Nice Product Placement NüCamp!!

LauraRey

While looking at possible places to camp in the next couple of weeks, I went to the KOA site.  Since I own a red and white T@B, should I take this as a sign?  

Ratkity

They had a teardrop on their cover from PV last year. They probably have deal with KOA. It's great advertising!

JandJ92010

You can tell it was staged, the stabilizers aren't down.

Tabaz

Yes Laura, this is an omen. You must stay at a KOA.

Ratkity

JandJ92010 said:

You can tell it was staged, the stabilizers aren't down.

It also looks like the door slammed open on a kid LOL.

fiddlefoot

that's funny

LauraRey

I think it is awesome advertising.  Great to pair with KOA.

larrygon

Why stay at a KOA when you can camp in your own front yard?

Z_G

Why use your own fire ring when you can use someone else's ... 

LauraRey

larrygon said:

Why stay at a KOA when you can camp in your own front yard

Everyone camps in different ways.  Got young kids?  Sometimes a KOA is perfect.  Please don't be rude.  We are all different.

jgram2

Some folks feel the same way about Walmart which saved our poorly planned behinds a couple of times-well once. The second "saved" night, parked on a dead end street next to Walmart, and were awakened at 0200 by the most horrendous revving engine noises, followed by head splitting pounding. Discovered they were widening the entry drive to the Walmart parking lot. Had to remove ~ 10 yards of concrete to do so! It wasn't just a jack hammer-I've used one, it was a hydraulic cannon of some sort. Then they had to load the chunks-3loads-and haul them away. This was all ~50 feet from us! I'll bet that never happened at a KOA!

Photomom

We just got back from a 2 week trip.  Because we were visiting popular tourist areas location was very important so we stayed at 3 different KOAs. The Gettysburg/Battlefield KOA was one of the finest campgrounds we've ever stayed at, hands down. We would camp there again anytime. The Hagerstown/Antietam KOA wasn't quite as nice physically but the owner and employees were some of the nicest, most helpful people we've met. The third KOA was conveniently located but the owners should NOT have been in the hospitality business, but a beautiful valley full of Amish farms stretched out from the campground to the horizon. 

Don't discount KOAs without checking reviews, especially if you're touring the country. 

larrygon

I apologize if you took my sarcasm of the picture which looks like people camping in a front yard to mean that KOA camping is not camping. 
I am a card carrying KOA camper and enjoy my points for free nights.
Don't be rude and quick to judge.

LauraRey

larrygon said:

I apologize if you took my sarcasm of the picture which looks like people camping in a front yard to mean that KOA camping is not camping. 
I am a card carrying KOA camper and enjoy my points for free nights.
Don't be rude and quick to judge.

My mistake. It sounded like you were making fun of people who utilize KOAs. 

rkj__

I just went to the site, and it looks like they fixed the door slamming on the kid.

Michigan_Mike

I'm an opportunist when it comes to camping and many times have "camped by the seat of my pants" if you will in that when traveling long distances alone I normally drive until I find a suitable destination after fatigue sets in and I'm ready to pull over for the night.  I've camped in some remote national forest campground areas (that did work and required some additional miles behind the wheel), have spent the night in Walmart parking lots when I could find no suitable campground and parked and camped behind large major hotel complexes to rest and rejuvenate for the next days journey.  As a rule I normally don't sleep in rest areas for safety reasons and because they are noisy/busy, but since owning a T@B I do feel more secure in some of these spots and have done so as a last resort.  

As most campers have found out when traveling long distances across the US and Canada there is what I call the difficult zones in-between, those areas where there really are no campsites or camping areas (in rural America, etc.) available and at these times you have to do what you have to do in an effort to stay safe and at the same time, get some rest in the best spot available.   Some revert to stealth camping and I have done this before as well, but in these hit and miss times I have opted for a Walmart parking lot or stayed at a KOA which I agree, they can be expensive and normally would not be my first pick.  And like Photomom, I have stayed in some nice KOA's in my time, they were well maintained and I have placed them in the memory bank for future use if needed.   Convenience is definitely there and that's what I look for, along with a hot shower, quiet campground and a place where you and your family feel safe and secure.  

I've stayed a few times out at the KOA in West Yellowstone, used it as a base camp of sorts when exploring Yellowstone NP and it worked out great.  I drove up from Helena, Montana about 5 years ago, took a rock to my stargazer window in a 5-wide LG trailer and noticed it after reserving a site at the West Yellowstone KOA.
The folks there were very generous, hooked me up with their maintenance guy and he helped me clean up the tempered glass that had shattered and was strewn inside the trailer.  He also helped me fabricate a temporary window covering  using clear plastic fabric and duct tape and this allowed me to continue my trip and make it back to Michigan, even after I'd run through a few storms along the way.  And while camped at Devil's Tower NP in their campground I was able to borrow some tools from the maintenance man at the nearby KOA (he handed them to me and drove off), who thought nothing of helping out a complete stranger.  That to me says a lot about not only the organization, but people in general and their inner ability to reach out and help others when in need.  This is what makes traveling, exploring new roads, creating adventures/memories and taking some risk therein more appealing for me personally.  The reward is certainly there for the taking and the new friends and acquaintances you make along the trail also makes it fun and alluring.  I'm looking forward to uCamp17 and having some fun and meeting many of you!

ericnliz

Here, here @Michigan_Mike! Life in a T@B IS an adventure, no matter where you are. I'm always amazed at how kind, and generous folks are when we travel. Made lots of friends, and enjoyed campfires with total strangers along the way. Can't say I've regretted any of the adventures. I agree KOA's can be a little spendy, but most of them have amenities you won't find at most campgrounds. I've also found that if you stay at one of these KOA's, local folks work there, and can give you insights, and places to go that aren't "listed" in any of the "touristy" information listings. Found some AWESOME waterfalls along the Columbia River gorge that way!

2Cougs

We will be traveling thru Nevada in August... KOA may be an oasis in the desert!!!

larrygon

2Cougs said:

We will be traveling thru Nevada in August... KOA may be an oasis in the desert!!!

If you go through Las Vegas, Sam's Town KOA is great spot. You get all the benefits of the casino too. We stay there all the time.

ronin718

@Photomom....  Which KOA in the Amish area are you referring to?  Hershey Park has 2-3 in that area, and I would prefer to avoid the one that has owners who "should NOT have been in the hospitality business".  Thanks!

2Cougs

@larrygon - this time it is traveling from Santa Rosa, CA to Boise enroute to view the eclipse.  There is definitely no-man's land between Reno and Boise!

Librarydragon

There was a koa in Winnemucca NV that we have stayed at in the past. Not sure if it's still there.

larrygon

@2Cougs  Yep, Vegas is a bit out of your way!

dsatwork

A few weeks ago, on our leg of the journey between Yellowstone and Mt Rushmore, we stayed at a KOA in Sheridan, WY. (let me just go on the record here, KOA is never our first choice because they are usually expensive and crowded) However, we found the Sheridan / Big Horn Mountains KOA Journey a great place for an overnight stay. They had just invested in a new WiFi service, but it wasn't working. The manager asked us to call the support number and complain about the service. She was told by the service provider that they didn't think there really was a problem, because not that many people were complaining. We were all to happy to oblige. We always play putt-putt golf at these ridiculously old pitiful KOA mini golf courses, that were probably new in the 50s and 60s. Doesn't matter to us how run down it is... @Sandiegogal and I have a blast knocking balls all over the place. BTW.....Seeing a T@b in a KOA ad......is very cool indeed.

dinzzy

We have enjoyed our KOA stays.  They are what you make them.  With a good attitude I find that others will tag along with your positive mind set...and if you have non camping relatives they can stay in one of their cabins close by you!

Photomom

ronin718 said:

@Photomom....  Which KOA in the Amish area are you referring to?  Hershey Park has 2-3 in that area, and I would prefer to avoid the one that has owners who "should NOT have been in the hospitality business".  Thanks!

Check reviews for any campground. As I said, location was excellent and the owner's behavior was a relatively minor annoyance for us. When confronted with a rude person its best to remember that it's about them, not you.