Thousand Trails-Vacancy Question

Welcome to the forums.

No answer on your TT question.

Personally, I just about had a heart attack and stroked out MANY years ago when I found out how much TT memberships were, and then ongoing annual fees, and then the price of an actual campsite. For that kind of money (the first year only), I don't think we've spent that in 20 years of camping going willy-nilly, private and state parks. But, to each his own.

Just remember, in order to make TT financially beneficial, you have to use it. Every day you are not sitting in one of their campgrounds is money lost.

Where I live, there just isn't any TT campgrounds conveniently located. It would never work for me.

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply!! Well, not sure if you are a full time RVer or not, but if you USE the TT membership all around the country, it has two stand-out benefits: if you stay in RV parks often your nightly fees average out to less than $5/night over the year. And getting into any RV parks is getting more and more difficult due to the number of us going full time, but TT parks generally have availability, or so I am hoping, thus my question. I agree that if you only used it locally for occasional RVing, it would be eye-popping expensive, for sure.

getting a site on Sunday afternoon or Mon-thu Thursday has never been a problem for us in the last 3 years,

We never had a problem getting a site at TT. Though some parks are going to be more popular than other sites and that may cause a problem.

Thanks again everyone for the replies! I hope to get more. While we know that TT parks generally aren't "Great resorts" that is not why we are getting a membership. Being able to have access to some sort of safe stopping place in unfamiliar regions is worth a lot, especially with a large rig. Thanks again, very grateful.

Making a reservation is not all that bad. I just use their web site on the internet. Of course the level of membership you have makes a difference as to how far ahead you can make reservations.

My biggest gripe is that since you can't reserve a particular site the site you get may not be the best. Since ELS purchased TT they have turned many of the parks into what for a better words might be called homeless camps. They lease sites out long term and even if empty are not available.

Last park I went to even had no trespassing signs posted on some of the sites. Naturally these are the best sites and you get the leftovers.

Our last trip we stayed at TT Soledad Canyon and it took me three tries to find a site with even a working 30 amp service.

You are asking two very different questions.

The first question is the ease of getting a reservation. TT campgrounds are like any other campground group. Certain times of year, certain campgrounds are very busy. If you want me to go to Orlando during Christmas or spring break - book your reservation at the earliest possible date. Coastal locations like Seaside in Oregon book quickly for Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day.

Another tip. It is much easier to get a two week stay for the 4th of July if you book Jun 21-July 5 rather than July 3 - 17.

Finding a quality site. This can be harder in popular locations at the busy time of year. I am not a fan of TT campgrounds selling Personal/Annual sites. It seems the very best sites at every campground we visit are Annual sites.

OneCG we visit often has 24 sewer sites, out of 400 sites. 12 of those are Annual sites. On the day someone is scheduled to depart a sewer site, I’ve seen two or three rigs lined up at 6 am waiting to get into that site.

Some campgrounds have a rotation/ turnover process. Some do not.

Like many TTers, the first time I visit a CG, I will walk the property with the map. Marking out Annual sites, and marking sites I would like. Also if I’m in a less than ideal site, I will note the checkout dates on sites I might want to move to. Moving to a better site can be an option at most CG, just check with the management before you move.

My TT ‘year’ is Oct 1 - Sep 30. Last year we stayed 200 nights atTT campgrounds - 4 inTexas, 1 in AZ, 5 in CA, 3 in OR, and 7 in WA. We had a great year and our costs were very reasonable even after buying a used membership and the yearly fee. We are over 90 days at Roy’s CG in Texas so far this year.

We have been T/T members for over 10 years, and never had a problem getting a site, last year went to Fla. and only made reservations about 3 weeks prior. Dear wife did Travel Nursing 6 years ago and we stayed in Az. Nm. and on our way back in Nc. Had no problems in any place. Good Luck and Happy Camping !!

I was a TT member for about 9 years, finally gave away the membership. I was allowed two weeks in and one out, we never had any real issues making reservations. We found many of the parks were less than stellar and showing signs of hard use and lack of maintenance. Some were out miles from where anything we wanted to see or do was, but we made it work. Your thoughts of $5.00 per night is very misleading on your part. The cost of buying in plus the yearly fee plus the added fee of 50amp if needed is way more than $5.00. I kept good track of our nightly costs and it was in the $9.90 per night for the yearly rate as time went on. We used the TT system for approx 100 nights a year and that helped keep the yearly nightly costs lower. Figure it out yourself. If you pay only 3 grand to buy in and have a 500 per yeat maintainence fee your first night in any TT park will be $3500. The second night becomes $1,750, the third night $1166.66, 4th $875 so you must use the park at every possible chance to get the per night figure down.

“And getting into any RV parks is getting more and more difficult due to..”

You appear to be in a panic. So as a full timer, how many times have you been unable to find a site? Always need a full hookup? Why? Way too much stress in your post.