We have stayed at some really nice KOAs and we have driven on after the drive through of some less than desirable KOAs. We use ratings books but we find our priorities and opinions vary from the reviewers. Still the books give a good amount of usable information. We don't generally make reservations in advance. We can tell best in person, we may have three choices selected to check out for longer stays.
__________________ CarolJB Delight in the Beauty That Surrounds You
We would have to echo the mostly good comments on KOA with a few that were below average. On trips, the past two fall seasons to the NE in 07 and NW in 08' we probably stayed in more KOAs with Good Sam rated parks second. On the whole they both beat the non-rated parks. State/County/City parks are a real grab bag.
Not far from the Bighorn Scenic Byway, the location of this KOA was conveniently past heavily congested areas and a good stop before heading across the next stretch to my next stop. This has to be the only KOA I have been to down a city block but I needed to recharge my batteries and get propane and a night's rest before heading out. The hosts could not have been friendlier from checking me in to escorting me to a site next to the dog park and fetching fresh water for Orie. I was even given a tablecloth for my table.
What was to be a quick overnighter turned into a several days. There was a restaurant and patio adjoining the office and daily and nightly upscale gourmet meal specials and pleasant evening gatherings. Orie was even invited to the patio so we both were quite content and pampered able to unwind. I enjoyed the oasis.
You know, KOAs are sort of like Walmarts: There aren't many of them where we like to go. I guess they require a pretty decent turn-over of visitors to pay the franchise fees.
Actually, I kind of wonder. Good Sam approached us about going their route, but it's sort of funny: People PAY to become Good Sam Members, and parks PAY to become Good Sam parks in addition to giving the discount (albeit a pretty measley one). The real winner seems to be the Good Sam outfit itself, which gets money from both visitors and parks. Such a deal!
Ya know... while reading through this thread (and thanks for changing the name!) it occurs that we're really comparing two totally different types of campgrounds! The folks who don't care for KOA state that their preference is State Parks, USFS campgrounds, etc. And folks who are pro-KOA are usually on their way somewhere and need a place to spend a night or two. The parks are two different animals! We could name some wonderful KOA's where we stop as we wend our way between the frigid north and the balmy south... some with wonderfully large woodsy lots even... and they do cost more but they are also usually on higher price real estate near the main highways.
We've only found one where we cut our stay short and didn't get a refund but neither our dog nor our cat wanted to be outside the trailer! They would bolt right back inside! which leads me to believe that somewhere in the park there was something very strange going on that the owners may not even have been aware of???
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“Cats and dogs are magical creatures... just petting one can make both of you live longer!"
Phil/Edee, you make a good point about different people wanting different things.
What your dog and cat may have been afraid of might have been a coyote. They are everywhere, though they know how to be invisible a lot of the time. Or, a mountain lion or bobcat or other predator, and if the moon was full, werewolves. None of this was the fault of the KOA, but probably a good idea to move on.
Anyone have any experience ( good or bad ) with the KOA in Dillon, Montana? We are planning a trip in October there.
Well, I'm about a year and a half late in my reply, but I've stayed there a number of times. It's not too bad, but there's actually a nicer, and cheaper, private campground just several blocks away. Of course the KOA has a pool, but I'd rather take my swims (accidentally) when I'm fishing in one of the local trout streams, and fall in.
We recently returned from the International at Bozeman. Before leaving, I bought a KOA card. I picked KOAs mainly because it is a long way between towns in Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, etc., and I could be assured of at least a reasonable place to stay and a firm reservation.
Denver East KOA at Stroudsburg, CO. I was underwhelmed. Nice folks, but the park was originally non-KOA and poorly laid out. We were packed tight against the adjoining trailer containing a very large, noisy family with two cars full of family guests. Lots of foot traffic through our site.
Rawlins, WY KOA was much better. Decent space between sites and super friendly owner.
Cody KOA was much like Rawlins as far as facilities, but not nearly as friendly. Expensive, but everything in Cody is overpriced. First KOA I have ever stayed at that didn't know how to make me a reservation for the next stop.
Raton, NM KOA was nice and the sites are decently spaced. We opted for just a W/E hookup and had two sites empty on each side of us for a nice, quiet stay.
We also stayed in non-KOA parks in:
Sweetwater, TX (west on I-20, lots of space)
Dumas, TX (friebdly, nice site)
West Yellowstone (Grizzly, best park ever)
Cheyenne (friendly, fair site. great BBQ in park)
Post, TX (OK)
John
I agree with your assessment on the Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone. The only reason why anyone would stay in the KOA there, and rate it highly, would be because they didn't stay at Grizzly for comparison.
I read thru all the replies rather quickly and didn't see mention of these 2 KOA's. So if you are planning a trip the the Yellowstone region here's my take on them:
Bozeman, MT KOA (located in Four Corners several miles west of town) - nice, shady sites in a generally well maintained park. There's a private hot springs next door where you can soak to your heart's content. Be prepared to take out a second mortgage, however, if you plan on staying more than a few days.
Livingston, MT KOA (located just off HWY 89 S on the way to the the north entrance of YNP, about 8-9 outside town). Avoid it at all costs, unless you'd like your awning to be burned by your neighbors who'll be drinking around their fire in the middle of the night. Or you might fall in their campfire ring if you don't hug your trailer when you go on their side to see what's going on. You can't do too much when there's only 6 feet between sites, but this KOA does try.
I do too agree that Phil and Eddie hit on a great point. With the exception of a rally in a private campground, all our destinations are state and National Parks or as close to a National Park we can get when our batteries give out when sites are not available. We don't generally reserve in advance. KOAs are conveniently located right off the main road with a couple of finder signs to get you right there easily. Parking is quick and easy and the facilities have what we need. It's off the road enough to mask the highway noise but not so far as to have to spend any length of time finding a place and monkey around. Sometimes when we get ready to stop, there isn't a lot of energy left to devote to negotiating over hill and over dale. Often we just stay overnight in the rest stops. Typically we are staying 4-5 nights on the road before we arrive at a destination. We're in Michigan!
__________________ CarolJB Delight in the Beauty That Surrounds You
I for one appreciate the name change of this thread.....while I have never ever stayed at a KOA and have no connection to any KOA, it bugged me every time I saw that old thread name.....thank you moderators for making the change to a more neutral thread name that better reflects the postings......pj
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We stayed there last September. There was trash and broken equipment everywhere. An older man in a KOA uniform came by on a golf cart and I showed him the trash. He said "not my job" and left. Evidently it was no ones job. No trash was picked up throughout our stay. There had been some swings around there little lake. These were all broken and the disassembled parts strewn along the bank. The laundry was full of cobwebs and dirty. The assembly room was dirty. The game room was filthy. We wondered if they were going out of business or perhaps bankrupt?
It blows me away that KOA, that hypes itself as having yearly inspections, misses these kind of junky camps. Placerville, CA is another "don't bother" KOA; in fact, it's scary.
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