Budget | Campgrounds | Road Trips

Thousand Trails Membership Levels Explained For Campers

ByRoadTrip Honeys January 25, 2026

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If you travel by RV a lot, you’ve probably heard folks mention Thousand Trails. It’s a membership deal that gets you into a network of campgrounds all over the U.S.—and you won’t have to shell out for nightly camping fees.

There are a few membership levels, each with their own price and perks. It’s worth digging in before you spend your hard-earned cash.

You’ll spot options for both weekend wanderers and hardcore full-timers. I always tell people: know how each level works, what it’ll cost, and which bonuses you can tack on.

Whether you’re out for a handful of weekends or living on the road, picking the right membership can really stretch your travel budget and make life a heck of a lot easier.

Thousand Trails Membership Overview

Join Thousand Trails and you’ll get access to a national lineup of 80+ campgrounds and RV resorts managed by Equity Lifestyle Properties. Each Thousand Trails membership level means no nightly camping fees at Thousand Trails parks and some RPI parks.

Here’s a quick look at the basics:

Membership Level	Stay Length	Booking Window	Extra Perks
Basic	Up to 14 nights	60 days	Access to one region
Plus	Up to 21 nights	90 days	Includes select partner parks
Premium	Up to 21 nights	120 days	Optional cabin use, wider park access

You can use your Thousand Trails memberships whether you’re a part-timer or full-timer. It takes a lot of the hassle out of campground reservations and gives you more freedom to roam.

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Zone Camping Passes

If you want a cheap way to check out the Thousand Trails campground membership scene, the Zone Camping Pass is a good place to start. It’s the foundation of the whole program, letting you camp in one region.

You pick from five zones: Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, Southwest, and Midwest. Each zone has a different number of parks—some more, some less.

Your camping pass covers as many stays as you want in your chosen zones, so you won’t pay by the night. You can stay up to 14 nights at a stretch in one park.

If you stick around longer than four nights, you’ll need to spend seven days out of the system before you can check into another Thousand Trails spot. This setup is great if you like hopping around or just want weekend escapes.

Members get a 60-day booking window, which gives you some breathing room for planning trips around work or chasing good weather. Plenty of folks start here to test the waters before upgrading to fancier tiers.

Annual cost: $755 for one zone
Extra zones: $125 apiece

Sure, there are some limits, but you do get a few nice bonuses. You’ll snag discounts at Encore RV Resorts and partner campgrounds through the Thousand Trails Camping Pass. There are also deals on stuff like Harvest Hosts, Hertz, and DISH.

Heads up: 15 of the 82 parks have high-use restrictions in busy months. For example, Florida parks in winter only let you have two active reservations. If you time your trips right, this pass opens the door to well-kept parks and makes it easy to dip your toes into the Thousand Trails network.

Trails Collection Add-On

Add the Trails Collection to your Thousand Trails membership and suddenly you’ve got over 100 more campgrounds to pick from—including some pretty popular Encore RV Resorts. This add-on gives you way more travel options, especially in places where the standard plan doesn’t reach.

You’ll find well-maintained parks and longer-stay options connected to the RPI resort network. Most of these campgrounds let you camp for free, but a handful in busy areas might charge up to $20 per night.

Many Encore resorts in Florida, Texas, and Arizona are 55+ communities, so double-check age rules before you book.

Cost: $450 per year for Camping Pass folks; free with upgraded plans like Elite and Adventure.

Key Guidelines and Perks

If you upgrade your membership, you can also get Trails Collection Plus. That unlocks even more booking options and park access.

Journey Thousand Trails Membership Level

The Journey Membership is the first step up from the basic pass. It’s a solid upgrade if you want more flexibility and access without breaking the bank.

You can sign up for two or four years and spread out payments if you want.

Stay up to 21 nights per visit and roll right into another park—no waiting around. You can book up to 120 days ahead.

Journey members get access to all Thousand Trails parks nationwide, plus The Trails Collection and RPI Preferred Gold.

There are some extra perks too:

• Two optional extension weeks for $29 each at certain parks
• A free one-week standard cabin rental rebate every year
• 25%–50% off cabin rentals
• Discounted camping for your family

You can only book one holiday stay at a time, which helps keep things fair during busy holidays. And, yes, high-use restrictions still hit some parks during peak seasons—think Florida in January.

Explore Thousand Trails Membership Level

The Explore Membership is a step up from the earlier tiers, giving you more freedom and a longer booking window. You get all the zone pass basics, plus a bunch of perks that suit frequent RV campers.

Membership Cost Options

Explore Key Features

• Stay up to 21 nights at each campground.
• Move directly between parks, no forced days out.
• Access every Thousand Trails park across the country.
• Book up to 150 days in advance—plenty of time to plan.
• Enjoy both Trails Collection and RPI Preferred Gold.
• Add two extra stay weeks for $29 each at certain parks.
• Get annual rebates for one free standard cabin week and one Getaway cabin week.
• Snag 25%–50% off cabin rentals and more savings for family.

During busy seasons, like Florida’s winter rush, you can only keep two high-use reservations active at once. Explore sits in a sweet spot—lots of flexibility without the highest price tag.

Adventure Thousand Trails Membership Level

The Adventure Thousand Trails Membership is the top tier. It’s built for campers who want the widest access and the most flexibility.

You get every perk from the lower levels, plus some exclusive upgrades that make full-time RVing or heavy travel a breeze.

Pick a 2-year or 4-year term. The 2-year plan runs $8,000 total, or you can pay $900 down and $295/month. The 4-year plan costs $14,400, with a $1,500 down payment and $269/month.

Membership Benefits

High-use restrictions do hit a handful of parks, especially in Florida during the winter. You can only hold two reservations at a time in those peak months.

The Adventure Membership also brings in Trails Collection Plus, which you can’t get with other plans. That means longer stays and better booking windows at the fanciest partner campgrounds.

Cabin Pass Thousand Trails Membership

With the Cabin Pass, you can kick back in comfortable cabins at a bunch of Thousand Trails properties—no nightly fees once you’ve paid for the year.

Your pass covers over 70 campgrounds, plus more than 50 extra resorts if you grab the Trails Collection add-on (which is free for the first year).

You can unwind in cabins, tiny homes, yurts, or cottages. It’s a great fit if you don’t have an RV but still want to enjoy what Thousand Trails offers.

Lifetime Thousand Trails Memberships

Back in 2025, Thousand Trails dropped their lifetime options and switched over to time-limited memberships. They put the brakes on plans like the Escape, Elite Basic, Elite Connections, Adventure, Alliance, Gold, Platinum, Ultimate Odyssey, and VIP tiers.

Folks with existing accounts can still renew or upgrade, but Thousand Trails stopped selling new lifetime memberships.

Buying a New Thousand Trails Membership

When you want a new Thousand Trails membership, you’ll deal directly with reliable membership specialists who take care of the nitty-gritty for you. That way, you get the latest prices and any special deals floating around at the time.

If you want updates or promos fast, just fill out a quick contact form and mention Christina from Travels with Ted sent you.

Buying a Used Thousand Trails Membership

Buying a used Thousand Trails membership can be a smart move if you’re hoping to snag the perks without paying top dollar. Plenty of folks who leave RV life or move up to a fancier tier will sell their memberships, giving you a shot at a better price.

Before you jump in, double-check what kind of plan you’re getting. Older memberships like Gold, Platinum, VIP, or Ultimate Odyssey all come with different campground access, reservation windows, and stay limits.

Ask the seller to show you their original contract so you know exactly what you’re signing up for.

You’ll find pre-owned memberships through brokers like Campground Membership Outlet, who connect buyers and sellers. These brokers don’t tack on extra fees, but Thousand Trails’ transfer fee still comes into play.

Sometimes, upgrades like Elite Connections pop up on the used market when previous owners hang up their keys. Before you commit, compare what’s included and make sure the price lines up with the benefits you’ll actually use.

Potential Savings with Thousand Trails

If you’re out camping a lot, those nightly fees can sneak up on you. Plenty of resort-style campgrounds charge $50 to $100 per night, and that adds up fast on longer trips.

A Thousand Trails membership can cut those costs down since you pay a yearly or one-time fee instead of shelling out every night.

Let’s say you camp 15 nights at $50 per night—that’s about the same as a basic zone pass. Anything after that? You’re saving money. I’ve seen a lot of folks cover their membership costs within a year or two of regular use.

Here’s a simple side-by-side:

With over 80 campgrounds across the country, you can camp year-round, keep your lodging costs down, and still enjoy all the usual amenities.

Thousand Trails Booking Date

Timing is everything with your Thousand Trails membership when you’re reserving sites. To grab your favorite park, book as soon as your window opens.

Quick Tip: Instead of counting days by hand, try the booking date calculator to know exactly when you can reserve.

Thousand Trails FAQ

How Can You Get the Best Deal on a Thousand Trails Membership?

If you want the best bang for your buck, reach out to a Thousand Trails membership rep. A specialist can walk you through the options and help you grab any discounts that are out there.

You can call Sharon or Warren Lewis at (804) 366‑0798 or email them for the latest prices and offers. Honestly, talking to a real person usually gives you more wiggle room than just clicking around online.

Does Thousand Trails Offer Lifetime Memberships?

Nope, Thousand Trails doesn’t sell lifetime memberships anymore. Now, you pick from enhanced plans that last two to four years.

When your term ends, you can renew or upgrade for more parks or perks. The company says this helps them keep pricing steady and membership options fresh.

What Are Thousand Trails High‑Use Restrictions?

High‑use restrictions kick in at parks that get swamped during certain seasons, like Florida in the winter. During those busy times, you’re usually limited to two weeks per visit.

You can still bounce between other campgrounds in the network. Also, you can only hold two active reservations at high-demand parks at once.

These rules aim to give more members a fair shot at the popular spots.

Is the Odyssey Option Still Offered?

Thousand Trails discontinued the Ultimate Odyssey membership plan. If you’re after the top-tier option, look at the Adventure Membership.

It gives you the broadest park access and the longest stays. For anyone who wanted Odyssey in the past, Adventure is now the best upgrade path.

What Is the Guest Policy for Thousand Trails Members?

If you’ve got a membership, it covers you, your spouse, and any dependent kids who are 23 or younger. Doesn’t matter if they’re living at home or off at college somewhere.

You can bring friends or extended family along as guests, too. Just remember, every campground has its own rules about how many people can stay on one site.

Always check those details before you book—nothing’s worse than showing up and finding out you’ve got too many folks for the spot.