KOA?

[aaronrules]

So I am trying to plan the trip out to Ouray. I might break it down into two nights and three days worth of driving. There plenty of KOA campgrounds on the way from here (Fort Smith, AR) to there. I have never stayed at a KOA. What's the big deal with them? Would I be better served crashing in a hotel with my 8 year old boy after 8 hours of driving? We won't be towing a trailer, and will be tent camping anywhere we camp. I just don't know if KOA's are the way to go if we decide to go the camping route.

 

[e9999]

I only stayed at a KOA a couple of times, so no expert. But I have no desire to try again unless with good recommendation. Seemed a bit too commercial for my taste. And cramped. And probably caters to its own kind of crowd. I always try to stay in national parks, state parks and even county parks. Usually very nice. More room, nice scenery etc.

Then again, if it's just to crash for the night and save a few $$ over a hotel, it's probably just fine. To me the question would be more whether I'd want to set up a tent and sleep so-so on a cot after 8 hrs of driving that day and more to come.

 

[liljlandon]

Used them when in an area I'm not familiar with or when Im dogging it across 40 to AZ as the one in Amarillo makes it possible to leave after work, sleep there, finish drive before dark next night.

Often pretty close to cheap hotel in cost.

 

[e9999]

IIRC there may also have been a significant difference in cost if you are a member or not.

 

[MANUCHAO]

I stay far far away from KOA...
I don't dig their definition of camping (next to a 40ft RV).

As mentioned state, national parks or blm land are best.

 

[aaronrules]

I figure we will probably crash in a motel/hotel. They would be useful if I was towing a camping trailer, just because they are supposed to be close to major highways, and I guess fairly secure and clean.

 

[titanpat57]

Figure out how far you want to drive each day....go to Google, and enter the town, then search for "camping"....lots of private campgrounds and state parks will pop up.

I know it would be a lot easier to crash at a Super 8, especially when you're powdered from driving....but with a little prep (preplanned meals) and little more effort (setting up camp)...you'll have a great opportunity to leave you and your son with a lifetime memory..."hey Dad...remember when we drove all the way cross country to Ouray?"

May actually be fun!

 

[aaronrules]

Figure out how far you want to drive each day....go to Google, and enter the town, then search for "camping"....lots of private campgrounds and state parks will pop up.

I know it would be a lot easier to crash at a Super 8, especially when you're powdered from driving....but with a little prep (preplanned meals) and little more effort (setting up camp)...you'll have a great opportunity to leave you and your son with a lifetime memory..."hey Dad...remember when we drove all the way cross country to Ouray?"

May actually be fun!

Oh yeah. Didn't even think about that. Maybe I'll get the expensive comfort cot from REI. It would be a good memory for him to have slept outside every night we are gone!

 

[BMThiker]

We stayed at a handful of KOA's along the way to Ouray. The one in Amarillo is unfortunately situated next to 1) train tracks 2) busy highway and 3) a local airport runway. The giant jack rabbits are a sight though. KOA's have one saving grace over many state parks...unusually well-kept bathrooms and showers and fairly cheap rates. We stayed in one near Little Rock that you could have eaten your breakfast off the bathroom counter and been perfectly safe.

We stayed at a couple that appeared to once upon a time have been KOA's now privately run. They were adequate but not nearly as maintained as the KOA's. The better private ones we stayed at were in Sante Fe (recommend bypassing Albequerque) and in Durango. Quiet and scenic.

If we wanted to get on the road a little quicker the next morning, we would just rent a little cabinette for a few dollars more and save ourselves the trouble of deploying a tent. Still cooked on our grill or firepit.

We avoided hotels for the crappy experience they provided for the dollars they wanted in exchange. At least in a KOA or private camp you were still outdoors enjoying nature, be it in a tent or cabinette. And if you need to still "plug-in" all the ones we stayed at (KOA or private) had free WiFi.

Amarillo KOA http://goo.gl/maps/ZNuCb

Sante Fe campground http://rancheros.com/main.html

Durango campground (we stayed in a cabinette right by the river at this place) http://www.durangoriversideresort.com/map_324.html

 

[rusty_tlc]

On long trips we will mix camping and hotel stays. It's kind of nice to get a shower and have a sit down meal every few days. After all your on vacation, let someone else cook and make the bed once in a while.

No experience with KOA other than driving by. Typically they seem to be a lot like camping in the Walmart parking lot to me.

I think once you hit the western states finding camping in National/State parks won't be a problem. We have also run across a lot of County campgrounds that were pretty cool.

You might want to shop around for a Iphone/Android campground locator/review app. Woodall's has one but I've never used it.

 

[aaronrules]

We stayed at a handful of KOA's along the way to Ouray. The one in Amarillo is unfortunately situated next to 1) train tracks 2) busy highway and 3) a local airport runway. The giant jack rabbits are a sight though. KOA's have one saving grace over many state parks...unusually well-kept bathrooms and showers and fairly cheap rates. We stayed in one near Little Rock that you could have eaten your breakfast off the bathroom counter and been perfectly safe.

We stayed at a couple that appeared to once upon a time have been KOA's now privately run. They were adequate but not nearly as maintained as the KOA's. The better private ones we stayed at were in Sante Fe (recommend bypassing Albequerque) and in Durango. Quiet and scenic.

If we wanted to get on the road a little quicker the next morning, we would just rent a little cabinette for a few dollars more and save ourselves the trouble of deploying a tent. Still cooked on our grill or firepit.

We avoided hotels for the crappy experience they provided for the dollars they wanted in exchange. At least in a KOA or private camp you were still outdoors enjoying nature, be it in a tent or cabinette. And if you need to still "plug-in" all the ones we stayed at (KOA or private) had free WiFi.

Amarillo KOA http://goo.gl/maps/ZNuCb
View attachment 778257
Sante Fe campground http://rancheros.com/main.html
View attachment 778256
Durango campground (we stayed in a cabinette right by the river at this place) http://www.durangoriversideresort.com/map_324.html
View attachment 778258

That Durango pic looks really awesome!

 

[aaronrules]

Man this planning a trip thing sucks! Can't figure out the best way/time/places to go!

 

[aaronrules]

roadtrippers.com just found it. Looks promising!

 

[rusty_tlc]

Man this planning a trip thing sucks! Can't figure out the best way/time/places to go!

We gave up on planning more than when we wanted to get wherever we are going. A smart phone, AAA and your good to go. Drive as much or as little as you like, stop wherever you find a place that strikes your fancy.
We always allow some extra time for exploration, like the side trip we took through Medicine Bow National Forest.

That said if you are an AAA member they offer trip planning tools on their website. I've also had good luck with the route software app, but I like trip adviser better for hotel & restaurant reviews.

 

[titanpat57]

Thinking out loud...work around your son's schedule..he gets up, gets washed up, have some breakfast, bust camp, hit the can and hit the road. Stop at MickyD's for lunch....go till maybe 5 or so...set camp, make some chow, hit the showers, have a smore by the fire, and hit the hay....keep your setup minimal (ask me...I'm the poster boy for minimal camping) and based on things he can do to assist (roll bags,pack stakes, wind up ropes into little tiny birdsnest, etc.) get a rhythm, he'll figure it out.

It would probably behoove you to practice at home, to get a feel of what he likes to do, and is willing to help with. Defined jobs will help him and you.

 

[aaronrules]

Thinking out loud...work around your son's schedule..he gets up, gets washed up, have some breakfast, bust camp, hit the can and hit the road. Stop at MickyD's for lunch....go till maybe 5 or so...set camp, make some chow, hit the showers, have a smore by the fire, and hit the hay....keep your setup minimal (ask me...I'm the poster boy for minimal camping) and based on things he can do to assist (roll bags,pack stakes, wind up ropes into little tiny birdsnest, etc.) get a rhythm, he'll figure it out.

It would probably behoove you to practice at home, to get a feel of what he likes to do, and is willing to help with. Defined jobs will help him and you.

Yeah we have done a couple camping trips together. Going to break the drive out into Fort Smith, AR to Amarillo, TX on day. Amarillo to Santa Fe, NM the next day, and then onto Ouray the third day. He's really good at helping set up camp. He can basically set the tent up by himself. Only driving 5-6 hours a day will make it a lot easier to get a hike in or swimming or something after we get where we are going to go. Pretty sure we are going to live off of hot dogs, sandwiches and other easy no clean up required type food.

 

[romey]

i'm cool with KOA car camping. some nice one's up here in ontario, Canada. but ONLY when we're on car camping mode. actually, the one's we checked out had cabins and the wife and kids liked it (pool too). i prefer out in the woods away from it all and i prefer national/provincial parks over KOA only because the parks are much larger and have more trails and nature all around. i can see koa'ing it on long roadies for a cheaper place to stay if necessary...and i'm a big fan of just wingin it and goin where the wind takes us.

 

[aaronrules]

I would love to wing it. But being on somewhat of a timetable to get to Ouray, I need to plan on being certain places on certain days. There are a couple state parks in Texas that might be worth stopping and staying at. But damn it's hot in Arkansas, and I know it's hot in Texas in Amarillo area. I hate this heat! I was hoping to be in high country! Maybe hotel in Amarillo, let the boy swim when we get there, and before we leave in the morning instead of hiking some snake infested trail in a part of the country I'm not too fond of!

 

[BMThiker]

You're going from 440ft elevation in Ft Smith to 3500ft elevation at Amarillo. I remember Amarillo being fairly comfortable this time of year. Double that elevation in Sante Fe and the temps are even milder.

Sante Fe is a good town to walk around in. Lots of neat architecture and history and good food. We didn't explore Amarillo, so I got no advice on what's going on there.

 

[ih88hi10]

I try to avoid campgrounds in general.
That's what national forests are for.

With that in mind, the first time I ever stayed at a KOA was this past weekend when for the first time in history, I hit the road without a plan and ended up with the sun going down and no other choice.

KOAs are not designed to be GREAT campgrounds.
KOAs are designed to be PROFITABLE campgrounds.

For a tent site, I spent $55 for one night and that is the most I've ever paid to stay in any campground. It was well maintained and I didn't have any complaints but probably because the campground was not full. If it was full, it'd be pretty uncomfortable being that close to the people in the next site.

But I really couldn't argue with the location. It was in the right place at the right time and despite having a real gully washer come through in the morning, it wasn't muddy.

I would stay in one again if I had to. I'd definitely stay in one over a motel 6. Would I seek one out as a destination, eff no.