that the sites are often gravel, and not very level. I also don’t like that I can’t pick my site in advance without paying extra. But since the general reason I go there is because I need to clean the rig, dump the tanks, do the laundry, I use KOA because they have all that and I can usually get in at the last minute without booking far in advance. There are some bad ones though, but none near as bad as some really overpriced non-KOA parks I have stayed at. 0:06
As a single traveler I tend to use KOA when visiting cities or some landmarks because they tend to be closer to the places I want to see. Price is usually comparable and the campgrounds are usually very nice. I tend not to use them when I don't want to pay for amenities that I will not be using. I have seen a lot of independent campgrounds that were a lot more expensive than the KOA's.
KOA has the best website and reservation system. It definitely makes it easy. You always know what’s available and what you’re getting and how much it cost. When you’re exhausted and setting something up late at night that’s a real plus. It only takes a few stays to recoup the money and start saving. Sure love free like harvest host… And it’d be nice to stay in state parks, but they’re hard to get into nowadays and I’m crap at backing in😉
Well, here we go. KOA. When we first started camping, the KOA's were clean, neat, and fun. So we liked them and joined. Later, it seemed as though all of the KOA's were run down, crappy, and just a piece of dirt to park on, so we switched to Good Sam Parks. Good Sam Parks were nicer and their prices were reasonable. Years later, we tried a few KOA's and found some nice ones where the new owners had some pride in thier businesses. Now, we are different than most people in that we are not "CAMPERS." We bought a TRAVEL TRAILER and we are " TRAVELERS." Our trailer is totally self contained. [2005 Airstream Safari 25-B] So we might use the store and / or the laundry room, nothing else. We virtually never make reservations because we don't know exactly where we are going. And that is why our Blog is called "Bob, Lee, and Dusty's Random Trips". Due to the way we travel, we have many one night stays, and what I call destination stops where we will stay for about 3 to 7 days to see towns, museums, factories, and ETC. We stop at RV parks that are convenient for us, and not by name or price.
We just got back from a three week vacation where we must have stayed at 11 different KOA's and visited several others. We usually stay what would be considered "primative" campgrounds. So even a base level KOA is a step up in amenities. We have to admit sometimes KOA was best choice or the ONLY choice in a town. In all of the KOA's (50+)
we have stayed at we only had one truly bad experience. Private or public campgrounds seem to us to be much more of a wild card from not existing or dirt lot to resort quality and harder to determine without being physically being on a particular campground property.
We just did a 3500 mile trip from California to Ohio. We had 22 stops along the way. Of those 4 were KOA's. We use RV Trip Wizard for planning. The difference between the KOA and privately owned places varied but one constant was better facilities at KOA. Better wifi, cleaner, and more organized. You get what you pay for in my humble opinion. That being said there are some gorgeous privately owned campgrounds with those special touches only they can provide.
I like the KOA’s I’ve stayed at. I need at minimum, electric hookups for medical reasons, and KOA obviously provides that. I typically don’t go to a destination to hang out at the campground, but instead to see the area. KOA allows me to do that, and their prices have always been comparable to the area. They work well for me.
Our overall experience with KOA has been positive, having said that I agree that there are some better than others. We have always had great customer service, so that’s a plus.
We camp at KOA's every chance we get. Here in SE Indiana, we have a KOA less than a 1/2 hour from home and it is nice. The Dayton (Ohio) KOA is very nice and we camp there every year. We have stayed at KOA's from Boston area to Boulder, CO (9000' altitude!) including S. Dakota (near Mt. Rushmore), Oklahoma, Arkansas (Eureka Springs), Tennessee (Nashville, Pigeon Forge, Memphis), Michigan (Mackinaw), and many more. We always know what to expect so we look for a KOA first before looking for another campground.
My family goes from NJ to ID every year to visit my Wife's family. I choose to stay at KOA Journey because they are easy access from the highways. We only stay overnight because we try to make it to ID in 5 days. I got the membership because it mostly pays for itself after the trip out. On the way back we take our time and try to experience other RV parks that my be more off the highway or by an attraction we my be interested in going to.
Here in MI we have some excellent state park campgrounds with a decent (from desktop, terrible mobile use)website for reservations). I'm just off a long KOA weekend- the place was crazy during the weekend, but quiet on sunday night. 3 pools, movies, concessions, sports, rental equipment.... everything from basic to lavish patios and out-door kitchens. It was not an idyllic get-away. It WAS great for arranging a family get-together, no matter what the size.
I stayed at the KOA in Niagara Falls (Canadian side) in 2019. It's extremely well located, I had excellent customer service.
We car/van travel occasionally, and love KOA. Those cabins are half the cost of a hotel or less. Tent camping is not bad. It works for us.
Usually I'm stopping at KOA for an overnight. I want a flat space, and power. I avoid KOA's because often I'm paying for the volleyball court, water slide, rental bicycles, swimming pool, cabins. IMO there's also too many signs; 5mph, No dogs, No skateboards, No open fires, No Fun! I pick one along my route so I never knew there were three levels. But I have a hard time paying $65 when everyone else is charging $45.
I had one grumpy KOA turn me away because I had a 50 amp unit and he only had 30 amp spots. I said I'd use a dogbone, but he accused me of blowing up his electrical system and refused to rent me a 30 amp space.
In addition I'm finding renters in big mobile trailers, I assume construction workers. The trailers have three or four doors and plain jane exteriors. Not a problem because the guys are quiet, but it's popped up. Cheaper than 4 hotel rooms.
We’ve traveled through out the country and have stayed at multiple KOA campgrounds. We’ve only experienced 1 KOA that was horrible. There is a certain level of consistency that provides some comfort. Your analysis is right on the money. We were KOA rewards members at first but found that our AAA or AARP membership got us the same discount so we didn’t get any value added.
I have stayed at a number of KOAs in each of the 3 categories. The best 2 I've ever stayed at were KOA Journeys. No frills, but so well maintained.
BTW, the 2 were the Cooperstown KOA Journey and the Brattleboro VT KOA Journey.
Love KOA. Use the rewards program and have saved hundreds of dollars thru the years. They are fairly consistent, so you basically know what you’re gonna get. Yes, some are trash, you can say that about most parks, but the vast majority are clean and safe. Their online reservation system works flawlessly and is seamless. ❤
Most KOAs are a good value.
We have used them across the country many times. Usually we spend 10-15 nights per year at KOA.
My family had an RV in the early-mid 1980s. We traveled the country (38 states), and often stayed in KOAs. Overall, across the country, they were very clean, family friendly, and accommodating. Good experiences and memories!
We have stayed in KOA across the country. Everything you said is true. Although they are not our favorites, we prefer state parks and boondocking, we certainly will stay in one when it is the best value for the area. The last one we stayed in was in Ely, NV. We love this park! It is a Journey and fits our needs perfectly.
KOA has a big advantage with online reservations. When we plan a trip, I loathe having to call a campground and book a spot. Every stay on a trip for us is booked online and a lot of independents aren’t up to speed with online booking. KOA has made booking like a Kayak, Priceline or even most major hotels…it’s easy and all your stays are in one login. I’d say we stay at 75% KOA / 25% Independent on our rv trips.
And yes, agree on the reviews. You can find bad KOAs and good ones based on reviews, just like other campgrounds.
Great video!
Spent about 4 years on the road in our RV (full time) after retirement. Stayed at a number of KOAs across the country. Found the vast majority to be in decent or better shape, prices roughly equal to other local parks, and a few of them we stayed at were really, really nice and full of amenities.
I love small business. I love local family campgrounds. I also love piece of KOA.
Like you mentioned each KOA is an adventure. Some
Have less than ideal. They do seem to be very compact on the hole with space. BUT you also generally get half way to solid rest facilities (bathroom and shower), stable and well kept electrical, and decent camp stores on the average wit some really good ones on the better.
I stayed recently at a small family campground on a week trip in my teardrop. Good people, decent facilities. Then my daughter and I transitioned to another area at a KOA / amazing people, fantastic facilities (including laundry to let me reduce weight in clothing packing for 8 days.
KOA to me represents a basic level set of quality. They seem to require updates and constant modernization. Some groups I am sure don’t like that, but it keeps people coming back. I’ll keep using them as a level set for a while until I notice a difference overall :)
I would like to add that KOA also offers a 10% military veterans a discount. We have only had good experiences.
We occasionally stay at KOA as needed based on location. There’s a convenient and nice KOA at the entrance to Devils Tower, Wyoming.
We use KOA campgrounds quite a bit when we are traveling or destination camping (i.e. our portable hotel room). The biggest reason we use them is we can pretty much find one anywhere along our route or near the cities we visit. With the discount and first night points credit it doesn't take long to break even on the membership fee. Taking those into account most KOAs are in the ballpark of other campgrounds in the area. We've run across a few that were in severe need of renovation or refreshing their seasonal customers that haven't moved or washed their trailer in 10 years. However for the most part the campgrounds we've stayed were decent or better. I don't like how close the neighboring hookups can be but we rarely sit outside on overnight trips or when we are destination camping. We will stay at other private campgrounds, generally more upscale, for longer stays if they are nearby our destination but if not we have a good idea what a KOA will be like so will go to one of those. I guess it is deciding on the know entity over the unknown. For camping camping we go to state, national or other government campgrounds where we can get more space and have all of the outdoor activities available.
Our go to campground in the mountains just became a KOA. We noticed an improvement to many areas of the campground. Enough to justify the price increase. Staff were also very helpful and friendly; even though they were there before. The campground did change owners at the time it was changed to the KOA. My stay changed my opinion on KOA to more positive.
We live in our RV full-time and stay at KOAs about half the time. I read reviews on CampgroundReviews when booking sites and found fewer issues, like unlevel sites. But you are right. We have stayed at nice KOAs and some that I will not use in the future. Overall, I like the consistency we find, whether it is a Journey, Holiday, or Resort. Thanks for your review. BTW, the $50 credit for points and 10% discount more than pay for our membership costs and save us a few hundred dollars each year, making KOA competitive with most of the other places we stay.
I always considered KOA an overnight style campground, a place to stay while travelling to your next destination. I'm not sure I'd ever be interested in planning an entire vacation at one.
Another good episode Jason, thanks. We are going into our 3rd year on the road full time and we have been to 37 states so far, usually picking KOA's because of their reliability. I know some people don't like them as stated below but we have found them to be "you get what you pay for". There was the exception in Midland Texas with a KOA that had lost it's certification, or the one in Panama City Beach that cost $7 million to build and wanted $65 a month for internet. When we are traveling we want ease of access, clean showers and laundry facilities, cable tv along with a picnic table and a fire ring. We get that almost every time we stay in a KOA. Do your research and leave reviews, help make it easier for all of us.
Have stayed in KOAs all over the eastern USA and the nicest one I’ve stayed at is in Sugarloaf Key, Florida. It is also the most expensive one I’ve stayed at. I’ve been there twice so far and I would return.
I love KOA and only try to stay there -I absolutely LOVE their app -I plan all our trips using only their app ❤️🚌🇺🇸⭐️
I just took my granddaughter to the Great Falls, MT KOA because I wanted her to experience what my childhood was all about and some of my best childhood memories….and we had a great time at the water park and the petting zoo’s. Super friendly staff and I highly recommend it for children. If I’m by myself, I will just boondock but with kids, it’s a great time.
As new van-lifers and on a social security budget, a few years ago, we got a KOA loyalty card for the convenience: easy to locate, one-click reservations for late arrival, and some consistency in brand-name quailty, But, last year, we only stayed at two: the prices rose above what we were willing to pay, and often were slightly more than the chain motels we used to stay at and still do if there isn't another viable option. The "Journey" ones are the only ones we will look at: the amenities and our travel style don't warrant the extra cost for things we won't use at the others. We mostly travel, rather than vacation in a location, with rarely more than one night in one place. Truck stops and shopping centers that welcome transient travelers are our go-to now, with city, county, and state parks on the shopping list in that order, mostly due to price. Free roadside parking with spectacular vistas has eluded us, so far.
It depends where you are. Some states are better than others. Most state parks in Nevada are free. No hookups but most have shaded picnic tables, level sites and clean toilets. Places like Gold Butte, and along the Silver State Trail. I'm from Colorado and I'll throw you a bone. Red Sandstone Road, Piney Lake and Red and White Mountain. It will take weeks to explore that area and it's all free with disbursed camping all over. It's in Vail Colorado so vista's come with the territory.
Initially, we avoided KOA campgrounds due to negative impressions. However, upon trying one, our expectations of a poor experience were completely overturned. We found that KOAs maintain higher standards than many traditional mom-and-pop campgrounds. Their planning and booking process is also much more user-friendly. Nevertheless, since they are operated by individuals, it's wise to consult Google reviews prior to making reservations. In Pennsylvania, I've encountered only two KOAs that seemed dubious, but the 95% have been excellent.
We stay at KOA because it a great place for my kid, Pool, playground etc,, We spend more than 15nights a year and we have had great KOA and we have KOA’s that we couldn’t believe it was a KOA. Great Video Thanks for the honesty assessment.
If I am in an area that has a KOA I will normally choose it to stay because of the traditional quality I have experienced with other KOA’s.
We stayed at several KOAs since 1999. My favorites. Sugarloaf Key, Buffalo, WY
The wife and I stayed at Sugarloaf Key last month. It was a great place to stay.
I stayed at one in Las Cruces, NM, and it was amazing…..they had just remodeled, and it was fabulous…I hope they are able to maintain it. It had great access to the interstate without hearing the interstate.
Thanks for sharing!
Just finished a little over month long travel to w va,NC,va SC Ohio all KOAs loved most of them ,lots of friendly owners and staff definitely more experience but I see value,I have vip level rewards get a few extra perks wife and I love are KOA ✌️
We have stayed at KOAs on our RV trips and for the most part we were satisfied with the stay. My favorite was the KOA in Salt Lake City because it is right near the tram that takes you into the city itself and we extended our stay because of that. It was affordable, clean, safe and worth the effort to get there.
I stayed at a KOA Journey (Sanger, TX) recently and it was great.
I always enjoy both your content and delivery. Your format which isn’t about flashy repetitive introductions on each episode is appreciated! Have a good subject - do your research - and present clearly ✅✅✅ you do it a wonderfully so!😊. Thank you!
Glad you like them! Thanks so much!
Just stayed 2 days at KOA in Silver City, NM. It was as advertised. I would go again.
I use to avoid KOA's because of the price, but now find they are comparble or cheaper that other private campgrounds in the same area. They also have some really good locations close to attractions. We typically don't use the amenities beyond having electric hookups and showers. We have paid to become members and it has saved us money. You are correct they vary wildly, but almost aways have a good experience.
I remember going to KOAs as a kid in the 90s. They had a hayride. Now as a new RV owner I experienced my 1st KOA last fall. Very positive. I like the extra attention and customer service.
We’ve stayed at several KOA’s over the years.
Our experience has been overwhelmingly positive, despite the higher cost.
The best RV park / campground we’ve ever stayed at is The Lost Alaskan RV park in Alpine, TX.
Beautiful park, well maintained, with plenty of trees for shade, a camp store, excellent bath & laundry facilities, a propane fill station, and even an RV wash station.
Plus, Alpine is a beautiful little college town (Sul Ross State University), with lots of public art, an excellent grocery store, and even some nightlife. Somewhat close proximity to Marfa, Marathon, Terlingua, and Big Bend National Park.
We have a KOA membership and stayed at least a dozen or more times in 2023 in 18 states and 3 provinces. We found each KOA to be conveniently located, delightful with super clean facilities and friendly staff members. While they are expensive we found State, Local, National and COE Campgrounds equal to the KOA for significantly lower prices.
My family and I have stayed as a couple of KOAs during our travels and have always had a positive experience. One was located in Louisiana and the other in Colorado. The stay in Louisiana was just an overnighter but the Colorado trip was a week-long stay. Both locations had friendly staff and were very well-maintained. We are weekend RV'ers and normally stay at state parks. We treat our KOA stays as a splurge.
We've been state campground Fans..but if we're lucky enough to full-time....Thanks for opening my mind 🏕✌🏿
I fly with all my camping gear. I usually stay at KOA because normally I can assume that they are fairly well run and clean. I have had one or two experiences that I’ve left me a little cold, but for the most part, I’m super grateful for their booking system and their availability across the country.
KOA is pretty consistent that’s why I choose it. I know what to expect.
We've started staying at KOAs as we travel around the country because you know what you're going to get before you get there. Many times we've been disappointed in private campgrounds being too small or not what was posted on the website, but if you use the KOA app you're going to know exactly what you're in for. The staff (owners most of the time) are friendly and want you to have a good experience. Love the KOAs that have pools - it's always nice after a long drive to relax in the water.
Secondly, we replaced our stock E-Pro mattress with a Brooklyn Bedding mattress and what a difference! No more aching back, just a great night's sleep!
When i travel and need to stop for the night, i usually check if there is a KOA first before other rv sites in a city, i found that even though the gps labels a campground its actually trailer park a KOA is guaranteed to be exactly what it's supposed to be. i also booked a cabin at one because they usually are lower price than others in an area. Really they are a dependable place to stay with a camper while on the road
We are at Mt. Gilead KOA and it is really nice.
That is a very well run KOA. Buckeye Lake KOA near Columbus, OH is also a great KOA.
My wife and I always LOVED stayed at KOA camp grounds when we were camping . They were Always nice 👍👍👍
We love KOAs but YES there are some interesting ones but overall we have been very satisfied with KOA
I have stayed at KOAs in many states, including the original in Billings just last year. As stated in the video they vary greatly in price and quality. Some are very far from town like the Carlsbad Holiday in NM or smack dab in the center of town like the the Salt Lake City and Meridian ID locations. Some are spread out fairly well like the one in Galveston TX or crammed so tight its hard to get in and out like the ones in San Antonio and SLC. Like all campgrounds, just do research. The one thing that KOA does right though, is their online system for checking/reserving sites. Its very easy to use and all their campgrounds use the same system. I use them when convenient and priced right.
I stayed at a KOA in Gatlinburg,TN last year in July. That was the most expensive stay I ever stayed at. It was $200 a night. They were more than Fort Wilderness at Disney. The campsites were super tight. The staff were very friendly. They were more expensive than the other parks in the area.
Thanks Jason!! that was interesting information on KOA's. we have one close to us in Harpers Ferry West Virginia, we have stayed there a few times over the years. To me, its just a bit tight but nice. We have traveled to Pigeon Forge TN several times and stay at the KOA there. We have made an overnight stop at Wytheville Virginia KOA, the first time we stayed there, we were tent camping, bathhouse was clean and looked to be just refinished. Back to Pigeon Forge, We really like that one, it is so central to things, the town trolly is a short walk as well as they stop right in front of the campground. Like the one in Harpers Ferry, it is a little tight. But plan on returning there on our next trip to Pigeon Forge!! That is my take on KOA's!!
Yeah that PF one is a really great location. We also like greenbriar in Gatlinburg.
I did a 5 month coast to coast trip around the US in 2022 and I liked most of the KOAs I stayed at. I would choose one when I needed shower/laundry facilities; needed to stay near a city for consistent wifi; or wanted a dog friendly cabin rental. The vast majority were great for me and my set up - Jeep with rooftop tent. I did often wonder why a huge rig with slides, etc would camp so close to others but that’s true at lots of other parks.
Stayed at a KOA in glacier national Park. Please was awesome swimming hot tubs, restaurants, ice cream shop, all kinds of things to do there beautiful scenery.