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    What is Thousand Trails and Encore?

Thousand Trails Guide

Thousand Trails Memberships Guide

When camping become a little more than just an occasion outing,  I decided to attend a membership seminar for Thousand Trails during a stay at an Encore resort.  Enthusiastically, I  purchased a Camping Pass with the Trails Collection,  more on those later.

Chances are you have met other Thousand Trails members or maybe ever considering joining yourself. If you’ve ever wondered why thousands of others have joined with the promise of cheap RV camping and easy full-time RV life,  this guide is for you!

Thousand Trails

Since 1969, Thousand Trails has welcomed generations of families at campgrounds across the country. Thousand Trails is the largest networks of RV resorts and campgrounds in North America, with over 81 locations in 22 states and British Columbia. They combine the beauty and relaxing atmosphere of a scenic nature preserve with the resort-style amenities and fun events and activities for the whole family to enjoy. The resorts and campgrounds are enjoyed by members and non-members alike.

Thousand Trails Campgrounds are located in the country’s most desirable resort and vacation destinations. You’ll get to enjoy sunny Florida destinations like Orlando, the serenity of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country, the beauty of the Eastern Seaboard, Arizona’s Red Rock Mountains, the best fishing lakes in Texas and the Pacific Coast from California to Washington! Thousand Trails  offers a lifestyle of leisure and vacation activities, from quiet picturesque beauty to fun themed weekends.

There are many options and considerations when looking into a Thousand Trails membership. This guide should help answer many of these questions.

Here, You are Family

Campers and RVr’s are a special breed in general. Thousand Trailer’s take that camaraderie to a different level. There are very active social media venues where members share tips and tricks, voice frustrations and generally support each other.  Questions posted to this group are generally thoughtfully answered very quickly.

Thousand Trails Facebook

While each Thousand Trails park is different, they almost always offer electric, water, and sewer hookup for members, as well as a number of specific sites for the general public. Some campgrounds also offer WIFI service that may be on a pay-per-use or free. Some sites charge a small fee for 50 amp service.

Sites range from your standard tent sites, to a wide range of different sized RV spaces that can be fully paved, gravel, grass or a mixture. Many properties also have rental units like yurts, cottages, and basic cabins that members have access to, usually at a discount.

Typically, there are both adult and family campground amenities like clubhouses, pools, and other on-site recreation activities.

Thousand Trails Site Credit

But they also have general amenities that include things like basketball, pickle-ball, tennis courts, restrooms, hot showers, laundry rooms, campground stores, libraries, movie rooms and much more.  Properties, sometime referred to as preserves, are behind a gated front entrance which is manned by a Thousand Trails park ranger.

Which Thousand Trails Plan and Options are right for you?

Basic Membership – Camping Pass

The Camping Pass is the entry-level membership into the Thousand Trails Systems. This provides for unlimited camping, (rules apply)  in the Thousand Trails campgrounds that are included in your chosen zones.  A Camping Pass is currently $630 per year.

For one flat fee members can camp for absolutely free at any of the 80+ Thousand Trails campgrounds in their zones for 14 nights at a time. After staying for 14 nights you’ll exit the system for 7 days and then you are able to reenter for another 14 nights!

Thousand Trails Tips

One restriction to note is a 60-day booking window, reservations will have to be made within this window. This may limit availability, especially during peak times.

There are 5 camping zones: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest and North West.

These zones ultimately decide where you are able to camp during the year. If you elect to travel across multiple zones, a zone can be added for an additional  $70 per year per zone.

Thousand Trails – Zones

Thousand Trails Campgrounds

There are 5 camping zones: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest and North West.  Each having between 13 and 23 individual RV parks & campgrounds included. See campground list per zone below.

Northwest Zone
Southwest Zone
Southeast Zone
Midwest Zone
Northeast Zone
Trails Collection
Northwest Zone

Northwest Zone 18 Campgrounds

BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

  • Cultus Lake Thousand Trails RV Resort Lindell Beach, BC

WASHINGTON

  • Leavenworth RV Campground Leavenworth, WA
  • Birch Bay RV Campground Blaine, WA
  • Chehalis RV & Camping Resort Chehalis, WA
  • Crescent Bar RV Resort Quincy, WA
  • Grandy Creek RV Campground Concrete, WA
  • La Conner RV & Camping Resort La Conner, WA
  • Little Diamond RV Campground Newport, WA
  • Long Beach RV & Camping Resort Seaview, WA
  • Mount Vernon RV Campground Bow, WA
  • Oceana RV & Camping Resort Ocean City, WA
  • Paradise RV Campground Silver Creek, WA
  • Thunderbird RV & Camping Resort Monroe, WA

OREGON

  • Bend-Sunriver RV Campground Bend, OR
  • Pacific City RV & Camping Resort Cloverdale, OR
  • Seaside RV Resort Seaside, OR
  • South Jetty RV & Camping Resort Florence, OR
  • Whalers Rest RV & Camping Resort South Beach, OR
Southwest Zone

Southwest Zone 18 Campgrounds

CALIFORNIA

  • Pio Pico RV Resort & Campground Jamul, CA
  • Yosemite Lakes RV Resort Groveland, CA
  • Idyllwild RV Resort Idyllwild, CA
  • Lake Minden RV Resort Nicolaus, CA
  • Lake of the Springs RV Resort Oregon House, CA
  • Morgan Hill RV Resort Morgan Hill, CA
  • Oakzanita Springs RV Campground Descanso, CA
  • Palm Springs RV Resort Palm Desert, CA
  • Ponderosa RV Resort Lotus, CA
  • Rancho Oso RV & Camping Resort Santa Barbara, CA
  • Russian River RV Campground Cloverdale, CA
  • San Benito RV & Camping Resort Paicines, CA
  • Snowflower RV Resort Emigrant Gap, CA
  • Soledad Canyon RV & Camping Resort Acton, CA
  • Turtle Beach RV Resort Manteca, CA
  • Wilderness Lakes RV Resort Menifee, CA

NEVADA

  • Thousand Trails Las Vegas RV Resort Las Vegas, NV

ARIZONA

  • Verde Valley RV & Camping Resort Cottonwood, AZ
Southeast Zone

Southeast Zone 23 Campgrounds

ALABAMA

  • Hidden Cove RV Resort Arley, AL

FLORIDA

  • Orlando RV Resort Clermont, FL
  • Peace River RV & Camping Resort Wauchula, FL
  • Three Flags RV Campground Wildwood, FL

NORTH CAROLINA

  • Forest Lake RV & Camping Resort Advance, NC
  • Green Mountain Park Lenoir, NC
  • Lake Gaston RV & Camping Resort Littleton, NC

SOUTH CAROLINA

  • The Oaks at Point South RV Yemassee, SC
  • Carolina Landing RV Resort Fair Play, SC

TENNESSEE

  • Cherokee Landing Campground Saulsbury, TN
  • Natchez Trace RV Campground Hohenwald, TN

TEXAS

  • Lake Conroe RV & Camping Resort Willis, TX
  • Bay Landing RV Campground Bridgeport, TX
  • Colorado River RV Campground Columbus, TX
  • Lake Tawakoni RV Campground Point, TX
  • Lake Texoma RV Campground Gordonville, TX
  • Lake Whitney RV Campground Whitney, TX
  • Medina Lake RV Campground Lakehills, TX

VIRGINIA

  • Chesapeake Bay RV Resort Gloucester, VA
  • Harbor View RV & Camping Resort Colonial Beach, VA
  • Lynchburg RV Resort Gladys, VA
  • Virginia Landing RV Campground Quinby, VA
  • Williamsburg RV & Camping Resort Williamsburg, VA
Midwest Zone

Midwest Zone 8 Campgrounds

ILLINOIS

  • Pine Country RV & Camping Resort Belvidere, IL

INDIANA

  • Horseshoe Lakes RV Campground Clinton, IN
  • Indian Lakes RV Campground Batesville, IN

OHIO

  • Kenisee Lake RV Campground Jefferson, OH
  • Wilmington RV Resort Wilmington, OH

KENTUCKY

  • Diamond Caverns RV Resort & Golf Park City, KY

MICHIGAN

  • Bear Cave RV Campground Buchanan, MI
  • St Clair RV Resort Saint Clair, MI
Northeast Zone

Northeast Zone 14 Campgrounds

MAINE

  • Moody Beach RV Campground Wells, ME

MASSACHUSETTS

  • Gateway to Cape Cod RV Campground Rochester, MA
  • Sturbridge RV Resort Sturbridge, MA

NEW JERSEY

  • Chestnut Lake RV Campground Port Republic, NJ
  • Lake & Shore RV Resort Ocean View, NJ
  • Sea Pines RV Resort & Campground Swainton, NJ

NEW YORK

  • Rondout Valley RV Campground Accord, NY

PENNSYLVANIA

  • Circle M RV & Camping Resort Lancaster, PA
  • Gettysburg Farm RV Campground Dover, PA
  • Hershey RV & Camping Resort Lebanon, PA
  • PA Dutch Country RV Resort Manheim, PA
  • Scotrun RV Resort Scotrun, PA
  • Timothy Lake North RV East Stroudsburg, PA
  • Timothy Lake South RV East Stroudsburg, PA
Trails Collection

The Trails Collection Campgrounds

Thousand Trails Referrals

The Trails Collection – aka Encore Parks

When you add The Trails Collection add-on to your existing Thousand Trails membership, you’ll discover additional locations. 100+  Encore RV Resorts and campgrounds, with properties in prime destinations.  Current price is only $330.

Trails Collection

 

The Trails Collection (Encore Parks) is not Zone specific, the one annual add-on includes all 100+ Encore campgrounds and resorts,

Thousand Trails Monthly Payments

But Wait, There’s More

The Camping Pass + Trails Collection (Encore Parks) is a great introduction to the Thousand Trails system and way of life. But if you desire longer stays,  greater booking flexibility, and no time out, plus additional benefits you may want to consider one of the upgraded membership options.

Beyond the basic Camping Pass,  are 3 different membership upgrades that are offered  through Thousand Trails

  • Elite Basic
  • Elite Connections
  • Adventure

Essentially, each level allows you to stay at all zones, stay longer, go park-to-park with no time-out, and have a longer booking window. Plus adds added camping, cabin and resort benefits.  (See Chart for Details)

Camping Pass
Elite Basic
Elite Connections
Adventure
Camping Pass

CAMPING PASS  BENEFITS

  • Zone Specfic Thousand Trails Properties
  • 60 Day Advanced Booking
  • 14 Day Stay / 7 days out of system
  • 20% Off RVontheGo.com campgrounds and resorts
  • Additional Camping Benefits
Elite Basic

ELITE BASIC BENEFITS

  • All Thousand Trails Properties
  • 120 Day Advanced Booking
  • 21 Day Stay / Park-to-Park
  • 20% Off RVontheGo.com campgrounds and resorts
  • Family Benefits
  • Additional Camping Benefits
  • Travel Club Benefits
  • Cabing and Getaway Benefits
  • Dues Frozen at Age 62

 

Elite Connections

ELITE CONNECTIONS BENEFITS

  • All Thousand Trails Properties
  • 180 Day Advanced Booking
  • 21 Day Stay / Park-to-Park
  • 20% Off RVontheGo.com campgrounds and resorts
  • Family Benefits
  • Additional Camping Benefits
  • Dues Frozen at Age 62
  • Additional Travel Club Benefits
  • Additional Cabin and Getaway Benefits 

 

Adventure

ADVENTURE BENEFITS

  • All Thousand Trails Properties
  • 180 Day Advanced Booking
  • 21 Day Stay / Park-to-Park
  • 20% Off RVontheGo.com campgrounds and resorts
  • (4) Additional 1-Week stays for $29
  • (2) Additional High Use Weeks $99 per week
  • (2) Holiday Reservations
  • Family Benefits
  • Dues Frozen at Age 62
  • Additional Travel Club Benefits
  • Additional Cabin and Getaway Benefits 
  • TRAILS COLLECTION+
    • 90-Day Booking at 100 Encore Parks
    • 21-Day Stays at Encore Parks
    • Park-to-park access for Encore Parks

 

CAMPING PASS BENEFITS

  • All Thousand Trails Properties
  • 60Day Advanced Booking
  • 14 Day Stay / Park-to-Park
  • 20% Off RVontheGo.com campgrounds and resorts
  • Family Benefits
  • Additional Camping Benefits
  • Additional Travel Club Benefits
  • Additional Cabin and Getaway Benefits 

Added Benefits Summary

Family Benefits 

  • Will up to 8 family members your membership, they  just pay the annual dues.
  • Courtesy Card
    • 3 – 1 week stays.
    • 50% off cabin rentals
    • If you are not in the system, a Courtesy Card holder can camp using your membership.
  • Give out 4 national camping passes (covers entire TT system)  Starting at $230 per year.

Resort Properties International 

Through an agreement with Resort Properties International, Thousand Trails Members have access to a nationwide network of campgrounds for as little as $10 per night.

This can be a tremendous benefit when traveling across the heartland, having RV repaired, or meeting up with family.

Thousand Trails RPIThe options here are varied and for up to date details, I will refer you to your membership specialist for specifics of this benefit.

Buying  and Transferring Memberships

No conversation about Thousand Trails memberships is complete without discussing the 3rd party market place.   Some memberships are not transferrable, but many of them are; please refer to your specific contract for details.

You may be able to purchase a “used” Thousand Trails membership for significant savings. Maybe as much as 50% off.  Conversely, should you purchase a membership you can later resale that membership for approximately 40% of its retail value.

Theoretically the net cost is about the same.  A word of caution about 3rd party memberships. Thousand Trails is ever-evolving; adding additional properties, enhancing benefits and adding value to its newer memberships.   These membership benefits are not always retroactive to older contracts.   Currently the transfer fee is $750 and can take up-to 12 weeks.

To ensure you receive the maximum benefit of your membership, I recommend purchasing a new membership and should you decide to exit the program, resale it and recoup up to 1/2 your investment.

In order to transfer your membership, your dues must be current and any financed loan balance must be paid in full.

Claim 20% off your Thousand Trails Camping Pass

(A Membership Specialist will contact you to finalize details )

Ainslie Walton
Ride Along
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