We left Maryland with the goal of beelining it to the Florida Keys while making a few memorable stops along the way. Although it wasn’t our intention, we ended up staying at 4 consecutive KOA campgrounds from Virginia to Florida! When researching places to stay, our primary resources are Google Maps and a book called “Where Should We Camp Next”, although they don’t offer a complete list of locations in our search radius, they tend to be fairly reliable. The other resources we use include Reserve America, Recreation.gov, and iOverlander which typically point us to cheaper places to stay and when we put them all together we end up with a robust list with various camping options and amenities.
Since KOA has over 500 locations across the country, we tend to gravitate toward them for many reasons. First off, most of them are located near large cities and attractions making for convenient sightseeing excursions. Their booking system on their app and website make for a headache free reservation experience (if you have ever tried making a reservation at a state campground, you know how frustrating the booking process can be sometimes), so it’s comforting to know we can just log in, find the location and site we need and book with a tap of the screen or click of the mouse. As a member of KOA, we also enjoy a 10% discount each time we book and once we rack up enough points, they can be used for a free night here and there. We have also found the KOA staff members to be very friendly, the sites are clean and well maintained, and the bathrooms are usually in great shape. So, how’s that for a free plug KOA? 😉
Check out where we stayed and suggested sightseeing highlights below…….
Virginia Beach KOA – Virginia Beach VA
Large KOA with several rows of camping options and it’s super close to the beach! – what’s not to like about that!
Sightseeing Highlights:
Virginia Beach: (10min drive)
Miles of pristine sandy beaches, which draw millions of visitors each year. The main beachfront is divided into three sections: North End, Resort Area, and Sandbridge. The North End is a quiet residential area that is perfect for families, while the Resort Area is home to the boardwalk, hotels, restaurants, and shops. Sandbridge is a secluded beachfront community located a few miles south of the Resort Area.
While we were there, the remnants of hurricane Ian were lingering, but we braved the wind and rain anyway as it was our only day to check out the resort boardwalk area beaches. It’s a typical east coast beach town with surf shops, fried dough stands, souvenir stores, carnival rides, ice cream parlors, restaurants, and a fishing pier. Normally it would be teeming with thousands of beach goers, but with the inclement weather it looked more like a deserted ghost town than a vacation destination. The wind was strong, and the sea was angry, but it was still fun to explore the area without thousands of people milling around. Perhaps we will return to see it again on a hot summer day.
Wilmington KOA – Wilmington NC
Like most KOA’s this one is conveniently located near a major highway (right in the middle of town on highway 17) and is close to many local attractions.
Sightseeing Highlights:
USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial – (20min drive)
One of the most iconic attractions in Wilmington is the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial. This historic battleship, which served in World War II, is now permanently docked on the Cape Fear River and open to the public for tours.
Visiting the USS North Carolina was an unforgettable experience that had us in awe as we meandered through the ship’s many decks, including the living quarters, mess halls, and engine rooms. The ship is a true marvel of engineering and a testament to the courage and determination of the sailors who manned it. The ship was home to a crew of 2,300 men and was practically a floating city with laundry services, dentist’s, doctor’s, a surgery room, barber shop, a convenience store for buying things like candy, soda, and cigarettes, and of course a kitchen that was operating almost nonstop to feed hundreds of hungry sailors 3 times each day!
Wrightsville Beach – (15min drive)
At Wrightsville beach you will find ample parking on E Salisbury Street, a couple of restaurants, public bathrooms, and a fishing pier.
We had planned to do the 2 mile walk from Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier to Crystal Pier but ended up getting distracted by the thousands of seashells that had washed ashore (perhaps caused by hurricane Ian) and spent an hour or so picking through the broken shells until we found an occasional keeper or two. It’s a great spot for a long walk, a dip in the ocean, or to simply relax in the sand for the afternoon.
In addition to its natural beauty and fascinating history, Wilmington is also a thriving cultural hub with a vibrant arts scene. From live music and theater performances to art galleries and cultural festivals, there’s always something exciting happening in this charming coastal city, but if your visit is short like ours, seeing the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial and Wrightsville beach should be high on the list.
Lastly, for a great cup of coffee and a muffin or scone, Casa Blanca Coffee Roasters is a fun hip cafe just a short walk from camp – it’s literally a 2-minute walk from the KOA.
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Point South / I-95 / Yemassee KOA Holiday – Yemassee SC
We strategically chose Yemassee KOA as it was the halfway point between Savannah GA and Charleston SC. We learned quickly that most campers are transient one nighters at this KOA, so our 4 night stay must have made us look like full timers 😉
This was one of the coolest KOAs we have seen as the office has a lounge area and a bar where you can belly up for a drink while you wait for a fresh baked pizza from their pizza oven, making it even more special. It’s different than any other KOA we have visited including the alligators we spotted in their nearby ponds!
Sightseeing Highlights:
Old Sheldon Church Ruins – (12min drive)
Nestled in the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, this ancient site is a nearby attraction that carries a rich history dating back to the 18th century. The moss-draped oaks that guard the crumbling walls create an otherworldly and eerie atmosphere that adds to the creepiness as you walk around and stumble through the various headstones on the property. The ruins have witnessed pivotal moments in American history from its origins as Prince William’s Parish Church to its destruction during the Revolutionary War and Civil War. With its proximity to camp, It’s a perfect place to visit on day 1.
Savannah GA – (50min drive)
Deemed “One of the prettiest streets in America”, we made it a point to start our day exploring Jones Street. It’s a beautiful street lined with huge oak trees arching over the road with Spanish moss hanging from the branches creating an enchanting yet inviting ambiance.
There are several historical buildings, town squares, and stunning churches throughout town which make for great picture taking opportunities. One of the charming elements we really enjoy about the east coast are all of the historical markers that tell the story of a town, building, or person that had a major impact on the area in our nation’s history.
Our next stop was a stroll along the Riverwalk which felt a lot like Pier 39 in San Francisco. There were several souvenir stores, candy and ice cream shops, and several overpriced restaurants.
from there, we went for a stroll through Colonial Park Cemetery which is a captivating destination that gave us a glimpse into Savannah’s colonial past. The cemetery was established in 1750 and is one of the oldest cemeteries in Georgia. Walking through the weathered gravestones and moss-covered oaks certainly left us captivated by its ethereal ambiance!
Before heading to dinner, we made a pit stop for a snack and had our hearts set on Treylor Park, but they were fully booked on the patio, so we ended up at Moon River Brewing where we snacked on hummus and chips and sampled two of their beers which were interesting and amazing at the same time. The first was the Swamp Fox which was an excellent IPA. The interesting order was their Tater Beer which is made from sweet potatoes, and it was surprisingly tasty!
Our final stop and dinner destination was the hyped-up Paula Deen restaurant – The Lady and Sons. The reviews were positive, and we were hoping for some good ole southern cookin, but the experience fell flat as the ambiance was lackluster and the food was incredibly bland. The only saving grace was the ooey gooey butter cake which was all kinds of delicious!
Charleston, SC – (75min drive)
We found Charleston to have a big city vibe with a small-town charm. Our day began with an amazing brunch at a local favorite called Poogan’s Porch. Now we’re talkin – this place more than checked the box when it came to an authentic southern food experience. We enjoyed traditional foods like fried green tomatoes, chicken and waffles, and pecan pie for dessert!
Our next stop was to see the colorful homes on East Bay Street better known as Rainbow Row, a tourist attraction similar to the Painted Ladies in San Francisco.
From there we walked down to the waterfront to admire the rows of oak trees at White Point Garden. Today it’s a tranquil park where visitors and locals can find a quite shaded spot to relax, have a picnic, read a book, or just take in the scenery. There are several cannon replicas along the street that stand as markers of battles fought there during a much more violent time in Charleston’s history.
To round out our day, we visited City Market which is a shopping mecca with all sorts of merchants selling art, clothing, souvenirs, games, greeting cards, books, and other wares.
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Titusville / Kennedy Space Center KOA – Mims FL
Awesome campground with majestic trees covered in Spanish moss adding extra character to the campground. Perfect stopping point for campers looking for a short drive to Kennedy Space Center.
Sightseeing Highlights:
Kennedy Space Center (30min drive)
As a kid, I was fascinated by astronomy and would spend hours gazing at the stars at night studying their patterns and wondering about our significance in the universe. As we made our way down the Florida coast, we made a point to spend a couple of nights in the Titusville KOA in Mims FL so we could spend a day at the Kennedy Space Center. The facility feels more like an amusement park geared towards kids, but we enjoyed seeing the various rockets that were used to launch people and satellites into space, a fun virtual ride to Mars, and most of all seeing the space shuttle and the moon landing exhibits. Totally worth the visit for people of all ages!
We hope you enjoyed this blog post as much as we enjoyed the east coast journey!
Cheers,
-Tiny Trailer Trips Crew