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First off, campground memberships are not timeshares. They are not even close, so if you find a description that says that it is timeshare - DON'T BUY IT! Mostly what they will do is charge you an outrageous amount of money (often $300-500!) to handle the paperwork.
One of the first things that I've learned about looking for a campground membership is to write down a general list of places that you wish to go to when you are traveling. This will help you find a campground membership that is a good fit for you and your family. Also, write down the size of your RV. When you look at the various campgrounds you will want to make sure that they have spaces that are big enough for your RV (aka Rig).
The next thing that you need to know is there are two (2) kinds of campground memberships.
One (1) is a private membership. This means that you have access to a number of privately owned campgrounds within a campground system. You are frequently are assigned a "Home Park". Some of the names of private campground systems are: Thousand Trails (this includes NACO & Leisure Time Resorts, too), Western Horizon and K/M. Depending on the contract, there may or may not be a per night fee, in addition to your yearly dues.
There is also a reciprocal membership. This means that it is a collection of public and private campground systems who have agreed to allow member visits from outside their own membership. Some of the reciprocal memberships are: Coast-To-Coast, RPI, ROD, Happy Camper and Passport America. There is usually a per night fee to camp, plus your yearly dues to maintain your membership.
With some reciprocal memberships, above, you must be a member of a membership campground before you can join them. Coast-To-Coast, RPI, ROD all require that you have qualifying membership. Make sure that you ask about that.
A word about KOA and Good Sam. KOA and Good Sam are made up of individually owned and operated campgrounds who agree to the use of the KOA and Good Sam logo, KOA and Good Sam standards and offering a discount to KOA and Good Sam members.
What you need to know before bidding on a campground membership:
When you buy a campground membership you will have the following expenses:
One of the first things that I've learned about looking for a campground membership is to write down a general list of places that you wish to go to when you are traveling. This will help you find a campground membership that is a good fit for you and your family. Also, write down the size of your RV. When you look at the various campgrounds you will want to make sure that they have spaces that are big enough for your RV (aka Rig).
The next thing that you need to know is there are two (2) kinds of campground memberships.
One (1) is a private membership. This means that you have access to a number of privately owned campgrounds within a campground system. You are frequently are assigned a "Home Park". Some of the names of private campground systems are: Thousand Trails (this includes NACO & Leisure Time Resorts, too), Western Horizon and K/M. Depending on the contract, there may or may not be a per night fee, in addition to your yearly dues.
There is also a reciprocal membership. This means that it is a collection of public and private campground systems who have agreed to allow member visits from outside their own membership. Some of the reciprocal memberships are: Coast-To-Coast, RPI, ROD, Happy Camper and Passport America. There is usually a per night fee to camp, plus your yearly dues to maintain your membership.
With some reciprocal memberships, above, you must be a member of a membership campground before you can join them. Coast-To-Coast, RPI, ROD all require that you have qualifying membership. Make sure that you ask about that.
A word about KOA and Good Sam. KOA and Good Sam are made up of individually owned and operated campgrounds who agree to the use of the KOA and Good Sam logo, KOA and Good Sam standards and offering a discount to KOA and Good Sam members.
What you need to know before bidding on a campground membership:
• The membership number and last name on the contract that is being sold and a phone number (usually to corporate headquarters) to check out the details of the membership. This is an essential step! If you don't check this out, you may find out that the membership that you bid on, and paid for, owes money on the contract/account. If a membership that you buy has an outstanding balance, by bidding, you are agreeing to pay that balance! So, do your homework. (I paid $750 to the seller, $450 transfer fee and $455 dues.)
• Find out what the per night fees are. In a lot of memberships, you are able to stay in their system a certain number of nights per year for no extra cost, other than your yearly dues. Some memberships are written so that you will not have any per night fees, no matter how many nights you camp in their system. You need to check this when you call headquarters. (For instance, I have a membership that allows me to stay unlimited nights per year with out any per night costs.)
• How many nights can you stay consecutively at one time? How often can you do that? You need to check this when you call headquarters. (I can stay 14 nights consecutively)
• Can you go from campground to campground within their system, or do you have to stay out of the system a certain amount of time? If you have to stay out, find out how long before you can stay in the system. If you can go to campground to campground, find out how many nights you have to be out before going back to the same campground. You need to check this when you call headquarters. (I can go from campground to campground, and can go back to the same campground after 7 nights. I do not have to be out of the system and can do this for the whole year.)
• Go to the website for the campground system. Have your list of places that you want to see in front of you. Look up the campgrounds to see if they have any in the places that you want to visit.
• Find out what the per night fees are. In a lot of memberships, you are able to stay in their system a certain number of nights per year for no extra cost, other than your yearly dues. Some memberships are written so that you will not have any per night fees, no matter how many nights you camp in their system. You need to check this when you call headquarters. (For instance, I have a membership that allows me to stay unlimited nights per year with out any per night costs.)
• How many nights can you stay consecutively at one time? How often can you do that? You need to check this when you call headquarters. (I can stay 14 nights consecutively)
• Can you go from campground to campground within their system, or do you have to stay out of the system a certain amount of time? If you have to stay out, find out how long before you can stay in the system. If you can go to campground to campground, find out how many nights you have to be out before going back to the same campground. You need to check this when you call headquarters. (I can go from campground to campground, and can go back to the same campground after 7 nights. I do not have to be out of the system and can do this for the whole year.)
• Go to the website for the campground system. Have your list of places that you want to see in front of you. Look up the campgrounds to see if they have any in the places that you want to visit.
When you buy a campground membership you will have the following expenses:
• Price of auction. This is the price that won you the auction.
• Price of shipping. This is the price that was listed in the auction to get the paperwork to you.
• Transfer fee. This is what the campground system will charge you for transferring the membership into your name.
• Yearly dues. Sometimes you can pay these in installments.
The first two items you will pay to the seller. Then you will give the seller your name, address and phone number. The seller will give that information to the transfer department of the campground headquarters, as well as with the old membership material that the seller had. The next two items you will pay to the campground system headquarters, usually when you send that paperwork in. You will be given, usually, a new membership number and all the documentation that you need to use the system.• Price of shipping. This is the price that was listed in the auction to get the paperwork to you.
• Transfer fee. This is what the campground system will charge you for transferring the membership into your name.
• Yearly dues. Sometimes you can pay these in installments.
Guide created: 10/19/06 (updated 08/28/09)
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