Campgrounds of America (KOA) has been named to Franchise Business Review’s 2026 Culture100 list, which recognizes the top 100 franchise brands for workplace and organizational culture based on franchisee feedback.
The recognition was determined through independent research conducted by Franchise Business Review, which surveyed more than 29,000 franchise owners representing over 330 franchise brands.
The annual Culture100 list highlights franchise systems that received the highest ratings across a range of measures tied to franchisee satisfaction and company culture.
KOA, which operates a network of more than 500 campgrounds across North America, was evaluated through a survey process that asked franchisees to respond to 33 benchmark questions about their experiences within the franchise system.
The assessment measured satisfaction and performance in areas including leadership, core values, franchisee community and engagement.
The company’s franchise model has been central to its operations since opening its first franchised campground in Cody, Wyoming, in 1964. Today, most KOA campgrounds are independently owned and operated by franchise partners in local communities.
According to a press release, Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of KOA, said the recognition reflects the experiences and feedback of campground owners throughout the franchise network.
“As a franchise organization, our franchisees are at the heart of everything we do,” O’Rourke said. “Being recognized by Franchise Business Review is especially meaningful because it reflects the experiences and feedback of our campground owners. We are committed to continuing a culture rooted in partnership and shared success, and we are honored to see those efforts once again recognized.”
According to Franchise Business Review, brands selected for the Culture100 list achieved top overall ratings across 17 areas considered important to franchise culture. Those areas include leadership effectiveness, adherence to core values, franchisee relationships and overall engagement within the franchise system.
Michelle Rowan, president of Franchise Business Review, said company culture remains an important consideration for prospective franchise owners evaluating investment opportunities.
“Culture fit is one of the most critical, and most elusive, factors in a franchise investment decision,” Rowan said. “At Franchise Business Review, we survey thousands of current franchise owners to understand how they truly feel about the brand they’ve invested in.”
Rowan added that the organization’s research focuses on measuring whether franchisees feel supported by their franchisor and how effectively franchise teams and support staff work together to achieve shared goals.
Franchise Business Review has conducted franchise satisfaction research since 2005 and publishes rankings and reports based on feedback collected from franchise owners and employees across the franchise sector.