campimg membership for a newbie
We are going to begin the camping RV life shortly, and are dismayed at the cost of parking our RV. We have found a couple clubs to join, but are in need of an experienced person to guide our plans....
Forum Discussion
You've received suggestions on some of the best ways to save. Make a list of these ways and use them as you travel. Costly RV parks are not the only way to stay. Don't be afraid of dry camping (usually in public parks - national parks, national forests, Corp of Engineers, county and city parks). You definitely don't need hookups every night.
For your Canada/Alaska trip get Mike and Terri Church's book 'Alaskan Camping'. It includes Canada and the Yukon, too. They list just about every place along the way to stay from RV parks down to boondocking in awesome free spots with great views of the mountains, lakes and streams. The Canadian and Yukon Provincial parks are great places to stay some are expensive but others very reasonable.
With your traveling plans I would definitely not advise a membership other than Passport America. If your traveling isn't structured like a working family with only 2 weeks vacation, you can make great use out of it. There are restrictions but often times it will work for you. Staying 2-3 nights a year and using it will pay for the membership.
Definitely get the Federal Senior Pass if you're 62+. It will give you 1/2 price camping in many places - even Denali National Park in Alaska. :)
We love staying in national forest campgrounds. We like the large sites and private spacing amidst nature. Casinos are great for an overnight - better than WalMarts. Also, fairgrounds have reasonable campgrounds but you have to check them out first to see if anything is going on... like the fair! We toured San Francisco and stayed at a nearby fairgrounds....a LOT cheaper than a RV park in that area.
Mix up your ways of stays and you can save a lot of money.
For your Canada/Alaska trip get Mike and Terri Church's book 'Alaskan Camping'. It includes Canada and the Yukon, too. They list just about every place along the way to stay from RV parks down to boondocking in awesome free spots with great views of the mountains, lakes and streams. The Canadian and Yukon Provincial parks are great places to stay some are expensive but others very reasonable.
With your traveling plans I would definitely not advise a membership other than Passport America. If your traveling isn't structured like a working family with only 2 weeks vacation, you can make great use out of it. There are restrictions but often times it will work for you. Staying 2-3 nights a year and using it will pay for the membership.
Definitely get the Federal Senior Pass if you're 62+. It will give you 1/2 price camping in many places - even Denali National Park in Alaska. :)
We love staying in national forest campgrounds. We like the large sites and private spacing amidst nature. Casinos are great for an overnight - better than WalMarts. Also, fairgrounds have reasonable campgrounds but you have to check them out first to see if anything is going on... like the fair! We toured San Francisco and stayed at a nearby fairgrounds....a LOT cheaper than a RV park in that area.
Mix up your ways of stays and you can save a lot of money.
