What is Thousand Trails?

Thousand Trails is a network of campground and RV resorts in North America that has been in existence since 1969. They offer membership programs that unlock access to more than 190 locations of campgrounds here in the U.S. and British Columbia.

How Does It Work?

For starters, the basic Thousand Trails membership begins with zones. Thousand Trails breaks up the United States into five zones which are essentially based on the regions of the country, such as the Northeast and Southwest.

With the Camping Pass membership, which is the base tier offered, you can choose one zone and camp within that zone for the entire year with no nightly fees. The annual fee is about $615 plus tax, and additional zones can be added for $65.

So let’s say you want to explore the Northwest more. You’d choose the Northwest zone and pay the annual fee. Then you could schedule reservations at Thousand Trails properties throughout the zone without paying additional nightly fees. That approximate $615 fee split across 12 months works out to be just over $50 month. One night in some campgrounds can cost that much! So even if you used the Camping Pass one time per month, you could get your money’s worth. 

Things to Consider 

You can pay the annual fee plus tax in monthly installments if you commit to a two-year membership. This can help make the expense more manageable if you’re on a tight budget.

Additionally, while there are no limits to the overall number of days per year you can use your Camping Pass, there are length-of-stay restrictions to keep in mind. You can stay at a property within your zone for up to 14 days. If your stay is four days or longer, you then also must wait for seven nights before staying at another Thousand Trails campground or resort. 

However, with higher tier memberships the length-of-stay limit is longer and other restrictions are removed, allowing for even greater flexibility and cost savings. For this reason, the higher tier memberships may be more helpful for full-time RVers compared to the Camping Pass. Be sure to do your research and call Thousand Trails with any questions you may have about their membership offerings.

Do you already have a Thousand Trails membership? What are some of your favorite features of being a member? Let us know in the comments or contact us today!