Membership discounts

passport america is the best value out there, but check the campground membership list for where you will be traveling and the restrictions. you can easily pay for your membership the first trip.
bumpy

I purchased the PA membership when we first stayed at our local "getaway" park in Pahrump, NV. The membership paid for itself the first weekend, and given the fact that the DW loves the park, I figure it has saved me $44 a weekend. Multiply that by six trips so far this year, and that's a nice chunk of change!

If you do hit it right passport America can more than pay for itself in one week. We stayed in Bradenton FL last June to watch a baseball home stand (6 games out of 8 nights) and we were even on the PA dues the third night. Yes it was off season, yes we were limited to 2 weeks, but we researched it and it met our needs. Saved $80 on that one trip. Got a special 15 month for the cost of 12 so I really don't have any problem with PA. However, if you don't stay at parks that accept the card owning one would be pointless.

If you decide to go with Passport America be sure you understand there are lots of gotchas. First, there are many exclusions and blackout dates. Second, there may be many additional charges that are added to that basic 1/2 off rate, things like $ for 50 amp service, $ for sewer $ for pull thru sites etc. Third, the parks are often off the beaten path, so your savings might get eaten up by additional time and money spent getting to them. Fourth, some parks set their prices assuming the 50% discount is a given, so they are actually not a deal at all. That's why a number of reviews state something like "We paid $XX for the site with our Passport America discount and it sure is a good thing we had it because the site wasn't worth the 50% discounted price, much less what they claim is the full price.". Finally, Passport parks aren't evenly distributed across the country. You won't find too many (if there are any at all) near popular destinations. Many people find their value is in transiting from one location to another. It gives them a cheap overnight. Doesn't work nearly as well if you are looking to find them at the terminus of your travels.

HappyKayakers wrote:
Please keep in mind that those discounts are only good off the daily rates. If you're going to stay weekly/monthly/longer, those rates usually have built-in discounts from the park/campground.

Also some can only used be used on weekdays.
http://www.passportamerica.com/campgrounds

Please keep in mind that those discounts are only good off the daily rates. If you're going to stay weekly/monthly/longer, those rates usually have built-in discounts from the park/campground.

Passport America does give 1/2 off, we use it often and it does depend on how many are in your are. I see there are 15 in South Dakota, most of them in the southwest corner. Good Sam only give 10% off.

Both Good Sam and Passport America are membership organizations and only member campgrounds give the discount. There are GS member campgrounds located all over the country and are plentiful. The discount is 10% off the regular rate.

The Passport America is supposed to be 1/2 off the regular rate but does not seem to always work out that way. In addition, there are not nearly as many PA member campgrounds as there are Good Sam parks.

Neither one, as far as I know, is good at any state, federal, county or city campgrounds, but there may well be exceptions to this.

We are members of GS and used to be members of both Coast to Coast and Passport America. Did not find the last two very useful where we travel. We do use Good Sam club campgrounds quite frequently though as there are so many of them located all over.

I would check out where the Passport America campgrounds are located and see if you would use them enough to justify a membership in that organization.
Hope this helps.
Barney