RV Camping Clubs, Subscription Services, and Park Passes can save you a ton of money on The Road, and they can help you find new and amazing places to camp, explore, and meet good people. - Some will better for you than others, depending on your personal lifestyle, what you drive, and the way you camp. - While they all offer some form of Campground Discounts, most offer other amenities that will prove beneficial, even if you don't spend a lot of time in RV Parks.
We are listing our choices in order of our personal preference and usage, with a strong consideration for economy and advantage. It isn't really necessary to belong to all of them, as there is a little bit of overlap, but you will likely find that a combination of 2-3 Camping Clubs and 2-3 Subscriptions or Passes will make your life on The Road easier, and provide some form of savings and resources that you will use almost every day.
If you are in a Skoolie, Shuttle, or Box Van Conversion, you've no doubt heard about certain campgrounds turning Skoolies away. (Some sites won't even allow 11 year old RVs.) While this tends to be a decision made at the local level, by the individual campgrounds (not the Club), it is worth noting that many Camping Clubs are geared more toward the RV Crowd than those of us in “Self-Built-Vehicles”. All of the ones listed below offer many advantages that are worth the dues, no matter what you drive, just be sure you take a close look at the Subscription Services and Park Passes listed after the Top-5 List.
Top-5 Camping Clubs to Join
#1.) Escapees / Xscapers: - In our opinion, this is a “Must Have” for any Full Time Nomad, and a “Good-Idea-To-Have”, even for the casual camping enthusiast. Escapees/Xscapers specializes in Full Time RV-ers, Skoolie Dwellers, and Vanlifers. - They offer everything from Mail Service, Discounts, Education, Access to Heath Insurance, and several Events and Gatherings every year.
Additionally, there's Ongoing Education, Roadside Assistance, and an Online Job-Board for finding work on The Road! - If you choose to Domicile in one of the states where they offer the service (and you should. - See the Tutorial), they will literally walk you through the process of setting up mail forwarding, getting your Rig legal, and transferring your driver's license, as well as educate you on local laws pertaining to the lifestyle.
For a base membership of around $40/Yr., They offer 15%-50% discounts at over 1000 campgrounds (most of which are very nice, and Skoolie-Friendly), including some of their own Parks that even have options for a long-term lease. - While most of their services are included with the base membership, a few may require additional fees, but all are very well worth it!
Escapees is the traditional Camping Club. Xscapers is geared more toward those of us that live and work Full Time on The Road. - Check them out through the links below.
#2.) Passport America: - While admittedly geared more toward the RV Crowd, Passport America offers a 50% discount at over 1800 participating locations, many of which are Skoolie-Friendly. Most stays are limited from 2 to 14 days, and there are some additional restrictions at some of the Parks as to when the Discount applies (days per week, discounts per year, type of vehicle, etc.). You will, however, cover the $44 (2021) annual dues with even just a couple of stays per year, and most of the Parks are destinations in and of themselves. You may see some negative reviews about some of their partner campgrounds, but again, this is more about the individual site than the club.
They offer a few decent benefits and resources beyond the Park Discount, and there is some useful info on their website, but the biggest advantage may be their App. We find it so easy to use that we typically check it first when we're just looking for a place to land for a day or two. - Even if you plan to exclusively Stealth Camp or Boondock, there will be a few times each year that you just need Hookups and a full bathroom. Most Parks will also let you refill your water tanks. Click here (or on the image) to take a look!
#3.) Boondockers Welcome: - Sometimes described as the Air-BnB or Hip Camp for Boondockers, it may be more accurate to think of it as a “Camp-Share” program. The key difference is that instead of paying per night to stay at someone's rental property, you pay an annual fee ($50, 2021) for access to over 2700 private properties in the US and Canada where you can park for free. - Stays are typically limited to a day or two (at the host's discretion – usually Travelers themselves), and the payoff is that it's implied that you will hang out and chat with them. Obviously, if you're anti-social or highly value your privacy, this may not be the club for you, but if not, you get to meet some really great people and share some good stories.
Each host will have their own expectations and requirements, but assume that “Fully Contained” (full on board bathroom) and “Leave No Trace” are the rules of the day. - Think of it as if you're “crashing on someone's couch” (except you're parking in their driveway or their backyard). Clean up after yourself, don't make a lot of noise, and be a decent human.
Please note: Boondockers Welcome is now included with a full Harvest Host Membership.
#4.) Harvest Hosts: - If you like to explore wineries and agri-tourism sites, love to shop, golf, or find unique places to camp, this club might be a dream come true! $79/yr (2021) gets you “free” stays at some beautiful and interesting locations, with the implied assumption that you will patronize (spend money at) the site. - All stays are limited to one night, and your Rig must be “Fully Contained”. Additionally, they don't allow outdoor cooking or tents, and have a few other “Leave No Trace” rules you must follow. - It's kind of the same as spending the night in a parking lot or rest area, except there's some really cool stuff to do.
Their site claims roughly 1500 participating locations, and specifically mentions that Skoolies are acceptable, though some of the more “upper crust” locations may be less enthusiastic (call ahead). One uncommon advantage here is that they have several sites East of The Mississippi, where it can be difficult to find Boondocking options. - Personally, I'd rather spend $50 on wine in exchange for a free night's stay on a farm than spend $50 at Walmart to sleep in their parking lot.
#5.) Good Sam: - They've been around for years, and have affiliations with over 2100 Parks. - Membership dues are cheap at $29/yr (discounts for buying 2-3 years at a time), and while their Campground Discount isn't as much as some of the other clubs (typically only 10%), they offer some other benefits that might make it worthwhile.
They have a decent Trip Planner App and also offer Mail Forwarding Services, but the most useful benefit is likely the 15% Propane Discount (Pilot and Flying J). For those with Black Water, they also offer Free Dump Services at Camping World, Ganders, and Outdoor Superstore locations.
Please note that, overall, Good Sam is not particularly Skoolie or Shuttle friendly. Their Roadside Assistance Program does not apply to “Converted Vehicles”, and many of their campgrounds fall into the “No Skoolie” category. - Basically, the club is heavily geared toward people in newer RVs, but if you’re heavy on propane use (or have a black water tank) it may still pay for itself.
Subscriptions Services and Passes
While camping clubs are the most common way of saving money on The Road, there are a few Subscriptions and Passes that are absolutely worth having! - This is especially true if you mostly Boondock or Stealth-Camp, or for anyone in a Skoolie, Shuttle, or Box Van Conversion. - As with the clubs listed above, you should recoup the annual fee after using the service once or twice per year.
Overnight RV Parking: - Essentially, this is a list, updated in real time, of more than 14,000 parking lots nationwide that allow free overnight stays. The cost is $25/Yr. for access to a website and mobile App with user reviews for each site. Rules will vary by location, but it's very easy to use when you're on the move. - You can literally plan a trip across the country, staying only at their free locations.
National Park Pass: - You definitely want to consider a National Park Pass if you spend a lot of time exploring forest service land, or just love beautiful places. - For $80/yr. it gives you free entry to all National Parks, and often discounted, if not free, camping (depending on the Park). Many locations have restrictions on vehicle size, but are typically Skoolie/Shuttle friendly. Do your research, but you will almost certainly be a regular visitor to these sites in your life on The Road.
BLM Long Term Visitor Pass: - There are some BLM Long Term Visitor Areas in CA and AZ that will let you stay from September to April for $180. While most BLM Lands are free to camp, there is a limit on how long you can stay (14 days). - This pass will give you up to 7 months in the same spot(s)... through the winter. Additionally, many sites have other amenities (Garbage, Water, Dump Service, Restrooms, etc.). If you've been out here for a while, and don't have a regular place to park, you can absolutely see the value in that!
Fuel & Truck Stop Rewards Cards: - All major Fuel Chains and Truck Stops have some form of Rewards Program. They don't cost anything to join, and benefits can be Discounts on Fuel, Showers, Food, Mail Services, or Points that you can redeem as cash in the store (selling many items you regularly use). Some locations also have their own local Rewards Card, allowing you to “double-dip” with the National Chain Card.
Even if your Rig isn't diesel, these cards are worth having. - You get points for gas too, and it costs nothing to join. -To name a few: Roady's, Love's, AmBucks, Pilot, and Flying J all have national Rewards Programs, with points accepted at multiple locations.
For example: I'd like to give a shout out to Gee-Cee's Truck Stop (Exit 57 off of I-5 in Washington). We are regular visitors to the area, and typically stop there for fuel (they have great food too!). Between the Roady's National Card and their local “Bigfoot” card, I once purchased a 12v Cooler Fridge, 100% on Rewards Points I'd earned from fueling. - You’re buying fuel anyway. Take the points. Use the Discounts.
Honorable Mention
Here are a few more Camping Clubs you might want to consider based on your personal situation.
Explorer RV Club (Canada): - Here's one for our fans of The Tragically Hip (or those who understand the two-line pass rule). They offer Discounts on Camping and Insurance, as well as Roadside Assistance, and several other perks for around $40/yr. (CN). - US Residents can join as well for $60 (US). - It may not be quite as robust as Escapees, but if you hail from, or spend a lot of time in, a Province or a Territory, it is absolutely worth the Loonies!
*Canadian Friends: Join this one first, as they offer discounts on membership to Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome as part of their program.
KOA: - Who doesn't love the KOA? Many of us had our first camping experience at a KOA Park. - I was surprised to learn that there were only about 500 of them Nationwide. - They are family oriented, and they have lots of amenities at the Campgrounds. It’s a great place to stay. - The individual parks can be a little pricey, but a membership for around $30/Yr. Gets you a 10% discount, and a few other perks. Many sites are not Skoolie/Shuttle friendly, but if you travel with kids, and regularly stay at commercial campgrounds, KOA is absolutely worth checking out.
The Happy Camper Club: Their website offers some useful information, a nice map feature, some cool campfire stories, and the dues are only around $40/yr (2021). We couldn't really find a substantial advantage vs. any of the others on this list, but they're worth a look if you're doing a deep dive into Camping Clubs, or if you find a Park on their list that you might want to frequent regularly.
Lastly, here's one you may want to avoid (unless you fit the demographic below)
Thousand Trails: - We hate to “pile on” to the negativity out there regarding Thousand Trails. - The website looks like it might be a great deal for those in a newer RV who don't often Boondock or Stealth Camp, or choose to regularly stay at high-end, full hookup campgrounds. - If that's you, by all means, check them out.
The base membership is between $300 and $600, and that apparently only gets you access to 1 (of 5) zones in the US. Additionally, apart from 10 or so in Texas, there are very few participating campgrounds between the Mississippi and The West Coast.
Full Disclosure: We've never been members, and there are many positive reviews out there as well. However, most of the people we've spoken to say that they don't really offer anything that you can't get much cheaper from one of the other clubs, and they aren't particularly Skoolie/Shuttle friendly (Deal Breaker for many of us).
If you factor in the smaller, and regional Camping Clubs, there are hundreds of them out there, and you may find one that works better for you. (Let us know if you do!) The beauty of the ones we've listed is that there is very little risk in giving them a try. You can join for a year and then not renew if you find that you don’t use their services.
In truth, however, the larger benefit to all of these Clubs may be in the knowledge and community that you can gain from being a member. - Freedom is closer than you think!
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