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During the pandemic, many people began camping to immerse themselves in the great outdoors while vacationing. With the increased number of first-time RVers, many quickly discovered that finding the right place to park your RV is key to an enjoyable camping experience. There are numerous campgrounds and RV parking spots ranging in comfort levels, from boondocking to luxury-style resorts. One of the most popular sites among glampers is KOA (Kampgrounds of America) because of its convenient locations and top-rated amenities. However, the expense of KOAs makes some second guess whether parking their RV at a Kampgrounds of America campground is worth the cost.

Amenities provided at Kampgrounds of America campgrounds

Washington Post travel writer Andrea Sachs with a rented RV parked at a KOA campground
A rented RV parked at a campground | Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post via Getty Images

With over 500 locations throughout the United States and Canada, KOA campgrounds are a reliable place to park your RV when traveling. The welcoming yellow signs give RVers a sense of comfort because of its reputation of hot showers, Wi-Fi, friendly staff, and kids’ activities. KOA provides guests with numerous amenities based on the campground type for your stay.

KOAs are classified into three categories: Journey, Holiday, and Resort to offer something for every camper and their outdoor journey. KOA Journey campgrounds provide a spot for a quick getaway or a refugee for traveling RVers with spacious pull-through sites, Wi-Fi, swimming pool, playground, and other specialized amenities varying by each campground. KOA Holiday campgrounds allow a destination for RVers to relax and play with upgraded KOA Patio campground options, premium services like breakfast and site delivery from the camp store, meeting facilities, and fun outdoor amenities. KOA Resort campgrounds offer the ultimate vacation spot with resort-style pools, upgraded KOA Patio RV sites, numerous recreation opportunities, and staff-led activities. 

Parking your RV at a KOA campground is worth the cost for some but not others

The yellow KOA signs and yellow shirts of the friendly staff are a comfort to many travelers, whether it’s for a stop-over or extended vacation. The ease of campers booking their site online and well-lit after-hours check-in services makes settling into your campsite simple, so you can focus on enjoying your outdoor adventures. However, the premium features and amenities provided by KOA campgrounds come at a premium price. So, many wonder if it’s worth the cost to park your RV at a KOA campground. The answer is it depends on your reason for taking a camping trip

In addition to the lengthy RV sites found at KOAs, many have tent sites, cabins, tepees, and yurts. Kampgrounds of America campgrounds charge overnight guests a premium price to maintain all these accommodations and luxury amenities. KOA campgrounds provide nice pools, spotless shower houses and restrooms, upgraded on-site recreation opportunities and kids’ activities, special campground-wide events, and so much more.

If you want to park your RV at a location with all the creature comforts such as full hookups, Wi-Fi, and cable, a KOA campground is worth the cost. However, for RVers searching for a place to camp to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and enjoy privacy and the great outdoors, Kampgrounds of America may not be the right fit for parking your RV. 

The average cost of parking your RV at a KOA Campground

KOA campgrounds are privately owned and operated and often more expensive than most public campgrounds. The cost to stay at a Kampgrounds of America with your RV varies based on the campground and site type. KOA campsites range from $24 a night for a standard tent site to $80+ per night for full-hookup RV sites. For water and electric only sites, staying at KOA is less expensive than opting for water, electric, and sewer sites with concrete patios and accompanying furniture or fenced dog-friendly sites. Staying at a KOA campground might be worth the cost and can help you have a safe RV adventure

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