This page is part of our guide to campgrounds in western North Carolina. It explains what the KOA name means, how KOA groups its campgrounds, and which KOA locations our directory currently lists in Western NC.
What KOA is
KOA stands for Kampgrounds of America. According to KOA’s own history article, founder Dave Drum opened a commercial campground on land he owned in Billings, Montana, around 1962, and the first KOA franchise was established in Cody, Wyoming, two years later. The same article says the “K” replaced the “C” in the name because the word “campground” could not be registered as part of it. KOA describes itself as the world’s largest system of private campgrounds. Its article states that there are 508 KOA campgrounds in North America, 33 of them in Canada; counts change, so check koa.com for the current figure.
KOA campgrounds are private businesses, not national forest or state park sites. That is why reservations, rules and seasons are set by each location and published on its own KOA page rather than on Recreation.gov.
KOA Journey, Holiday and Resort
KOA sorts its campgrounds into three brands. KOA’s own pages describe them this way:
- KOA Journey (“Gateway to Adventure”): located near highways, with long pull-thru RV sites for traveling campers.
- KOA Holiday (“Basecamp for the Great Outdoors”): upgraded RV sites with KOA Patios and deluxe cabins.
- KOA Resort (“The Destination for Recreation”): resort-style amenities such as pools, staff-led activities and dining, plus deluxe cabins and patios.
Which brand a given campground carries is shown on its KOA page. Check it there, because this directory does not repeat that label for each location.
Types of sites at KOA campgrounds
KOA’s story page lists RV sites (pull-thrus, back-ins and patio sites), tent sites, cabins, glamping options, and unique lodging such as Airstreams, cabooses and tepees. Not every location offers every type. In Western NC, our directory tags the three listings below as follows: Boone KOA as RV and tent camping, and both Asheville KOA locations as cabins, RV and tent camping.
KOA campgrounds in Western NC
Our directory currently lists three campgrounds with “KOA” in the name:
- Boone KOA Campground: listed under RV Camping and Tent Camping. See also our guide to campgrounds in Boone, NC and the Boone camping guide.
- Asheville West KOA: listed under Cabins, RV Camping and Tent Camping; the directory places it in Candler.
- Asheville East KOA: listed under Cabins, RV Camping and Tent Camping; the directory places it in Swannanoa.
For a side-by-side look at the two Asheville-area locations, see our KOA campgrounds near Asheville page. For wider options around the city, including non-KOA campgrounds, see the Asheville camping guide.
How to choose between KOA and public campgrounds
Western NC also has many public campgrounds run by the Forest Service, the National Park Service and North Carolina State Parks. These are listed on Recreation.gov or ncparks.gov and follow agency rules. A KOA location is a separate, privately run option. To compare, read each campground’s own official page for its site types, season and policies, then use the listings in this directory for the location, phone number and map.
For public-land alternatives, start with the guides to Smoky Mountain National Park camping and the WNC destinations index.
FAQ
What does KOA stand for?
Kampgrounds of America, according to KOA’s history article on koa.com.
Are KOA campgrounds public or private?
KOA describes itself as a system of private campgrounds. They are not Forest Service or park sites.
What is the difference between KOA Journey, Holiday and Resort?
KOA’s site describes Journey as highway-adjacent with long pull-thru sites, Holiday as having upgraded patio sites and deluxe cabins, and Resort as adding amenities such as pools, activities and dining.
Which KOA campgrounds are in Western NC in this directory?
Boone KOA Campground, Asheville West KOA and Asheville East KOA, as listed above.
Where do I check dates, availability and rules?
On the individual campground’s page at koa.com. Seasons, availability and policies are set per location and can change, so confirm before you go.
Browse the full directory of Western NC campgrounds for phone numbers, maps and services, and check koa.com for current details. Confirm before you go.
