What Does KOA Stand For: The Meaning Behind the Acronym

If you’ve ever done any camping at all, or if you’ve even researched campgrounds to stay at in your travels, you’ve most likely come across the acronym “KOA”. You may have even stayed at a KOA campground or two. But, what exactly is a KOA campground? What does KOA stand for and what can you expect to find at a KOA campground? How will it be any different from any other campground? Are KOA campgrounds expensive?

In this post, we’ve got everything you might want to know about the meaning of “KOA” and what KOA campgrounds are all about. Read on to find out whether KOAs are right for you!

Exploring the Origins of KOA

Before we get into the weeds of what you can expect to find at a KOA campground and what they’re all about, let’s take a brief look at the origins of KOA.

What Does KOA Stand For?

The acronym “KOA” stands for Kampgrounds Of America, a franchise of privately owned campgrounds in North America. Recognizable by their bright yellow sign, every KOA campground is independently operated by its franchisee, with some operational direction and marketing support from KOA’s headquarters located in Billings, Montana. KOA campgrounds offer amenities such as RV hookups, recreational features like pools & playgrounds, cabin rentals, tent sites, restrooms with showers, and more, depending on the individual campground.

“Why is it KOA instead of COA,” you ask? Interestingly, KOA uses the letter “K” for “Kampgrounds” instead of the letter “C” for “Campgrounds” for the simple reason that they were unable to register the name “Campgrounds of America” using the proper spelling. As we write this post, and for the past 20 years running, there are around 525 KOA-owned and franchised locations all across North America. You can find KOA campgrounds in 47 states and 9 Canadian provinces/territories.

KOA reportedly conducts annual 600-point inspections at every KOA campground to maintain its high standards across all its franchise locations. Real-life reviews suggest that some campgrounds are more desirable than others, however.

History of Kampgrounds of America (KOA)

Back in 1962, a guy named Dave Drum observed that lots of RVers that were headed to the Seattle World’s Fair were parking their rigs in parking lots of retail businesses, church parking lots, and even on the sides of roads along the Yellowstone River. RVing and camping were becoming popular among families, but there simply weren’t enough campgrounds to accommodate all of them.

Mr. Drum started asking these campers what types of amenities they’d most like to see in the campgrounds they’d visit. Once he’d done some real-life research, he created a commercial campground on his private property in Billings, Montana, right along the Yellowstone River. Known as Billings Campground, Dave Dunn’s first campground provided the amenities most RVers had noted that they’d like to have including electric hookups, showers, a convenience store, and a view of the river.

A couple of years later, a nationwide expansion began with the opening of the first KOA franchise in Cody, Wyoming. Today, KOA is said to be the largest privately owned campground network in the world.

Founding Members of KOA

Dave Drum and his business partner John Wallace founded the KOA franchise along with a couple of other partners. The company started with Billings Campground, where you could pitch a tent for $1.75 per night and have a nice campsite with a picnic table and a fire ring. There were restrooms with hot showers and a small convenience store on the property.

The campground was so successful that by the summer of 1963, the partners created a system of campgrounds throughout North America, forming the company known as Kampgrounds of America, and they began to sell franchises.

By 1969, KOA had become a public company, and by 1972 it had 600 franchises. In the 80s, KOA had over 900 franchises. But in 2002 when they began a rigorous process of inspecting all campgrounds within the franchise, they weeded out those that didn’t meet KOA quality standards. As we write this post, KOA currently has over 500 franchised and company-owned locations across North America.

In April of 2019, after a series of leaders, the company introduced Toby O’Rourke as its CEO, the first woman to lead the company in its nearly 60-year history. She currently serves as President and CEO of Kampgrounds of America, Inc. which also owns Terramor Outdoor Resorts, a glamping enterprise whose flagship resort is in Maine.

Who is Karlo Fujiwara?

Karlo Fujiwara was the artist who designed the iconic KOA logo in 1961 in Billings, Montana (a service mark was filed for the new logo on April 4, 1963). Although Mr. Fujiwara died in 2010, all KOA campgrounds to this day are recognized by the logo he designed on their familiar bright yellow signs. The design incorporates dots and lines illustrating a Native American teepee.

The design also represents the letters K (the red lines), O (the black circle), and A (the black triangle) for Kampgrounds of America.

What to Expect When Camping at KOA?

What you can expect when camping at a KOA campground depends on which level the campground offers. There are currently three levels of KOA campgrounds, each focused on a particular type of traveler.

What Are the Three Levels of KOA?

The three levels of KOA campgrounds are KOA Journey, KOA Holiday, and KOA Resort. Let’s take a brief look at each of these different types of campgrounds to see which would best fit your desired amenities and the kind of travel and camping that best suits your family.

Journey Campgrounds

KOA Journey campgrounds are great for travelers who appreciate the ease of a campground with easy access to highways. KOA Journey campgrounds offer pull-through/back-in sites as well as essential amenities for short stays.

Because the amenities of Journey Campgrounds are relatively basic, their rates are lower than at other levels of KOA properties. But if you’re just traveling through and want a place to stay for a night or two en route to your destination (as opposed to a campground with lots of recreational activities and fun things to do for a longer stay), basic amenities for a lower cost may be just what you’re after.

You may want to know that some reviewers don’t like the fact that the sites of some KOA Journey Campgrounds are often pretty tight (sardines, anyone?), and you may be overnighting in an area that has a bit of a parking lot atmosphere. But, Journey Campgrounds are well-lit after hours and also feature premium tent sites.

Holiday Campgrounds

KOA Holiday campgrounds are designed for more extended stays than KOA Journey campgrounds. They offer some richer amenities such as deluxe cabins, group meeting facilities, planned activities and swimming pools. The KOA Holiday campground level might be nice for a family vacation, especially since the sites tend to offer more space, and the overall landscape is more naturally inviting. You can even grab an upgraded site with a patio.

Resort Campgrounds

The Resort level campgrounds are KOA’s premium campgrounds offering a complete RV resort experience. At these campgrounds you’ll find recreational activities led by KOA staff and luxurious accommodations for an all-inclusive camping experience.

KOA calls their Resort level the destination for recreation. Here, you’ll find resort-style pools, indoor and outdoor group activities, RV sites with KOA patios, premium tent sites, and deluxe cabins with full baths and linens.

Why Campers Choose to Stay at KOA Campgrounds

Some campers like KOA campgrounds for several reasons. First, many tend to be not far off the highway, providing easy access that’s a very big draw for many travelers. Campers also appreciate knowing that all KOA campgrounds are held to a minimum set of standards.

In addition, many people like the amenities offered by many of the KOA campgrounds, including swimming pools, game rooms, and other kid-centered activities like putt-putt golf and “jumping pillows.” Some also appreciate the fenced “Kamp K9” pet parks so dogs can roam unleashed.

KOA campgrounds are also known for helpful staff members and rest rooms & showers that are clean and inviting. Not everyone loves KOA, of course, but their focus on maintaining specific standards across all franchises is something many campers appreciate.

What’s the Difference Between a KOA and a Regular Campground?

Kampgrounds of America is a group of franchised campgrounds spread throughout North America. They offer standards that people can expect from any KOA property, and many offer amenities that other campgrounds typically don’t have… such as deluxe cabins and large KOA patios. Depending on the location and the KOA level, they may also offer resort-style pools, game rooms, meeting facilities, and a variety of family-friendly activities.

While there are variations in all campgrounds (including KOA campgrounds), campers generally appreciate the fact that they know what to expect from one KOA to another in terms of things like helpful staff and clean facilities. We always recommend checking reviews of individual campgrounds in advance of making a reservation to check recent real-world experiences from other campers.

What Are KOA Rewards?

KOA Rewards is a camping loyalty program that offers discounts to members. KOA Rewards members are able to get a 10% discount on daily registration rates throughout the year, as well as access to additional savings… which is another reason why so many RVers are regulars at KOAs.

For example, KOA Rewards points accumulate for cash off from future stays at KOA campgrounds. Members can also get a free night of camping during KOA Rewards Weekend, as well as discounts from other merchants.

KOA Rewards membership is only $36 per year, which is reasonable enough and should pay for itself quickly if you’re a frequent KOA camper. You can find out how that fee compares with other discount options by checking out our post on how to save money on campgrounds.

KOA Cares For Its Communities

Many people appreciate the fact that Kampgrounds of America, Inc. and its franchisees are good stewards of their communities with programs like KOA Care Camps, Kamp Green Program, and Work Kampers.

KOA Care Camps

KOA Care Camps Foundation is a national non-profit organization supported by KOA that funds medically supervised pediatric oncology camps across the U.S. and Canada. These are camps that allow children who have cancer to enjoy memorable experiences that focus on fun, friends, and activities instead of on their illnesses.

Care Camps Foundation offers financial support to more than 100 specialized camps that are fully equipped with medical supplies and professional staff to care for the cancer-related needs of the children who attend.

KOA staff members also volunteer their time and services, while campers’ costs for medications, medical equipment, utilities, insurance, transportation, meals, and recreation equipment are all covered by the KOA Care Camps Foundation.

Kamp Green Program

The KOA Kamp Green Program encourages KOA campground owners and their guests to employ environmentally-friendly camping practices. The goal is to sustain resources (and to avoid depleting them). This means that a campground has to maintain a focus on environmental, economic, and social means of achieving sustainability.

As we write this post, KOA Campgrounds include 75,000 sites (a number that continues to grow), which puts KOA in a unique position to protect and conserve more than 10,000 acres of land in the United States and Canada.

Work Kampers

KOA offers lots of work opportunities throughout the United States and Canada. They offer seasonal work, part-time and full-time positions, and internships for college students. They offer competitive pay as well as the ability to travel around North America working from campground to campground, meeting new friends with similar interests, and other benefits.

You can find more information on working for a KOA campground or Kampgrounds of America, Inc. at KOA’s Work Kampers page.

Tell Us About Your KOA Camping Experience(s)

Have you stayed at KOA Campgrounds in your travels? We’d love to hear about your experiences! Drop us a comment and let us know where you stayed and how you enjoyed your time there!

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