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You can spot a KOA campground from a mile away by their bright yellow signs. They’ve got campgrounds all across the country, and they have great outdoor hospitality. Since 1962 they’ve helped families and friends make camping memories.
We’ve found seven of the coolest KOAs in the US worth visiting. You can find great options from the Pacific Northwest to the deep South. Let’s get started.
How Many KOA Campgrounds Are in the US?
Kampgrounds of America has a massive network of over 525 campgrounds. You’ll find locations in 47 states across the United States.
Having so many options means you can likely find a KOA nearby no matter where your travels take you.
However, you won’t find any KOA campgrounds in Delaware, Hawaii, and Rhode Island. At least not yet!
What Does It Cost to Stay at a KOA Campground?
KOA campgrounds range in price from one campground to the next. You can expect to pay between $40 and $80 if staying in an RV.
However, visiting during peak season, over a holiday weekend, or in a touristy area, you may see prices closer to $100 per night.
Some KOAs also offer tent camping and cabin rentals. Tent camping will typically cost $23 to $45 per night. Depending on the amenities, cabin or yurt rentals can range from $65 to $250 a night.
Pro Tip: You can save money on your nightly rate with a specialty discount program offered by KOA. Not sure if it is worthwhile? Read everything you need to know about the KOA Rewards Membership to help you decide.
Where Is the Largest KOA Campground?
The largest KOA campground is Okeechobee KOA in Florida. The campground has a 9-hole golf course, driving range, and putting green.
However, if golf isn’t your thing, Lake Okeechobee is just a short drive away. It offers some of the best boating and freshwater fishing in Florida.
The campground has three pools, a tennis court, pickleball, and you can hike the Big O Trail. Additionally, it maintains a full event calendar with parades, parties, and seasonal holiday celebrations for Mardis Gras, Christmas, and others.
You can choose one of their 750 campsites or a furnished cabin. You can stay for the weekend or the entire winter season. You’ll love this tropical paradise that has everything you could ask for in a campground.
What Are the Levels of KOA Campgrounds?
KOA campgrounds strive to provide a consistent experience for guests staying at their campgrounds. However, they achieve this consistency in a variety of ways.
You can stay at three types of KOAs, each providing a high-quality experience. Each level has varying amenities and perks. Let’s explore the differences.
KOA Journey
The first type of KOA is the KOA Journey campgrounds. These campgrounds typically sit near major highways and byways across the country.
They have long pull-through sites that make it easy to stop for a night or two during your adventures.
Additionally, they provide the high-quality experience you’ve come to expect from a KOA but typically have fewer amenities. You won’t always find a pool, mini-golf, or other bonuses at a Journey campground.
KOA Holiday
The second type of KOA campground is the KOA Holiday. This level has traveling RVers in mind. You’ll find all the amenities you could need to entertain everyone in your family.
You can find swimming pools, RV sites with large patios, and activities that will keep everyone entertained.
You can enjoy campfire s’mores, movies, ice cream socials, and other activities. They often have heated outdoor pools and playgrounds to help burn off any extra energy from the sweets.
If you want a campground that will keep everyone happy in your tribe, check out a KOA Holiday.
KOA Resort
KOA Journey and Holiday campgrounds are great, but KOA Resorts take camping to a whole different level. While most KOAs have pools, resorts also have hot tubs to soothe those aching muscles.
You’ll find group facilities, food service, holiday events, and a massive list of planned activities, tours, and more.
Staying at a KOA resort gives you the best camping experience and easily lets you see what many people love about KOA campgrounds.
The 7 Coolest KOA Campgrounds in the US
With over 500 campgrounds, it’s hard to narrow it down to seven, but here you go. These are some of the best KOA campgrounds you can consider for your next trip. Take a look.
1. Nashville KOA Journey
Address: 1200 Louisville Hwy, Goodlettsville, TN 37072
Nightly Rate: $40-$84
Nashville is a growing city with so much to see, do, and taste. Nashville KOA Journey even offers tour shuttles to make it easy to see some of the most popular attractions.
Whether you come to town to check out a honky tonk or just listen to some country music, you can make Nashville KOA Journey your home during your time in the Volunteer State.
This KOA campground has everything you could need for a quick overnight stop or a long weekend exploring the city. You can fill up on propane and take a dip in the pool.
Plus, your four-legged friends will enjoy the KampK9 dog area. Don’t miss your chance to stay within 15 minutes of the most fun and exciting cities in the south.
2. Devils Tower KOA Journey
Address: 60 WY-110, Devils Tower, WY 82714
Nightly Rate: $48 -$90
The Driskill family has owned Devils Tower KOA Journey for eight generations and is a part of the historic Campstool Ranch.
This seasonal campground opens May 15 through Oct. 15, depending on snow. The park has RV sites, cabins, tent camping and works great for extended stays and group camping.
The park sits less than a mile from Devils Tower National Monument entrance. You may recognize Devils Tower from the 1977 Steven Spielberg movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”
Devils Tower KOA Journey embraces the movie and plays it every night for guests. If you want to stay close to the monument, you’ll have an incredible view at this campground.
If you want to spend some time exploring this KOA campground, you may love the nightly hayride, hiking trails, and nightly community campfires. Local musicians and storytellers will occasionally stop in to share their talents with guests.
Food For Thought: Not everyone loves camping at KOA campgrounds. Here are 5 Regrets of Staying at a KOA RV Park.
3. Mount Rushmore KOA Resort
Address: 12620 SD-244, Hill City, SD 57745
Nightly Rate: $40-$136
Mount Rushmore KOA Resort sits in the Black Hills of South Dakota. You’re just a short drive to visit both the iconic Mount Rushmore National Monument, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park. You can play mini-golf, take a dip in the pool, or watch your little ones enjoy the splash pad.
If you visit during the summer, this KOA campground hosts on-site rodeos. Then stop for dinner at their world-class chuckwagon dinner.
In addition to the delicious dinner, the park has a pancake tent. They know how to do hospitality.
4. Tucson Lazydays KOA Resort
Address: 5151 S Country Club Rd, Tucson, AZ 85706
Nightly Rate: $35-$159
The Tucson Lazydays KOA Resort is that desert oasis you’ve wanted. At this park, beautiful fruit trees will surround you. And it has plenty of pull-thru RV sites with everything you need for a luxurious stay.
You can even reserve a campsite with a massive patio and fireplace or stay in one of their two-bedroom deluxe cabins.
When the temperatures rise, take a dip in one of their two pools or soak your muscles in one of the multiple hot tubs. Dry off and play a round of golf on their nine-hole putting green.
If you need more to do, visit the park’s new resort-style activity park. It has sports courts, shade, and fire pits.
5. Myrtle Beach KOA Resort
Address: 613 5th Ave S, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Nightly Rate: $60-$149
Myrtle Beach KOA Resort is unlike any other in the area. You can visit this popular beach town while camping among some of the largest old-growth pines in this region.
You’ll forget how close you are to the beach and truly feel a part of nature.
This KOA campground goes above and beyond to host activities for all ages during every season. It aims to provide something for everyone, so you don’t even have to leave the park.
Their activities include ice cream socials, pool events, game nights, karaoke, and a worm train.
6. Leavenworth – Pine Village KOA Holiday
Address: 308 Zelt Strasse, Leavenworth, WA 98826
Nightly Rate: $56-$104
At the base of the Cascade Mountains lies a rustic, luxurious camping experience. The campsites at Leavenworth-Pine Village KOA Holiday provide breathtaking views of the Cascades, sounds of the rushing Wenatchee River, and some of the most luxurious camping in the area.
Management renovated the campground in 2018 to accommodate big rigs and to include deluxe terraced cabins.
From the park, you can take a dip in the Wenatchee River, hike the nearby trails, or easily visit Leavenworth and the many activities the city has to offer.
You can take a short walk to downtown Leavenworth, which, during the Christmas season, has an incredible display of Christmas lights. We highly suggest checking out this KOA campground if you visit the area.
7. Sugarloaf Key – Key West KOA Holiday
Address: 251 State Road 939, Fl 20, Summerland Key, FL 33042
Nightly Rate: $139-$237
In 2017 Hurricane Irma devastated Sugarloaf Key – Key West KOA Holiday. This resulted in major construction and overhauling projects to the campground.
The park has opened again and has a pool, hot tub, full-service marina, and pub. However, you’ll see some ongoing construction projects and some amenities remain closed.
The campground conveniently sits in South Florida, part of the Florida Keys. Their RV sites have full hookups and 50/30 amp service.
The Key West area has so much to see and do, but the park plans to offer guests plenty of activities too. You can rent paddleboards and kayaks, sign up for a fishing and snorkeling excursion, and play on the inflatable water toys.
Do You Need a Membership to Camp at KOA?
No, you do not need a membership to camp at a KOA campground. They do offer the KOA Rewards Program, which costs $33 annually and comes with discounts on registration fees.
Additionally, with the reward program, you can earn reward points, free stays during their VKR Appreciation Weekend, and coupons and special deals with KOA and its partners.
However, you can stay at a KOA without joining their rewards program.
Treat the Family to a Cool RV Trip at KOA
KOA campgrounds do a tremendous job of offering something for everybody in the family. Whether you’re looking for a quick overnight stop or a place to stay for an extended vacation, a KOA can be the perfect place to stay.
You can make a lifetime of amazing memories with your loved ones and take some of the stress out of camping. What’s your favorite KOA campground?
