Camping Memberships and Discounts

[Don Wilson]

Camping Memberships and Camping Discounts
I have been kicking this around in my head for sometime and (no you don't want to see what is in my head).
Camping Memberships ~~ I have included a list that I have compiled and want input from you guys on which ones you have and use and why you use them.
Also which ones you have had in the past and no longer use and why you no longer use them.

There are probably more than I have included in this list so feel free to let me know and I will modify the list.

Good Sam
AAA
AARP
KOA
Elks Lodge
Veterans
Military Family Camp
Passport America
Happy Camper Club
Harvest Host
Escapees RV Club
Thousand Trails
FMCA

Don

[Don Wilson]

Current Memberships
I currently have Good Sam, KOA and FMCA
Good Sam - I use Good Sam the most of all as it is accepted by the majority of the RV Parks across the country. Membership is $29 a year and includes Camping World discount
KOA - I also use KOA because there are often times when that is the only option. Membership is $36 a year and gives you points that can be used to purchase your membership or additional dollars of a nights camping.
KOA is not my favorite as they are more expensive than most other parks and are designed for families and kids and can often times be crowded and loud with lots of kids and kid activities. Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch comes to mind with over the top kid activities.

FMCA - I recently joined FMCA and membership was $40 per year. It has been educational and offers discounts on tires and other things but no RV Park discounts. The also publish a magazine "Family RVing"

Past Memberships
I had Passport America ~~ Passport America membership is $44 per year. I had it for about 4 years and found that there were so many restrictions that it was only usable about 25% of the time I tried to use it so I discontinued my membership.

Those are all of mine so lets hear about your experiences.

Don

[dfredendall]

*Good Sam- I have had a Lifetime Good Sam Membership for 40 years. It has more than paid for itself, as I bought it when it was cheap. I just need to remember to use it at campgrounds. I am running into more private camps/parks that no longer offer the GS discount, or any group discount. More frequently since Covid.
*KOA membership has not proven itself over the years. Some years I frequented them enough to break even, but usually not so.
*AAA- member for long time for various services. Camp parks that offer AAA discount offer same 10% for any major group.
*Passport America- same experience as Don. Too many limitations, parks were located way off course, no value for us. Mot a fan of the Membership Camps, as fees are high and too many limitations exist for our travel style.

[jacknife]

We try to use the Elks club and Military Fam Camp, Good Sam sometimes as well as KOA, although not much KOA. Sometimes KOA is the only camping site around. Passport America is not used as it is not convenient or out of the way. Thousand Trails and Harvest Hosts never used.Occasionally AAA discount is offered, but not often.
NIck

[WVcampers]

We have been Good Sam members for years.we don't use it as much as we did. Probably not saving money any more. I have a member ship to the Veterans and Military Campgrounds, but have not used it at all. We are members at Briarcliffe RV Resort at Myrtle Beach. This is the best investment of all of them. It is part of Coast to Coast, but we are not Coast to Coast members.

[dpalmer]

We use GS most of the time. Dropped Passport America a long time ago, same reasons at Don. This year we dropped KOA, don't use it enough to pay the membership.

[Big D]

We have the same as you Don

[Big Bird]

Good Sam

AAA

KOA

I find them all expensive, but convenient.

[watkinsk]

Like Big Bird we use:
Good Sam
KOA
AAA (RV plus)

Unfortunately we tend to use KOA going across country for overnight stays but this next year I am going to drop KOA due to costs and the price of most KOA campgrounds has skyrocketed even with their discount.

This camping business is becoming a very expensive gig!

[Don Wilson]

Like Big Bird we use:
Good Sam
KOA
AAA (RV plus)

Unfortunately we tend to use KOA going across country for overnight stays but this next year I am going to drop KOA due to costs and the price of most KOA campgrounds has skyrocketed even with their discount.

This camping business is becoming a very expensive gig!

Keith,
That has really become more evident this year as I am working on the 2024 Southwest Rally and we were hoping to go to the central California Coast. I tried 5 RV parks and could not find a single RV park where the nightly rate was under $100 a night. Then tried the Zion NP area and got the same results.
I also just read an article on 5 reasons to get out of RVing and Cost of camping fees was the number 2 reason.

Don

[watkinsk]

Don, I am starting to believe the Golden Age of camping is coming to a close. We will keep doing it for a few more years but $90-$100-$110/night is absurd when most don't even have decent internet or cable. There will probably be a consolidation of the campground industry (and RV industry) as the number of campers decline or refuse to make the high nightly rate (Boy I hate to think of using a Walmart just to pull over for a night!). The uncertainty on the price of fuel also doesn't help.