Easy to Make the Most of Passport America for 44.00
Camping is a great way to spend time with your family and friends, but it can get expensive. That’s where Passport America comes in – they offer over 1,200 locations where you can camp for 50% off the regular price. With their discount, you can save money on every camping trip without having to sacrifice comfort or convenience. Plus, their memberships are only $44 a year.
In this post, we’re going to cover the perks of Passport America, how to make the most of it, and start saving on your next camping trip!
What is Passport America?
The Passport America membership is a discount camping club founded in 1992 that offers over 1,200 locations where you can camp for 50% off the regular price. Their memberships are only $44 a year, making it a great way to save money on your next camping trip.
Sponsored campgrounds are not limited to just the United States. Passport America also has partnerships with campgrounds in Canada and Mexico! You don’t need to be a resident or citizen of Canada or Mexico to sign up for membership, but you do need to have the proper credentials to cross any U.S. borders.
Here’s How it Works
When you join Passport America, you will be emailed proof of membership after signing up. In addition, an ID Card will be sent to you by mail so you have physical proof of your membership before you enter a partnered campground.
They also offer their entire campground directory on their website for download, or for an additional shipping fee they will send you a hard copy. This is handy for storing in your glove compartment, console, or map holder in case you don’t have cell service.
Passport America members can get information about campgrounds on the organization’s website.
When you contact a campground to either reserve a site or check availability, you just need to mention that you are a Passport America Member to receive your discount. Make sure you have your ID card handy when you arrive at your campground.
Limitations
For campground-specific instructions, make sure you check each park’s important campground notes section within their Passport America listing for rules and details, as they may vary from place to place.
This includes your length of stay. Some parks have no limit to the number of nights you stay, while others will only allow a limited stay for the 50% discount. Again, you’ll have to check the campground notes in your Passport America directory.
With this membership, you are allowed only one RV on one RV site.
The number of people allowed in the RV varies by park owner and/or manager. Some campsites accommodate two people while others can host more. To avoid extra fees, check with the campground in advance to confirm how many people your site will allow.
Most campgrounds that are part of the Passport America directory include information about any additional charges in the Important Campground Notes section.
The My Passport America Mobile App
One awesome perk of Passport America is their mobile app.
Available for Apple or Google devices, the app has a ton of handy features to take with you on the road:
- Trip routing
- Nearby Passport America campgrounds search feature with:
- Location service technology
- Advanced park search by name, address, city, state, or amenities (like amperage, dump station, full hookups, pull throughs, wifi, and more)
- Offline directory functionality
- Use of navigation services with your choice for directions
- View your membership card
- Mark favorite or visited parks
- Add notes
The app is available and free to everyone, but keep in mind that you’ll only get 50% off of participating campgrounds if you’re a member.
How Do I Make the Most of a Passport America Membership?
In this section, we’re going to cover some great tips on how to make the most out of your Passport America membership after you’ve enrolled.
Let’s get to it…
Plan Ahead – Some Campgrounds Have Blackout Dates
If you’re looking to camp in North America this summer, it’s important to book a campground early.
Passport America is a great way to save money on your camping trip, but be aware that some campgrounds have blackout dates for this membership.
You should always try to reserve your Passport America partnered campground ahead of time before making the trip to avoid wasting your time.
And read the fine details about these campgrounds and their Passport America policies.
This is probably the biggest downside to the membership, but planning ahead can make it worth your while.
Passport America Parks: Some Less Than Luxurious, Some Amazing
Because every park that Passport America partners with is independently owned, there are no concrete guidelines for things such as cleanliness or available amenities.
In fact, some of the participating parks are just dedicated RV parking lots. If you only need an overnight stay, it works out just fine.
If you’re planning to use Passport America, reading park reviews is a must.
The Passport America team should be contacted if any campers feel unsafe at a Passport America park.
If a park receives multiple complaints, there’s a strong possibility that the park will be removed from the program. If the same park receives three complaints, Passport America is likely to drop them from their relationship.
They’re excellent at serving their customers after getting feedback and want visitors to tell them if something isn’t up to par.
Refresh Your Tanks
RVing is a great way to see the country, but it’s important to remember that you’re still camping. That means you need to take care of your needs just like you would when camping in a tent.
One of those needs is keeping your tanks full of water.
A second is remembering to empty your waste water tanks.
Here are three reasons why you should always take advantage of dumping or refilling your tanks if you have the chance:
Operation – The campgrounds you stay at are counting on your cooperation. Don’t leave them in a lurch by overflowing or leaving your waste tanks behind. It’s not just bad for the campsite, it’s also bad for other guests who will be using the facilities after you.
Legal – It is illegal to dump wastewater onto the ground and into rivers and streams. If caught, you may face huge fines and even jail time in some cases.
Courtesy – When someone else has to clean up after you, they aren’t likely to think kindly of your behavior. Refill or dump when possible to make sure that everyone can enjoy their RVing experience without cleaning up after others.
You should be sure to take full advantage of Passport America campgrounds that have filling and dumping stations.
Cost and Discounts
So, we mentioned that a standard membership with Passport America is $44 per year, and you get 50% off the cost per night of participating campgrounds.
You should also know that they offer discounts for signing up for longer periods of time.
Check out these other discounts:
- Two Year RV Discount Camping Card: $79.00 (10% savings)
- Three Year RV Discount Camping Card: $109.00 (17% savings)
- Five Year RV Discount Camping Card: $179.00 (19% savings)
- Lifetime Membership: $299.00
Another benefit of this membership are free monthly raffles for members (and non-members who end up enrolling). Check the website for giveaways happening right now.
Passport America Campground Participants
There are over 1,200 participating Passport America campgrounds in North America. This includes all 50 of the United States, as well as Mexico, and 9 of 10 provinces of Canada.
If you’re considering signing up, you can check out their downloadable directory before you join.
From tent camping, car camping, to RVing, there is surely something to find for every lover of the outdoors.
Wrap Up
So there you have it. Passport America is an amazing resource that offers up to a 50% discount on participating campgrounds.
With over 1,200 campgrounds across North America, it gives RVers and campers a chance to access all sorts of locations for their camping and outdoor recreation needs.
However, in order to get the best out of this service, travelers should remember to plan ahead and read reviews about the campground before booking – this will always ensure they have a positive experience with the service.
So if you’re looking for affordable camping options while exploring the North American continent, then Passport America is definitely worth checking out!
FAQ
How much does Passport America cost?
Sole membership for one year is $44.00. There are two-year, three-year, or five-year memberships that come with discounted rates of 10%, 17%, and 19% off respectively.
There are also lifetime memberships available.
Where is Passport America accepted?
Passport America is accepted in all 50 of the United States, as well as Mexico and 9 of 10 provinces in Canada.
Can I cancel my Passport America membership?
Unfortunately, because their prices are lower than usual, all sales are final.
Refunds will be processed if requested within 30 days from the date of purchase or renewal, given that it meets the approval of management.
