What is the NEW Thousand Trails Journey Membership?

by Julie Bennett
Updated: November 26, 2024
4 Comments

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Thousand Trails just announced a NEW camping membership called the Journey that we believe is going to appeal to a lot of RVers. If you’re looking for simplicity, flexibility, and affordability, this membership option really hits the sweet spot. Introducing the new Thousand Trails Journey Membership Upgrade — a fresh, simplified camping membership option that’s affordable, commitment-free, and packed with benefits!

Read on to learn more, along with the features, benefits, pros and cons. We’ll share our final take on the Journey, at the end of this post.

Want to be first in line to get all the details and special launch pricing on the Journey membership? Just fill out the form below. Then let’s dive in!

Thousand Trails Journey Membership: Features and Benefits

The new “Journey” membership was designed as a more flexible option for budget-conscious RVers who don’t necessarily plan to be RVing for more than a few years. It is an upgrade from the Zone Camping Pass, and is similar to the “Elite Basic” – with some great perks included. But at a much lower price point.

Let’s take a look at what makes the Journey different to the other options:

No Annual Dues: Say goodbye to long-term commitment! With the Journey, you pay for a two or four-year term. There are NO ongoing annual dues, and no surprise price hikes. Just a simple, one-time, flat payment.

Budget-Friendly Pricing: The Journey has a lower upfront cost than previous options like the Elite Basic and Escape (both now retired); Elite Connections; and Adventure. While the Journey can’t be resold or transferred, this is the feature that makes it much more affordable for those who are looking for a high-value, short-term, single-fixed-price option.

Flexible Terms: Choose between a 2-year or 4-year commitment, making it easy to fit your travel plans and goals. After your chosen term ends, you’re free to let it renew, or walk away — with no long-term lock-in or commitment.

You also get these camping privileges…

120-Day Booking Window & Generous Stays: Enjoy up to 21-day stays within the Thousand Trails national camping network (all 5 zones). The ability to move from park-to-park (no time-out of the system required). Plus you get a 120-day booking window to help you secure the dates you want.

Access More Campgrounds with Trails Collection and RPI Included: With the Journey, you don’t pay any extra to add on the Trails Collection (of over 100 Encore Parks), and RPI memberships. Both of these are included, at no extra cost, giving you nationwide access to even more campgrounds around the country.

Cabin Stay Benefits: Score discounts and rebates on cabin stays, perfect for mixing up your travel experience with more comfort and variety.

Share With Family: Also included are 8 family courtesy cards plus 4 national camping passes, to share camping benefits with your family.

Who is Thousand Trails Journey Membership for?

The Journey is ideal for those who want access to the Thousand Trails camping network without overpaying for extras they don’t need.

Here are a few examples of who might love the new Journey membership upgrade:

Full-Time Travelers for a Fixed Period: Ideal for those looking to embrace the RV lifestyle full-time for a specific time horizon – two or four years – you choose.
Families & Memory Makers: Perfect for families wanting to make memories during those important years, and for retirees setting out on a milestone adventure.
Remote Workers, Sabbaticals, & Seasonal Campers: Whether working remotely or taking a break, The Journey offers an affordable way to access hundreds of campsites across the country as you travel.
Simplicity Seekers: With a one-time payment and no recurring fees, The Journey is hassle-free. Just buy in, camp, and renew if you want to keep going.

Pros and Cons: Thousand Trails Journey

Let’s recap with the pros and cons of the new Journey camping membership.

Pros

One-Time Payment: No annual dues —just one payment for the term length you choose.
Affordable Upgrade: Much lower entry cost than previous upgrades like the Elite Basic (now retired), thanks to its expiration and non-resale structure.
120-Day Booking Window: Plan ahead with plenty of time to secure popular spots around the country.
Generous Stays & Nationwide Access: Stay up to 21 days at a time within the Thousand Trails nationwide network (all 5 zones) then move to your next campground, with no time out in-between.
More Campgrounds with Bonus Networks: Both the Trails Collection of Encore parks and RPI campground membership add-ons are included, giving you access to hundreds more campgrounds around the country.
Cabin Benefits: Discounts and rebates on cabin stays add even more value for family trips or cozy escapes.
Flexibility: No long-term commitment is required. And you can choose to renew when the term expires if you want to keep traveling (or just cancel)
Family Privileges: Get 8 family courtesy cards and 4 national camping passes, to share camping benefits with your family.

Cons

Not Resalable: Just like the Zone Camping Pass, the Journey cannot be resold or transferred. (That’s how they’re able to offer it at a lower price than other membership upgrades).
Limited Term: If you plan to camp long-term (say beyond 4 years), a different membership like the Elite Connections or Adventure may be a better fit, and offer greater value over the longer term. Especially if you want the Trails Collection Plus add-on, which is exclusive to Adventure Memberships. But for those who don’t want a long-term commitment, the limited term of the Journey can actually be considered a benefit.

Final Thoughts

So what’s our take? We have seen every type of Thousand Trails membership over the past decade, and heard feedback from a wide variety of campers on what they want in a membership.

With all that in mind, we have to say we are genuinely impressed with the new Journey offering.. We believe it will make a Thousand Trails membership even more accessible, and appeal to a much broader group of RVers. Affordable RV camping without annual dues, no long-term commitment – and the Trails Collection and RPI thrown in – is a compelling offer.

Above all, we think people will really like that the Journey is much simpler, you can start making reservations right away, and save big on nightly camping fees. The limited term and lower price will also make the decision-making process easier, as it reduces the overwhelm of all the other options.

In our opinion, the Journey is going to be a very popular membership, for those who find the benefits and price point align with their travel goals. If you’re looking for a short-term, budget-friendly way to experience all that Thousand Trails has to offer, the Journey membership upgrade might just be the best option for you.

Get Special Launch Pricing

Being a brand new camping membership, Thousand Trails will be offering special “launch pricing”. So now is the best time to take advantage of their discounts, and ask about payment options, if you need that option. We don’t even have the official pricing ourselves yet, as this announcement is “hot off the press”.

So fill out the form below, and Thousand Trails will email the special launch price directly to you.

How to Learn More / Buy the 'Journey'

For details, including the special launch price, and ALL the benefits that come with the Journey membership, contact Joanna and Pat Parizo. They are the Thousand Trails Membership Specialists that we personally know and trust – they will take excellent care of you.

And you’ll get the best price available, guaranteed. Ask for the RVLove exclusive offer for the very best all-around deal.

Phone: 352-396-6835 | Email: [email protected]

What do YOU think?

Would the Journey be a fit for your RV camping needs? Let us know what you think of this new membership, and the features it offers, in the comments.

Author Bio: Julie Bennett

A native Aussie living in the USA, Julie has RV road-tripped to all 50 states and Canada. She is co-author of two bestselling books with her husband Marc: "RV Hacks: 400+ Ways to Make Life on the Road Easier, Safer, and More Fun!" and "Living the RV Life: Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road". In RV life, Julie takes care of the fun jobs – travel planning, decorating, and finding new places to eat!

GOT COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?

We would love to hear from you. Drop us a note in the comments section below.

4 thoughts on “What is the NEW Thousand Trails Journey Membership?”

Kathleen Wildrick

November 4, 2024 at 7:21 am

Hi Julie, we already have an Elite membership. Do you know if we can sell that and then get the Journey membership instead? Or is it available only to brand new members? Thanks.
Reply
- Marc Bennett
  
  November 12, 2024 at 3:44 pm
  
  Sorry for the delayed reply! I expect it’s available to anyone, not sure if it would make sense for you to change if you already have an Elite? I would recommend reaching out to Joanna (TT Membership Specialist) for more info, as she can explain all that to you, pricing, options etc. Here is her email: [email protected] – good luck!
  Reply
Kelley Sexton

November 2, 2024 at 5:25 pm

This sounds very interesting. It could be a game-changer for me. I don’t want to pay the price of an Adventure membership for park-to-park. I have added on the Trails Collection and RPI most years to give me flexibility. The booking window is a bit shorter than my current membership but not a deal breaker. I will be curious to see what the new price point will be.
Thank you for sharing this.
Reply
- Marc Bennett
  
  November 12, 2024 at 3:45 pm
  
  You’re welcome! Yes we think the Journey will be a game changer for many who find the higher price point of the other membership options out of their reach, or just more than they really need. Especially if you only plan to travel for 2/4 years. Joanna can help you out with all the details: [email protected]
  Reply

What is the NEW Thousand Trails Journey Membership?

YES, Please send me info on the new "Journey" camping membership from Thousand Trails

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