I kept seeing Passport America mentioned here on the forum so I looked it up and it seems too good to be true. I don't understand how they can do half off full hookup sites for only $44 a year.I was looking at their campground directory and I'm amazed at how many of these sites offer full hookups for as low as $10 a night. I shot my husband the link to their directory and he was impressed but skeptical. I know that some of the sites have restrictions on how many nights, day of the week, season, etc. My husband said that we can live with that because we may only be at a place for a night or two and being full timers our schedule will be really flexible. How long has this program been in existence? What experiences has everyone had with it? How are the facilities at parks you have stayed at? We were originally going to stay in military campgrounds but if this program is good we might find ourselves at more private campgrounds.

The campgrounds offer it because it tends to rents sites that would otherwise remain empty. Consequently the campgrounds have limitations to its use. Some of the most common are "it can only be used certain days of the week"; "it can only be used certain months of the year"; or "it can only be used one or two days at a time." Some will say only the inferior campgrounds offer it. We have not found that to be true though many of them are, there are others which are very nice, not resorts but nice. If you can live with the limitations and used it three or four days a year, it is well worth the money.

It does really work if you can stay within the conditions. Generally there's no discount on weekends or holidays. Some campgrounds also post peak or prime periods when they don't provide the discount.We have successfully used it for some really nice campgrounds and enjoyed the discount.

I'm a trucker with a recently minted accounting degree so the math on this subject is fascinating!

I am a Lifetime Member...joined back in 1992 on a yearly membership, finally was offered Lifetime at a good price and took it. I cannot begin to tell you how much I have saved in camping fees over the years. I can live with the restrictions and only drove through and pulled out of one campground in all these years.I have stayed in very nice parks for 21.00 a night, fhu, WiFi and cable. Have stayed in acceptable parks for as low as 15.00 a night.

We are also lifetime members and as full timers, we recouped our cost in a year. We have never found a PPA campground where we felt unsafe or wanted to leave. Some of them are top notch campgrounds. If one can live with the restrictions, it is a way to help keep costs down much like the govt's Senior/Disabled Pass.

Passport America | Good Sam Community

accsys
Explorer
Feb 22, 2017
The campgrounds offer it because it tends to rents sites that would otherwise remain empty. Consequently the campgrounds have limitations to its use. Some of the most common are "it can only be used certain days of the week"; "it can only be used certain months of the year"; or "it can only be used one or two days at a time." Some will say only the inferior campgrounds offer it. We have not found that to be true though many of them are, there are others which are very nice, not resorts but nice.

If you can live with the limitations and used it three or four days a year, it is well worth the money.
Ernest
Explorer
Feb 22, 2017
It does really work if you can stay within the conditions. Generally there's no discount on weekends or holidays. Some campgrounds also post peak or prime periods when they don't provide the discount.
We have successfully used it for some really nice campgrounds and enjoyed the discount.
LittleRed586
Explorer
Feb 22, 2017
I'm a trucker with a recently minted accounting degree so the math on this subject is fascinating!
LadyRVer
Explorer II
Feb 22, 2017
I am a Lifetime Member...joined back in 1992 on a yearly membership, finally was offered Lifetime at a good price and took it. I cannot begin to tell you how much I have saved in camping fees over the years. I can live with the restrictions and only drove through and pulled out of one campground in all these years.

I have stayed in very nice parks for 21.00 a night, fhu, WiFi and cable. Have stayed in acceptable parks for as low as 15.00 a night.
jnharley
Explorer
Feb 22, 2017
We are also lifetime members and as full timers, we recouped our cost in a year. We have never found a PPA campground where we felt unsafe or wanted to leave. Some of them are top notch campgrounds. If one can live with the restrictions, it is a way to help keep costs down much like the govt's Senior/Disabled Pass.
NYCgrrl
Explorer
Feb 22, 2017
LittleRed586 wrote:
I'm a trucker with a recently minted accounting degree so the math on this subject is fascinating!

You'll find that it's a longstanding business practice that started in hotels and has now moved to other aspects of the hospitality industry.
The "magical" pricing is based on Acctng 101: average cost per day of a unit or in this case, campsite. Helps to explain high, shoulder, and low season pricing.
NCWriter
Explorer
Feb 22, 2017
We renew every year and always save more than our membership fee. Some very nice places are part of PA, as well as some average but OK for an overnight places. It's a very small investment to try out for a year if you are doing extensive touring in the US and Canada.

If you do a search of the company name on this site, you'll find a very recent identical discussion, by the way. Comes up often.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Feb 22, 2017
Pretty easy math... two nights usually pays the yearly price. Will only find a few during winter in Florida or in Colorado during the summer. Their website actually has pretty good trip planning and will show member campgrounds along the route.
jarata1
Explorer
Feb 22, 2017
Good deals but some in New England won't let you use them in the summer
TripleE
Explorer
Feb 22, 2017
Passport America has been around for over 10 years. We have a lifetime membership and have saved more than that over the last 10 years. You have to follow the restrictions but it is a great plan to use when traveling. We also use the Nat'l Park Senior and Disabled Park Passes. Using COE parks really helps. We stay at Famcamps when we can and enjoying seeing this great country of ours. Join for a year and see what you think. You won't be wasting the money.

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