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If you’re new to the RV lifestyle or the world of full-time RVing, your head might be spinning at all the options for RV camping memberships. These RV clubs all offer different perks, and some cost much more than others. It can get very confusing.
Today, we’re breaking down the most useful ones based on one key factor: saving money. Here are the top money-saving RV memberships, RVers everywhere love.
What Are RV Camping Memberships?
RV camping memberships are monthly or annual memberships that offer RVers many different services, including discounts on campsites and camping. Some offer discounts at resorts and restaurants as well.
With the average cost of a campsite hovering around $40-$50 per night, camping costs can add up fast. That’s why the RV camping memberships that offer discounts on camping and overnight stays are the most popular!
Which Camping Memberships Have Saved RVers the Most?
There are a handful of RV memberships and clubs that offer camping discounts in addition to their other services. Here are the camping memberships that have saved RVers the most, according to a poll of around 90k full-time RVers.
Thousand Trails
Thousand Trails owns a network of campgrounds all around North America in different areas called zones. This camping membership offers various membership levels and tiers that give access to various camping options, all designed to save you money.
Thousand Trails campgrounds are like a cross between state park and resort-style camping. Most Thousand Trails parks have a spaced-out, natural feel with amenities like pools, hot tubs, lounges, mini-golf, and more.
Check out our complete guide to Thousand Trails here.
How Much It Costs and What You Get
There are many different options for Thousand Trails membership levels. Their costs and camping options vary depending on which you get.
The lowest-priced membership is a Zone Pass, which gives you unlimited free camping at any campsites in your chosen Zone for around $600 per year. The rules state that you can stay up to 14 nights, and then take a seven-night break before returning to any park in your chosen Zone. You can add additional Zones for around $60.
After that, prices go up, but so do your camping options! Check out our breakdown of Thousand Trails membership options here.
Escapees RV Club
Escapees RV Club is an RV membership offering many different services and events for full and part-time RVers. It’s one of the oldest and most popular RVing memberships, and for good reason!
RVers love Escapees for the services, community, and discounts.
How Much It Costs and What You Get
A membership costs $49 per year. Members receive a bi-monthly magazine, access to Escapees RV Club and Xscapers events, access to a mail-forwarding service to RVers, and discounts on camping at Escapees RV Club parks and hundreds of partner parks around the country. Discounts on partner parks range between 10% and 50% off nightly camping fees.
Harvest Hosts
Harvest Hosts is a little different. It’s all about free overnight parking in genuinely unique locations. You might get free overnight parking at breweries, museums, restaurants, wineries, and more, making this club unlike any other for RVers.
Join thousands of RVers in experiencing memorable and scenic overnight locations. This club allows you to stay for free at farms, wineries, breweries, museums, and golf courses around North America. Some of our favorite overnight stops have been at Harvest Hosts locations throughout the US.
Use the link below to save 15% on your membership!
How Much It Costs and What You Get
A Harvest Hosts’ basic membership costs $99 per year. With this $99 per year fee, RVers stay in unique places all around North America. Every stay with a Harvest Hosts host is free, but members should patronize the business as a thank-you.
There’s an upgraded plan called +Golf that costs $139 per year. With the upgraded plan, you get access to overnight stays at golf courses, country clubs, and spas.
Keep in mind that most Harvest Hosts stays are dry camping – which means no electric, water, or sewer hookups.
Boondockers Welcome
Boondockers Welcome is a camping membership with a different take on the popular camping style called boondocking.
It connects landowners with RVers to open up a new world of boondocking! Typically, you boondock for free on public lands like BLM lands or in National Forests. But with this camping membership, land and property owners can sign up to be a host and offer their land, driveway, or yard for free boondocking for members.
Boondockers Welcome currently offers 3000+ incredible Hosts across the US and Canada, offering great places to stay wherever you go. Locals invite traveling RVers to spend the night, share their stories, and save their money for the real adventure. Make new friends and sleep soundly.
How Much It Costs and What You Get
The membership costs $50 per year. With your membership, you can access all hosts in North America. To stay on a host’s property, you simply find a place in your desired location and make a request. The host will get back to you with availability and any critical information to know.
What members love most about this service (besides the money-saving benefits) is the opportunity to stay in unique places that they may have otherwise overlooked.
Passport America
Passport America is a discount camping membership that has partnered with over 1,450 RV parks in North America. It’s a simple camping membership where members receive 50% off of all Passport America campgrounds.
How Much It Costs and What You Get
A Passport America membership pays for itself within just one or two nights. This RV camping membership only costs $44 per year, and the savings add up quickly.
Members receive 50% off camping fees at participating campgrounds, but some stipulations apply. For example, some campgrounds only allow discounted camping rates during certain seasons or certain days of the week and have discounts all the time. It’s a fantastic membership for the full-time traveling RVer.
National Parks Pass
When asked which RV memberships have saved RVers the most money in a poll of 90k full-time RVers, the National Parks Pass, aka the America the Beautiful pass, was brought up the most.
The National Parks Pass isn’t specific to RVers and doesn’t offer discounts on camping, but the savings are pretty incredible!
How Much It Costs and What You Get
The National Parks Pass costs $80 per year and waives the entrance fees to National Parks for cardholders and their families. With National Park entrance fees hovering around $30 per person or carload, this pass pays for itself quickly!
Plus, there are discounts for certain visitors. There’s a Senior Pass for anyone 62+ that’s a one-time $80 fee. This pass used to be called the Golden Age access pass, and they’ll still honor the Golden Age pass if you have it. There are also different passes available for military members, disabled individuals, volunteers, and free passes for 4th graders.
This is an essential membership for traveling RVers who love National Parks, and you’ll get your money’s worth within a few park visits.
Why We Think Camping Memberships Are Worth It
RVing can be as budget-friendly or as expensive as you want it to be. But who wants anything to be expensive?
For us, camping memberships aren’t just “worth it”… They’re essential. Who doesn’t want to save a few bucks? If you’re a full-time RVer, you likely consider these passes necessary too.
But if you only RV a few times per year and don’t frequent places where these memberships are, they might not be for you.
Do you have an RV camping membership?
We live in Northern California. When we consider membership of any kind, we first consider the quality of the campgrounds under that membership. What is the point of getting a membership if (a) the campgrounds really stink; (b) no campgrounds in the area one RVs.