HOLBROOK Petrified Forest ( Arizona) KOA
Holbrook, about 80 miles from the New Mexico border on Interstate 40 is a nice little town in the middle of seemingly nowhere. This is desert country, but there are so many things to see in and around this little community, you should plan a few days to come and go from your favorite Kampsiste: Holbrook KOA. These include The Petrified Forest National Park, Rainbow Forest Museum, Archaeological Sites, Painted Desert, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Historic Hubbell Trading Post, St. Michael’s Mission, Window Rock and Navajo Center, Hopi Cultural Center, Meteor Crater, Mogollon Rim and Fort Apache, and Sunrise Ski Resort, Rainbow and Show Lakes.
There are no other campgrounds for many miles, and of course, we all know KOA provides the VERY BEST places at all their Kampgrounds with all the amenities we know we can count on, including WIFI, cable TV, and a good general store for supplies. The very personable and friendly owners Brenda and John Kelley will greet you from 8a.m. to 8 p.m. year-round. And they will prepare delicious breakfasts and dinners for you at their ChuckWagon Cowboy Cookout picnic area every day from May 1 to November 1 for nominal prices.
In Arizona, grass is scarce because of the very low annual rainfall, so there is no grass in the Pet Walk area but there are nice grassy plots for tent Kampers. The children’s play area is well equipped, cleanly groomed and close to the KOA office and includes basketball and volleyball courts for teens. There are plenty of nice wide sites with a tree at each one providing summer shade. You’ll love this Kampground, and it is a perfect place to light also if you are just traversing across the country.
Hagerstown/Antietam Battlefield KOA Kampground on Snug Harbor Lane in Williamsport, Maryland
This KOA is a terrific find for family fun! We stay in KOA’s all across the USA and this is one of our favorite KOA’s yet. We drove three miles down a narrow farm road beside the largest “creek” we ever saw, wondering if it could really be there as the KOA signs said. And what a lovely setting it was! Up the hill in terraced campsites is the office, and the Kampground overlooks the Connococheaque Creek, which surely must be a river! The Kampground is perfectly groomed. Even though we arrived after a big rain, there were no puddles. Children of all ages were playing all kinds of fun things available for kampers: miniature golf, basketball, tetherball, an arcade as complete as any fair, a large and lovely swimming pool, and shopping for a variety of novelties in the office store.
As soon as we had set up beneath the huge and ancient trees, we hurried to rent a two-seat fiberglass canoe (just $8 for an hour) to enjoy a peaceful, leisurely respite on the wide, gentle creek. What a great way to end a long day of travel! The Kampground owners, Judith and John Durham, used to be restauranteers, and now, just for fun, they serve wonderful meals in their nostalgic cafe.
“Remember When Diner” full of fifties and sixties memorabilia. They serve a large variety of choices including terrific hamburgers and milk shakes in the evening and delicious breakfasts for weekend Kampers, and anytime for groups who arrange this service when they reserve the group Kamping places. There are many programs of fun on special weekends, like Father’s Day, and activities, crafts, games for all ages. At the end of September and on weekend through October they even have a Haunted House, “Creekside Manor,” which you can see as you enter the Kampground (not very attractive in other times of the year, but loads of Halloween fun!)
In addition to the wonderful family fun here, the KOA at Hagerstown is the perfect home spot for forays to the many special historical points of interest very near: Antietam Civil War National Battlefield, Harper’s Ferry where John Brown sparked the Civil War. There are many important historic sites to visit in this area: the Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area. There is recreation of every type from river rafting to golf nearby, a large Outlet Mall, and so many other things to see and do. You could spend a week’s holiday right here in this KOA Kampground and never lack for something fun and fascinating to do. Of course, you can choose to stay in one of the attractive KOA log Kabins. Children’s playground has lots of equipment for fun, including a miniature Kabin. Even our little K9 friends have a fun playground. This KOA is open from late March through October.
INDY KOA
Indianapolis signals RACING, but you don’t have to race through the city traffic to find the quiet KOA just off I70 on the East side of Indianapolis. This is the largest KOA we have found all across the USA. We had the feeling of staying on a farm property, and there is actually a field of soybeans growing just across the lane from the office and horses in the corral.
This beautiful KOA has very large, wide grassy spaces for picnicking and cooking out with a concrete patio at each of the deluxe level gravel sites, so tracking dirt or mud into your rig is not an issue. Giant oaks and poplar and sycamore trees provide beautiful shade throughout the campground, and the cluster of pretty KOA Kabins is among lots of trees. The large clean playground area and swimming pool are excellent, and uphold very well the high standards we all expect at KOA. The activities building has great space for the arcade games and parties and other special activities which are planned for significant weekends. Naturally, this is a very popular KOA for race fans, with the tracks about 25 minutes away. Kids can also enjoy little indy car-style trikes and four-wheelers at the activities building. The little stream running through the property adds to the quiet repose you find here.
St. Louis, Missouri/Granite City, Illinois, KOA
For visiting the historic and beautiful St. Louis area, stay just across the river at Granite City, Illinois, KOA, a convenient location for all your sight seeing in and around St. Louis, Missouri. Just 20 minutes away from The Gateway Arch and the beautiful Mississippi River, you are out of all the traffic of this busy mid-USA city. There is so much to see and do in the area, including the Cahokia Mounds Historical Park and Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. We arrived at the KOA on the hottest June day on record in the area, and we were so very thankful for the 50 amp hook-ups and the glorious, large sparkling swimming pool.
Children love playing in the pretty and well-equipped play area, which includes a very special piece of equipment we have never seen anywhere else: a huge “jumping pillow.” What super fun at the end of a long day of driving or touring. The KOA hosts greeted us with an odd question which was very welcome: Do you want to cook tonight or go out or have some delicious Italian food delivered right to your rig? What a great convenience which we have not had in many other campgrounds. Granite City KOA is definitely the place to stay when you are visiting St. Louis, MO. Cable is not available but also not necessary as many stations are clear with antennae. WiFi is free but not strong.
KOA Kansas City East
KOA Kansas City East is the perfect place to stay when you are visiting and sight-seeing in this lovely large city. Located in the quiet suburb of Oak Grove, this KOA is just off highway 70 at exit 28. We were greeted in our summer arrival with the delicious aroma of Smokin-Up-A-Storm Bar-B-Que, which is on site cooking for your lunch or dinner Thursdays through Sundays all summer, and they gave us yummy chocolate chip cookies on arrival! What a welcome after a long day’s drive, and the bar-b-que is delicious!
Open all year, Kansas City East KOA has all the comforts you want in your camping site, including many of the KOA Kabins. The sites are level with large trees and good picnic and campfire provisions at each site. WiFi is free and works fast and TV cable provides many channels. The large activities room is convenient for all your needs, and the bath house and laundry are very clean. The new Pet Playground is the largest we have seen anywhere and a great new concept: two adjoining fenced areas so you can separate your pet from others if he or she is not sociable. Good seating for you to watch also. The playground is very clean with modern, colorful equipment. Your whole family will love staying here and swimming in the large pool right by the office. We highly recommend this KOA. For reservations call 816 690 6660. The park is located at 303 NE 3rd Street, Oak Grove, MO 64075.
Branson KOA in Missouri
Branson KOA in Missouri is a wonderful location for all your family activities in this famous Ozark Mountain Resort. Although the terrain of Branson is very hilly, the park has all flat gravel sites, many with grass and a tree also. Campers on the weekend can enjoy a free Sunday morning pancake breakfast on site, and pizza is made to order, fresh and hot any night at this KOA. Of course, when you come to Branson you want to see some of the many wonderful shows, and KOA can provide you with tickets at a discount and also the Family Pass is available, so be sure to ask the details from the friendly office staff. If you don’t have your own camping rig, you can rent a KOA Kabin or Deluxe Lodge here, and many family reunions find this the perfect location. There is a large, covered picnic shelter you can also reserve.
The pretty playground includes a large bouncing pillow for the kids super fun. The swimming pool is large, clean, and quite inviting on all summer days and stays open late into the evenings. Be sure to pick up a Branson map in the office and here you can also find any brochures of the attractions from which to choose. All the amenities Campers need and expect at KOA are readily available here, so plan your stay early at this very popular site: 417 334 4414 or 800 562 4177. The address for your GPS is 397 animal Safari road, Branson, MO, 65616 and this is just off the main road of entertainment and theaters, so it is more convenient to all the places you want to visit than some more remotely located KOA’s are. Branson KOA won both the President’s Award and the Founder’s Award from KOA in 2011.
Real Travel Adventures 