Coast to Coast Resorts Membership
The largest network of RV resorts in North America — but is it worth it?
Reviewed by the Almonte family after using it alongside our Thousand Trails zone pass
Decent Backup, Not a Primary
Coast to Coast adds breadth to your camping options — 200+ resorts across North America. But between the $10/night fees, short stay limits, the 125-mile rule, and the home resort buy-in, it works best as a supplement to Thousand Trails, not a replacement. If TT is your main course, Coast is the side dish.
What Is Coast to Coast?
Coast to Coast Resorts (run by Good Sam Enterprises) is a membership camping network founded in 1972. The pitch: buy into a "home resort," pay annual dues (~$90/year), and get access to 200+ affiliated RV parks across the US, Canada, and Mexico at discounted rates.
Unlike Thousand Trails — where zone pass members stay for $0/night — Coast to Coast charges $10/night at member resorts (Classic tier), with additional fees for premium sites, 50-amp hookups, and amenities at some parks. The network is large, but the rules and restrictions take some getting used to.
The Three Tiers
| Feature | Classic | Deluxe | Premier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nightly Rate | $10/night | $10/night | FREE |
| Max Stay (Peak) | 7 nights | 14 nights | 21 nights |
| Max Stay (Off-Peak) | 7 nights | 14 nights | Unlimited |
| Visits Per Resort/Year | 2 visits | More flexible | Unlimited |
| Wait Between Same Park | 30 days | 7 days | 7 days |
| 125-Mile Rule | Yes | Yes | Waived |
| Good Sam Included | No | Yes | Yes |
| Condo Vacations | No | Discounted | Discounted |
| Annual Dues | ~$89 | ~$150 | ~$250 |
| Home Resort Buy-In | $500 – $5,000+ (varies wildly by resort) | ||
What We Like
Network Size
200+ resorts across North America. When TT does not have a park in the area, Coast often fills the gap. Especially useful in regions where TT coverage is thin — like the upper Midwest, mountain West, and Canada.
Quality Standards
Coast resorts are annually inspected and must meet minimum standards for safety, cleanliness, and amenities. You are less likely to pull into a complete disaster than with some budget campgrounds.
Good Neighbor Parks
Beyond the 200+ member resorts, Coast gives discounted access to additional "Good Neighbor Parks" — not free, but often 10-30% off rack rates. Adds flexibility to your route planning.
Trip Points System
The points system lets you bank and spend credits on stays. It adds a layer of flexibility for planning longer trips, and points can occasionally be purchased at a discount.
What We Don't Like
$10/Night Is Not Free
After using TT where every night is $0 on our zone pass, paying $10/night at Coast feels like a step backward. For a week-long stay, that is $70 — and with additional resort fees ($5-$40/night at some parks), costs add up fast.
The 125-Mile Rule
Classic and Deluxe members cannot stay at Coast parks within 125 miles of their home resort. If your home resort is in central Florida, that eliminates a huge chunk of the parks you would actually use. Only Premier waives this.
Short Stay Limits
Classic maxes out at 7 nights. As full-timers doing 14-21 night stays, that is a non-starter for us at the Classic tier. You need Deluxe or Premier for anything resembling a real stay.
Home Resort Buy-In
You cannot just sign up — you need to buy into a "home resort" first, which can cost anywhere from $500 (resale) to $5,000+ (retail). Plus annual maintenance fees on top of Coast dues. The total cost of ownership is murky.
Coast to Coast vs. Thousand Trails
Since most of our readers are TT members (or considering it), here is the honest head-to-head:
| Feature | Thousand Trails Zone Pass | Coast to Coast Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Nightly Cost | $0 | $10 + possible resort fees |
| Annual Cost | ~$545/zone | ~$89 + home resort maintenance |
| Max Stay | 14 nights (21 with Encore add-on) | 7 nights (Classic) / 21 (Premier) |
| Wait Between Stays | 7 days | 7-30 days depending on tier |
| Parks in Network | ~80 TT + 100+ Encore | 200+ member resorts |
| Buy-In Required | No | Yes (home resort purchase) |
| Geographic Coverage | Strong FL, PA, TX, CA | Broader but thinner coverage |
| Best For | Full-timers doing longer stays | Part-timers filling TT gaps |
Our take: Thousand Trails is the better primary membership for full-time families. Coast to Coast is a useful add-on for when you are traveling through areas where TT has no parks — the Midwest, mountain states, or Canada. Using both together gives you nearly full coverage of North America.
Who Should Get Coast to Coast?
Great For
Part-time campers who want variety. Travelers who explore beyond TT's core regions. Families who already own a home resort membership and want to maximize it.
Skip If
You are a full-timer doing 14-21 night stays (Classic's 7-night limit is too short). You are budget-focused ($10/night + fees vs. $0/night TT). You do not already have a home resort buy-in.
Perfect Combo
TT zone pass as your primary + Coast as a gap filler. Use TT for your long stays and Coast for short stops in areas TT does not cover. That is exactly what we do.
Pro Tips for Coast Members
- Buy resale. Never pay retail for a home resort membership. Resale memberships go for $200-$800 on sites like Campground Membership Outlet — a fraction of retail.
- Pick your home resort strategically. The 125-mile rule means your home resort location matters. Pick one far from where you actually camp to maximize usable parks.
- Check for hidden fees before booking. Some Coast parks charge $5-$40/night on top of the $10 member rate for premium sites, 50-amp, or resort fees. Call ahead.
- Use the reservation window wisely. Classic members can only book 3-60 days out. Plan early for popular parks but know you cannot book too far ahead.
- Stack with Good Sam. Deluxe and Premier include free Good Sam membership — use those discounts at non-Coast parks too.
The Bottom Line
Coast to Coast is the Swiss Army knife of camping memberships — it does a lot of things adequately, but none of them as well as a dedicated tool. It will never replace Thousand Trails for full-time families like ours who want $0/night stays at quality parks. But as a supplement? It fills real gaps in our travel planning.
If you already have a TT zone pass and find yourself paying rack rate at random campgrounds between TT parks, Coast to Coast can save you money on those in-between nights. Just go in with realistic expectations: it is a discount network with rules, not a free camping pass.
We rate it a 6 out of 10 — useful but not essential. If you can pick one membership, pick TT. If you can afford both, Coast adds real value as a secondary.
Already a TT Member?
Check out our complete review of every Thousand Trails and Encore park we have stayed at — 20 parks, all rated on our SCOUTED rubric.
See all the gear we travel with on our Gear Page
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Disclosure: Some links in this review are affiliate links. We earn a small commission if you sign up through them — at no extra cost to you. We only recommend memberships and gear we actually use. Coast to Coast did not sponsor or review this post.
