Forum Discussion

way2roll's avatar
way2roll
Navigator III
Aug 29, 2020

Fuel and CG discounts

Next year we will be taking an extended trip all over the US. Probably 2-3 months. I know there are clubs you can belong to to get discounts on diesel and campgrounds. I know it's a broad question but what are some of the ones that would benefit a trip like that?

19 Replies

  • BUKHRN: I'm sure you are right about PPA being 50% off they are the best of the private clubs. I'll have to remain skeptical about finding one outside most major NP. But I checked and found one PPA in the vicinity of YNP/Tetons and RMNP, none around Glacier that I noticed. Part of my confusion stems from RVTW using the same, or at least very close, icons for most federal cg and for PPA parks. A US flag. So it can be tough to find a PPA park especially around big parks since there are usually many USFS cg.
  • bukhrn's avatar
    bukhrn
    Explorer III
    In addition to GS, many CG's will also give 10% discount for AAA, AARP, or Military.
  • I don't know if your travels will take you to the Northwest and this is kind of a stretch. Costco diesel is inexpensive from the outset and you get an extra 4% off with a Costco credit card. It is the only place I buy my fuel but I don't travel nationally. Not every Costco has diesel and you will have to do some research to pick your places. I guess this may help as Costco probably qualifies as a "club".

    Filled both tanks yesterday at $209.9 per gallon. Extra 4% brought it down to $201.5 per. On a recent trip to the coast, diesel was in the low threes. Big difference.
  • bukhrn's avatar
    bukhrn
    Explorer III
    bukhrn wrote:
    agesilaus wrote:
    The best discount card is the one of the several US annual or lifetime park passes. The Access Pass is best if you can qualify. No cost and lifetime, gives you free entrance to parks and 50% off camping in any federal campground.
    TRUE, we use this one the most.

    Good Sams gives you a laughable discount at some fuel stops, but those places are so grossly overpriced that the discount is worthless. I think it is 7 cents a gal while the diesel was priced 50 cents a gallon above other stations. GS also gives a 10% discount on camping at one of their many parks with is more useful.

    PPA Passport America gives a one third discount for one or two days with a lot of exceptions. But they have fewer parks and they are not often near major attractions. But it will pay for itself quickly if you use it. We stayed at 37 places this summer and I think we used a PPA park once.

    Not really sure where you got only a one third discount, we've always got 50% discount with PPA, and with 1600 +/- CG's, we've never had a problem finding one, some are near major attractions, one that comes quickly to mind was at Gettysburg, literally across the street fro the battlefield. You are correct, at $44. it quickly pays for it's self, often in the first stay.
    Some do have exceptions, some have no exceptions, be sure to check their website before booking.

    T



    Escapees gives I think a 15% discount at a very limited number of parks. We never seen one actually.

    Boondocking gives a 100% discount, no card needed. But getting to the point where you can do it for 3 or 4 days has its own one time costs.

    Mostly East of the Rockies the Corp of Engineer(COE or they called them USACE) CG are excellent parks and cheap especially if you have one of the federal passes. Most are water/electric tho. FHU is unusual. The Forest Service has a lot of parks but most don't have utilities tho some do. They are cheap.
  • I am in Escapees and paid the extra ten bucks for Days End but found it mostly more trouble than it's worth, Very hard to search and extract useful info. There are a number of free sites that have this info in a useful form. I use Freecampsites.net but Campedium is also popular. I have Allstays too but we rarely used it.

    I looked at TSD but didn't like handing over so much information to them and I also waited too long to apply before we left for summer. People seem to like it and it gives a real discount.

    Harvest Hosts is about $90/year IIRC, they have a limited number of sites, they have no utilities aka dry camping, and these are commercial spots that expect you to spend $30 a visit in their facility. You can not make reservations and they expect you to leave after one night. Seems like a rip off to me but if you like wineries then maybe you are a good fit.
  • For diesel look at TSD Logistics. Their best discounts are at some of the larger truckstops.
    If you join Escapees then you can join Days End directory and get a list of free or very inexpensive overnight stops.
    Harvest Host is also good for free 1 night stopovers.
    Passport America is also good for discounted sites.
    These are all ones we use frequently.
  • The best discount card is the one of the several US annual or lifetime park passes. The Access Pass is best if you can qualify. No cost and lifetime, gives you free entrance to parks and 50% off camping in any federal campground.

    Good Sams gives you a laughable discount at some fuel stops, but those places are so grossly overpriced that the discount is worthless. I think it is 7 cents a gal while the diesel was priced 50 cents a gallon above other stations. GS also gives a 10% discount on camping at one of their many parks with is more useful.

    PPA Passport America gives a one third discount for one or two days with a lot of exceptions. But they have fewer parks and they are not often near major attractions. But it will pay for itself quickly if you use it. We stayed at 37 places this summer and I think we used a PPA park once.

    Escapees gives I think a 15% discount at a very limited number of parks. We never seen one actually.

    Boondocking gives a 100% discount, no card needed. But getting to the point where you can do it for 3 or 4 days has its own one time costs.

    Mostly East of the Rockies the Corp of Engineer(COE or they called them USACE) CG are excellent parks and cheap especially if you have one of the federal passes. Most are water/electric tho. FHU is unusual. The Forest Service has a lot of parks but most don't have utilities tho some do. They are cheap.
  • If you qualify, best discount is the America, The beautiful Senior pass.
    Many of the federal agencies have campgrounds with varied style of hook ups or no hook ups. Corp of Engineers, BLM, National Parks and Forest service for example.