KOA standard charge now $60?!

I always get a kick out these threads. People driving around in motorhomes worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars complaining about paying $60 for a place to park it.

FordDiesel250 wrote:
That is why we always try to stay at State Parks first. KOA's used to be camper price friendly but not any more. Way over priced for a family on a camping budget.

That's the way I see it too. Families with small kids and on a budget are hit the hardest at KOAs. The ones that can least afford it. 30+ years of camping, never stayed at a commercial park. State, National, C.O.E. and national forest campgrounds are the greatest for enjoying nature at it's finest. ;)

colliehauler wrote:
Their campground their rates, your money your choice.

No truer words have been spoken. Those of us that like KOA's will pay their prices, those that don't, won't. But there is no starting price of $60. Many are much lower.

agesilaus wrote:
If you look at RVPARKREVIEW you'll see that most of these KOA's were in the $35-40 range last year, so this price jump occurred over the winter. Yes I know that high demand areas like the Florida Keys are always more expensive. So only CG Devils Tower KOA being the one and only CG explains that price jump. But I hardly think that Bozeman is a tourist mecca.

Bozeman is one of the primary interstate connections for Yellowstone, Interstate 90. It's airport is poised to be the busiest in Montana by 2020, surpassing Billings. It is a college town. It is the access point of Big Sky Montana, home of some of the most exclusive mountain real estate in the world, rivaling Jackson and Vail. Bill Gates, Former Vice President Dan Quayle, Pro Golfer Anaka Sorenstan, Tour de France winner Greg Lemond are among the property owners. Bozeman is a prime destination for Fly fisherman with the Yellowstone, Gallatin, Madison and Missouri rivers minutes away. It is between multiple mountain ranges and is considered one of the best outdoor recreation communities in the United States with Hiking, biking and mountaineering opportunities everywhere.
It has very tough zoning, can't just plop an RV park down anywhere. It has tremendously high land prices. No couple of hundred or thousand dollar an acre plats. There is a great shortage of RV spaces, you won't find an unsold site from June thru September. Prices in the $50s to $70s are very reasonable for the area during the prime season.

I paid $55 for my site at Devils Tower this summer, booked in February. The view will be worth it. As for Bozeman, short season. Book in June, 65 dollars, same site in Sept is $45. Stayed last month at the KOA in Tucson, $36 for a great pull through. We stay at KOA almost exclusively since I prefer pull through full hookup sites and don't mind paying a little more for them. We have 28 reservations at KOA's this summer and only one was over $60. Most under 50 and several under 40.

If you look at RVPARKREVIEW you'll see that most of these KOA's were in the $35-40 range last year, so this price jump occurred over the winter. Yes I know that high demand areas like the Florida Keys are always more expensive. So only CG Devils Tower KOA being the one and only CG explains that price jump. But I hardly think that Bozeman is a tourist mecca.

We stayed at the Hatteras KOA last May and it was $70 a night - 10% for the KOA card. I thought it was ok priced for the location, but the CG itself was nothing special. But, what a marvelous trip it was.

Rising prices and inflation are not the same things in all cases. Many price rises are marketing decisions meant to stake out a certain sector of the market and have nothing to do with inflation or the cost of other services/products.

In the Case of KOA I think this is the case. They always seem to be one of the higher priced in any given area for about the same amenity level.

Too Many parks are at the $25 to $45 dollar range for this to be inflationary.

As long as people will choose to pay more (needlessly to my mind) companies will try to get more. "Price Resistance" is something companies follow closely.

If you want fair prices for good Quality, resist the higher prices and let the companies know why.

In May, we stayed at several "non-destination" KOA's. They were $49 per night, $44 with the KOA "Kampin' Kard".

One friendly owner clued me in that all franchise owners had been hit with much higher fees from the central office. One example: While you pay central to buy a card to earn points redeemable toward additional $$ off on camping, it is the franchise that has to give the discount, and is not reimbursed. On top of the 10% discount the card gets you. So, less franchise income to cover costs. Hence price increases. RV'ing in general is up, and they are seeing increases in reservations, so overall the franchise owners figured the time is right to make up for the losses racked up during the recession.

We use them because they tend to be the "Holiday Inn" of camping - may not be great, but one can count on a reasonable level of standards.

But I should note, we have stayed for a week or more at a couple of their "Destination Resorts" and paid the higher rates. Why? Great location, primarily. And comparing it to a motel at $150-$250 a night in the same area, it is still cheap!

KOA standard charge now $60?!

No, no and no.

KOA's across the US are "NOT" all $60.00. :R

Just like any other CG if it is near an attraction and/or a popular vacation area the rates are higher.

I full time and stay at a lot of CG's. I 'choose' to stay at KOA's whenever possible. Their rates are the SAME as any other CG within the same area.

When I head south I treat myself to a stop at the Nashville KOA. Right downtown close to everything. Yes I do pay 65.00 for 'that' KOA for huge pull thru site with an even huger concrete patio even with my steps complete with a full set of wrought iron lawn furniture table chairs lounger etc.

BUT, at that SAME KOA there are numerous other sites available for LESS.

The KOA bashing threads are based on weekend and/or vacationers that are just looking at the CG's right in the heart of an attraction or vacation spot.

They are NOT all $60.00. I know I use them across the USA.:W