Soos: Discounts

[WickedLady]

The Golden Age card can be purchased at age 62 for a one-time charge of $10. It is good for life and gets you into National parks/monuments/refuges/etc. for free and half-price camping in National areas. It cost me only $9 a night to camp at Zion two years ago. You can get them at any National Park HQ and I believe at the entrance of parks maybe even online. Getting old has some bennies
If you are not old enough yet for that, you also might consider Passport America camping club now, which gets you half-price camping at many RV parks around the country. There are other camping clubs that do the same (Good Sam has one) but don't remember the other names.

[VickieP]

If you are disabled for life you can also get the card called Golden Access. Here is a link for all the pass cards and where to obtain them.

http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/rec-fee.shtml

[Nasoosie]

Thanks, y'all, for the info! I am WAY beyond 'old enough' to qualify for those old age thingies! I will look online to see what I can find...I think someone said somewhere that you have to go in person to a national park to get that pass. I am not sure where one is up in this neck of the woods----Cedar, do you know of one? I guess Valley Forge is one down in PA? When I next visit my bro down there, I could go to that one and get my pass. I can see the park from his yard on top of the hill he lives on. I guess they might want to see your 'wrinkles and conditon' to make sure you qualify?!! I am already a member of the Good Sam Club, and have also joined their RV towing and roadside service for the year. But I don't think any local campsites take Good Sam Discounts----10%, I believe. I have a KOA membership, too, which does save me 10% up here.

[mitch5252]

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The NPS Senior pass is now called America the Beautiful Senior Pass:

America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – Senior Pass. - Cost $10.

America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – Senior Pass This is a lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. The pass provides access to, and use of, Federal recreation sites that charge an Entrance or Standard Amenity. The pass admits the pass holder and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas and pass holder + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, at per person fee areas (children under 16 are admitted free). The pass can only be obtained in person at the park. The Senior Pass provides a 50 percent discount on some Expanded Amenity Fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services. In some cases where Expanded Amenity Fees are charged, only the pass holder will be given the 50 percent price reduction. The pass is non-transferable and generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessionaires.

http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm

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[Pooker]

Soos - You can also just wait until you want to visit a Nat'l Park and get the pass then. I've been pleasantly surprised at some of the parks not in the NP system who will accept the card - even a few state parks! For those of you who are young'uns, there is another NPS pass for you. I believe it's good for one year and you renew it each year until you qualify for the old folks pass. Costs more and perks not quite as good, but still a good buy if you plan to visit a few parks or stay awhile.

There are many copy cat discount camping clubs out there, but Passport America is about the strongest and been around longer. I have found that the campgrounds tend to be the same in most of these clubs, (at one time or another we've had just about all of them!) so it's usually not a good idea to join a bunch of 50% off clubs. When Sharon and I went to Texas we stayed almost exclusively in Passport parks and saved a bundle. Don't expect to find the same standards everywhere, though. They are just independent campgrounds which have varying standards and amenities and some of the restrictions are annoying. The cg's in all of these discount clubs dictate exactly how the discount can be used (i.e., only Sun-Thurs; or only 1 night; or every other night; not during peak season, etc.), so try to look through their directory before purchasing.

Shut up, Evie. Okay!