This page is part of our guide to camping in Western North Carolina. Where the destination pages are organized by place, this section is organized by brand: some campgrounds operate under a national name, and campers often search for them that way.
What is a campground brand?
A campground brand is a name and set of standards shared by many separately located campgrounds, as opposed to a single independent camp. Kampgrounds of America (KOA) is the one brand section currently published here. Each brand page covers only what the brand states on its own website and lists the matching campgrounds in our directory.
Brands covered in this section
- KOA campgrounds in Western North Carolina: what KOA says about its campground types, and the KOA-named campgrounds in our directory.
Other brands, such as Jellystone Park, are not covered yet. We add a brand only when its official website gives enough to write from, so nothing on these pages is taken from reviews or third-party summaries.
What KOA says about itself
According to KOA’s own 2021 fact sheet (published on its press room site), Kampgrounds of America, Inc. is “the world’s largest system of open-to-the-public campgrounds,” with more than 520 locations across the U.S. and Canada, and was founded in Billings, Montana. KOA’s current home page, koa.com, describes more than 500 locations in the United States and Canada. The two documents give slightly different counts, so check koa.com for the current figure.
The same fact sheet describes three kinds of KOA campground:
- KOA Journey: described as located near highways, with pull-thru RV sites with 50-amp service, premium tent sites and after-hours check-in.
- KOA Holiday: described as featuring RV sites with KOA Patios, deluxe cabins with full baths, premium tent sites and group meeting facilities.
- KOA Resort: described as featuring RV sites with KOA Patios, deluxe cabins, premium tent sites, a resort-style pool and group facilities.
The fact sheet also lists the ways to stay at a KOA: RV sites, tent sites, deluxe cabins, camping cabins and, at select locations, unique lodging such as Airstreams or glamping tents. KOA states that amenities vary by campground, so the listing for a specific location is the place to check which of these it offers.
KOA campgrounds in our directory
Our directory includes three campgrounds with KOA in the name, each in a different part of the region:
- Asheville West KOA, listed under Candler (types in the directory: cabins, RV camping, tent camping).
- Asheville East KOA, listed under Swannanoa (cabins, RV camping, tent camping).
- Boone KOA Campground, listed under Boone (RV camping, tent camping).
For the surrounding areas, see our guides to camping near Asheville and camping near Boone.
How to use brand pages
A brand name describes a shared set of standards, not an identical experience. KOA’s own fact sheet says amenities vary by campground, so compare the listing, the camp’s page on koa.com and the location’s reservation details before choosing. Season, hours and availability are set by each location; confirm before you go.
FAQ
Is every campground with a brand name run by the brand?
This page does not make that claim. KOA does not state ownership details in the sources used here, so refer to koa.com for how its locations are operated.
What types of sites does KOA say its campgrounds have?
KOA’s fact sheet lists RV sites, tent sites, deluxe cabins, camping cabins and select unique lodging, with variation by location.
How many KOA campgrounds are there?
KOA’s 2021 fact sheet says more than 520 locations; koa.com currently says more than 500 across the U.S. and Canada.
Which KOA campgrounds are in the directory?
Asheville West KOA, Asheville East KOA and Boone KOA Campground, linked above.
Are other brands covered?
Not yet. A brand is added once its official site supports a verified page.
Confirm before you go: details on koa.com and each campground’s own page can change.
