We were grossly mistaken about KOAs

Before we set out as full-time RVers, we had some predictions of what kind of campers we would be. We expected to love the nature feel of rustic campgrounds, state parks, and federal lands. We were right about that. What we were grossly mistaken about, however, was the variety that can be found in the RV park. It's a catch-all term that we usually use to describe a park that is privately or corporately owned, and typically the term brings up images of parking lot-style campsites lined with motorhomes and trailers. At least that was our image. We assumed that, if you want convenience and amenities, you head to the RV park. If you want nature, woods, and peace, you head to the state or national park. This left us set in our ways, assuming that we would never want to join memberships such as KOA or Thousand Trails.

Our next mistake was lumping these two memberships in the same category. We had known about KOA, or Kampgrounds of America. It's hard not to, as their unmistakable yellow signs pop up all over the country. Driving past, they all look one and the same: RV sites, cabins, and an often oddly-shaped office building at the end of the driveway. They looked like places that families go to have a "camping" vacation – quotes necessary. They also screamed overpriced, boasting a bunch of amenities that we would never care about.

We knew less about Thousand Trails, and so we did our research before we launched. Two things about the Thousand Trails membership told us that it was not for us. First, the price for an all-country membership gets expensive. Regional memberships are much more reasonable, for the person who just wants to RV in Florida, for instance, but we knew we'd be RVing far and wide. Second, we didn't want to feel pigeon-holed into only staying at Thousand Trails RV Parks, which we would often feel we'd need to do in order to break even on our membership. We also heard that the quality of Thousand Trails parks was hit-or-miss, and we didn't want to bother deciphering which parks would be the good ones.

We did not look into KOA memberships as thoroughly, because we just assumed they were not applicable to us. Then, as we set out to launch in the winter of 2022, our choices of campgrounds were few and far between. We wanted an easy pull-thru campsite because we were not great at maneuvering yet, and we knew we'd be tired after a long first drive day. The KOA in Clarksboro, NJ had availabilities, and we booked a site.

We didn't revisit the KOA discussion until a few months later. We had left our site at Four Paws Kingdom in NC early, due to the impossibility to get work done and the realization that Tanner couldn't give two doggy doo-doos whether he was in a canine kingdom or a random grassy field. We scrounged around for last-minute availabilities in the area, of which there were practically none. Then we tried the East Asheville KOA, thinking that KOAs usually have tons of campsites, so maybe we'd be in luck. We ended up booking the last site available for our dates. It was then that we actually researched the KOA memberships. We had stayed at two KOAs in three months, and both of those KOAs saved our butts when availabilities were scarce. Perhaps this meant we'd be turning to them more often.

Our perception of KOAs being insanely expensive was entirely incorrect. Yes, some locations are more than others, and some specific sites come at a premium, but overall, the rates are comparable to other RV parks in their respective areas. What you get, though, is the common thread that makes a KOA what it is. According to their website, that includes friendly, helpful staff, high-quality service, free WIFI, a stocked campground store, and a K9 dog park. We've also noticed convenient locations to main highways and interstates, as well as easy-to-navigate roads. We likened the kampgrounds to a chain restaurant: There might be better quality eats nearby, but sometimes we just want to know what we're getting, and know that it'll be decently delicious.

When we read the rate to become a KOA member, we were shocked. This "overpriced" company was charging only $33/year for a membership! (The price has now increased to $36/year). Basically, it's a cash-back rewards program where you get points every time you book, which can be used as discounts on future stays. But to us, the clincher was getting 10% off each stay. We realized that, just with Clarksboro and East Asheville alone, the money we would have saved with the 10% discount would have already covered our $33 annual fee and then some. We became members then and there. The membership also includes partner deals and quicker checkouts, and VIP members (those with 25000+ points) get free cancellations, but the main draws are obviously the immediate money-savers.

From that point forward, whenever we were in a bind, in desperate need of a regrouping stay, or just wanted to enjoy some full hookups and amenities, we looked at KOAs. The more we stayed at, the more we realized how wrong we were about our initial opinions. While we still say they're our "safe choice," they are all different in their own way. Most of the time, this is a good thing. We get the quality we've come to expect from the franchise, but we also get a new and unique experience at every location. More importantly, each kampground is independently owned, so we are not paying all our fees to a conglomerate. The owners all have KOA rules that they abide by, but beyond that, they are free to make their locations their own.

We officially completed two years of full-time travel on February 22, and right after that, we visited our 17th KOA kampground. This season, we've also hit some new KOA milestones. Back in January, we got to witness the KOA cabin life when our friends came to visit us in Florida. Then, our 17th KOA stay marked our first time at a KOA Resort.

But we have a lot to say about the KOA hierarchy, aka the different classifications of the kampgrounds. You have your Journey, your Holiday, and your Resort. Let's just say right off the bat that these distinctions are total hooey. Maybe once upon a time they made sense, but like we said earlier, the owners just make their kampgrounds what they want. This means they're expected meet a certain "baseline" for their classification, but they're free to exceed that baseline, as many do...and some don't meet it at all.

Just for kicks though, lets see what the website says are the differences between Journeys, Holidays, and Resorts.

Journeys are set up to be convenient stops for shorter term stays. They're off main highways, they allow easy, well-lit after-hours registration, and their stores are stocked with RV supplies.

Resorts offer a vacation lifestyle. They have lots of activities, some of which are run by dedicated recreation staff. Their cabins have linen service. The amenities include on-site food and a group recreation area. Sometimes these services are combined and the KOA offers catering, which can only mean they hold events, too.

Holidays bridge the gap between the Journeys and Resorts. They serve as a basecamp for those who want convenience, or visitors can also enjoy the amenities and make more of a vacation out of their stay. Holidays have full-service RV sites and deluxe cabins with bathrooms.

After laughing at the nonsense that is this classification system, we got down to business, diving into our past KOA stays and really taking a hard look at what they all offered. For two RV newbies who thought KOA was for vacationing families spending a pretty penny for some "camping" time, we look back at our stays with fondness. Some of the locations surprised us in all the best ways. Some saved us when we were dealing with drama, exhaustion, or unpleasant surprises on our travels. Others gave us immersion in nature better than some state parks! And yet, others missed the mark. And so, in our next blog post, we're giving you our DEFINITIVE RANKING OF ALL THE KOAS WE'VE STAYED AT THUS FAR! We have created a scorecard, where we will award the KOA a score out of 10 in various categories. Then we will add the scores up for a grand total. Now, these categories are what's important to us when we camp. Clearly, if we were parents with little children, we might prioritize things like safety, playgrounds, or other amenities. We are less concerned with that stuff, and more concerned with how the kampground fits into our travel lifestyle.

Here are the categories under which we gave scores:

• Convenience of location to our route
• Convenience of location to civilization or attractions
• Proximity to the place it says in its name
• "Regroup" facilities (aka hookups, laundry)
• Amenities
• Convenience to hiking/nature trails
• Friendliness of staff
• Memorable and unique features
• Lack of noise pollution
• Overall vibe

That makes 10 categories in total, and then we will add them up for a total score out of 100. And, just for fun, we will also state how we would rank it in the KOA hierarchy: Journey, Holiday, or Resort.

Before the scoring commences, we thought it was only fair to take out the KOAs where we only spent one night, and there were a handful. They still served as convenient overnight options, but we didn't spend enough time at them to actually give them fair rankings in all categories. Instead, we will just write a little description about them, stating whether or not we'd return there for a longer stay.

Picacho/Tucson NW KOA Journey

This was a convenient place to pull off I-10 as we made our way back through AZ from CA. Despite having some amenities including a pool, the Journey designation seems fitting. We liked that, despite the park being so close to the highway, it was also surrounded by farmland. However, for a longer stay, we would try to get into nearby Picacho Peak State Park.

St. George/Hurricane KOA Journey

We have seen lots of reviews from campers raving about this campground, saying it's the best view they've ever had. Not to be rude, but we must ask, where are these people camping?! The view was fine; the Utah red rocks are undeniably gorgeous. But the view is blocked by the wall of campers crammed beside one another, in extremely unlevel sites. We were not fans and would not stay here again. We will give credit where it's due, though. After failing to find dispersed camping, we were really in a bind, and so we appreciate having a place to park. Also, there are some nice hiking trails across the street, but you need to drive to get there.

Springville/Provo KOA Holiday

During our rebuilding process after the Utah flood, we found ourselves at the KOA in Springville for one night. We thought we might need to stay longer and informed the staff of this, and they were very kind and accommodating. Everything was touch-and-go at that point, so we very much appreciate everyone who offered a helping hand. Our site was a pull-thru on the end of a row, right by the community recreation area. We loved it. The park also had some beautiful mountain views. We would definitely spend more nights here if we're ever back in the Springville area.

Niantic/I-95 Exit 72 KOA Journey

The Niantic KOA is one of our only options to hang our hats as we journey back and forth to MA. Typically, we overnight at a nearby Cracker Barrel, but last year on our Blitz East, we wanted a convenient place to dump and decided to just pay the big bucks to stay here. The KOA is quirky and a little run-down, and the sites don't even have full hookups. However, the staff is nice and there is a beautiful state park right across the street, which gave us an easy walk to hiking trails. Would we stay here again? Probably, out of necessity. Would we use it as a destination? No.

Greensboro KOA Journey

We grabbed a site at this KOA when we had to change plans early this year to go get our fresh tank resecured at our dealer in NC. The office had limited hours, but a lady was still working on the grounds and she was really nice. She checked us in and made sure to give us a long pull-thru so we could stay hitched. She even gave us a goody bag full of snacks, water bottles, and a stress ball! That said, this KOA had some of the worst traffic noise. I-40 was the overriding sound and view. Many long-term campers were staying here, and we can't imagine hearing the traffic constantly. Maybe people get used to it, but we definitely prefer quieter retreats. We would not return for a longer stay.