Community Forums

Wayne M · 09-23-2013, 08:46 AM

I feel that staying in a campground is just a temporary stop and any discounts that are applied are just that, discounts. It keeps the pockets from emptying out the $$ faster. It may take a while, but it all adds up eventually. Sometimes we need to get to our next top a little quicker and the overnight at PPA's is worth the annual cost.

We tend to travel during the week and not Friday or Saturday so the restrictions are not against us. So even if we are a four day stay that encompasses the Fri/Sat night time frame, at least two fo those days are half price.

It's better than nothing and is one of the more discounted programs.

doorguy · 09-24-2013, 07:48 PM

BobGed, yes Tonopah is the pits for laying over. When we drove into the (former) PPA park, it was a ****hole. I was towing and drove down past the office as there was no place to park AT the office and couldn't turn around w/o unhooking. Finally the owner comes out, scrufty character that he was, and said he had pull thru site just down the street for $20. So, we parked and LOCKED the moho and all bays and drove the truck down there and it looked like a scene from a war torn country. Landscape was overgrown, utilities were not unlike those pics you see on the net of those in third world countries; barking dogs, NO ONE staying there. So we drove back and picked up the moho and since it was late aft, we stayed at the Tonopah Inn(the one that has rv spaces in the back). It was OK for a place for a night, but not scenic as you overlook the loading dock of the Scolari's market. It is full of "perma-nents, i.e., temporary workers in the area, so the spaces they have for o-niters is few. But, it was quiet and reasonable, as I recall. Next time, we will plan differently on that route from Vegas to Reno and vice/versa.

mel s · 09-24-2013, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paz

I don't think PA gives the campground a payment of any kind. I think what PA offers to the campground is a free listing on their website and the possibility of filling otherwise empty sites. The campground owner hopes he can at least break even at half price, and he hopes people will return for a full-price stay at some time in the future.

paz

That is my understanding as well.
I'm sure most member campgrounds see $$ they would never get if they where not Passport parks.

BTW, we have been members for 10+ years and tend to seek out Passport parks, (even when they are out of the way).
We've saved 3-4 times the membership fee every year.
Mel
'96 Safari

BobGed · 09-24-2013, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doorguy

BobGed, yes Tonopah is the pits for laying over. When we drove into the (former) PPA park, it was a ****hole. I was towing and drove down past the office as there was no place to park AT the office and couldn't turn around w/o unhooking. Finally the owner comes out, scrufty character that he was, and said he had pull thru site just down the street for $20. So, we parked and LOCKED the moho and all bays and drove the truck down there and it looked like a scene from a war torn country. Landscape was overgrown, utilities were not unlike those pics you see on the net of those in third world countries; barking dogs, NO ONE staying there. So we drove back and picked up the moho and since it was late aft, we stayed at the Tonopah Inn(the one that has rv spaces in the back). It was OK for a place for a night, but not scenic as you overlook the loading dock of the Scolari's market. It is full of "perma-nents, i.e., temporary workers in the area, so the spaces they have for o-niters is few. But, it was quiet and reasonable, as I recall. Next time, we will plan differently on that route from Vegas to Reno and vice/versa.

That experience doesn't sound like it was much fun. We've stopped for lunch near the Tonopah Inn, but I don't think I could get my DW to stay overnight unless we had a big gun or dog.....or maybe both.

If I was heading south and didn't, or couldn't because of weather, want to make it all the way to Las Vegas, I would stop at Beatty RV Park in Beatty. It's then only about 120 miles into Las Vegas. If I was heading north, I would stop at Whiskey Flats RV in Hawthorne, which would then be about 130 miles into Reno.

mel s · 09-25-2013, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doorguy

BobGed, yes Tonopah is the pits for laying over. When we drove into the (former) PPA park, it was a ****hole.
It was OK for a place for a night, but not scenic as you overlook the loading dock of the Scolari's market.

doorguy
When traveling, we often overnight in a Passport park, (but only if/when we need water, or electricity or if we need to empty the sewer tanks).
Apparently the expectations of some RV travelers are much higher than mine.

I agree that some Passport parks are "the pits" but I have not found any that were NOT "OK for a place for a night".
However, many Passport parks are quite nice and we layover for a few days or a week.

Mel
'96 Safari

EDALLSAILS · 09-25-2013, 09:36 AM

My understanding is a RV Park purchases a AD (or listing) in the Passport America directory. That fee goes to pay for the cost of printing the annual directory and any profit to PA. The RV Park can set down their own terms and provisions for a PA discount. A couple of years ago Camping World set out to sell their own program and evidently were not successful as they dropped it and claimed they gave it or merged with PA. The fee we pay (RVer's) for membership gives us the book of listed RV Parks. we have been PA members for several years and have recouped that fee many times. We like their book listing and directions more than the other (Trailer Life & Woodalls) books. Safe travels..... ed

missourijan · 09-25-2013, 10:20 AM

I would agree that the rv park in Tonopah is nothing special, however, like others we use it mostly for 1 night stops when we are traveling. We have stayed at the Tonopah park several times and it was fine, no problems. There was only 1 park in the PA book that we drove away from, most are not destination parks. However, there are some that are. It's a good value and in the 7 years we have saved lots of $$. I would much rather pay 1/2 price for a not so great park than pay $30 for a not so great park.

1ciderdog · 09-25-2013, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doorguy

BobGed, yes Tonopah is the pits for laying over. When we drove into the (former) PPA park, it was a ****hole. I was towing and drove down past the office as there was no place to park AT the office and couldn't turn around w/o unhooking. Finally the owner comes out, scrufty character that he was, and said he had pull thru site just down the street for $20. So, we parked and LOCKED the moho and all bays and drove the truck down there and it looked like a scene from a war torn country. Landscape was overgrown, utilities were not unlike those pics you see on the net of those in third world countries; barking dogs, NO ONE staying there. So we drove back and picked up the moho and since it was late aft, we stayed at the Tonopah Inn(the one that has rv spaces in the back). It was OK for a place for a night, but not scenic as you overlook the loading dock of the Scolari's market. It is full of "perma-nents, i.e., temporary workers in the area, so the spaces they have for o-niters is few. But, it was quiet and reasonable, as I recall. Next time, we will plan differently on that route from Vegas to Reno and vice/versa.

We stayed at the PA park in Tonopah once and by my memory your description would be complimentary. We also stayed at the Casino RV Park once. No more for either of them. There is a nice rest area a few miles East of Tonopah. We have overnighted there several times and were the only vehicle there. We also stay overnight just north of Hawthorn in one of the parks overlooking Walker Lake. Dry camping but OK.