A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

of all the different camping passes which one in your experience is the best? or maybe I should have
more than one. Also, what are all the ones called and where do I get them? If I could just get the
name of them I could google it myself but then what would Mitch do in her spare time. Wouldn't
want to take her glory.

The National Park Senior Pass and Passport America are the ones I use the most. The Senior Pass pays for itself the first time you use it! And we Americans are very blessed with a lot of gorgeous parks! It's almost the same with PA. If you can find parks along your route you can save the cost of the annual fee the first time out.

Pooker

Not only does the National Park Senior pass give you a lifetime of free admission to national parks, but in nearly all parks it saves you 50% on campground fees. That can mean only $8 or $9 per night. If you drive into a park in a car, up to four others in the car can enter free on your pass.

Getting one for $10 was one of the first things I did when I turned 62! Made hitting that age exciting.

Judy, thanks for reminding me! 62 = Senior park pass. I'm gonna have to put it on my 2013 calendar. Mary got one when she turned 62 but we've never used it and now that I do 99.9% of the driving and we RV more I think I'll get my own. Many of the RVW members have PA memberships although some parks are quitting PA so make sure that you have a current list of campgrounds.

I didn't realize the National Senior pass was good at the COE parks! That is until I just made my reservations for the Tx GTG...May be staying at more of the COE parks now, even if they don't have a pool and hot tub.

Yes, Ava, Passport America and the senior pass are the best. PA is my first go to when I'm traveling, and if that's not available then it's a Good Sam park. At least I get 10% off at a lot of those. I also have AOR, but seldom use it. They don't usually have a park where I want to go. Now, if I was fulltiming, I'd probably use it more.

ok, I googled Passport America and as far as I can tell I don't have to be 62 but for the National Parks Senior Pass I do.
I guess Passport America will cost me $44 a year and the NP Senior Pass is $10. I will put the PA pass on my list for
next year as my car will be paid off in 5 more payments I can plan a trip for the summer of 2013. The other one will
have to wait as I'm not paying $80 to get that one ahead of time.

I have the Sr National parks pass... only thing here in Wa it wont cover camping anymore...

I have the limited Sr pass for all the state parks which is a big help.. 1/2 price for camping.. i get the winter pass at a discount so between Oct-April i can camp for $6 a nite.. i only went once last yr tho... will try again next fall maybe if the weather is nicer.. ha ha..

As the others say - the only 2 I'd really get are Passport, and the sr pass - all others are individual choices. As to which parks are Passport - you simply go online and look. They have way more parks now than when I first started with them - but they do change. And if you get a smart phone - you can get the PA app on it - and check it for parks, too.

The sr pass will also qualify you for a discount in SOME state parks. So never be afraid to ask. National Parks and NFS and COE are all on it.

And if you are ever going to spend a lot of time in a particular state - and think you'll use their state parks - look into if they have a deal - like this winter I got the annual pass for the Texas State Parks. I wasn't there long, but got my money back and a little more.

Keep a running list of states that have 'good deals on camping'. Like put Texas on that list. Stop at the information center when you enter the state and ask for a Texas Campground brochure. It is put out by the Texas Association of Campground Owners, TACO for short. It is free but it has a member card in it that gives you up to 15% off at campgrounds that are associate with it. So some parks are Passport America, Good Sam, TACO and Escapees. In Texas, Passport America is best, TACO is second and Good Sam and Escapees are down the line. I don't expect to renew my Escapees when it expires, but I will the Good Sam as it is better than nothing. But you can over do the campground things.

Like Beth said, the State Parks can be a good thing if you will use them "worth your money". But otherwise, not a good deal. Just get your calculator out and figure how many nights it will take to pay off the card. Most people get their money back on PA in 3 nights. And if someon refers you that person gets $10 towards their next renewal and that makes it a win - win. I just referred a guy in the campground today. It's just a good deal.

If you are ready to go get that rig in Houston, I'll meet you at the airport and take you down there, but it will have to be this fall. Then I'll follow you to West Texas to be sure you got it down...like you need that . You know any excuse for a road trip is better than none.

Many of the State Park passes - such as the Texas State Park pass - cover the daily entrance fees, but doesn't cover the camping fees But I buy one every year because even if I'm not breaking even with days of entry (and I'm probably close now), I'm supporting my state park system that's really hurting after the drought and wildfires of last year. But then I'm still working!

And if anyone wants to come to Houston, I'm almost always up for a GTG. I was all set to meet Liz but she wasn't in town long enough!

The Senior Pass is good for (at least some portion) of fees on Federal lands. In my part of the world that includes Bureau of Reclamation where they want $8 to enter Melones Rec Area. The hikes are great but that added up too fast. Now I have my pass; can't wait til next winter!

(Also BLM, Bureau of Land Management)

Wish I were a Florida resident because they get a 50% discount on camp sites if they are over 65!! Almost all of their sites have electric and water and a few have full hookups. And prices without discounts range from $22 - $32 per night. Good deal with the discount!!