Kampgrounds of America is positioning its campground network as a base for heritage travel as Route 66’s centennial renews interest in multi-stop American journeys.
Kampgrounds of America is inviting travellers to explore Route 66 during the highway’s centennial year, using its campground network to support longer journeys centred on small towns, historic landmarks and roadside attractions. The company says nearly 30 KOA locations sit within an hour of Historic Route 66 between Illinois and California. The development reflects a travel proposition built around pausing along the route rather than treating it solely as a drive-through itinerary.
KOA’s research indicates that heritage travel is attracting substantial interest among campers. A preview of its annual Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report says 43% of campers plan to take a heritage or Americana-focused road trip, with growing interest in multi-stop journeys. The findings identify local communities, roadside attractions and historic places as important elements of the experience, narrowing the opportunity for outdoor-hospitality operators beyond overnight accommodation.
The company’s figures also point to camping and glamping as significant parts of the centennial travel mix. KOA says 41% of people participating in the centennial plan to camp, while 32% plan to glamp. Its Route 66 network includes properties in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, with accommodation options spanning RV sites, tent pitches and cabins.
Diane Eichler, KOA’s senior vice president of marketing, described a shift towards slower and more intentional road trips, in which travellers stop to explore and spend time in smaller communities. Bill Thomas, a Route 66 centennial commissioner and chair, said camping could give visitors a deeper connection to the route’s landscapes, stories and towns. Together, the comments place outdoor hospitality within a broader heritage-travel narrative while preserving the focus on the local experience.
KOA plans to publish its 2026 Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report on April 13, with the study intended to provide a wider view of outdoor hospitality, leisure travel and camping trends. For Kampgrounds of America, the Route 66 centennial offers a defined occasion to connect its established campground footprint with travellers seeking flexible, experience-led itineraries. Its role is therefore less about creating a new destination than about making existing stops along the Mother Road easier to use as part of a longer journey.
