I think your assessment of KOA is spot on (In our experience, too)! We are at the point where we enjoy quiet, more spread out camping. I hope you enjoy the Rally. I'm excited to see where you go after that. Stay safe! I'm excited for some cooler Fall temps to show up! 😘 ❤🙏🐾 Jane in SC
We enjoy the quiet, more spread out camping as well! We can't wait to share the rally with you 😊 And we can't wait for the cooler fall temps either!!! Thank you Jane ❤️
You are correct in what you are saying about KOA . We have been members since 2001 and in the last few years we only stay at one in a pinch while traveling mostly for an overnight stay but now we have been trying Harvest host. KOA is great for those family getaways but there prices are abit off the charts . So glad you are enjoying our home state . Stay well and travel safe .
Have fun at the Rally. I live in Goshen, IN but I am camping in Kendallville, IN for a bluegrass festival during the rally. There is a lot you can do close to the fairgrounds. For a unique breakfast or lunch experience you can go downtown Goshen and eat at the Olympia Candy Kitchen. It is like stepping back into the 1960's. There are a lot nice shops downtown as well. Have fun. Be Safe.
Thank you, it's been fun so far! I feel like we're going to have to come back to the area just to explore, we keep hearing about all these places we want to visit!
Hey, you two ... I remember KOAs being a big treat when we were kids cuz they had a game room, swimming pools, and always something to do. Now as retirees, we usually use them as a one-night stop on our way to our next destination. Like next week we will be doing a one-night stop at a KOA in Pocatello Idaho on our way to the Grand Tetons for a week. Then after that, we will be spending a week in Lava Hot Springs .... name the goat !!!!! ... have fun and be safe out there .... Thanks Larry
My wife and I stayed at Buckeye Lake KOA almost year ago today. We only stayed one night after leaving another campground north of Columbus that was a little sketchy. We were visiting some of my wife's family in the area then moving on to Michigan. We were lucky to get a spot since it was a Friday night, but the price was a bit steep, even for a KOA. We ended up in one of those "buddy sites", at first the place was empty. Around 4:00pm the place filled up quickly. We left to a little later for our visit and came back around 9:45pm. At first we were a little worried about the other campers getting out of hand being close to Halloween and a Friday night. We quickly realized it was very family friendly and enjoyed watching the kids going from site to site Trick or Treating. At around 10:30 or so I has just told my wife how this was a nice RV park even though the sites were close, and the people were great. No sooner than I finished saying that a white Chevy pickup came flying by my wife going 50-55! We looked at each other confused as to what just happened and the a loud crash! All the lights went out and we see the Chevy at the end of a row of RV's had hit a power pole! The driver was trying to get away and people were trying to stop him from leaving. It turned out to be a drunk driver that found his way into the KOA! The police were called and they took him away! Thank God no one, especially a child, was injured. During all of this we met the guy next to us and had a great conversation with him as all of this was going on. Buckeye Lake looks like a nice area, too bad we were not able to stay longer. Hopefully we plan to be in the area again soon. However, I'm not sure if we will return to the KOA!
I spent a bit over 3 months at a KOA over the winter. I was lucky enough to have a longer term assignment in the area so I got to spend pretty much the whole winter there with heated water hookups. I got a heated water hose in the fall so even through the dead of winter I had water. Most of the amenities were closed down for the winter, but I was on a loop for longer term stays that had its own laundry building with a pair of washers and dryers. I was very grateful for that. Since it was the winter off-season and I was paying monthly the rate was actually fantastic too, I think I paid $600/mo plus electricity which is a steal. Though it's much more expensive in the summer during peak season. I wasn't there while they were open but it also had mini-golf and a pool with a hot tub. I believe they also had a little outdoor theater. One of my best stays for sure.
We pick KOA frequently.. We like to be able to book online, and like to know that we will have a fairly level site with full hookups, near a major highway. They do cost a little more, but generally offer more.
KOA's are definitely a plus for the amenities but totally get what you are talking about when it comes to full-time living. We'll be at that KOA on the crazy Labor Day weekend! LOL But our granddaughter will love it! ❤
My husband and I are full time RVers. We are lucky as we are retired military and can stay on one of the military posts/bases with full hook ups for an average of 30 dollars a night. We do occasionally stay at KOAs and i have found the majority of them to be over crowded and very expensive. We've stayed at a couple of the KOA resorts and unfortunately have had a stressful experience with young kids running through our site at all hours. We love kids and realize its more of the parents not supervising or setting boundaries.
We enjoy KOA's in New England. We like that you know what you are getting. Is it expensive? Yes. It is worth it to us for the short duration trips we are currently doing.
Good morning. Great video as always. I have stayed at a few KOA’s and they are a bit expensive, but some of the amenities (When working) are very nice. Our favorite was a small KOA near Grand Island, NE. They had a nice family bathroom with a private shower and delivered pizza right to your door. It was just a quick one night stop, but definitely made the trip that much better. Safe travels.
We’ve been part timing for the last 9 years and put over 30,000 miles on our Grand Design. We strategically use KOAs along the interstates going from point to point, and if we need a holiday weekend place (like after the National Rally). We’ve stayed in good and bad ones.
We use KOA almost exclusively for travel stops because the app is super convenient and reliable. Takes the stress of finding a campground out of the equation. As a destination we would never stay at a KOA.
The wife and I have only stayed at two KOA's, so far. We've stayed at the one in Blue Ridge, Ga twice, but only for 3-4 night getaways. Usually it's not too bad, peaceful and quiet, and fairly level spots. We spent one night at the one in Natural Bridge/ Lexington, Va on a trip to Hershey, Pa. It was doable, but don't think I'd do it again. way to hilly. But we've stayed at 3 other non KOA campgrounds that we've really enjoyed.
Lots of good info and perspective, thanks for sharing! Glad you three are having a good time and staying safe. ...but yeah, from what I understand KOAs are like gas stations, they may all have the same brand and some things in common, but each one can be as individual and unique as a person so you can't really take anything for granted.
You're right, KOA's are not always any different than other campgrounds, but it's knowing that if you stay at one you pretty much know what to expect from one and if you're not happy with it you can always contact their corporation to file a complaint and get results verses dealing with an owner of a campground that tells you to shove it and not stay here again and not get your money back. KOA makes it easier/quicker to find a campground too with their App and/or directory, verses using a universal app and spending time to read the reviews if you want to stay or not stay. KOA also gives you points towards free nights. I have a KOA membership and like it but we don't always stay at KOA's either. I'm not a fan of Harvest Host or parking lots so when traveling and just need a stop over I'll usually stay at a KOA. People complain about the costs but what I don't get it is if you're traveling by RV or hotel save your money to do it and not worry about costs. Who wants to travel and penny pinch, that's not enjoying the trip or life.
We were at that KOA in early July. Loved riding our ebikes around the lake. We were just on other side of cabins from where you were. Couple sites “under repair” around us we’re unsightly and then muddy roads to walk the dog. Also 10pm golf cart parade could’ve been a little earlier! But we got a site on short notice!
Compared to a Thousand Trails membership, KOA's is more affordable without the huge investment upfront. But like you said, KOA's are pricey and need to do your homework as to which KOA you decide to stay at.
I like KOA's. We don't generally stay there long term usually for 1 or 2 nights. Some are better than others, but you generally know what you are going to get.
KOA bought two campgrounds near us and the only thing that changed was the price - they went up. KOA's in our area are about $20+ per night more than private campgrounds. Stayed at a KOA once; but it was in 2020 and had the place to ourselves. Only will stay at one if there is no other option.
We hang about a third of our laundry normally...but all of it is a bit much for our camper 😅 Mike does such a great job of choosing music, I'm so happy when people notice!! Thank you Michelle (and Sugar!)!
You two are the nicest folks!! Nice honest assessment of your stay. For us as full timers laundry is way more important than activities, just sayin, LOL. But I do believe the KOA experience is more geared toward the vacation/weekend folks and that's all good....just not our thing. 😉😎
Also i like seeing you wear a bears 🐻 hat 🤠. I've been bears 🐻 fan for decades. Still hoping super bowl win before I die so can get gear for an adult I was 12 years old when they won last.
We have stayed around nice KOA campgrounds. Ashville NC east is nice . Stayed at one close ti Niagra Falls US side and it was junk. Have to really research it before booking. Safe travels .
We found out that there are more than 1 "type" of KOA. There is a KOA holiday which is for vacations or longer stays and KOA journeys which are meant for weekends or overnight stays when traveling. We stayed at a journey in GA on our way to Florida which was nice. Side note, are y'all going to the GD rally in Myrtle Beach in March? Safe travels!!
We learned that when we were staying at this KOA! We just found out that they were doing one in Myrtle Beach again this week! Going to look into it 😁 are y'all going?
We stayed at the Savannah South KOA in July. It is close to Ft Stewart, where our son in law was taking a command. It has a beautiful pond with swans and ducks but the sites were really close and it was full. Other family members stayed in the luxury cabins. We’ve also stayed overnight in some KOA Journey campgrounds. We prefer state park campgrounds but sometimes a KOA works better for us.
We have not stayed in a KOA for many years. We tend to stay in state parks. I don’t like to be really close to neighbors but my husband is starting to enjoy FHUs. But the dog park was a plus!😊
We have been very lucky. We are FT and I have come to appreciate commercial laundromats. I can get done-wash and dry-in an hour! The camp laundromat machines are regular machines. The KOAs we’ve stayed at do offer things for kids. That means we can invite our little granddaughter for a visit. They are easily booked, usually clean and well tended
When I was a kid we used to camp every summer for a month. Mom, dad, 7 kids in a Ford Econoline van conversion pulling a Starcraft tent trailer. We mostly state in national parks, state parks, national forests (sometimes for as little as $2 a night!). KOAs had only been around for about 10 years at that time, but they have not changed much in that time. As a kid, I liked that they usually had a swimming pool, but I didn't like that the sites were so close together. I much preferred the forests. My mom liked that they had laundry facilities and decent showers so all the kids could get cleaned up. We stayed in them only a few times during the month because of the cost and the fact we preferred a different style of camping, but little has changed in all these years in terms of the camping experience at KOAs.
@@lifererouted Love your channel, BTW. I'm an ICU nurse turned nursing professor who is about to be a retiree at the end of this year. We bought an Imagine 23LDE and plan to spend lots of time on the road. Enjoy it!!
Yeah, I went to a KOA once no shade you’re packed in like sardines are in very expensive. I didn’t want to go very far from home so I drove an hour to this KOA and I’m sorry I ever went there if you ever get up to Western Pennsylvania and need some places to stop the camp. Get in touch with me again very nice video. Keep up your hard work.
I’ve used them when it fit my needs but don’t seem them out. A couple short stays where they had better reviews in the area I was stopping at and a week at the Orlando/kissimmee holiday for a week during a Disney trip.
@@lifereroutedthe Orlando Kissimmee one was clean, well staffed, and nice if maybe a bit close to each other but honestly I spent my days with the family at Disney so really just slept there :) overall I thought it was a good deal - would even consider parking there and staying at pop century instead of fort wilderness as an option
I agree that KOAs are over priced, especially when there are still some Mom/Pop campgrounds that are cheaper but have (maybe not all amenities) most of the same amenities. My wife and I haven't been RVing for as long as most but we've been trying out those off the beaten path campgrounds. We've found most are perfect for how we like to camp and are more than half the price of KOAs. If you have young kids... Absolutely, KOAs are fantastic for all the activities and the popular places they are generally located close too. Love you guys and safe travels.
That's exactly how we feel Joe! We prefer the off the beaten path ones too, but agree that if you had kids the KOAs would be great. Thank you friend, stay safe!
Oof that's a tricky one. We've looked at it before and for how we travel it's definitely not worth it to us. We do have friends that have it and I think for the most part they like it, but I'd say look into all the fine print on it before committing!
Sounds like you had a long term stay rate. What was your average daily rate? I had a monthly rate this summer for work at $18 a night. Outside of Yellowstone you paid for location not amenities.
We were there about a month ago with our grandson. Sorry we didn't bump into you. We do a lot of KOA's when we travel with the grandkids. They enjoy the activities etc. They can be a little more than others, but we also find in major areas they are on par with others. Yes they also can be tight but we travel to tour so are not around most days. For us the most important is making memories and seeing the country. Safe travels.
Aw that's awesome you were there, sorry we missed you! That campground had so much to do for kids, that's awesome you were able to take your grandson 😊
Yep, we are in are early sixties and have the same sentiment as you two do. All campgrounds including KOA’S can be good, so so or a real dump. And we also just want a good site, laundry, and good hookups. Simple.
We’ve only stayed at one KOA and it, too, was crowded and sites were on top of each other. Also to note is that some are Journey and others are Destination. I’m sure this one is a Destination with all the amenities. Generally, the Journey ones are for just that, a place to spend a night on your journey. Basic place to stay. Enjoy the rest of your time. Somewhat envious of y’all going to the GD rally. Have fun!
We learned that there were different levels/types of KOAs while living here. Would be interesting in the future to stay at a journey and see the difference.... Thank you! It's been a blast so far, can't wait to share it with you all soon!
@@bearcat1964 The KOA at Whiteface Mtn. is a Holiday. It was pretty good! We are really only there for the location. Mostly, we are out hiking, fishing and kayaking. We rarely hang out at our campsite. The location is in Wilmington, so away from the hustle and bustle of Lake Placid. I would definitely stay there again! We always compare the campground rate with area hotels.
We have stayed at koa's multiple times, Not my favorite campground, but a couple of KOAs were very nice, while one charged so much money for little items. I remember one KOA was charging for the bumper sticker(which advertised their specific campground location) while others gave them away for free! And yes, those sites are usually very small unless you want to pay for the "patio sites".
We've done a lot of KOA's and they are consistently inconsistent. We've stayed in some that are amazing and others that are well meh!!! Also there are different levels of KOA's and we just figured this out. There are the KOA Journey parks that are more for a one or two night stay while on your way to your destination. Then there are the KOA Holiday parks that are more for extended stay with lost of amenities and all that jazz. Totally agree with your assessment that they are a family campground, if loud kids are a pain point for you, then the KOA is not your place. All in all we like them, but if there is a small mom and pop owned campground in the area we would rather do one of those. Side note, I'm gonna ping you kids in email. Don't know if your still in the Columbus area but if so we're gonna be there next week. Would be lovely to do a coffee or a beer or ??? If you're gonna be around.
I was wondering about the difference between Journey, Holiday and Destination! Since we are mainly gone during the day and have our a/c running with windows closed, we don't care too much about the kids! 🤣 I suppose the experience would be different as full timers.
@@ourrvsunsets Ah. Yeah, some people prefer a resort like campground. We aren't picky I suppose, but then again, we aren't full-timers either. Our only requirement is electric if it's hot (for a/c). Otherwise, we can't leave our pooch in the RV.
Consistently inconsistent is a great way to sum it up lol! The different levels of KOAs is definitely interesting, I feel like we need to stay at each to compare. I'll look for the email, we're behind on everything from the rally!!
@@lifererouted Take your time catching up, can't imagine how crazy to was at the national rally. Basically we'll be in the Columbus area from the 6th through the 13th if y'all want to grab a coffee or a beer.
The guy with the bad laundry ( broken dryers ?! ) should budget to keep the expected timing and be held accountable to koa corporate. After the YT video on koa - have you heard from corporate? I’m guessing the buddy sites outside Columbus OH are for game days. O H I O.
Similarly set up? I disagree. We've stayed in several KOAs and a couple were brand new! Some have pools and some don't. I've never stayed at a KOA that serves breakfast. Our most recent KOA stay was at Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain and their laundry machines were brand new! Bryce Canyon, Glenwood Springs West and West Glacier are very nice too. KOAs are more expensive in popular areas and less expensive in sleepier areas. We do prefer state parks, but many have few electric sites that are hard to come by. We don't necessarily prefer KOAs, but we choose by location and what is available at the time. Sometimes ya gotta take what you can get!
I agree with your assessment of KOA's. I travel on a motorcycle and will stay at KOA's when I can. I will always stay in a cabin. Even though they are nice you don't have a bathroom in them. The pricing sometimes will be more than a motel room with your own bathroom. I always check pricing both ways. Yellowstone is expensive. It was close to $200 per night in a cabin. You have to price shop for sure.
Well, Yellowstone, Glacier, Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, Estes Park, Moab, etc are prime real estate. You will be packed together and you'll pay more. This is true for all RV parks in those areas!
We stayed at a KOA once. Once. Much too expensive. Even off season. They love to surprise you upon check in with the old "amenity/resort fee". The bathhouse and broken down washers are worth some extra money on top of the already high price of parking on a barren sand pit i guess. I don't understand the thought process that make sense of (a.) The campground is called a Resort in the name. (b.) They charge another resort fee on top of the price you pay to stay at the resort. Enjoy those huge sites they have at the national rally 🤣😂🤣. Looking forward to your next adventure.
We don't like campgrounds where everyone is on top of each other. Where we are at we can open our door and Noone is right outside of it. The camper at about 25ft to 50 ft away. It is sometimes full and busy any other times it is very quiet. So yes I feel KOA campgrounds at expensive.
I hope you went to pizza cottage that's my favorite pizza. BLT pizza and pepperoni I have to order each every time I visit dad. He lives by there. My other favorite place is chef shack. I just recently started going there five months ago it's my new favorite place. I've been two times. I just started doing restaurant review and chef shack was my first review all my reviews started going viral which I don't know how. But 356k now. Chef shack 30k. My second highest review
What do you guys think of KOA's? Let us know!
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I think your assessment of KOA is spot on (In our experience, too)! We are at the point where we enjoy quiet, more spread out camping. I hope you enjoy the Rally. I'm excited to see where you go after that. Stay safe! I'm excited for some cooler Fall temps to show up! 😘 ❤🙏🐾 Jane in SC
We enjoy the quiet, more spread out camping as well! We can't wait to share the rally with you 😊 And we can't wait for the cooler fall temps either!!! Thank you Jane ❤️
You are correct in what you are saying about KOA . We have been members since 2001 and in the last few years we only stay at one in a pinch while traveling mostly for an overnight stay but now we have been trying Harvest host. KOA is great for those family getaways but there prices are abit off the charts . So glad you are enjoying our home state . Stay well and travel safe .
Pretty much exactly what we think! We prefer Harvest Hosts but can see the appeal of KOA, especially for those with kids. Thank you!
Have fun at the Rally. I live in Goshen, IN but I am camping in Kendallville, IN for a bluegrass festival during the rally. There is a lot you can do close to the fairgrounds. For a unique breakfast or lunch experience you can go downtown Goshen and eat at the Olympia Candy Kitchen. It is like stepping back into the 1960's. There are a lot nice shops downtown as well. Have fun. Be Safe.
Thank you, it's been fun so far! I feel like we're going to have to come back to the area just to explore, we keep hearing about all these places we want to visit!
Oh I wish we had seen your post last week.
I think we did breakfast at the rally twice and unfortunately we weren’t impressed.
Aw sorry we missed you!! We only made it to the breakfast once and kind of had the same opinion 😅
Hey, you two ... I remember KOAs being a big treat when we were kids cuz they had a game room, swimming pools, and always something to do. Now as retirees, we usually use them as a one-night stop on our way to our next destination. Like next week we will be doing a one-night stop at a KOA in Pocatello Idaho on our way to the Grand Tetons for a week. Then after that, we will be spending a week in Lava Hot Springs .... name the goat !!!!! ... have fun and be safe out there .... Thanks Larry
We use Harvest Hosts for one night stays! They are free!
It seems like most of us just use them for one night stays! Sounds like a fun trip, be safe! Hahaha we really do need to just give it a name 😆
We learned in 2022 that there is a difference between a KOA resort and a KOA Journey. Never staying anywhere but a resort KOA ever again.
We just learned the difference while we were at this KOA!
My wife and I stayed at Buckeye Lake KOA almost year ago today. We only stayed one night after leaving another campground north of Columbus that was a little sketchy. We were visiting some of my wife's family in the area then moving on to Michigan. We were lucky to get a spot since it was a Friday night, but the price was a bit steep, even for a KOA. We ended up in one of those "buddy sites", at first the place was empty. Around 4:00pm the place filled up quickly. We left to a little later for our visit and came back around 9:45pm. At first we were a little worried about the other campers getting out of hand being close to Halloween and a Friday night. We quickly realized it was very family friendly and enjoyed watching the kids going from site to site Trick or Treating. At around 10:30 or so I has just told my wife how this was a nice RV park even though the sites were close, and the people were great. No sooner than I finished saying that a white Chevy pickup came flying by my wife going 50-55! We looked at each other confused as to what just happened and the a loud crash! All the lights went out and we see the Chevy at the end of a row of RV's had hit a power pole! The driver was trying to get away and people were trying to stop him from leaving. It turned out to be a drunk driver that found his way into the KOA! The police were called and they took him away! Thank God no one, especially a child, was injured. During all of this we met the guy next to us and had a great conversation with him as all of this was going on. Buckeye Lake looks like a nice area, too bad we were not able to stay longer. Hopefully we plan to be in the area again soon. However, I'm not sure if we will return to the KOA!
Holy cow, what an experience! Glad everyone was okay
The KOA Journeys are smaller and less expensive. We love the smaller ones.
We need to try the journey ones apparently!
I spent a bit over 3 months at a KOA over the winter. I was lucky enough to have a longer term assignment in the area so I got to spend pretty much the whole winter there with heated water hookups. I got a heated water hose in the fall so even through the dead of winter I had water. Most of the amenities were closed down for the winter, but I was on a loop for longer term stays that had its own laundry building with a pair of washers and dryers. I was very grateful for that. Since it was the winter off-season and I was paying monthly the rate was actually fantastic too, I think I paid $600/mo plus electricity which is a steal. Though it's much more expensive in the summer during peak season. I wasn't there while they were open but it also had mini-golf and a pool with a hot tub. I believe they also had a little outdoor theater. One of my best stays for sure.
Oh nice, that's awesome you got such a nice spot for 3 months! That especially sounds great for $600/month 😍
We pick KOA frequently.. We like to be able to book online, and like to know that we will have a fairly level site with full hookups, near a major highway. They do cost a little more, but generally offer more.
Being able to book online is a huge perk!
KOA's are definitely a plus for the amenities but totally get what you are talking about when it comes to full-time living. We'll be at that KOA on the crazy Labor Day weekend! LOL But our granddaughter will love it! ❤
So sad we're just going to miss you guys! It's a great campground for kids, there are so many activities for them!
Monthly is way cheaper than any discount you'll ever get. But you have to ask for monthly specifically.
Yes! We were lucky enough to get a monthly rate.
Hello!
Was nice visiting with you two at the rally last week.
Safe travels!
Hey there! So nice to meet you as well! ❤️ Stay in touch!
Great information. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
My husband and I are full time RVers. We are lucky as we are retired military and can stay on one of the military posts/bases with full hook ups for an average of 30 dollars a night. We do occasionally stay at KOAs and i have found the majority of them to be over crowded and very expensive. We've stayed at a couple of the KOA resorts and unfortunately have had a stressful experience with young kids running through our site at all hours. We love kids and realize its more of the parents not supervising or setting boundaries.
That's awesome that you're able to stay at the military bases - we have friends that do that and love it!
We enjoy KOA's in New England. We like that you know what you are getting. Is it expensive? Yes. It is worth it to us for the short duration trips we are currently doing.
The comfort of knowing exactly what you're getting is nice, especially on stressful travel days!
Good morning. Great video as always. I have stayed at a few KOA’s and they are a bit expensive, but some of the amenities (When working) are very nice. Our favorite was a small KOA near Grand Island, NE. They had a nice family bathroom with a private shower and delivered pizza right to your door. It was just a quick one night stop, but definitely made the trip that much better. Safe travels.
Thank you! Okay, you had me at pizza delivered to your door....I'd stay any place that did that 😍
We’ve been part timing for the last 9 years and put over 30,000 miles on our Grand Design. We strategically use KOAs along the interstates going from point to point, and if we need a holiday weekend place (like after the National Rally). We’ve stayed in good and bad ones.
It seems like a lot of people use them for one night stays! They're pretty convenient for that 😊
We use KOA almost exclusively for travel stops because the app is super convenient and reliable. Takes the stress of finding a campground out of the equation. As a destination we would never stay at a KOA.
The app is handy for sure! Didn't think about using it for travel stops where you just need a place to stay, that's a good idea!
The wife and I have only stayed at two KOA's, so far. We've stayed at the one in Blue Ridge, Ga twice, but only for 3-4 night getaways. Usually it's not too bad, peaceful and quiet, and fairly level spots.
We spent one night at the one in Natural Bridge/ Lexington, Va on a trip to Hershey, Pa. It was doable, but don't think I'd do it again. way to hilly. But we've stayed at 3 other non KOA campgrounds that we've really enjoyed.
Any place in Blue Ridge, Georgia sounds amazing, even a KOA! I think they're definitely a different type of experience than other campgrounds.
Lots of good info and perspective, thanks for sharing! Glad you three are having a good time and staying safe.
...but yeah, from what I understand KOAs are like gas stations, they may all have the same brand and some things in common, but each one can be as individual and unique as a person so you can't really take anything for granted.
Thank you, we are! That's a good way to look at it - I'm sure they're all a little different in their own way!
I love KOA and will always stay there 🎉🇺🇸
💪
You're right, KOA's are not always any different than other campgrounds, but it's knowing that if you stay at one you pretty much know what to expect from one and if you're not happy with it you can always contact their corporation to file a complaint and get results verses dealing with an owner of a campground that tells you to shove it and not stay here again and not get your money back. KOA makes it easier/quicker to find a campground too with their App and/or directory, verses using a universal app and spending time to read the reviews if you want to stay or not stay. KOA also gives you points towards free nights. I have a KOA membership and like it but we don't always stay at KOA's either. I'm not a fan of Harvest Host or parking lots so when traveling and just need a stop over I'll usually stay at a KOA. People complain about the costs but what I don't get it is if you're traveling by RV or hotel save your money to do it and not worry about costs. Who wants to travel and penny pinch, that's not enjoying the trip or life.
Good thoughts!
I've not been there to stay since a teenager. They didn't have all that back then in the 80s
They have the hybrid model I have seen KOA and 1000 trails. Same park
We were at that KOA in early July. Loved riding our ebikes around the lake. We were just on other side of cabins from where you were. Couple sites “under repair” around us we’re unsightly and then muddy roads to walk the dog. Also 10pm golf cart parade could’ve been a little earlier! But we got a site on short notice!
Oh, we were probably there at the same time! It definitely gets muddy there, but the lake being so close was so nice!
Compared to a Thousand Trails membership, KOA's is more affordable without the huge investment upfront. But like you said, KOA's are pricey and need to do your homework as to which KOA you decide to stay at.
For sure!
I like KOA's. We don't generally stay there long term usually for 1 or 2 nights. Some are better than others, but you generally know what you are going to get.
The consistency of knowing what you're getting is nice!
KOA bought two campgrounds near us and the only thing that changed was the price - they went up. KOA's in our area are about $20+ per night more than private campgrounds. Stayed at a KOA once; but it was in 2020 and had the place to ourselves. Only will stay at one if there is no other option.
I feel like they do that a lot 🤔
Can you hang your laundry? We do all the time in mundane life and camp life 😊 And the music sounds like Alison Krause and Union Station…❤
We hang about a third of our laundry normally...but all of it is a bit much for our camper 😅 Mike does such a great job of choosing music, I'm so happy when people notice!! Thank you Michelle (and Sugar!)!
You two are the nicest folks!! Nice honest assessment of your stay. For us as full timers laundry is way more important than activities, just sayin, LOL. But I do believe the KOA experience is more geared toward the vacation/weekend folks and that's all good....just not our thing. 😉😎
Aw thank you friends!! We're right there with you - give me laundry and a decent spot and that's all we need!
Also i like seeing you wear a bears 🐻 hat 🤠. I've been bears 🐻 fan for decades. Still hoping super bowl win before I die so can get gear for an adult I was 12 years old when they won last.
🐻🔽
We have stayed around nice KOA campgrounds. Ashville NC east is nice . Stayed at one close ti Niagra Falls US side and it was junk. Have to really research it before booking. Safe travels .
We've heard good things about Asheville East! It seems like they're like most campgrounds, they can vary a lot!
I hear ya we stayed at a KOA on a 4th of July weekend and it was crazy and it was expensive as well
I can imagine!! Not going to lie, we left this campground over the 4th of July because we figured it would be packed 😅
We found out that there are more than 1 "type" of KOA. There is a KOA holiday which is for vacations or longer stays and KOA journeys which are meant for weekends or overnight stays when traveling. We stayed at a journey in GA on our way to Florida which was nice. Side note, are y'all going to the GD rally in Myrtle Beach in March? Safe travels!!
There’s also KOA Resorts which are supposed to be vacation destinations of there own.
We learned that when we were staying at this KOA! We just found out that they were doing one in Myrtle Beach again this week! Going to look into it 😁 are y'all going?
Good to know!
@@lifererouted yes we will be there. This will be our first ever rally.
We stayed at the Savannah South KOA in July. It is close to Ft Stewart, where our son in law was taking a command. It has a beautiful pond with swans and ducks but the sites were really close and it was full. Other family members stayed in the luxury cabins. We’ve also stayed overnight in some KOA Journey campgrounds. We prefer state park campgrounds but sometimes a KOA works better for us.
We have not stayed in a KOA for many years. We tend to stay in state parks. I don’t like to be really close to neighbors but my husband is starting to enjoy FHUs. But the dog park was a plus!😊
State parks can be so nice! But you're right, having a dog park is definitely a perk 😁
You’re back. B
We're here! 👋
We have been very lucky. We are FT and I have come to appreciate commercial laundromats. I can get done-wash and dry-in an hour! The camp laundromat machines are regular machines. The KOAs we’ve stayed at do offer things for kids. That means we can invite our little granddaughter for a visit. They are easily booked, usually clean and well tended
Those points do add up. We saved $50 for a one week stay just this trip.
That's what we end up doing a lot of the time, going to the laundromat! Aw that's great that your granddaughter is able to come - and have lots to do!
When I was a kid we used to camp every summer for a month. Mom, dad, 7 kids in a Ford Econoline van conversion pulling a Starcraft tent trailer. We mostly state in national parks, state parks, national forests (sometimes for as little as $2 a night!). KOAs had only been around for about 10 years at that time, but they have not changed much in that time. As a kid, I liked that they usually had a swimming pool, but I didn't like that the sites were so close together. I much preferred the forests. My mom liked that they had laundry facilities and decent showers so all the kids could get cleaned up. We stayed in them only a few times during the month because of the cost and the fact we preferred a different style of camping, but little has changed in all these years in terms of the camping experience at KOAs.
Aw those are such amazing memories to have! Interesting to hear that not much has changed in KOAs over the years, that could be good and bad. Thanks!
@@lifererouted Love your channel, BTW. I'm an ICU nurse turned nursing professor who is about to be a retiree at the end of this year. We bought an Imagine 23LDE and plan to spend lots of time on the road. Enjoy it!!
Yeah, I went to a KOA once no shade you’re packed in like sardines are in very expensive. I didn’t want to go very far from home so I drove an hour to this KOA and I’m sorry I ever went there if you ever get up to Western Pennsylvania and need some places to stop the camp. Get in touch with me again very nice video. Keep up your hard work.
I will say the Buckeye Lake KOA did have a lot of shade which we were thankful for! Thank you so much, we appreciate it ❤️
I’ve used them when it fit my needs but don’t seem them out. A couple short stays where they had better reviews in the area I was stopping at and a week at the Orlando/kissimmee holiday for a week during a Disney trip.
We hear you! Oh nice, was the Orlando/Kissimmee one pretty nice?
@@lifereroutedthe Orlando Kissimmee one was clean, well staffed, and nice if maybe a bit close to each other but honestly I spent my days with the family at Disney so really just slept there :) overall I thought it was a good deal - would even consider parking there and staying at pop century instead of fort wilderness as an option
I agree that KOAs are over priced, especially when there are still some Mom/Pop campgrounds that are cheaper but have (maybe not all amenities) most of the same amenities. My wife and I haven't been RVing for as long as most but we've been trying out those off the beaten path campgrounds. We've found most are perfect for how we like to camp and are more than half the price of KOAs.
If you have young kids... Absolutely, KOAs are fantastic for all the activities and the popular places they are generally located close too.
Love you guys and safe travels.
Some of the mom and pop campgrounds we've reserved are more expensive than KOAs. It really depends on the area.
That's exactly how we feel Joe! We prefer the off the beaten path ones too, but agree that if you had kids the KOAs would be great. Thank you friend, stay safe!
My wife and I are located in the Mid-Atlantic region. We're thinking about Thousand Trails membership.... Thoughts on Thousand Trails?
Oof that's a tricky one. We've looked at it before and for how we travel it's definitely not worth it to us. We do have friends that have it and I think for the most part they like it, but I'd say look into all the fine print on it before committing!
Sounds like you had a long term stay rate. What was your average daily rate? I had a monthly rate this summer for work at $18 a night. Outside of Yellowstone you paid for location not amenities.
They definitely cut us a deal, but it was still expensive! $18 is a steal!
We were there about a month ago with our grandson. Sorry we didn't bump into you. We do a lot of KOA's when we travel with the grandkids. They enjoy the activities etc. They can be a little more than others, but we also find in major areas they are on par with others. Yes they also can be tight but we travel to tour so are not around most days. For us the most important is making memories and seeing the country. Safe travels.
Aw that's awesome you were there, sorry we missed you! That campground had so much to do for kids, that's awesome you were able to take your grandson 😊
Yep, we are in are early sixties and have the same sentiment as you two do. All campgrounds including KOA’S can be good, so so or a real dump. And we also just want a good site, laundry, and good hookups. Simple.
Yes! We're pretty simple when it comes to stays, those are our three main priorities too 😁
We’ve only stayed at one KOA and it, too, was crowded and sites were on top of each other. Also to note is that some are Journey and others are Destination. I’m sure this one is a Destination with all the amenities. Generally, the Journey ones are for just that, a place to spend a night on your journey. Basic place to stay.
Enjoy the rest of your time. Somewhat envious of y’all going to the GD rally. Have fun!
We learned that there were different levels/types of KOAs while living here. Would be interesting in the future to stay at a journey and see the difference....
Thank you! It's been a blast so far, can't wait to share it with you all soon!
There are also KOA Holidays.
@@MNP208 Yep. Forget about those. And that’s what the one is they were staying at after looking.
@@bearcat1964 The KOA at Whiteface Mtn. is a Holiday. It was pretty good! We are really only there for the location. Mostly, we are out hiking, fishing and kayaking. We rarely hang out at our campsite. The location is in Wilmington, so away from the hustle and bustle of Lake Placid. I would definitely stay there again! We always compare the campground rate with area hotels.
We have stayed at koa's multiple times,
Not my favorite campground, but a couple of KOAs were very nice, while one charged so much money for little items. I remember one KOA was charging for the bumper sticker(which advertised their specific campground location) while others gave them away for free!
And yes, those sites are usually very small unless you want to pay for the "patio sites".
They work when you need them, but you're right, we've found them to be pretty expensive!
We've done a lot of KOA's and they are consistently inconsistent. We've stayed in some that are amazing and others that are well meh!!! Also there are different levels of KOA's and we just figured this out. There are the KOA Journey parks that are more for a one or two night stay while on your way to your destination. Then there are the KOA Holiday parks that are more for extended stay with lost of amenities and all that jazz. Totally agree with your assessment that they are a family campground, if loud kids are a pain point for you, then the KOA is not your place. All in all we like them, but if there is a small mom and pop owned campground in the area we would rather do one of those.
Side note, I'm gonna ping you kids in email. Don't know if your still in the Columbus area but if so we're gonna be there next week. Would be lovely to do a coffee or a beer or ??? If you're gonna be around.
I was wondering about the difference between Journey, Holiday and Destination! Since we are mainly gone during the day and have our a/c running with windows closed, we don't care too much about the kids! 🤣 I suppose the experience would be different as full timers.
@@MNP208 The kids thing doesn't really bother us, I only mention it because with some folks it does. And at the KOA Holidays, you're gonna have kids.
@@ourrvsunsets Ah. Yeah, some people prefer a resort like campground. We aren't picky I suppose, but then again, we aren't full-timers either. Our only requirement is electric if it's hot (for a/c). Otherwise, we can't leave our pooch in the RV.
Consistently inconsistent is a great way to sum it up lol! The different levels of KOAs is definitely interesting, I feel like we need to stay at each to compare. I'll look for the email, we're behind on everything from the rally!!
@@lifererouted Take your time catching up, can't imagine how crazy to was at the national rally. Basically we'll be in the Columbus area from the 6th through the 13th if y'all want to grab a coffee or a beer.
The guy with the bad laundry ( broken dryers ?! ) should budget to keep the expected timing and be held accountable to koa corporate.
After the YT video on koa - have you heard from corporate?
I’m guessing the buddy sites outside Columbus OH are for game days.
O H I O.
Ooohhh that's a good point about the buddy sites being for game days, didn't think about that!
We are the same as you two. No different.
❤️
Similarly set up? I disagree. We've stayed in several KOAs and a couple were brand new! Some have pools and some don't. I've never stayed at a KOA that serves breakfast. Our most recent KOA stay was at Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain and their laundry machines were brand new! Bryce Canyon, Glenwood Springs West and West Glacier are very nice too. KOAs are more expensive in popular areas and less expensive in sleepier areas. We do prefer state parks, but many have few electric sites that are hard to come by. We don't necessarily prefer KOAs, but we choose by location and what is available at the time. Sometimes ya gotta take what you can get!
Good points! The important part is that we all get out there and explore!
I agree with your assessment of KOA's. I travel on a motorcycle and will stay at KOA's when I can. I will always stay in a cabin. Even though they are nice you don't have a bathroom in them. The pricing sometimes will be more than a motel room with your own bathroom. I always check pricing both ways. Yellowstone is expensive. It was close to $200 per night in a cabin. You have to price shop for sure.
I didn't realize the cabins didn't have bathrooms in them! Price shopping is a must for traveling, you're right
Well, Yellowstone, Glacier, Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, Estes Park, Moab, etc are prime real estate. You will be packed together and you'll pay more. This is true for all RV parks in those areas!
It was a pretty campground, but another con was having to move so many times.
Definitely a con! But grateful they got us in 🙏
We stayed at a KOA once. Once. Much too expensive. Even off season. They love to surprise you upon check in with the old "amenity/resort fee". The bathhouse and broken down washers are worth some extra money on top of the already high price of parking on a barren sand pit i guess. I don't understand the thought process that make sense of (a.) The campground is called a Resort in the name. (b.) They charge another resort fee on top of the price you pay to stay at the resort. Enjoy those huge sites they have at the national rally 🤣😂🤣. Looking forward to your next adventure.
That's wild they charged you an extra resort fee! Ha the rally sites definitely aren't huge, but we knew what we were getting here! Thanks!
We don't like campgrounds where everyone is on top of each other. Where we are at we can open our door and Noone is right outside of it. The camper at about 25ft to 50 ft away. It is sometimes full and busy any other times it is very quiet. So yes I feel KOA campgrounds at expensive.
More space is more relaxing for sure. That's nice that you have so much space where you are!
Mike needs a motorcycle for those bachelor days.
Ha! Sounds like we'd need a toy hauler too then...
@@RayRay-kt8pz Chad and Tara would approve.
You both might be on to something here....🤔
I hope you went to pizza cottage that's my favorite pizza. BLT pizza and pepperoni I have to order each every time I visit dad. He lives by there. My other favorite place is chef shack. I just recently started going there five months ago it's my new favorite place. I've been two times. I just started doing restaurant review and chef shack was my first review all my reviews started going viral which I don't know how. But 356k now. Chef shack 30k. My second highest review
I did!
We haven't stayed in a Koa in years they are too expensive!
That's understandable!
I love KOA, we will not camp anywhere else.
The rewards add up if it's the only place you stay!
THEY ARE GREATLY OVERATED. AND TOO EXPENSIVE.
Good to know!
They are way overpriced and overrated
We think a lot of people feel this way!