Welcome to the RTA Forum!

In my mind, KOA is a lot like the McDonalds of the camping world. They are all over the place, and you can be pretty sure that what you get in one place will be similar to what you get in another. However, even with the discount, they tend to be a little more expensive than other private campgrounds

If you are looking for convience, and resort style features, they can certainly be a good fit. They'll almost always have extra amenities, like a store, laundry, and even extra features like pools.

Personally, I don't use them. I prefer sticking with public facilities like state, county, and national park lands. I find you usually get quieter, more private spaces for tents and usually for quite a bit less than a private campground. Things like showers, laundry, or a camp store are sometimes, but not always available.

Remember, KOA isn't the only private campground out their either. You could take a look at a campground directory for the many many options that are out there.

Check out this thread for more basics about Camping for Beginners.