KOA Campgrounds Turn Trendy With These Glamping Experiences
When thinking of KOA camping or parking lot glamping, I remember pitching a tent among a sea of RVs; hot, clammy, and sticky in the summer, frigid at night and in the winter. I recall the smell of hot dogs and the barking of other dogs — the wafting odor of people’s damp feet and their wet animals.
Well, grungy no more — KOA campgrounds across the U.S. have gone fancy. From vintage trailers to covered wagons, KOA is working to modernize to reach a new generation of experience-seeking travelers.
KOA Campgrounds Get Styled
Once simply offering standard RVs and campsites, KOA now provides a contemporary lodging selection, including yurts, cabooses, teepees, Airstreams, not-so-tiny treehouses, and more.
Here’s a sampling of KOA’s unique, fancy, and fun options to choose from and reserve for your next comfort-camping adventure.
Airstream Trailer
If you like RV camping, you’ll likely dig camping in an Airstream. Airstreams have a vintage, rounded bullet-like body and a shiny, polished aluminum finish.
Wally Byam designed the first Airstream travel trailer in 1929. The brand lives on as an American icon. Airstream cabins offer cozy — and super stylish — comfort while still allowing campers to enjoy surrounding nature.
Camping Caboose
Back in the days of railroad travel, the caboose — the last car of the train — was where the crew could go to rest and relax from their duties, as well as check for any damage to the train or its cargo.
Today, most old railroad trains and their cabooses have since been retired. However, some industrious folks are refurbishing the caboose. At select KOA locations, they now have renovated historical cabooses for your historical camping accommodations and adventures.
Covered Wagon Camping
Conestoga wagon camping, or “covered wagon camping,” mixes the joy of sleeping under the stars with the luxuries of a home. Unlike the pioneers who slept under their utilitarian wagons, Conestoga wagons are like tiny homes on wheels.
They have a large dome canvas top and ample room inside, fitting a king-size bed and two sets of bunks. KOA also offers climate control settings within the wagons, ensuring that campers are never too hot or cold.
Treehouses, Yurts, and Teepees
Teepee camping is a more traditional form of camping. According to KOA, like a classic camping tent, teepees were used as living structures by the Plains Native Americans through the 20th century. Teepees are sturdy, sheltering structures that provide the necessities for outdoor living.
Or, let your inner child out, up, and into a treehouse on your next KOA stay in the wilderness. Furry friends are welcome!
For some real glamping, opt for a luxed-out canvas yurt. The multiperson tents come with ample floor space and are tall enough for most adults to stand up comfortably. They even come complete with a doorframe.
