My first post: sacrilege....

I would dig into exactly what are they offering. What parks, what services, what discounts. If you have to pay just to get that information, it is likely a scam.

Many private RV parks not at high-traffic locations are in discount clubs like Passport America. There have been others, like Camping Club, but PA has been the survivor over the ten years I've been RVing. It is worthwhile if the locations and schedules work for you.

Still, I haven't joined. My late wife liked KOAs, which aren't really cheap, and where I live, I get the most value from town or county RV parks, or my senior pass discount at Corps of Engineers facilities. State parks come close for a few states where admission is free and seniorsget discounts, but for many states the park fees are as high as those of private RV parks in the area. Texas has reasonable camping fees but high per-person per-day fees. Other states have high per-vehicle per-day fees. Colorado even wanted a day use fee to use the restroom at a roadside park.

You can go all the way up to park membership and save money, if your pattern of use fits the program, but you shouldn't commit until you've had time to figure out how you will be RVing.

We have the KOA card and a Good Sam's card. Also, a lot of parks will discount with a AAA and AARP card which we also have.

I'm not into clubs like Thousand Trails, etc. I don't liked to be locked in as I recall T. Trails will keep charging you until you can sell it (if that's still the case).

It seems like the best located parks don't take discount cards. Prevost has a deal with the Las Vegas Motorcoach Resort which we frequent often. I think they also accept FMCA cards, or used to.

One thing is for sure, I wouldn't pay for any expensive 'membership' club.

Safe travels,
MM.

I wish the states would get together and offer at least regional state park passes. They could follow the business model set up by Eurail Pass and modify it as needed.

Geezer, who you calling a geezer? Enjoy it when you get there brother. I love being able to tell people now "is that your best price? I'm on a fixed income now."
As if most everybody not on commision sales is basically on a fixed income.

soren wrote:
It would be absolutely silly to skip Passport America, and Good Sam, for a year of traveling. Unless you are going to avoid any privately held campgrounds, you will quickly make up the cost of both memberships, and save a ton of money after that. Don't be fooled into the idea that state parks will be a bargain. I was in the mid-west recently, and got on the phone with a state reservation clerk. She told me that after paying daily passes for our motorhome AND toad, we would be billed a total of $47 for the night at a run of the mill state park. We found a nearly private park, with a pool, and other nice amenities, for $31. State parks are not guaranteed to be cheaper than private parks, and in some states, they are flat out crazy. Thousand Trails and other high dollar camping deals are one thing, but there is no excuse for hitting the road, for any extended trip, without Passport, Good Sam, and maybe the KOA discount card.

I checked out one state park in TX years back and the "daily rate" was reasonable, then they tacked on a per person/per day additional park fee. put it higher than a local good private park.
bumpy

OP: Great Escapes is not mentioned on these forums so there must be a reason.

Passport America has been around a long time and many RVers use it. It gives 1/2 off on campsites. It sounds like you'll be a very casual traveler after retirement and that's great. Passport America will work for you. I'd highly recommend it. A couple stays and you'll pay for the membership. It's not a membership that you'll be paying thousands for it.

So, along with Passport America, definitely get the national Senior Pass if you'll be 62+. It's $10 for a lifetime and will let you into all national parks, national monument with no entry fee. It will also give you 1/2 off on a standard site - no hookups. If a site has electric, it will give you 1/2 on the standard rate and you'll pay the electric part - not much. It's good at national parks, national monuments, forest service campgrounds, Corp of Engineer campgrounds, National Wildlife Refuges and other.

We use Passport America 50% off and they have over 1,700 campground across the U.S. The annual membership is $44 and you can save this much in 2-3 nights of camping. There is online access thru their website to what campground they have showing prices, amenities, restrictions etc. You are free to view the campgounds and research without being a member.

It would be absolutely silly to skip Passport America, and Good Sam, for a year of traveling. Unless you are going to avoid any privately held campgrounds, you will quickly make up the cost of both memberships, and save a ton of money after that. Don't be fooled into the idea that state parks will be a bargain. I was in the mid-west recently, and got on the phone with a state reservation clerk. She told me that after paying daily passes for our motorhome AND toad, we would be billed a total of $47 for the night at a run of the mill state park. We found a nearly private park, with a pool, and other nice amenities, for $31. State parks are not guaranteed to be cheaper than private parks, and in some states, they are flat out crazy. Thousand Trails and other high dollar camping deals are one thing, but there is no excuse for hitting the road, for any extended trip, without Passport, Good Sam, and maybe the KOA discount card.

smkettner wrote:
Skip the club or any membership until you have been on the road for a year.

Absolutely agree with this.

But, depending upon where you plan to camp, Good Sam club members get discounts at Good Sam campgrounds. We've been to several GS campgrounds over the years and they are right in line with KOA. Nice thing about GS, they are a one year membership, and after staying at your first campground, you have about saved enough to pay for the membership, depending on how many nights you stay.

KOA is another annual discount membership. There again, you have to use it to make it pay.

Not knowing having a "plan" yet, you are probably best to wait on any memberships, even GS or KOA until you get your feet wet and formulate a plan.

ANY "club" is only worthwhile IF you use the benefits.
I used to belong to Good Sam. Then I realized that I very rarely stayed in a "Good SamPark", bought very few parts from a Good Sam affiliated dealer, and just didn't take advantage of any of the benefits. I really did not enjoy the magazine, either.
So, I let that membership lapse.
then, when planning a trip to Chattanooga, I signed up for the KOA club, at the recommendation of the KOA where I was going to spend a week, near Ringgold, GA. The discount more than made up for the membership cost. Since then, I have not stayed in a KOA, not even once. So, that membership went away also.
Now, the only such "membership" I have is a Golden Age Passport. It is free, and only works at Federal campgrounds; that is where most of our camping is done anyway!