KOA standard charge now $60?!

jplante4 wrote:
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.

Most retirees driving big motorhomes or big 5th wheels with an expensive truck have saved many years for the privilege of buying it! They are not rich as you seem to infer.

We used public campgrounds 95% of our 16 years of full-timing. Not only because of the senior discount but because we'd much prefer being surrounded by nature than being surrounded by row after row of RVs.

Been on the road for 8 nights now traveling across the country. Seven of those 8 nights have been at different KOA's. We have not spent more than $50 a night, and most nights much less than that. The one night we were not at a KOA we regretted it.

rockhillmanor wrote:

jplante4 wrote:
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.

Before making flipent remarks like this there are VERY 'different' ways people RV. Weekend, vacation, snowbird, full time.

IRREGARDLESS of what 'type' of RV they have it is how OFTEN they use CG's that makes a difference regarding the costs of CG's NOT the cost of what type of RV they are capable of owning. :R

$20 bucks per night here or there for a week end trip or a vacation most certainly will not break the bank for the weekend warrior or for someones once a year 10 day vacation.

FYI:
For the full time and Snowbird RV'er traveling on the road.
60.00 x 30 days = $1,800
28.00 x 30 days = $840.00

Hmmm, possible savings up to $1,000 a month? Don't care who you are a millionaire or not. It's about prudent 'smart' management of ones finances. Just saying.:W

Yeah but a full time or snowbirder don't move several times a week. Most of the time, they are there for weeks or months at a time and take advantage of long term rates. And more than likely they will not be staying in a tourist destination during prime time. Those that do, are only there for a week or so at the most. And those usually don't have an issue paying that amount.

Who said RVing was cheap? I would expect to pay that much at a KOA in that location. Find another park in the area that is cheaper. $60 is an average price to us for a private park. We normally only stay in private parks when at a destination (like the beach or any other tourist area). Otherwise, the majority of our stays at county, state and national campgrounds.

I think it is all about what you are willing to pay for, we stayed in our first KOA last year in Virginia and it was priced less than some of the other campgrounds we stayed in on that trip mainly because of the location to other destinations. There are other independent campgrounds that charge more or less depending on where they are located to the attractions in the area. I do admit, there are some that are pricey and there is nothing special around them. Thee is one about an hour and a half north of us that is that way.We are going to Michigan this year and staying in 2 different KOA's because of their location to what we wanted to do, availability,and because the other on our trip needs a 50Amp service and some campgrounds do not have it. We are staying 10 nights and paying a total of about $430. The way I look at it is that is about 2-3 nights in a mid level hotel, so I am not complaining!!

jplante4 wrote:
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.

Before making flipent remarks like this there are VERY 'different' ways people RV. Weekend, vacation, snowbird, full time.

IRREGARDLESS of what 'type' of RV they have it is how OFTEN they use CG's that makes a difference regarding the costs of CG's NOT the cost of what type of RV they are capable of owning. :R

$20 bucks per night here or there for a week end trip or a vacation most certainly will not break the bank for the weekend warrior or for someones once a year 10 day vacation.

FYI:
For the full time and Snowbird RV'er traveling on the road.
60.00 x 30 days = $1,800
28.00 x 30 days = $840.00

Hmmm, possible savings up to $1,000 a month? Don't care who you are a millionaire or not. It's about prudent 'smart' management of ones finances. Just saying.:W

If you check State of California parks with hook ups the price ranges from $40 to $80 a night. Most of the desirable parks are in the $65 range.

abc40kids wrote:


Any more a decent cg is gonna be 65 or better and if it's cheap it probably shows.

We are on the road about 2/3rd of the time. I would say that we spend $65 or better, about once a month. We are currently at a stunning place in the San Juan mountains in Co. It's $34. We just had a decent string of using Passport America, and ending up in nice campgrounds, all of which were less than $20/night.

I am amazed - and, quite honestly, pleased.

I thought this would turn into yet another KOA bashing thread but almost to the opposite. I think people made their points well and, surprisingly, most people were positive of KOA.

We have stayed in exactly 175 different RV parks in our 17 years part time RVing. What we have found is that it is location, season and amenities - KOA or other (and KOA tends to have more than the average place I think).

We were thinking of perhaps heading back up to Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier, etc in 2016. All places in those areas we have stayed and all the prices have gone up considerably in the last few years. And only one is a KOA.

We used to live in Estes Park, CO and the prime season rates have skyrocketed and the places have, in our mind, gone downhill considerably over the last few years for the summer. Location, location, location and timing, timing, timing.

We won't stay there anymore - we stay down in Loveland at Riverview RV Park and love it.

So, everyone, enjoy your time and the place you stay - $20 or $150 per night is YOUR choice in most cases.

Be safe.

mdcamping wrote:

OutdoorPhotographer wrote:
I love the KOA in Queechee, VT. Not resort style although they have a pool that I don't use. Friendly management, lots of trees, nice bath houses, and great BBQ or pancakes at a local joint across the street.

X2!

Great BBQ across the street!, loved the smoked chicken and DW loved the pulled pork! :C

Mike

We normally cook but pulled in late on Friday night the first time we stayed there and I was looking for good food to grab. So glad we arrive late! And, ditto, I usually go with smoked chicken and DW pulled pork.

Had to cancel our Memorial Day reservation because daughter moved out of school that weekend. I was bummed.