KOA essentials?

[Octoberbride03]

Dh and I are leaving for Gettysburg on Monday morning and staying at the KOA Kampground in a 1 room Kabin. We know we need to bring bedclothes, so I'm figuring that's the whole 9 yards, sheets, blanket, pillows etc.

What ELSE do we need to bring This will be the first time either 1 of us has done any kind of camping in decades let alone stay at a KOA. Towels for the bathouse etc?

Trying to make this trip as budget as possible so we can really enjoy ourselves in the park and the town. So anything that we don't forget is 1 less thing we need to buy up there

Really looking forward to the trip and will take any tips you have.

Thanks

 

[disneyfans95]

We are KOA Kabin pros. We did 5 trips this year at various NY KOA's.

The normal kabin has a queen bed and bunkbeds. Small desk, overhead light and fan. There is normally a mirror and key rack. There are also outlets and wireless. A small porch with a swing is also there.

You need to bring everything else. So sleeping bags, towels for the bathhouse, toiletries etc. It is not as much as you think. We overpacked the first time, then got better

Depending on the campground, there can be a nice camp store with tons of stuff, or it can be limited. Check ahead.

There will be an table to eat on and a fire ring. Some have grills, some you have to cook over the campfire. Most have the grills though.

Here in NY we would bring a space heater, but you might need a small box fan?

Oh and if you are going to camp even more then once, GET the KOA card. For the $24 it pays for itself if you stay more then one weekend at their kabins.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Thanks for the info. I kind of thought we'd need towels but wasn't sure. Have been checking the weather, and it looks like it'll be typical central PA weather for early Oct. Nice days and cool nights so I doubt we'll need a fan. Though Dh's thermostat runs hot at night

Haven't gotten the card yet, since we really have no idea when we might camp there again. If its something we decide to make a habit then we'll definitely get it. When I priced it out for just this trip even with the offered savings it still came out to more than the kabin cost after applying the card fee, so we'll hold off for a bit.

 

[formill]

Extension cords, lamp for beside bed if you don't like getting up to turn off overhead light like me, clock radio. We take lawn chairs,pop up gazebo for over table,small propane BBQ,electric coolers or a little fridge,flashlights for dark walks to bathroom,coffee pot and electric frying pan-( long extension cord)-we cook out on picnic table- (take tablecloth for that too)- something to carry water in back to your cabin to wash table/wash dishes- electric kettle to make water hot- the KOA we usually go to has a camping kitchen that has stove top burners and sinks which is nice but only if you are close enough to it....otherwise we like to cook/wash dishes at our kabin. We have stayed in many that have ac/heat units through the wall as well. I don't mind packing to go.....coming home and having all the bedding to wash is a nightmare.(there are 6 of us) Wish they would at least provide the pillows! I guess it depends how long you are staying/how much stuff you want to bring and if you are going to go out to eat or eat/cook at your cabin...there is nothing better than sitting on the swing having that morning coffee...we love the kabins!

 

[Octoberbride03]

Wow. That's a U-Haul full

Only staying for 3 nights. Love the flashlight idea, I'll pick up a couple tomorrow. I'm not washing dishes on vacation. If we do cook out there we'll use paper plates and plastic utensils. Will pick up food there too if we do decide to do that. Since PA does not charge sales tax on food and VA does.

If anybody else has tips I'd love to hear them.

 

[pat fan]

We've stayed there!!!!! Not in a Kabin, but a campsite. What an awesome campground!

I don't know if they still do this, but on either Saturday or Sunday(I can't remember) the daughter of the owners (she owns a bakery) brings around stuff from the bakery that you can buy. I remember getting a blueberry tart thing that was great!

You'll need towels and something to carry your toiletries in. A backpack or something like that for your towels, shampoo/soap, hairdryer, makeup, change of clothes etc...

We stayed in a KOA kabin in Va. and while they had electricity, it was still pretty dark in the cabin for makeup etc...I preferred using the bathroom for that.
Flashlight, matches/lighter, charcoal or gas grill, b-b-q-ing supplies, extra blanket.

Whatever you forget, they will have for a small fee anyway.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Ok, pretty well set, just need to load up and we hit the road tomorrow morning. Really looking forward to the trip.

1 last question for the bathhouse. Are there dressing rooms/stalls to change in? I plan on carrying my towels and a change of clothes in a tote, and we have a carrier for our toiletries that i picked up at work for a steal. I paid a dollar for it after my discount. Couldn't believe it.

Wish we could stay through the weekend, but we'll be on our way home next Thursday

 

[disneyfans95]

Ok, pretty well set, just need to load up and we hit the road tomorrow morning. Really looking forward to the trip.

1 last question for the bathhouse. Are there dressing rooms/stalls to change in? I plan on carrying my towels and a change of clothes in a tote, and we have a carrier for our toiletries that i picked up at work for a steal. I paid a dollar for it after my discount. Couldn't believe it.

Wish we could stay through the weekend, but we'll be on our way home next Thursday

They are individual shower stalls. So when you enter there is a changing area with hooks on the wall and a small bench. Then you have the shower with a curtain on it. Plenty big enough for my wife and DD to share this year.

The bigger sites have more then one bathhouse. Like normal, try to go off hours to avoid waiting. We normally would go later in the day after being in the pool and everyone was cooking dinner.

 

[2goofycampers]

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