Is there value in memberships?

DutchmenSport wrote:
For the cost of membership and annual fees, plus the cost of actually camping at their campgrounds, and then all the limitations, restrictions, and rules about when and when NOT you can and can NOT ... well... all that money can be used camping in a lot of State, National, and Private parks that offer a wider variety, location, and less "guilt!" Yea, guilt! If you don't use the membership for whatever reason (say you get sick and are unable to go camping for a few months) ... it's money wasted. When you free-lance camp, the most you'll looses is a portion of your payment.

The idea of being restricted to a specific set of campgrounds is just nauseating to me. There are way too many other locations to visit!

If you REALLY want to stay in one of those campgrounds, I suppose they make allowances (of course a price too) to visit there. Still, there's no obligation then to fork over annual dues and such! Too restrictive in my book.

This is pretty much our position. The membership schemes of many (not all) are to keep the campgrounds funded even when the spaces are empty, akin to time-shares. I've met a couple of developers of campground resorts over the years. They like to go in, buy up land or a cg already in place, do a few changes, then promote the idea that somehow they're exclusive and upscale when they're not. It's a sales pitch that the customer pays for.

My perception over the years is that Good Sam and KOA are not about this. Their tact is to provide more consistent service and standards in facilities. (Please, no arguing about either one here, this is my personal experience of their programs.) These memberships bring other discounts and perks and so we have them as we travel quite a bit.

If you're a full-timer who would stay in those exclusive cgs, it might be worth it. We prefer state parks, national parks etc for destinations, and when visiting relatives we often stay in a KOA or Good Sam's near the city.