KOA ridiculous charge

Just got home, out for 15 nights, 3500 miles, with the GD. Stayed in KOAs all the way.
New to us, as we usually go state park or forest service CG's.

For camping with the GD I really liked them. Pools and playgrounds were a big hit with the kid. Staff was always friendly. Many had some sort of other kid thing going on as well. Wifi was pretty good at all campgrounds

As we don't reserve more than a day ahead (just the way we travel) I found it very nice to be able to log on to their website and make a reservation for the next day.

Locations were very close to the things we wanted to see.

Seemed like they averaged about $45 a night. So for us, with the kid, I thought KOA's were a pretty decent deal, and very user friendly, as far as making reservations, staff etc.

So would be pretty hard to us to complain about our experience with them

I just checked Wilmiington NC KOA & their premium site is $93/ night.

The last time I stayed at a KOA was many years ago. We had reserved a site and quoted a price. When we arrived we were given a bill which was substantially more than we were quoted. We questioned the bill and were told, oh, that's a resort fee, and its not optional.

Haven't been to a KOA since. KOA = Keep On Adding.

We stayed at a number of KOA's on our trip this summer. We found them no more expensive than any other campground we stayed at along the way with the exception of Great Falls, MT. We did stop at one in MN that had no RV sites available but offered us a tent site for $20. We opted not to stay and found another campground about 20 minutes up the road. We had the choice whether to stay or not as I assume was the same choice the OP had.

We stay at KOA's or GS campgrounds when possible because they do seem to have at least a minimum standard to meet. Traveling in a class B we do use the bathroom facilities and prefer ones that are kept clean which I find true of most KOA's.

Flapper wrote:
KOA's are like Holiday Inns used to be, or Howard Johnson's. We pretty consistently use them when on the road because of the usually dependable minimal standards. If there is a high rated alternative in the area, we of course will take that. But many times, it is "Joe's Slum" vs KOA.
In the end, my benchmark is pretty much always - what would we have paid if we didn't have an RV and this was a Motel 6? $40-$65 in a tourist area is still a deal, especially if it is for a shorter time. For destination stays, I'll look harder for alternatives, but either way, campground pricing is generally the least of my concerns.

Agreed.
CG Location is always more important than CG price

KOA's are like Holiday Inns used to be, or Howard Johnson's. We pretty consistently use them when on the road because of the usually dependable minimal standards. If there is a high rated alternative in the area, we of course will take that. But many times, it is "Joe's Slum" vs KOA.
In the end, my benchmark is pretty much always - what would we have paid if we didn't have an RV and this was a Motel 6? $40-$65 in a tourist area is still a deal, especially if it is for a shorter time. For destination stays, I'll look harder for alternatives, but either way, campground pricing is generally the least of my concerns.

We recently went to visit our daughter to go to a show. I told the DW lets continue on to a nearby state as we don't have that magnet!!!I called up the cg that we like, not that we have a lot of choice with the location and they did not have overflow. I wasn't about to unhitch and leave my TT in Wally world and expect it to be there when I got back. So I gladly paid for a water and electric site. It was safe and secure when we returned and I didn't worry or think about it one bit. $40 is cheap insurance for piece of mind. Think of the **** you would go through if it were stolen! If you dont want to pay the money dont bring the rig next time.

As a previous poster mentioned, all state parks are not created equal. Especially from state to state! There are pros and cons (and price variations) to all the many state parks we've stayed at in NY, PA, NJ, DE, MD and a few others I've probably forgotten. Much depends on what you are looking for and who is in your party (little children, older kids, young adults, elderly, pets, multiple families, etc).

rjxj wrote:
Supply/demand

... and free enterprise. Vote with your feet!

I have read the original and now the "explanation" and still am missing something I guess. Like I said, at least 5 other options with lower prices and higher ratings and, knowing the amenities that KOA is known for - and known to charge for - I guess I do not understand the complaint of the price. It is what the market will bear.

And, having stayed at a logged 175 places, I can pretty much assure everyone that no place is perfect!