Pass Port America Pros and Cons (IMHO)

[pigfarmer]

Price wise you can't go wrong. Even if you don't use it, it only cost you .12 cents a day. If you use it twice, you have your $44.00 back. It has its draw backs. Some campgrounds in the north are off limits to Pass Port members July and August. Some in the south are closed January, February, and March when you would want to use them the most. Most, not all, but most are kind of old run down campgrounds with some exceptions. Some would not have guests if it were not for their posting in the Pass Port book. Most are places that are good for one or two nights as stop overs for on your route to somewhere else. Some are the only campground anywhere near a destination you have in mind. We have had our membership for many years and renew every year. It is great as a cheap method for you to stop over on your way to where you want to go. Few are destinations in themselves. Buy a membership. It is a great value.

[2gypsies1]

agesilaus wrote:
I generally agree but I'd add that PPA CG are usually not where most people want to be. That is they are not near National Parks or other attractions.

We've used it during our 16 years of full-timing. I disagree that they don't have parks where people want to be and not by national parks. There are many parks in the big cities and not off the beaten path.

I just took a glance at some areas. Grand Canyon Railway RV in Williams is mentioned often on these forums as 'the' place to stay for visiting Grand Canyon. It's rate starts at $43..Passport is $21.

Others:
Moab has 4 parks - Arches National Park
Estes Park - Rocky Mtn. Nat'l Park
Colorado Springs
Tucson
Phoenix
Oregon coast - many parks
San Diego
Lake Tahoe
California has 100 parks
Cody, WY for Yellowstone

It just depends where you travel. As stated, using it only 2x will pay for it. It's quite a deal!

http://www.passportamerica.com/campgrounds

[Dennis_M_M]

We have been members for over 10 years. Have always saved more than the membership costs. On a couple of occasions we looked at the park and drove on, but usually they at a minimum acceptable.

On the other hand we have found a number of really nice local vacation type parks that we return to if we are traveling through the area again.

I recommend it.

[IDman]

Had it for a couple of years but dropped it when it became difficult to use. Many RV parks would not honor it weekends, or between Memorial day and Labor day. Lots of parks were 2nd & 3rd tier, in my opinion. I think we only got use out of it once/twice in two years. Not a value to me.

[Johno02]

We have had PassportAmerica for many years, and have always saved enough to pay for it, usually several times over. Have only seen a few that we wouldn't stay in, and most have been very nice and very friendly. Not resorts, but a lot more our type of people.

[agesilaus]

I generally agree but I'd add that PPA CG are usually not where most people want to be. That is they are not near National Parks or other attractions.We didn't use it once last summer IIRC. Good Sams is much more useful since they are accepted at most CG where we end up. PPA is starting their usual barrage of renewal notices but I haven't decided whether to renew again or not. We've had PPA for at least 10 years more or less.

I'll add this our usage pattern goes like this, when transiting we look for a CG near where we want to call it quits for the night. Often near a Interstate. When we get to a target area we stay one or two weeks at a CG exploring the area. PPA CG don't usually give a discount for extended periods so they are useless even if there is one near. We do not hang around CG during the day unless it is a laundry day so most amenities don't mean much to us.

[kohldad]

I buy it when I know I'll use it. Last time was about six years ago when my father was staying at a Passport America campground and I was stopping to visit him for two nights. Only got back $32 and didn't find another campground that I wanted to go to so lost out on the other $12.

Having bought it again since I don't use the type campgrounds that are members. Would have stayed at one or two but you either had to make reservation, wouldn't be accepted on the nights or some other criteria that I didn't meet. For me with my traveling style and preferred campgrounds, I wouldn't get a return on my investment.

As with any membership, you need to make sure you can abide by the restrictions, get more return than investment, and know how to terminate the contract when no longer needed.