KOA for real or scam?

[mel s]

Originally Posted by Mike_Harriet

Walmart parking is never free. Spend in Walmart, and 12-14 hrs of gen time = 24$ in fuel usage, and every 125 hrs means oil/filter change. My version of free is different. 😆😀😎

Mike_Harriet
FREE is in the eye of the BEERHOLDER!
It's possible to overnight in Walmarts, truck stops and/or rest areas without using a generator, (I've done it 100s of times while traveling).
That takes much less time, (and fuel), than it takes to drive to most campgrounds... and costs far less than paying $$ to get 8 hours of sleep.
However I always "pay to camp", (when I get where I'm going).
Mel
'96 Safari, 133k miles

[JMacy]

Originally Posted by Mike_Harriet

Walmart parking is never free. Spend in Walmart, and 12-14 hrs of gen time = 24$ in fuel usage, and every 125 hrs means oil/filter change. My version of free is different. 😆😀😎

We spend a lot of time traveling, Walmart and Home Depots are great rest stop. No gen, no hookups, no hassles and no fees.
Camp? When we stop at a destination before moving on to the next.
Actually you might find some of these rest stops have an interesting community culture as an add-on feature.


Ph.D. Psychology, Applied Sports Psychology

[michealwhela]

These campgrounds can only get away with these customer unfriendly policies if we let them. When I come across this type of policy I avoid the campground and stay elsewhere. They have the right to enact these "rules" we have the right to go elsewhere. As for KOA I usually avoid them for the reasons posted in the posts. Just my 2 cents worth.

[mel s]

Originally Posted by michealwhela

These campgrounds can only get away with these customer unfriendly policies if we let them. When I come across this type of policy I avoid the campground and stay elsewhere. They have the right to enact these "rules" we have the right to go elsewhere. As for KOA I usually avoid them for the reasons posted in the posts. Just my 2 cents worth.

michealwhela

I've not spent my $$ at a KOA for over 25 years and, from what I hear the add on fees have gotten worse!
Apparently you and I avoiding KOAs has had little affect.
Mel
'96 Safari

[LI-Camper]

The Newburgh, NY KOA is one of the closest campgrounds to New York City. I don't agree with fees being added that you don't know about ahead of time. I think this KOA has shuttles to NYC (probably for an added fee, but I don't know). Campgrounds in areas that are special tourist areas usually charge much higher fees than other CGs. I know Newburgh isn't real close to NYC, but visiting RVers can use it as a cheap hotel. I know there is a CG in NJ also near NYC that is a crowded parking lot where you can walk to catch a ferry or train into the city. I think it is very pricey also. I've read that RVer's who have used this appreciate the access to the city and accept the limitations and high prices.
Last week we were traveling home from WI. Near the border of OH and PA we started looking for a CG with full HU's. We didn't find very many. I was getting tired and we found a KOA that was pricey. When we registered a nice young lady told us about all the amenities and led us to our site in this large CG and showed us where all the HU's were. Our site was large and the park was quiet. The showers were clean and large. I didn't mind paying the higher price. So it fit our needs for that night.

[lakewoodpaul]

Originally Posted by Mike_Harriet

Walmart parking is never free. Spend in Walmart, and 12-14 hrs of gen time = 24$ in fuel usage, and every 125 hrs means oil/filter change. My version of free is different. ������

just curious, do you really run your generator 10-12 hours when you wal mart park?

[Mike_Harriet]

When its 97 degrees, 82% humidity and no breeze. Yeah I do. I have no problem doing it either. Most gen sets suffer from lack of use, my only point was "free camping" isnt free. We boondocked on our trawler in the Bahamas for 5+ months. Had solar panels, water maker, didn't tie to a dock the whole time. But the ROI on all the equipment it took to do that was 4 years. There really isn't anything free anymore, IMHO.

[mel s]

Originally Posted by Mike_Harriet

When its 97 degrees, 82% humidity and no breeze. Yeah I do. I have no problem doing it either. Most gen sets suffer from lack of use, my only point was "free camping" isnt free. We boondocked on our trawler in the Bahamas for 5+ months. Had solar panels, water maker, didn't tie to a dock the whole time. But the ROI on all the equipment it took to do that was 4 years. There really isn't anything free anymore, IMHO.

When traveling I usually "overnight" in FREE places, (like Walmart parking lots. rest areas, etc.), but if "it's 97 degrees, 82% humidity and no breeze"... (AND when it's COLD)......I spend nights in a campground with electricity.
Mel
'96 Safari

[ChallengerRN]

My guess there not too many places where it is 97degree after midnight.

I be stayed in many walmarts and not sure I ever ran my generator all night??

Russell

[TMan59]

If we stayed in a Wal Mart parking lot I would park there in the evening married.
I would wake up in the morning single.
Its far cheaper in the long run for me to get a nice spot at a KOA.