
What is a KOA Campground and Should You Try One?
Have you seen KOA campgrounds all over New England, the United States, and other parts of the world?
They have the big yellow signs that say KOA (Kampgrounds of America).
As avid campers, my wife and I will always find them popping up while looking up new areas to camp.
Truthfully, we had never gone to one before because they seemed too commercialized/busy - not what we typically go for.
Well, last weekend my wife and I stayed at our first KOA when we took a trip to Niagara Falls, Ontario, and we will certainly be staying at more KOAs after an amazing weekend at the Niagara Falls KOA Holiday.
Why we chose a KOA instead of a hotel: price, comfort, amenities.
The hotels around the area we were staying at were expensive. The KOA had gorgeous, fully equipped cabins, for far cheaper. The cabins were beautiful and had everything we needed: linens, kitchen, shower/bath, grill, firepit, etc.
We find comfort in campgrounds - not busy areas. So to find an affordable cabin at a quiet campground was much more our speed.
Why you should choose a KOA:
Now that I have been to one KOA, I will be booking many more in the future. And the #1 reason we will do it again/you should, is the amenities.
If you are not planning on being at your campground for more than sleeping, maybe the KOA is not for you; however, for families with kids, for couples looking for fun, or for anyone who will spend any extra time at a campground, KOA's are loaded with stuff to keep you entertained.
At the KOA in Niagara Falls, they had a dog park, cornhole, a mini golf course, a pool, a hot tub, bikes to rent, a jumping pad, and so much more. I mean SO MUCH MORE - like a shuttle that took you to the falls from the campground (what other "regular" campground offers that).
I say the best part of a camping trip is the actual camping (aka being around the site) - that is certainly true at KOAs.
Are KOAs good for beginner campers or experienced ones? Both - but certainly first-time campers.
From their amenities to their camp store, you could show up to a KOA with nothing but the clothes on your back and you would feel like a professional camper by the end of the trip.
I have been to dozens of campgrounds and this is the first time I have seen a communal "camp kitchen." A way to cook your food/wash your dishes with plenty of table space, sink space, and grill space.
So from the support of the store, cooking zones, kitchen sinks, and fully functioning bathrooms/washhouses, first-time campers do not need to buy hundreds of dollars worth of gear to get out and camp.
Just show up to a KOA, use what they offer, and have fun with your first camping experience.
Bottom line: KOA campgrounds are Sherwood-approved.
They have their purpose - convenient locations, incredible amenities, family/kid friendly, first-time camper friendly, a variety of tenting/cabin options for all price ranges, gorgeous bathroom facilities, and so on.
KOAs know they are not a still and serene state park - and that is okay. Many of those do not have flushable toilets or a trash service...
KOAs thrive on what they are: a fun campground that offers the most resort-like amenities I have ever seen, at a reasonable rate.
And for those reasons, we will be back.
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