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06-25-2015, 08:26 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Ennis TX
Posts: 245
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KOA worth it?
My family has been camping for over 5 years now and this recent trip to Yellowstone we decided to overnight at 2 different KOA parks. We have in the past always stayed at state or national parks for less than $30 a night. The 2 parks where on the way to our location so we stayed over night. Both were gravel parking lots with close neighbors and $60+ each. Charged $5 per kid! I only have 3. I think I'm going to start looking for independent parks in the future. Does this typical?
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06-25-2015, 08:43 PM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 22
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We have a KOA membership and also have the Good Sam membership. Its kind of hit and miss on KOAs as far as the quality of their facilities. We tend to only stay for one night when on a long trip. Get the Good Sam Camping directory. It lists all campgrounds, their rates, paved or not etc. They then give each campground a rating as far as facilities, etc.
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06-25-2015, 09:20 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Southern New England
Posts: 862
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Sorry if I'm crossing forums here but...I find KOA's to be more expensive then their local counterparts. And, their sites are tight. But, they have a lot of amenities and I haven't been to one that wasn't extremely helpful and accommodating. In this pick, you can see as I'm hooking up I'm stretched across the street and in another site. This was our icebreaker weekend in Spring before any other local campground was open for the season.
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2017 GMC Yukon
2018 Roo 23 ikss
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06-25-2015, 09:22 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 522
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06-25-2015, 09:48 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10,833
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I stayed at 1 KOA. Never again! Nice tight sites and full services and $75 per night for the upgraded deluxe site. The regular site was $50 with no Sewer and back in, no room for my slides.
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B and B
2022 Venture RV SportTrek STT 302 VRB Travel Trailer
2018 Heartland Landmark 365 Louisville 5th Wheel
2015 Heartland Bighorn 5th Wheel
2013 FR Rockwood 8289WS 5th Wheel
2012 FR Rockwood 2703 SS Travel Trailer
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06-25-2015, 09:48 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 9,839
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Just left a KOA yesterday they bent over backwards to make it right and smooth, did not like the idea of wearing a bracelet to prove we were registered guest but I can understand the situation.
Right now at a private GC and the place is the pits of pits.
Drunk locals (no joke) host is rude WIFI is a joke direct TV only gotta have the box on a scale of 0-5 this place is a -6, will be moving on Saturday morning first light.
Just MHO but KOA kicked this place right off the radar screen, well perhaps this place did it to themselves.
__________________
2016 F350 6.7L LB CC Reese 28K 2014 Chaparral Lite 266sab
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 2014 19 days camping 2015 17 days camping201620 days camping
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06-25-2015, 11:35 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,790
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That's why they say KOA stands for Keep On Adding.
So, yes it's typical.
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Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.) 
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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06-26-2015, 08:14 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Ontario
Posts: 521
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They vary a lot. We stayed in one in northern ontario that was kampground of the year of couple of years ago. Great hosts and service. Great facilities and we had a huge lot.
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Orval and Yvonne
2016 Flagstaff 27RLWS Emerald Package
2011 F150 SCrew XTR 5.0L 4x4
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06-26-2015, 08:42 AM
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#9
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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I rank KOA & Yogi Bear at just below the bottom of the barrel.
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06-26-2015, 08:47 AM
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#10
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Georgia Rally Coordinator
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: GA
Posts: 24,474
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It depends what part of the country how popular a place is as to the prices they charge. Also if any special events going on they are just like motels they raise there rates. We choose the ones we use that are reasonably. GS same way hit or miss sites will vary for both. Later RJD 
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2020 Shasta Phoenix SPF 27RKSS (sold)
2018 Dodge Ram 2500 6.4 3:73 gearing.(sold) (sold) 2015 Chevy 2500 6.0, 4:10
Traded 2015 30WRLIKS V-Lite
Days camped 2019 62
Days camped 2020 49 days camped 2021-74 2022-40 days 2023 5 days
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06-26-2015, 09:10 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 228
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OldCoot,
Strange, we just happen to be in a Yogi camp just outside of Lindale, TX right now. This one seems to be a family run operation. Only reason we are here is that we have the grandkids (5 and 7) with us. We love this one. Of course we would not pay the extra money if we did not have the kids with us.
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06-26-2015, 09:28 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Central Indiana
Posts: 360
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot
I rank KOA & Yogi Bear at just below the bottom of the barrel.
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IMO, a bit unfair to clump all of them together. Been to a couple that I would agree with you are below bottom of barrell, but I've also been to others that are at or near the top of the list. Including a Yogi outside of South Haven, MI where we spent our vacation last week.
Just sayin. . .
__________________
Brian, Stacy, and the kids
2011 F-250 CCSB 6.7L PSD 4WD
2013 Palomino Solaire 269BHDSK
ProPride Hitch
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06-26-2015, 09:31 AM
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#13
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by purduepete97
IMO, a bit unfair to clump all of them together. Been to a couple that I would agree with you are below bottom of barrell, but I've also been to others that are at or near the top of the list. Including a Yogi outside of South Haven, MI where we spent our vacation last week.
Just sayin. . .
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Just stating our personal experiences since we started traveling extensively in 1973 all over the US of A. We only use them as a VERY last choice as we don't stay in Cracker Barrels or Walmart parking lots, etc. We only stay in campgrounds while on the road.
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06-26-2015, 09:38 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Jefferson County, MO
Posts: 5,452
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Generally speaking, KOA’s are clean parks and well maintained. At many KOA’s the sites are too close together for my liking and every one I’ve been to was a bit pricier than other RV parks in the same area. There are exceptions of course.
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Bob and Joyce
2013 CC Silverback 29RL
2010 Ford F250 XL Crew Cab 6.4 liter diesel
ATU Local 788
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06-26-2015, 09:41 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 228
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OldCoot,
All of our personal experiences are how and why we learn from each other. I do not really care for KOA either. But often when traveling we just need a place to plug in and I "might" use one in a pinch. I have seen enough of your posts to know I do value your opinion though. Now i may ultimately disagree but hey, that is what opinions are for right?
Keep on camping........
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06-26-2015, 09:48 AM
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#16
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Klbrown53
OldCoot,
All of our personal experiences are how and why we learn from each other. I do not really care for KOA either. But often when traveling we just need a place to plug in and I "might" use one in a pinch. I have seen enough of your posts to know I do value your opinion though. Now i may ultimately disagree but hey, that is what opinions are for right?
Keep on camping........
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You bet! Like I said, we only use them in desperation. 
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06-26-2015, 09:51 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Central Indiana
Posts: 360
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot
Just stating our personal experiences since we started traveling extensively in 1973 all over the US of A. We only use them as a VERY last choice as we don't stay in Cracker Barrels or Walmart parking lots, etc. We only stay in campgrounds while on the road.
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Not saying your perspective is invalid or inaccurate, but I (and many others based on how full the campground was last week) think there is some good camping to be done at KOAs and Jelly's IF:
1. you pick a good one (same rule applies to non-KOA/Jelly too), and
2. the style of camping fits your personal tastes.
Your opinion holds a lot of weight on this forum - would hate to see people write off KOA or Jelly w/o trying them.
Respectfully submitted.
__________________
Brian, Stacy, and the kids
2011 F-250 CCSB 6.7L PSD 4WD
2013 Palomino Solaire 269BHDSK
ProPride Hitch
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06-26-2015, 09:54 AM
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#18
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by purduepete97
... would hate to see people write off KOA or Jelly w/o trying them. Respectfully submitted.
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X2
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06-26-2015, 09:59 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 686
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oakman
Generally speaking, KOA’s are clean parks and well maintained. At many KOA’s the sites are too close together for my liking and every one I’ve been to was a bit pricier than other RV parks in the same area. There are exceptions of course.
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My sentiments exactly! The closeness is what kills it for us. We want more than an arms reach between us and our neighbors.
And also, we can camp twice as long at our local Campgrounds ( just as nice ) for half the price of a KOA.
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Rick & Brian
2023 Flagstaff 206STSE
2019 Flagstaff HW29SC ( sold )
2017 Salem Cruise Lite 232RBXL ( sold )
2014 Ford 150 XLT 5.0 2wd
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06-26-2015, 10:14 AM
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#20
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tipp City, OH
Posts: 7,154
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The thing I don't like about KOA's, is that if you have kids, the cost gets out of sight! The last one I even looked at, wanted $10 a night extra for each kid, on top of the already exaggerated price. We may travel with 4 kids, and to pay over $100 a night in the middle of BFE, is just insane.
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2016 Georgetown 364TS
2017 Jeep Rubicon Recon toad
Nights Camped 2019 - 17
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