Lauren Bostrom, Marketing Director Coast to Coast

[Note: This update replaces the original version provided at the 2000 Life on Wheels Conference]

Coast to Coast is a reciprocal use network provider for membership campground members and developers. After joining a home park, members can join Coast to Coast and receive reciprocal use of over 450 other quality RV resorts nationwide. Thus Coast membership extends membership in one resort to use-privileges in hundreds of other campground resorts throughout North America. Coast membership also provides a host of other travel benefits that members can use whenever they choose to travel beyond their home park resort. These benefits include RV travel benefits as well as other travel benefits such as savings on airline, hotel, dining, rental cars, condo vacation getaways, cruises, and a 24-hour concierge service.

Affinity is the parent company of Coast to Coast and is one of the largest companies in the RV and campground industry. The company’s mission is to be America’s champion for the fun, freedom, and adventure of Recreation in Motion. Affinity aims to be a positive, enthusiastic force for growth in the outdoor recreation marketplace. The company provides our more than six million North American outdoor enthusiasts with the information, insights, and resources necessary to enhance their recreational experiences and follow their dreams, and help them build the communities that promote and protect their fun and adventurous lifestyles. From RVing to tent camping, from ATV riding to snowmobiling, from boating to motorcycling and anything in between – if there’s a North American enjoying the outdoors there’s an Affinity club, media outlet or event dedicated to that consumer.

In addition to Coast to Coast, Affinity’s brands include The Good Sam Club, Camp Club USA, Golf Card International, Trailer Life Directory & Atlas, Woodall’s Campground Directory, MotorHome magazine, Trailer Life magazine, Highways magazine, Camping Life magazine, Affinity Events RV Shows, and RV Business & Woodall’s Campground Management (trade).

Reciprocity is at the heart of the Coast to Coast system. This means that each membership resort in the network agrees to host members of other membership resorts, providing them full member access to all resort amenities. This allows Coast to Coast members to extend their membership at one resort to hundreds of resorts across North America, a key selling point for every resort. Members stay at Coast affiliated resorts for only $10 per night (or $15 per night at our network of Good Neighbor Parks). Resorts are reimbursed for these stays by Coast to Coast on a weekly basis through our Tripsetter reservation system.

Coast to Coast pioneered reciprocal use in the membership camping industry starting in 1972. Today we have the largest network of reciprocal use campgrounds in the industry. We are also the only reciprocal to utilize Woodall’s to rate all participating campgrounds/resorts and enforce quality standards for all member resorts (minimum Woodall’s 3W rating). Coast to Coast is also the only reciprocal network to have a real-time Internet-based reservation system (Tripsetter) providing confirmed reservations to our members and reporting/remuneration to our member resorts.

Coast Membership FAQs:

1. What is a Membership Campground or home park? Generally a membership campground is a privately owned campground (or network of campgrounds) that is available for use by its members. Usually the resort offers both recreational vehicle (RV) sites and tent sites, and many now offer rental accommodations such as park model trailers or cabins. In addition, the resort will offer a number of recreational amenities. These may include swimming, fishing, boating, separate clubhouses for adults and children/teens, restaurant/snack bar, park store, children’s play areas, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, and miniature golf. Membership campgrounds also typically have an extensive activities program which might include live music, movies, group athletic activities, hiking, arts & crafts workshops and contests, and group meals such as breakfasts and barbecues. As opposed to open-to-the-public parks, visitors must be members of the home park or associated with a reciprocal use provider, such as Coast to Coast, to visit the resort.
2. What does the average home park membership cost? $3000 - $6000
3. Are there other fees I should expect after I purchase the home membership? Yes. Many resorts have yearly maintenance dues which range from $200 - $600 a year. In addition, there are yearly dues for the Coast to Coast membership ranging from $79.95 - $189.95 depending on the type of membership.
4. Does Coast to Coast own the home parks? No. Each home park is individually owned and operated. Coast to Coast cannot force them to comply with any rules (except by the fear of being dropped from the Coast to Coast network). The rules for purchase and sale of membership vary dramatically from park to park. In some cases the obligation to pay the annual dues continues even beyond the death of the member, and becomes a liability of the estate. Because of the conflicting and confusing rules which apply to each park, a prospective purchaser should ensure that he or she fully understand all the terms and conditions before buying a campground membership.
5. Are there different types of Coast to Coast memberships? Yes. There are currently three levels of Coast to Coast. The most basic membership is Classic. The next tier is Deluxe, which has all the benefits of Classic plus additional travel benefits (i.e. Waived 125-mile rule, discounted Condo Weeks through Interval International, a complimentary Hertz #1 Club Gold membership, family and friends benefits, Gold Concierge and much more). The top tier is Gold, which has all the benefits of Classic and Deluxe plus the ability to exchange a cabin week at your home park for a cabin week at another Coast Gold resort or for a vacation condo at select resorts around the world through Interval International’s network of resorts.
6. Are Coast to Coast memberships transferable? Coast memberships are transferable along with your home resort membership. The member must be a current member in good standing with your home resort and with Coast to Coast.
7. Are there reservation limitations within the Coast system? Coast Classic members can make reservations 3-60 days in advance at any resort in the system. Classic members may stay twice in a calendar year and stay up to seven days per visit. Classic members must wait 30 days before they visit the same resort again. In addition, Coast Classic members are held to the 125-mile rule. The 125-mile rule means Classic members cannot visit other Coast resorts within 125-miles of their home park. Coast Deluxe members can make reservations 3-90 days in advance at any resort in the system. Deluxe members may have unlimited stays up to 14 days during nonpeak times at Coast Deluxe parks. During a Coast Deluxe resort’s peak season, Deluxe members may stay twice in a calendar year and stay up to 14 days per visit. In both cases , Deluxe members must wait seven days before they visit the same Deluxe resort again. The 125-mile rule is waived for Deluxe members and applies only for visits to Coast Deluxe resorts, not Classic resorts. When visiting a Coast Classic resort, Deluxe members are subject to the policies for Coast Classic members.
8. How much does it cost per night to stay at a Coast affiliated resort? Coast members may stay at Classic and Deluxe resorts for 1000* Trip Points a night. Coast members may stay at affiliated Good Neighbor Parks for 1500* Trip Points a night. Trip Points are the electronic currency used throughout the Coast to Coast network to pay for resort stays. Each resort in the network has agreed to accept Trip Points instead of cash as payment for stays at their property. The basic Trip Point rate is $1.00 = 100* Trip Points. *rates are subject to change.
9. How do I find out more about membership camping, purchasing a home park membership and Coast to Coast? Coast to Coast Freeview is a great way to experience the membership camping lifestyle and shop around for a home park membership. With Coast to Coast Freeview you can register for a 3-day/2-night stay at one of our participating Freeview resorts. During your stay the resort will take you on a 90 minute tour of the resort and tell you all about the benefits of membership camping and Coast to Coast. To register for your Freeview stay, visit www.ExperienceCTC.com.