We pay nothing extra for the spectacular views!

As full-time RVers, Dad and I are always looking for ways to minimize our costs while maximizing our enjoyment. We are members of a variety of camping organizations, but no single camping club has been as valuable to us as our membership in Thousand Trails. Although the RV community is sharply divided in its feelings about the program, it has literally saved us thousands of dollars in the three years that we have been members. But the various membership options and benefits have changed dramatically over the years, and deciphering exactly what you get can be confusing. Always run any contract by your attorney before making a financial commitment.

Zone Camping

Thousand Trails activity centers are warm and inviting.

The Zone Camping Pass is Thousand Trails’ current (as of 2012) entry-level membership program. The premise is much simpler than that of other membership options. The country is roughly divided into four zones, and you can select any number of zones to include in your membership. Each zone contains approximately 20 campgrounds, for a total of 81 across the country.

As of 2012, the one-time enrollment fee is waived for the first zone. Additional zones are $795 each, with a discounted price of $1,995 total if you purchase all four zones. The annual fee is $499, no matter how many zones your membership includes. You are committed only for the first year, although you must express your desire to cancel in writing 30 days before your membership auto-renews. Passes are valid for the passholder, his or her spouse, and dependent children aged 23 or below who live at home or are in school away from home. Financing is available.

Thousand Trails Orlando is in the heart of the Sunshine State.

The annual fee includes 30 nights of camping at no charge. Additional nights are billed at $3 per night. You are entitled to use any of the campgrounds in your membership as much as you want, but the maximum stay at any one time is 14 nights. If you stay for more than four nights, you must spend seven nights entirely out of the system before entering the same or a different membership park. Each site can hold up to 10 people in one camping vehicle plus two tents or three tents with no camping vehicle. You may also park two non-camping vehicles on your site.

The Tent Camping Zone Pass works similarly, but is valid for a maximum stay of seven nights. As with the RV Zone Pass, if you stay for more than four nights, you must leave the system entirely for seven nights. You will be charged $3 per night after the first 30 nights of camping. Each tent site can hold six people and two tents, along with two non-camping vehicles. The annual fee is $249 as of 2012, while the enrollment fee is subject to change. No financing is available for the Tent Camping Pass. The pass includes access to tent sites at 14 Encore parks that are not part of the Thousand Trails system.

Traditional Memberships

The parks have very nice and well-equipped camp stores.

Dad and I purchased our Thousand Trails membership before the current Zone Camping Pass program. We spent a free weekend at the campground in Clermont, Florida, just outside of Orlando and toured the park with a sales representative before making our purchase. We financed that membership with monthly payments of around $100. Dues, which we also paid monthly, were approximately $40 per month. Under that membership, we were entitled to use any park in the Thousand Trails system as well as parks in the Leisure Time and NACO systems. We could stay 14 nights at a time, and had to leave the system for seven nights between stays. We were not charged any additional fees no matter how many nights we used in a year.

Thousand Trails parks offer mini-golf, volleyball courts, puzzle rooms, swimming pools and a wide range of scheduled activities, all at no additional fee.

The program worked very well for us, but when we were offered the chance to upgrade our membership, we jumped at it. We rolled our existing loan into the new loan, effectively raising our monthly payment by around $50 per month. Our dues payment remained roughly the same. Under the new contract, we now have access to parks operated by Outdoor World and Mid-Atlantic Resorts as well as our previously available parks. We can stay in any one park for 21 days at a time, and then go directly to another park with no time out of the system. We are only required to remain out of the park we just left for seven days. As full-time RVers, it is nice to be able go directly from park to park. Although we also enjoy visiting non-Thousand Trails properties, we know many full-timers who simply live within the Thousand Trails system. We also have some side benefits, such as discounts on cabin rentals at the parks. We also enjoy frequent discounted camping at Encore parks.

Upgrading Your Existing Membership

At Thousand Trails Medina Lake, the tame deer flocked to the campsites.

Whether you currently have a Zone Camping Pass or another type of membership, upgrades are always available. Encore, the parent company of Thousand Trails, works hard to respond to member requests and suggestions. Even though we are Elite, which is supposed to be the top level of membership, we recently received an invitation to a meeting to discuss yet another upgrade.

Resale Memberships

Thousand Trails memberships are easy to find on the resale market. Most sellers provide their membership number in their ads, allowing potential buyers to call Thousand Trails Member Services and check the validity of the offered membership. A resale membership often represents an incredible savings, but because so many different membership types have been offered over the years, make sure you do your due diligence. Carefully research the different options to learn exactly what each membership includes. Thousand Trails charges a $750 transfer fee, so be sure to include that fee in your calculations when comparing different memberships. Although this can be a wonderful way to pick up a premium membership that is no longer available, this is not the time for an impulse buy.

Related Articles:

Introduction to Membership Camping
Comparing Membership Camping Alternatives
RVing with Kids

Loading up the family and heading for the woods requires advance planning

Tent camping and kids are a natural fit. What child doesn’t enjoy the chance to run around in the woods, tell spooky stories by the campfire, and sleep in a tent? For the parents, however, the sheer list of tasks involved in tent camping can seem like a nightmare. Depending on the park’s housekeeping staff, so can the bath house facilities! Like anything else, though, tent camping is a skill that gets better with practice.

Choosing a Tent

If you haven’t been camping since your elementary school days, you may be surprised by the range of tent styles and sizes on today’s market. Some tents, known as pop-ups, require almost no work at all. Others, designed for long-term camping in extreme conditions, come with assembly manuals that read like stereo instructions. First-time weekend campers generally need something in between.

The size and relative closeness of your family will help narrow down your tent choices. If you are a single parent or VERY happily married with one small child, you may be able to get away with one four-person tent for a short trip. For most families, though, two or three tents are a better solution.

Choose a main tent with two rooms–if the tent has a wall divider, make sure it is removable. The adults can sleep in the smaller room, while the larger room creates living space for the whole family during the inevitable rain storm or cold snap. The kids’ tent can be a bit smaller, providing just enough room for the children to sleep and store a few clothes, since they can join the adults in the communal living area. If the trip is short and you plan to eat some restaurant meals, two tents are sufficient. If you want the full camping experience, however, complete with campfire cooking, consider taking a supply tent as well. This can be a very small pop-up tent, as it only needs to house your cooler or micro-refrigerator and any related supplies.

Don’t be afraid to open up the tent packaging in the store. Choose a tent with a rain cover, strong poles and reasonably easy assembly instructions. Although you do not need the most expensive, steer clear of the cheapest off brands.

What to Pack

Dress in layers, as the temperature can change rapidly

Packing lists for camping trips are easy to find all over the internet. Think through your family’s needs and desires to make an educated guess at which items will be relevant for you. The basics can be broken down into a few main categories:

Bedding — Some people sleep on an air mattress, others on a foam pad. Whatever your desired level of comfort, staying warm is the most critical. Each person needs something between his body and the ground. Sleeping bags are rated by temperature, so read the tags and purchase something appropriate to your trip. A bag rated for sub-zero temperatures can become dangerously hot during the summer, while a bag rated for 50 F will do little good in the snow. Although decorative patterns on kids’ sleeping bags are cute, choose one that has a temperature rating. Some kids’ sleeping bags are designed for “campouts” in a climate-controlled living room, not for actual camping in the woods.

Lighting — If you’ve never been in the woods after dark, you may be surprised just how dark it actually gets. You will need lighting inside each tent, light to cook and eat by, flashlights for midnight bathroom runs, and ambient lighting that helps you avoid driving over the tent if you return after dark. Propane lanterns are an excellent choice for outside the tent, while battery-operated versions are safest inside.

Cooking — Modern camp cooking runs the gamut from campfire meals to gourmet dishes prepared in a solar oven or even TV dinners in a microwave. Camp cooking is a complicated topic, so do some reading and research well in advance of your trip. If you plan to camp frequently, cast iron cookware is well worth the expense. Propane or Sterno stovetops are highly popular. Keep in mind that most campsites do not allow you to dump wash water on the ground, so you will need to set up a dishwashing station as well.

Tools — If you plan to have a campfire, you will need a way of breaking down your firewood and tending the fire. You will also need a way to drive tent stakes into the ground. A small camping axe or hatchet, a rubber mallet, a fireplace poker, tongs and heavy work gloves are basic essentials. Rope, a small shovel and dozens of other camping tools may also be helpful, depending on what you plan to do.

Clothes — A camping trip is not the place to show off your best outfits. Choose rugged, durable clothing that can stand up to dirt and water. Temperatures can change frequently in the woods, so choose items that are easily layered. A waterproof jacket and a rain poncho are essential items. Pack extra socks and make sure everyone changes them frequently.

Entertainment – Some campers take advantage of the trip to disconnect from modern technology, while others pack their tents full of electronics. There is no right answer to the question of technology on a camping trip. My family has spent many wonderful hours watching Survivor outdoors by the campfire or playing the Blair Witch Project video game in a tent deep in the back woods. Remember, however, that a site with electricity typically has two outlets. Carry extension cords and power strips if you plan to use several electronics, and plug everything into a surge protector. The electricity at campgrounds can be somewhat erratic.

Keeping Kids Safe

Teach campfire safety before your trip

Children’s natural instinct is to run and play, and many kids exhibit an utter fearlessness of their surroundings. Set ground rules at the beginning of the trip and be willing to revisit them throughout your adventure. The specifics will vary according to your kids’ ages and abilities, and the terrain in which your campground is set. In general, rules will likely revolve around bodies of water, roads, visiting other kids’ campsites, bringing kids to your campsite, attending activities alone and handling tools. But kids will be kids, so be prepared to handle situations as they arise. Try to find a balance that keeps them safe while encouraging them to explore and try new things.