According to GoRVing.com, 68% of RV owners travel with a pet. The ability to bring the dogs on adventures certainly factored into my decision to buy an RV. I’ve found most campgrounds allow at least one dog, and many have a fenced-in park where dogs can run around. Some Kampgrounds of America locations even offer campsites with their own private Paw Pen. We recently stayed at several of KOA’s dog pen campsites and found them very convenient. Here’s what we found:
Thompson / Grand River Valley KOA Holiday – Paw Pen Pull Trough Site
Our first stay at KOA’s dog pen campsites was at the beautiful Thompson / Grand River Valley KOA Holiday in Thompson, Ohio. This campground has two different Paw Pen sites to choose from. One site is a pull-through, and the other a back-in. Both campsites have full hookups and access to 30 or 50 amp power. We selected the pull-through because it offered more privacy. The dog pen on this KOA campsite is triangle-shaped, with a high fence and landscaping running along the side. There is a picnic table and a fire ring right behind it, so the dogs could be out while I ate dinner. Coco was also very fond of the small dog house at the far end. The dogs and I enjoyed this campsite so much that we actually stopped there a second time on our way home.
Angola / Hogback Lake KOA Holiday – Patio Dog Pen Site
I didn’t have big expectations for the Angola / Hogback Lake KOA Holiday campground. After driving through endless miles of Indiana cornfields, I really just wanted a place to sleep. After backing into our huge campsite, I instantly relaxed. Our site featured a Paw Pen and had a patio with a gas grill. The only thing I didn’t like about this KOA campsite was that it was directly next to another dog pen site. All the dogs could see each other, leading to lots of barking and excitement. If I ever stay at the Angola / Hogback Lake KOA, I will see if their pull-through paw pen sites have more privacy.
Northampton / Springfield KOA Holiday – Back In Dog Pen Site
Looking through the KOA website, I’ve discovered a wide variety among their dog pen sites. Some are grassy, but others sit on crushed stone or dirt. Some are tiny, while some are as big as our campervan. We were fortunate with our Paw Pens in Thompson, OH, and Angola, IN. They were both spacious and looked like structures I’d be happy to have in my own backyard. Our Paw Pen at the Northampton / Springfield KOA Holiday looked like something you’d see at the local dog pound. At 10×10, the pen was decent-sized, but the tall, heavy-duty chain-link gave it an industrial feel. Our site at the Northampton campground was the only KOA dog pen site that I found disappointing.
More KOA’s with Paw Pens
More than 25 KOA locations offer some private dog pen campsites. Here is a list compiled from the Kampgrounds of America website:
Arizona: Holbrook / Petrified Forest KOA, Picacho / Tucson NW KOA Journey, Tucson / Lazydays KOA Colorado: Colorado Springs KOA Holiday Georgia: Jacksonville North / St. Marys KOA Holiday, Savannah South KOA Holiday Idaho: Lava Hot Springs East KOA Holiday Indiana: Angola / Hogback Lake KOA Holiday, Richmond KOA Holiday Kentucky: Louisville South KOA Holiday Massachusetts: Northampton / Springfield KOA Holiday Michigan: Ludington East / Pere Marquette River KOA Holiday Missouri: Springfield / Route 66 KOA Holiday Nebraska: Ogallala KOA Journey New Jersey: Philadelphia South / Clarksboro KOA Holiday New Mexico: Albuquerque KOA Journey Ohio: Sunbury / Columbus North KOA Holiday, Thompson / Grand River Valley KOA Holiday Pennsylvania: Raystown Lake / Saxton KOA Holiday Tennessee: Jonesborough / Cherokee KOA Journey, Manchester KOA, Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg KOA Utah: Green River KOA Journey Virginia: Fancy Gap / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA Journey Wyoming: Buffalo KOA Journey
Have you ever stayed at a KOA campsite with a private dog pen? Please leave a comment and let us know how it was!
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