Today's Camping Style May Be Not So Tough

Picture yourself sitting beside a deluxe RV at a scenic KOA campground, enjoying wine and cheese by an outdoor fireplace, with wireless Internet and cable TV at your fingertips. It may occur to you to raise your glass and toast "roughing it."

Example of an RV site at KOA

For an estimated 30 million RV enthusiasts, this is the ideal vision of life on the road. In stark contrast to the traditional view of roughing it, such as pitching a tent in the wilderness, RVers account for the majority of campers today. About 65 percent of campers in the United States are RVers, and 57 percent in Canada, according to KOA's comprehensive, scientific study of camping trends.

RV ownership has grown by almost 40 percent in the last 25 years, and the rising tide of retiring baby boomers has not yet peaked. Campground owners are adjusting their offerings to meet today's demands and anticipate what may be on the horizon. RVers generate 107 million overnight stays at North American campgrounds each year, according to KOA. These campers know how to bring the comforts of home along with them. In fact, they demand it.

Traveling with a computer
For those who have decided to make a lifestyle change and hit the road, a laptop computer is a vital communications tool. Internet access allows campers to plan travel, communicate by email and manage finances online. KOA's trend research shows that 46 percent of U.S. campers and 40 percent of Canadian campers use the Internet as a primary information source for travel planning.

Ralph Newell, who owns and operates the KOA near Lawrence, Kansas, says 10 to 15 percent of his guests use his WiFi service. Even so, it's a tremendous competitive advantage. "The difference is that those 10 to 15 percent will bypass other campgrounds and come to me because they absolutely want and need high-speed Internet access," he said.

KOA offers access to the high-speed HOTSPOTZZ wireless network at nearly 100 campgrounds, and more sites are being added every day. Yet those watching and responding to the high-tech trend say amenities like WiFi do not overshadow the basic appeal of camping.

"Technology isn't taking away from the romance of camping," said Al Johnson, who operates the Mt. Rushmore KOA campground and nine others throughout the United States. "You still have people sitting outside around the campfire looking at the stars."

Today's active lifestyle
With the renewed emphasis on structured exercise today, KOA owners are increasingly fielding requests for fitness centers, saunas and walking trails. KOAs throughout North America are finding or building space for exercise rooms. Trend spotters report that 80 percent or more of retired baby boomers plan to place a priority on physical recreation.

"Demand for active vacations for people of all ages is exploding and will continue to rise in the next five to 10 years," said Jim Rogers, KOA's president and CEO. "Our goal is to provide a friendly, safe and enjoyable experience as our amenities continue to evolve with the times."

Innovations in customer service
Baby boomers are an affluent and well-traveled group; they have come to expect more from their leisure time. As a result, campground operators like Al Johnson are experimenting with increasing what he calls the "service climate."

For example, KOA Welcome Ambassadors at select high-volume sites will soon have wireless access to the reservation system using laptops that travel easily in golf carts. Johnson's hope is that this could enable check-in by license plate at the front entrance and quick changes to reservations on site, without having to return to the reception area.

Even the front desk could be a thing of the past. Some KOAs have installed "pods" with reservation computers inside. "So the guest isn't isolated from the staff by a big desk," Johnson said. Maps, brochures and helpful information are all within arm's reach.

Gadgets and Gizmos
As for high-tech camping, what's the next craze for RVers? The RV Industry Association reports that the most popular electronics found in RVs today are flat-screen TVs, satellite entertainment systems, video game players and surround sound for music and DVDs. RV owners are also opting for high-tech equipment like GPS, touch-screen controls, automatic leveling and rear-view cameras for use while backing up. Among the more far-out features are freezers in the "basement" of new RVs and foldout barbecue grills.

"Many of the amenities we're adding to campgrounds are influenced by RVs - they're getting bigger and more complex all the time, prompting us to respond with more TV channels and better Internet hookups," Johnson said. "We're also seeing more people traveling with an RV that has a 'toy' wagon behind it with a four-wheeler, jet skis or whatever form of personal recreation campers take along."

If rising RV sales are any indicator, "roughing it" for the next generation of campers means seeing North America from a comfortable seat indeed - most likely a temperature-controlled, massage chair!

As the most trusted name in family camping today, KOA Kampgrounds of America have hosted more than 250 million guests since the company was founded in Billings, Mont., in 1962. KOA operates nearly 500 campgrounds in the United States, Canada and Japan. These campgrounds offer a range of options, from full RV hookups to KOA Kabins, Kottages, Lodges and tent sites. In keeping with the family spirit, nearly all KOA Kampgrounds are owned by the people who operate them. All KOA Kampgrounds offer a store, laundry room and pool, among other amenities. Many sites now feature WiFi high-speed Internet access. For more information visit www.koa.com.