Several friends have asked us for information about our Thousand Trails membership. We bought our membership from https://www.campgroundmembershipoutlet.com and got a great price with all of the help and information we needed. If you call them, please mention you heard about them from Jeff and Kathy Wildrick. I’ll also attach a cost analysis we did at the time of our purchase!
1) Zone Pass. This is the “entry level” membership in TT. With a Zone Pass, you can stay for free at any TT park (Dark brown markers on the map below) in that zone for up to 14 nights. After that you must stay out of the system for 7 nights before staying in another TT park, once again for up to 14 nights. (If you stay 4 or fewer nights you can move from park to park indefinitely with no time out of the system.)
The yearly “Zone Pass” for Thousand Trails is listed at $575, but there is always a “sale,” which is either to add a second zone for free (a $49 value) or 20% off. Or, we can give you a link for $100 off good anytime. (We got ours for 30% off on Black Friday. That’s the only time they’ve ever offered that deal.) The only way to buy a zone pass is directly from TT. ( www.thousandtrails.com )
If you buy a 1-year zone pass you can switch zones once during the year for free. For instance, we started with the Southeast Zone, but since we will be camping in this area this summer we switched to a Northeast zone. You can always add a second zone for $49.
2) Add-ons. TT recently bought another chain of RV resorts called Encore (These are the blue markers on the map). For $199 you can add 14-days-in/7-days-out free access to all Encore resorts. They call it the “Trails Collection.” We do not yet have this add-on, but will probably get it next year. It pays for itself after using it for as few as four nights.
3) Upgraded Memberships THIS IS WHERE IT GETS COMPLICATED. You don’t need to read this part unless you expect to camp outside of one or two zones in the 12 months after you might buy a zone pass. But, TT has over the years offered a variety of upgraded memberships that you pay a one-time fee for plus annual dues. I’m copying a list of all the membership levels below with the prices of buying them “used” from TT members who want to sell. We are planning to buy a “Used,” Full-Elite membership this summer because a) it allows stays up to 21 days in a TT park, and the ability to go from park to park with no time out of the system, b) It allows reservations 120 days in advance (helpful for Florida in the winter), and c) it is the only membership that includes 20 “extra” parks that are mostly located along the east coast.
THE FULL ELITE MEMBERSHIP:
· Can stay up to 21 nights and go park to park with no time out of the system
· 365 days a year at no nightly fee
· Can make a reservation up to 120 days in advance / 90 to OW & MA
· 50% off cabin rentals when booked for 5 nights or more
· Adult family benefits – up to 8 adult family benefit cards each year
· Can stay additional 7 nights – 2 times a year following a 21 night stay for $29.00
· Includes all 81 membership resorts – TT, Naco, Leisure Time, Mid Atlantic & Outdoor World
· RPI Basic/RPI Preferred/RPI Preferred Gold for annual RPI dues
· Annual dues to TT average $549- $650
· The Full Elite Memberships currently average @ $3650 – $3950 / that price includes all transfer fees
THE VIP / ELITE MEMBERSHIP:
· Can stay up to 21 nights and go park to park with no time out of the system
· 365 days a year at no nightly fee
· Can make a reservation up to 120 days in advance
· 50% off cabin rentals when booked for 7 nights or more
· Adult family benefits – up to 8 adult family benefit cards each year
· Includes 60 membership resorts – TT, Naco, Leisure Time
· “No High Use Restrictions” – can stay full 21 nights when high use is in effect at specific parks
· RPI Basic or RPI Preferred for annual RPI dues
· Annual dues to TT average $549- $650
· The VIP Memberships currently average @ $2950 – $3250 / that price includes all transfer fees
THE PLATINUM PLUS MEMBERSHIP:
· Can stay up to 21 nights and go park to park with no time out of the system
· 365 days a year at no nightly fee
· Can make a reservation up to 120 days in advance
· Adult family benefits – up to 8 adult family benefit cards each year
· Includes 60 membership resorts – TT, Naco, Leisure Time
· RPI Basic or RPI Preferred for annual RPI annual dues
· Annual dues average $549 -$650
· The Platinum Plus Membership average @ $2750 – $2950 / That price includes all transfer fees
THE PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP:
· Can stay up to 21 nights and go park to park with no time out of the system
· 365 days a year at no nightly fee
· Can make a reservation up to 90 days in advance
· Adult family benefits – up to 4 adult family benefit cards each year
· Includes 60 membership resorts – TT, Naco, Leisure Time
· RPI Basic for annual RPI dues
· Annual dues to TT average $549- $650
· The Platinum Memberships currently average @ $2550 – $2750 / that price includes all transfer fees