Campground Memberships

[Calumet]

Hi,

I searched previous posts and didn't hit on this subject...
Years ago when I looked into bussing you could by a membership in a campground club that would allow you to stay all over the country.
Is this still going on?  Any suggestions - good experiences - bad experiences?

Thanks!

[gumpy]

Yes, there are still some of these around, though I don't subscribe or have any info on who or where.

I suppose it's going to depend on how much you intend to use campgrounds. When we went to AK in 2005, my In-Laws bought a KOA membership. We stayed in KOAs probably 8 times on the 6 week trip. I think the savings covered the membership, but in general, the fees were around $30-40 per night even after the discount. Generally too steep for this traveler.

We tend to stay in WalMarts when traveling, and as near as I can tell, there aren't any membership clubs that offer discounts
for camping there   We've also found the low priced campground guide book has some great values in it (and some dogs),
and memberships won't help much when you're already paying rock bottom for basic camping. But I think my money was
better spend on the guide than on a membership that might get me a few bucks off a high priced campground.

craig

[jjrbus]

www.passportamerica.com

  About $50 a year, 50% off camping fee's.  Check out thier website. If  you are going to stay at any of thier campgrounds it will pay for the membership in 4 nites!!!!.  WallyWorld is wunderful for a nite or 2, but you unhook the toad, put out the carpet, the grill, set up the chairs, fill the gabage cans up, dump the holding tank and they get all upset

[white-eagle]

We belong to Escapees, FMCA, and have a AAA membership.  Also AARP.  In Unidilla, GA, i get overnight with hookups and breakfast for $10 because of Escapees.  Most SKP parks will let you dry camp for $2.50, hookups for $15 or so.  They are not a campground membership, they just own a few and give great rates to members.  if you spend a lot of time in your bus, check them out at Escapees.com because we think they have a number of benefits, especially if you full time.

FMCA, AARP and AAA provide a 10% discount at most places.   We did have a Passport membership, but the restrictions and quality of the campgrounds were not impressive in all cases, so we dropped it.  A lot of our full-timer friends have a 1000-trails membership which gives them free but restricted access all over the county.  they can stay 2 weeks at a time, then leave for a week, then back for another 2 weeks, no charge (i think).  i guess they are available sometimes at discount prices from members that no longer use them cause they don't travel anymore.

We feel KOA is like a holiday Inn-you know what you're getting, but they aren't cheap.  great for when we have to travel at night becuase they are usually well lit and easy to get into.

Walmart and Cracker Barrel  allow camping, but obviously noisy, unprotected and dry.  Cracker barrel parking lots are small in most cases, but the food is great.  Truck stops are even more noisy and sometimes not so great.

hth

[Lin]

Many years ago we belonged to Coast to Coast.  It worked out very well, but had its limitations.  At that time, one hooked up for $1.00/night.  I think they are $8.00/ night now, but that would be okay.  There are a couple of other clubs that do the same thing.  There are lots of memberships available directly from people that no longer use theirs, as also from resellers.  I think they are not uncommon on Craigslist and Ebay.  The price is good and so is quality generally, but as to availability and service, I think that you will find good feedback on RVing forums and reviews.  I think that if we were to fulltime, I would go for one of those but not expect it to work for every night.