Livingston / Paradise Valley KOA Holiday Introduce
For local users searching for "camping near me" in the Livingston and Paradise Valley area of Montana, the Livingston / Paradise Valley KOA Holiday, located at 163 Pine Creek Rd, Livingston, MT 59047, USA, presents a location with potential benefits, particularly its riverside setting and proximity to Yellowstone National Park. However, recent customer reviews paint a concerning picture regarding the campground's maintenance and management, which prospective visitors should carefully consider. This introduction aims to provide an objective overview of the environment, services, and features based on the available reviews, highlighting both the potential positives and the significant negatives reported by recent guests.
The environment surrounding the Livingston / Paradise Valley KOA Holiday is noted for its "amazing location along the river." This suggests a scenic setting with potential for riverside activities and enjoyment of the natural landscape. The easy access to the river is specifically mentioned as a great feature, although one reviewer points out that there is "just really one point of access," which might be a limitation for some guests depending on their campsite location and desired activities. The campground also benefits from its proximity to Yellowstone National Park, making it a viable option for those planning day trips into the park. Additionally, its location near Livingston provides access to the amenities and attractions of the town.
Despite the appealing location, the services and features of the Livingston / Paradise Valley KOA Holiday have come under significant criticism in recent reviews, particularly concerning the cleanliness and functionality of essential facilities:
- **Unclean Bathrooms:** Multiple reviewers express serious concerns about the cleanliness of the bathrooms. One describes them as "not clean," and another details a scenario where the "septic tank was apparently overflowing" leading to a pervasive smell in the main bathhouse.
- **Non-Operational and Malfunctioning Toilets:** The urinal in the main bathhouse was reported as "non-operational and covered in a trash bag." Furthermore, when this bathroom was shut down, the remaining "small number of other individual bathrooms" (only 4 or 5 for the entire campground) were "constantly flooded" and had residential toilets that were "clogged 50% of the time." This severely limited bathroom access for guests.
- **Insufficient Bathroom Availability:** The closure of one bathhouse led to a significant strain on the remaining facilities, with one reviewer stating they "could not find a bathroom to use most time I needed one."
- **Unserviceable Laundry Facilities:** One reviewer noted "the amount of unserviceable washers and dryers," indicating potential issues with the laundry amenities.
- **Spider Infestation in Bathrooms:** Another complaint mentions "the amount of spiders to humans in the bathroom," raising concerns about pest control and hygiene.
- **Missing Amenities in Bathroom/Shower Combos:** For seven days, one reviewer reported a lack of "hooks or benches in one of the bathroom/shower combos," highlighting a lack of attention to basic functionality and guest convenience.
- **Pool Maintenance Issues:** The swimming pool was reported as "needing minor and when we arrived major repairs," suggesting potential disruptions to this recreational amenity.
- **Limited Dog Park:** The presence of "only one dog park" might be a limitation for guests traveling with pets.
- **Inappropriate Staff Behavior (Off-Duty):** A particularly concerning review describes an off-duty employee who appeared to be intoxicated and "felt the need to invite themselves onto my camping site and encroach on my personal space with my family," leading to a severely negative impact on the guests' experience.
The reviews also highlight significant issues with the campground's management and customer service:
- **Avoidance by Owner/Management:** One reviewer who experienced the severe bathroom issues reported that the owner "avoided talking to me directly despite my several calls, always using a staff member to relay the message." This lack of direct communication, especially regarding health code implications, was perceived negatively.
- **Unsatisfactory Refund Offer:** The same reviewer who had significant bathroom problems was initially denied a partial refund and then offered only a single night's refund (the cheapest of their three nights), which they deemed insufficient given the severity of the issues.
- **Disregard for Expected Standards:** The reviewer who experienced the bathroom problems emphasized that "the only thing I expect from a corporate campground is clean bathrooms" and that the high rates charged should cover basic maintenance. They felt the services received were "not close to those promised."
The positive aspects mentioned in the reviews are primarily limited to the location along the river and the friendliness of the staff (with the caveat of the serious off-duty incident). The staff is described as "awesome and kind and understanding," which is a positive attribute, but ultimately overshadowed by the significant maintenance and management concerns.
Promotional information is absent from the provided reviews. Given the serious nature of the complaints regarding the campground's condition and management, any potential promotional offers should be viewed with caution until the reported issues are verifiably addressed. Local users considering this KOA Holiday should prioritize contacting the campground directly to inquire about the current status of the bathrooms, laundry facilities, pool, and management practices. It would be prudent to seek assurances that the issues raised in the recent reviews have been resolved before making a booking.
In conclusion, while the Livingston / Paradise Valley KOA Holiday boasts an attractive riverside location and convenient access to Yellowstone National Park, recent customer reviews reveal significant and concerning issues related to the cleanliness and functionality of the bathrooms, maintenance of other amenities (laundry, pool), and questionable management practices. The positive feedback regarding the staff's kindness is overshadowed by the severity of the maintenance problems and the unprofessional behavior of an off-duty employee. Local users searching for "camping near me" in this area should be aware of these serious concerns and exercise extreme caution before booking a stay at this campground. Thoroughly investigating the current conditions and management responses directly with the campground is strongly recommended to avoid a potentially unpleasant and unsanitary camping experience. The expectation of clean and functional facilities, especially at a corporate campground like KOA, appears to have been severely unmet for recent visitors.
Livingston / Paradise Valley KOA Holiday Photos










Livingston / Paradise Valley KOA Holiday Location
Livingston / Paradise Valley KOA Holiday
163 Pine Creek Rd, Livingston, MT 59047, USA
Livingston / Paradise Valley KOA Holiday163 Pine Creek Rd
Jammin Jackalope Camping2492 E River Rd
Mallards Rest Campground4097 US-89
Pine Creek Campground266 Luccock Park Rd
SPIRE PEAK CAMPGROUND4125 US-89
Rock chuck RVs61 Antelope Flats
Livingston Campground11 Rogers Ln
Elk River Crossing19 Meyers Ln
YELLOWSTONE TRAIL VACATION RENTAL25 Yellowstone Trail
West Boulder CampgroundW Boulder Rd
Snowbank CampgroundMill Creek Rd
Yellowstone Dreamin Camp30 Mule Deer Rd
Falls Creek CampgroundMain Boulder Rd
Livingston / Paradise Valley KOA Holiday Reviews
I tried to work this out with the campground before coming here to post. The bathrooms were not clean, and the septic tank was apparently overflowing based on what staff told me and the smell permeating from the main bathhouse. The urinal was non-operational and covered in a trash bag, so people were urinating in the limited number of stalls and making a mess. Then that bathroom was shut down and everyone was directed to a small number of other individual bathrooms (just 4 or 5 for everyone), which were constantly flooded and had residential toilets that were clogged 50% of the time. I could not find a bathroom to use most time I needed one. I'll spare the people reading this review with any further visuals.The staff was awesome and kind and understanding. This is not a complaint about them. This is just about the owner/management.The location is also amazing along the river, although there is just really one point of access.I made an effort to contact the owner to ask for just a partial refund for two nights, and I was initially denied and then offered a single night refund (the cheapest of the three nights, too). I appreciate the gesture but that is not enough. All of these issues are avoidable with maintenance and the rates are high enough to be able to maintain the septic tank and bathrooms. The owner also avoided talking to me directly despite my several calls, always using a staff member to relay the message. I found that odd given the particular issues here and the health code implications.I truly wish that this could have been worked out. This is the first time I've had to file a credit card dispute because the services received were not close to those promised.The only thing I expect from a corporate campground is clean bathrooms. That is what you pay for, because there are a ton of other options if you don't care about that. That is literally 90% of the expected service. If bathrooms are not functional everyone in the campground should be refunded.
Sep 19, 2024 · Christian ENot what I expected from a KOA. Access to the river is great. Sites are nice and have plenty of room. My only complaints are the amount of unserviceable washers and dryers, the amount of spiders to humans in the bathroom, no hooks or benches in one of the bathroom/shower combos x7 days, the pool needing minor and when we arrived major repairs, only one dog park and the employee that arrived at my campsite drunk and/or high on their day off and felt the need to invite themselves onto my camping site and encroach on my personal space with my family. Due to the employees complete lack of decorum my family had a hard time enjoying the remainder of our time at this campground. Had it not been for the cancellation policy we would have left the next day. Despite the easy access to the river and Yellowstone, I expected more from a KOA branded campground. Probably fine for a day or two but not for an extended stay. There is absolutely no way I would stay at this KOA again.
Jul 21, 2024 · Benjamin AlvesWe were so looking forward to this KOA campsite.....then..... It would have been better if we could have gotten the site we reserved by calling this business directly months in advance to ensure that we got a back in site on the river.. When we arrived, we were informed that all of the back in sites on the river were already reserved, so they put us in a spot, 55, which was squeezed in between the cabins. Besides the fact that the water and electrical outlets were set up on the opposite side of the trailer, while the sewer connection was right, we had to walk through the cabins to get to the river. Even our KOA representative who escorted us to the site said this was an awkward site. Oh well, only one night, I guess.
Sep 17, 2024 · Brent BurtsfieldThis was probably the worst campground we have ever stayed at because for barking dogs. The worst one belonged to an employee. Don't pretend you don't know your dog barks basically non stop! The road in is horribly rough. They tried to put us in a dirt site down a hill and it was supposed to rain. We have a 38 foot diesel pusher Class A. No way was that going to work. The site they put us in just barely worked. The area is beautiful and the location on the Yellowstone River is nice. We probably wouldn't stay there again. Go closer to Gardner.
Sep 07, 2024 · Tamara HalesThis KOA used to be a favorite place of mine two years ago, but the return this year was unfortunately disappointing. I still think the location and tent site layout is fantastic but it feels like the facilities have been let go since I was last here. Bathrooms were consistently dirty over our 2 day stay and in worse condition overall than last time (hundreds of dead bugs and hole in shower floor), only 1 out of 4 laundry machines were working when we desperately needed to do laundry, and the change machine in the laundry room isn't even plugged in. Despite the laundry room being open 24/7 the front office isn't so we couldn't get change and ended up unable to do laundry at all. I will admit that some of the timing issues could be attributed to poor planning on our part, but the situation could've been avoided entirely if there was any warning that both the laundry machines and change machine weren't working. We also had mixed experiences with staff, some are super friendly and go out of their way to help but others acted dismissive and somewhat uncaring. Overall the experience was mediocre, so good enough to stick with our reservation but bad enough that I'll probably check out some other campsites next time.
Aug 06, 2024 · Annelies Stoelinga
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