Having more than 500 locations across the United States and Canada, it is the world's largest system of privately owned campgrounds.

Drum got the idea to start the campgrounds while walking his property along the Yellowstone River and seeing travelers heading to the Seattle World's Fair.

The 1970s energy crisis caused the collapse of many travel-oriented businesses, and KOA's stock price sharply declined as fewer Americans drove for vacations.

New York City financier Oscar Tang, a major stockholder at the time, purchased the company in its entirety after the 1979 oil crisis.

In April 2019, Hittmeier retired, and was replaced by new CEO Toby O'Rourke, the first woman to hold that position in the company's 57-year history.