Best RV club for low cost camping and where do I find a local camping club?

[honda03842]

Originally Posted by Cathi

The Senior Pass (for age 62 and over) is for national parks and federal recreational lands. It is unlikely that a state park will honor it since it is federal. Some may.

Yes, cannot beat $10 for life. It is half off at most federal camping facilities but not all. Some Corps of Engineers campgrounds, for instance, may not be run by them.

If you have a federal senior pass you can get a lifetime senior pass from MD for $10. There's an on line form. We have one and use it at Jane's Island most years.

[Al and Cindy K]

Originally Posted by Al & Cindy K

Unless something has changed in the last two years, the interagency pass gets you in free where an admission charge applies but doesn't reduce your camping fees.

Edit - Sorry Byron, I'm a slow typer.

I went back through my old cards and found what I mistakenly called the 'interagency' pass was actually the 'America the Beautiful' pass America the Beautiful (U.S. National Park Service) and it still appears to cover only entrance fees and not camping discounts.

It was well worth the $80 annual price but the "Senior (geezer)' pass purchased on my 62nd birthday a few years back even better.

Another great deal for those who enjoy visiting zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens is the reciprocal agreement many of these attractions offer across the country. For example, membership in the NC Zoological Park will get you and one other person free or discounted (usually 50%) entrance into similar facilities in most other states North Carolina Zoo | Partner Zoos and Aquariums

[honda03842]

Al,

Like Byron, I can assure you that it covers half price camping in national parks and Corps of Engineer parks. The only parks not covered are those "federal campgrounds" that are run by private concerns within the federal park.

I mentioned earlier that Maryland has a similar Senior Pass for half price camping (not good on Friday and Saturday). The following is an application for a Maryland senior pass.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources - Maryland Park Service

[Al and Cindy K]

Thanks Norm and Genny, I think I have this now and we're all going to the same place. Re-read my old cards again and the name across the top is "America the Beautiful Annual' pass and they each have expiration dates.

It seems "America the Beautiful' is an all encompassing name given to four different Federal programs - 'Annual', 'Senior', 'Access' and 'Volunteer' and, just to confuse things a bit more. sometimes the term 'Interagency' is thrown in.

From the link in my post "The Annual Pass program does not cover Expanded Amenity fees such as camping, boat launching, parking, special tours, special permits or ferries" and that was my experience for the four or five years I had one.

I'd agree the 'Senior' pass does offer discounts on camping and other amenities and the 'Access' pass perks seem similar. We've certainly enjoyed the advantages of the former over the past four years. Not sure what the 'Volunteer' program benefits are.

I appreciate the info on Maryland's pass. We have plans to visit the Point Lookout facility later this year and will probably camp at the Park for several days to explore the area; two of my ancestors were imprisoned there during the Civil War.

[padlin00]

You can also get the passes at National Historic Sites as well as National Seashores.

[John Linck]

We camped 60+ days so far this year, about half in federal parks and forests. Admission was free and camping half price at all of them with our $10.00 geezer pass. They were so beautiful they would be a bargain at twice the price. California state parks were $45-$65 and while worth it we limited our stays there.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by John Linck

We camped 60+ days so far this year, about half in federal parks and forests. Admission was free and camping half price at all of them with our $10.00 geezer pass. They were so beautiful they would be a bargain at twice the price. California state parks were $45-$65 and while worth it we limited our stays there.

Good for you.
We've been out about 100 days so far this year, average nightly cost less than $7.00 per night.

[Christian in FL]

Byron, how did you get such cheap camping, e.g. average of 7$ nightly. I am looking to full time soon. Thanks

Sent from my C6530N using Fiberglass RV mobile app

[Darwin Maring]

Good Sam gets you a 10% discount at many campgrounds.
There are other clubs that you can join however beware of their restrictions during the camping season.
KOA also gives discounts at KOA campgrounds.