We bought a ton of memberships when we first started, but the only one that's really been useful (for us) is Passport America. We camp 90% of our time in public campgrounds (forest, state parks, city, COE) and use PA for those odd nights when we need something else along the road. We've cancelled all our other memberships.
If you're a senior the Senior Pass for $10 is an AWESOME deal = 50% off camping in national forest, national parks and BLM: http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm
Any club is a good deal ONLY if YOU get some benefit from it. It doesn't matter what other people have done or will do, will the membership benefit YOU?
I am firmly in the "No benefit" camp. None of the memberships are of any use to me at all, so I have none. Even when we were full-timing, and moving every 13 weeks, I discovered that a well known club was of no benefit (I didn't even particularly care for the magazine), so I allowed the membership to expire.
If it looks like you will benefit from the membership, try it for a year or so. If you derive little or no benefit that offsets the cost, cancel it.
Good luck.
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Beffore joining Passport America, look on their site for campgrounds in areas that you'll probably be travelling for the next 3 years and along the way. Look at those parks and see if these are places you'll likely stay at and if you'll be effected by the restrictions. Only then will you be able to have an idea whether this membership will be worth it to you.
For example, before I bought my PA membership, I knew I'd be stopping in 3 places in Florida the following spring. There were no parks I liked around Orlando, but Jolly Roger in the Keys and the Encore Resort in Ormond Beach had the discount with little restrictions. I then bought PA, then made my reservations and the 3 year membership did more than pay for itself right there. That being said, it's possible that it might not work this way for you.
We started with a Good Sam membership for three years. Wasn't bad but we haven't saved enough to renew yet.
We always get the America the Beautiful Federal Recreation Pass each year for $80. Last year, we broke even in one month. Your results may vary depending upon where you use it. For example Rocky Mountain National Park charges $20 for a 7 day pass. Not to many visits and the national pass is paid for! Best to get it at the begining of the month because it will expire at the end of the month 1 year away. Buy it early and you can squeeze in 13 months of use!
As previously said, it's all up to where you go and what you plan on doing.
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