It looks to me like a lot of campground reviews could be filled out by the folks posting on this thread. Why not swing over to the reviews forum (third tab from the right) and submit a review for campground you are familar with? Someone will be glad you did.
As Rodney suggested, if you have positive or negative experiences at a KOA (or ANY campground), please share them in the forums reviews section. That way they'll be easily accessible to anyone who may need them. This is a great resource for all of us!
__________________
Mel
1960 Caravel "Boris"
1967 Safari "Sparky"
WBCCI BC Unit #4258
I agree that KOAs are a last choice resort. (Pun intended) They are, as has been described, the McCamping experience. At one we stayed at, the manager ran out and snarled at Bill that dogs were permitted only in the dog walk area. I guess they must expect campers to telport their dogs there because Bill was walking the dog on a leash from the trailer to the dog walk area. Sheeesh.
Then there was the KOA we went to after being kicked out of Seacliff that wanted a whopping $75 a night!
__________________ Airylle 1972 Safari featured for 5 nanoseconds in the movie Wild Hogs
?Looking for a tow vehicle?
and Jupiter (the Golden Retriever) Athena (the road kitty)
I agree that as a destination KOA is probably not a very good choice. However, as a place to stop at the end of a day of traveling I say they are hard to beat. We have stayed in over 100 KOA's in the last few years and there is only one I wouldn't return to (Gallop New Mexico). A lot of them are older and most are not fancy (although some, such as the Mt Rushmore, SD KOA are quite fancy). However, they are almost always clean, the people are almost always friendly, and the people that stay at KOA's are usually good traveling neighbors. I have to admit that we have also stayed at State and National Parks that provided much nicer surroundings. However, we have hit a lot more BAD non-KOA's than KOA's in our travels. BTW - the KOA in Las Vegas New Mexico is quitre nice -- they even serve breakfast and sometimes dinner -- just ask El Guapo for his famous omelette!
__________________ Dave DayStreamer 2001 19' Bambi 02 Avalanche
I have to admit that we have also stayed at State and National Parks that provided much nicer surroundings. However, we have hit a lot more BAD non-KOA's than KOA's in our travels.
I agree, there are much worse rv parks than KOA. No sense slamming them all, just because of a few bad ones.
Any large organization gets usually more flack than individual businesses, simply because there's more of them, and more exposure. These days, with forums like this one, more gets exposed, but it's not necessarily always fair. One bad manager having a bad day at an otherwise mediacre KOA does not mean tha the whole chain sucks.
Picked up our new 08 321 Classic in NJ 2 weeks ago and stayed the third stop out at a KOA in Virginia Beach. Had all the books but we were out on business looking at Marinas, so did not look too deep. The first plot they put us on reaked of sewer back up. We asked to be moved and the faint smell still permeated the AS. The next morning after dumping black then gray it all cane back out again leaving me with a real mess. The "Volunteer KOAers liveaboards" shrugged and it seemed to me they were out of their league when it went beyound prunning the entrance flowers. We stayed in New Bern, NC KOA last week on a great lot that you can see the operator took pride in the layout and facilities.
We stayed in New Bern, NC KOA last week on a great lot that you can see the operator took pride in the layout and facilities.
We owned a place on the Neuse River just down river from the KOA and across the river from the lovely, colonial city of New Bern. We loved the view of the New Bern skyline from across the Neuse.
We are at the Manchester KOA right now and will be here till Monday. We have been coming to this campground since 1989 and have seen the facilities and 2 different owners who've made vast improvements..we've had only good experiences at this particular franchise..the former ownners just sold to another owner and already there are new additions including a microwave in the camp kitchen, a brand new huge dog run,a huge bbque group grill, and a capaccino center..I think the experience good or bad or so-so is so dependant on the camp ground owners, the management and staff. I've been to many other KOA's and have had less than good experiences in other states.
I have stayed in a whoping one. Somewhere in South Dakota off I-90. Spent one night on my way west. I could not find a Wal-mart or a truck stop. I was "not realy open" yet. I did not care. I was tired and park it plugged in and went to sleep. I did not even lower the jacks. I slept well that night. Not too near the highway not too near the train tracks. I looked at one near Mt Rushmore. They were not open either. I was barren and packed with spaces. I went down the road to a small family owned place. As a rule I avoid chains. Cookie cutter, and big business. I am more a mom and pop kind of place.
That wouldn't happen to be the one in Interior, SD. would it ? My friend Theo and I stayed there two years ago. It was a nice park then. The spaces where somewhat close together. The wireless signal was good. We saw an awesome lightning storm while we were parked there. I like the park, lots of shade trees and nice folks running the place.
We also stayed at the one in Hill, SD., closest to Mt Rushmore, Very nice too. I imagine it would be a zoo in the summer tho. Also good wireless.
These are the first times that I used the strength of the wireless signal to find a good campsite .
KOA's, great for use as a basecamp or if you have kids in tow !
we have a stayed in several KOAs across the country and find them to be located near major highways. Some good ...some not so good. But our main complaint is cost....we have found if you join some of the discount membership parks you get not only better parks , but less expience than even state parks , etc.
The next morning after dumping black then gray it all cane back out again leaving me with a real mess.
That happened to us at a camping resort. The staff however, responded like we were in a superfund site , and had everything cleaned up and the drain cleared quickly. Sometimes bad things even happen at great places.
__________________ Randy and Pat Godfrey
1st VP Florida Unit WBCCI# 7591 - AIR# 17017
2007 Safari SE 23' - Daisy
2006 Lincoln Mark LT - Hoke
We are at the Manchester KOA right now and will be here till Monday. We have been coming to this campground since 1989 and have seen the facilities and 2 different owners who've made vast improvements..we've had only good experiences at this particular franchise..the former ownners just sold to another owner and already there are new additions including a microwave in the camp kitchen, a brand new huge dog run,a huge bbque group grill, and a capaccino center..I think the experience good or bad or so-so is so dependant on the camp ground owners, the management and staff. I've been to many other KOA's and have had less than good experiences in other states.
This KOA sounds really nice. I have been keeping a list of the recommended KOA's for future reference. I want to add the Manchester KOA to my kist, but you didn't mention what state it is in.
__________________ SuEllyn & Brian McCabe WBCCI #3628 --- AIR #14872 2005 25' Safari FB (Lucy) with HAHA 2005 Suburban 2500 Quadrasteer (Olivia) & 2004 Suburban 2500 Quadrasteer (Daisy)
This KOA sounds really nice. I have been keeping a list of the recommended KOA's for future reference. I want to add the Manchester KOA to my kist, but you didn't mention what state it is in.
I like the line at the end of their notes - "Pay particular attention to routes NOT RECOMMENDED!" Yeah, there's a few narrow, curvey roads up in there...
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, and had everything cleaned up and the drain cleared quickly. Sometimes bad things even happen at great places.
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