My research!

Below are different RV discount clubs I might be interested in.  A few below I will not be interested in. I will keep researching and adding my findings in future blogs.

America The Beautiful/Senior Pass

Cost: As of 8/2017 cost is $80 (formerly $10). Still an awesome deal IMO.
Worth it? YES, YES and YES! 50% off camping in Federal Land Campgrounds.

Hubby and I both have this card.  Fortunately we got ours when the price was right.

More info can be obtained at the Federal Lands Senior Pass (62 and over only) For the price of just $80 (one-time fee) you get a lifetime of free entry to National Parks, PLUS you get 50% off camping costs at most Federal Land Campgrounds (e.g. National Parks, National Forests, BLM and COE).

Passport America

We will get this membership.  I think it is worth and annual $44 a year.

This membership costs $44 an year. The main advantage is that it will attain for you up to 50% off on many of the 1,600 campgrounds it lists. There are restrictions to the discounts and many campgrounds do not offer discounts on weekends and holiday. The camps and restrictions are downloadable, enabling members to plan a trip to avoid restricted nights at the campgrounds. By becoming a member of Passport America before joining Escapees, you can save an additional $10, so that the actual cost of membership is decreased further.

Many of the parks that participate are a bit off-the-beaten track, and most parks only offer the 50% discount on certain days or within certain seasons. The limitations for each park are listed on the PA website, and you can sometimes negotiate an extension of the discount rate (outside the “official” limits) but it’s important to understand that the pass does not get you an across-the-board 50% off deal.

Good Sams  (All Reviews are POOR)

($27/year)

I for sure want to look harder at this one.  I hear poor reviews about their RV insurance.  And 10% off KOA isn’t much of a discount in my opinion.  

Good Sam RV Club has an RV Community of over one million members and provides many services. The club provides trip planning that includes estimated fuel cost, route planning, RV services, and rest stops on the route. It also provides a 10% discount on more than 1,600 camping sites in the US and Canada for overnight stays.

Membership includes RV assistance such as emergency towing services for all of your vehicles including cars. This can help reduce your car maintenance costs as well. It also provides full coverage RV insurance for the RV and your assets when you are travelling. Plus, the club provides an extended service plan that enables a member to continue with their vacation if the RV breaks down. With all of these benefits, an RV owner should consider this the first club to join.

Escapees/Xscapers RV Club

($39.95/year)

The membership costs $39.95 per year, and there is no enrollment fee. Escapees has partnered with several other RV organizations to offer shared discounts. Before you sign up, see if your current memberships offer you an Escapees discount. If you’re already part of Escapees, see if they can save you money on other memberships. The membership earns for you a minimum RV club discount of 15% off and up to 50% off on over 1,000 campgrounds. The club has 19 five star RV campgrounds where members can hook up for $10 to $15 a night. There are weekly rates that are less than $100 and those who want to dry camp can park for $5 a night for up to 21 days in many cases.

This is a social and community club, with the added benefit that you get access to SKP parks (at a discount) as well as the opportunity to join with like-minded groups of people (BOF groups) and connect with the pre-retirement crowd (Xscapers was launched for that very purpose last year). There are lots of other things that happen thro’ SKP too, such as boot camp programs, mail & domicile service, CARE, RV advocacy, rallies, groups that arrange trips to Mexico and the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta etc.

We might be getting this membership.  I still need to research further.  I have time.

Boondockers Welcome

($30/year)

I don’t think I’m interested in this one.  

This membership, as the name entails, is built for RVers who prefer to boondock, or camp without hookups. By paying the annual fee or hosting yourself, you can request to stay at private residences across the country for free. Local hosts that share their properties also tend to know the top attractions in the area. Spots are generally in the driveway of homes, although some are even larger.

Harvest Host – $44/year

I am interested in this one.  I think this would be cool to stay at wineries and vineyards.  Of course I will buy wine.  

This club is for those who love to spend time amidst nature. The membership of $44 per year allows members to park overnight in the parks of listed wineries and specialty farms. There are currently 470 sites and the list only keeps growing.

KOA Value Kard Rewards – ($30/year)

On the fence with this one.

The oldest campground network in the industry, KOA is known for its family focused parks available near basically every metropolitan area. KOA parks generally have more amenities than the average campground. Though its campgrounds are normally expensive, their discount card allows you to stay at upscale parks for more affordable rates. However, with a discount of only 10% off, it can take a while to pay this card off unless you’re staying at KOA campgrounds exclusively or are RVing full-time.

Thousand Trails – ($575/year)

This one is not for us.  I would never get my money out of this one.  Only 86 parks across the country.  Although we will be glamping, I don’t see the benefit.  My opinion only.

Thousand Trails takes a fresh approach on how RV clubs operate. Instead of requiring a small annual fee for discounted rates, it asks for a significant investment of nearly $600 in exchange for free camping at their parks all year. Similar to the KOA Value Kard, this membership is only really worth it if you love Thousand Trails campgrounds, which tend to be more luxurious (good for glampers). With just 86 parks across the country and ambiguous reviews, however, staying at a Thousand Trails campground can be hit or miss.

RoverPass Unlimited – ($50/year, $30/month)

If I find it is difficult making reservations, I will think about this one.  My opinion is if I have a hard time reserving, forget it and find another park.  

The newest membership for RVers, RoverPass Unlimited is the perfect pass for RV renters and full-time RVers alike. The pass earns you free bookings through our reservation software with over 6,000 campgrounds across the US. RoverPass was made particularly for RV renters who aren’t necessarily as familiar with the process of reserving RV sites. Our software was made to alleviate a lot of the frustrations they commonly experience, like playing phone tag with front desk employees and, in the worst case scenario, never hearing back at all. The membership also comes with priority customer service in the form of travel agents who will fulfill your reservations and answer questions you may have. RV renters going on a road trip can buy the pass for a month and use RoverPass to quickly and easily book RV parks anywhere they go. Full-time RVers can buy the annual membership and enjoy the same perks as monthly members as they travel at a leisurely pace.

Happy Camper 50% Camping Club  $39.99/yr

Not on my list to buy for now.  I’ll keep researching this one.

This club seems to have copied the Passport America (PA) model exactly. They offer the same 50% discount deal (again, certain exclusions apply) at ~1,200 parks for a slightly lower yearly cost than PassportAmerica. However they don’t have a mapping tool (their online directory is horrible to use) and, perhaps even more worrying, no-one seems to talk about them (on RV forums or anywhere else?). Personally I’m not convinced and see no reason to buy into this when PassportAmeric has such a solid reputation and is so much easier to use.