2026 Comparison Guide

Best Camping Memberships
in Canada

We compared every major camping membership available to Canadians so you don't have to. Here's the honest breakdown.

Get the Northern Stay Getaway Pass → Learn More
Honest comparison
Canada-specific
Updated for 2026

How Every Membership Compares

MembershipTypeCostCanadian CoverageNo Nightly FeesHookups IncludedTransferable
Northern Stay Getaway PassFixed-night pass$999/seasonAll of Canada — Explore Campgrounds Yes Yes — at equipped sitesNo
Northern Stay LifetimeLifestyle membership$4,999 + $79/moAll of Canada Yes Yes — at equipped sites Yes
KOA RewardsDiscount program$30/year9 provincesNo — discounts only Yes (paid nightly)N/A
Thousand TrailsResort membership~$6,000 USD + monthly feesBC only (1 park) Yes YesLimited
Good Sam ClubDiscount program$29/yearUS-focusedNo — discounts only Yes (paid nightly)N/A
Explorer RV ClubDiscount/club~$60/year300+ Canadian parksNo — discounts only Yes (paid nightly)N/A
Passport AmericaDiscount program$44/year89 Canadian parksNo — 50% discount Yes (paid nightly)N/A
Harvest HostsUnique hosts program~$99 USD/yearWineries, farms & breweries across Canada Yes — free for members No — dry camping onlyN/A
Boondockers WelcomeDriveway sharing~$50 USD/yearMember driveways across Canada Yes — free for members No — dry camping onlyN/A

Pricing as of 2026. Always verify current pricing directly with each provider.

The Numbers Don't Lie

What You Actually Pay Per Night

Northern Stay
Getaway Pass
$43
per night avg. (30 nights)
Private Campground
(no membership)
$75
per night average
Provincial Park
+ Booking Fees
$50
per night + fees + booking lottery
Discount Programs
(KOA, Good Sam)
$65
per night after discount
30 nights at $75/night without a pass: $2,250
30 nights with the Getaway Pass: $999you save $951
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Each Membership Reviewed

Northern Stay

Getaway Pass · Lifestyle Membership · Year-Round
Best for Canadians

The only campground membership network built exclusively for Canada. 68 privately owned campgrounds from BC to the Atlantic. No nightly fees ever — your membership covers every stay. Three pass types fit every camping frequency.

True no-nightly-fee model — pay once, camp freely
Covers all of Canada including Ontario and Quebec
Privately owned, family-run campgrounds — not corporate resorts
Newer network — growing rapidly but smaller than US-based competitors
View Northern Stay memberships →

Harvest Hosts

Unique hosts program · ~$99 USD/year · Self-contained RVs
Best Unique Experience
️ Dry camping only — no water, no electric, no sewer hookups provided. Self-contained RV required.

Harvest Hosts gives RVers overnight access to wineries, breweries, farms, distilleries, golf courses, and museums — at no nightly cost. You stay for free; the expectation is that you support the host's business. Strong Canadian presence in BC wine country, Ontario farm regions, and the Maritimes. Important for Northern Stay members: Harvest Hosts does not replace campground access — there are no hookups at any host location. It's a supplement for unique stopovers, not a primary accommodation solution.

Free overnight stays at unique Canadian locations
Wineries, breweries, farms — genuinely memorable experiences
Great for one-off stopovers between campground nights
No hookups — no water, no electric, no sewer. Dry camping only.
Not a campground replacement — use alongside a full membership
USD pricing and US-run company

KOA Rewards

Discount program · $30/year
Good for KOA regulars

KOA Rewards gives 10% off nightly rates at 500+ North American KOA campgrounds, including locations in 9 Canadian provinces. At $30/year, it pays for itself after a couple of nights. But you still pay nightly rates — this is a discount program, not a membership with included nights.

Strong Canadian presence — 9 provinces
Low cost at $30/year
You still pay $60–$120+ per night — just at a discount
Corporate franchise parks — less of a private, local experience

Thousand Trails

Resort membership · ~$6,000 USD + monthly fees
US-focused

Thousand Trails is the best-known campground membership in North America — and it's a genuinely good product for American campers. In Canada, it has exactly one location: Cultus Lake Lindell Beach in British Columbia. If you camp in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, or Atlantic Canada, Thousand Trails offers essentially no coverage.

True no-nightly-fee model like Northern Stay
Good for Canadian snowbirds who also camp in the US
Only 1 Canadian location — Cultus Lake Lindell Beach, BC
US-based company, USD pricing, limited Canadian customer support
Side by side

Thousand Trails vs Northern Stay — Price & Policy

A straightforward look at what each membership costs and how it works. Northern Stay is not affiliated with Thousand Trails.

Upfront Cost
~$6,000 USD
Thousand Trails membership purchase
$999 CAD
Northern Stay Getaway Pass — per season
Ongoing Fees
Thousand Trails: Monthly maintenance fees apply on top of the purchase price. The amount varies by tier and zone and is separate from what you paid to join.
Northern Stay: Getaway Pass is a flat $999/season — no monthly fees. Lifestyle Membership is $4,999 upfront + $79/month, stated clearly before you join — no separate charges on top.
Canadian Coverage
Thousand Trails: 1 location in Canada — Cultus Lake Lindell Beach, British Columbia only.
Northern Stay: 68+ campgrounds across British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Québec, and beyond.
Renewal Policy
Thousand Trails: Auto-renews annually. Cancellation must be submitted in writing within a specific window or the membership renews at the retail rate.
Northern Stay: Getaway Pass renews annually with no auto-renew surprises. Lifestyle Membership never requires renewal — no annual repurchase decision.
Membership Structure
Thousand Trails: Multiple tiers — Zone Pass, Journey, Platinum, Adventure — each with different access levels, pricing, and park restrictions.
Northern Stay: Two clear options — Getaway Pass (30 nights/season) or Lifestyle Membership (up to six months/season). Every member accesses the full network.
Before You Buy
Thousand Trails: Availability calendar is not accessible until after purchase.
Northern Stay: Browse campgrounds and availability before joining — no commitment required.
The Key Differences — Thousand Trails vs Northern Stay
Thousand Trails
→ Limited member sites — rest sold at retail
→ Can't view availability before purchasing
→ Membership purchase ~$6,000 USD upfront
→ Monthly maintenance fees on top of purchase price
→ Complex tier system — Zone Pass, Journey, Platinum, Adventure
→ Lifetime option discontinued — annual fees forever
→ Auto-renews at retail rate if not cancelled in writing
→ 1 Canadian location — Cultus Lake Lindell Beach, BC
Northern Stay
→ All member sites reserved exclusively for members
→ Simple flat fee — no hidden annual dues on top
→ Lifestyle membership still available — pay once, camp forever
→ 7-day full refund — try it risk-free before committing
68 campgrounds across all of Canada
→ Privately owned, family-run parks — not aging corporate resorts
From real campers on Reddit

What KOA Members Actually Say

Real quotes from r/GoRVing — "Is a KOA membership worth the price?" Northern Stay is not affiliated with KOA.

On cost vs. value

"Even with a wife and 2 kids, I find them expensive and we just don't use many campground amenities outside of the pool."

u/learntorv · r/GoRVing
On site spacing

"I just don't like how close the sites are."

u/NewVision22 · r/GoRVing
On price creep

"Not any more. Used to be much less expensive than a motel, but not any longer."

u/beautylake721 · r/GoRVing
On why people actually buy it

"I solely got the membership for ease of booking... not really for the savings."

r/GoRVing thread
On partner perks as main value

"The Goodyear discount alone more than pays for the membership."

r/GoRVing thread
On consistency

"KOA is like McDonald's — you know exactly what you're getting every time. That's either a good thing or a bad thing depending on what you want."

r/GoRVing thread
The Key Differences — KOA vs Northern Stay
KOA Rewards
→ Discount program only — you still pay nightly rates
→ 10% off nightly fees, plus partner discounts
→ Dense campgrounds with close site spacing
→ Consistent but corporate — same experience everywhere
→ ~9 Canadian provinces with locations
→ Value depends entirely on how often you stay at KOA
→ Price has crept up — no longer budget-friendly vs. motels
Northern Stay
→ No nightly fees — membership covers your stays
→ Privately owned parks — more space, natural settings
→ Unique, family-run parks — not franchise campgrounds
68 campgrounds across all of Canada
→ Value improves the more nights you camp
→ 7-day full refund — try it risk-free before committing

Which Membership Is Right for You?

Casual Camper

Vacations, long weekends, 10–30 nights per season

Northern Stay Getaway Pass

Committed RVer

50+ nights per season, camps every year, full season

Northern Stay Lifetime

US + Canada Camper

Camps in both Canada and the United States regularly

Northern Stay + Thousand Trails

Membership Comparison FAQ

What is the best camping membership in Canada?
For Canadians who want true no-nightly-fee access coast to coast, Northern Stay is the best option in 2026. It's the only membership network built specifically for Canada with campgrounds in every major region. KOA offers good discounts but you still pay nightly. Thousand Trails is excellent but has almost no presence outside BC.
Is KOA Rewards worth it in Canada?
At $30/year, KOA Rewards pays for itself after just a few nights if you regularly camp at KOA locations. There are KOA campgrounds in 9 Canadian provinces. However, remember it's a discount program — you still pay nightly rates at a 10% reduction. It's not the same as a no-nightly-fee membership.
Does Thousand Trails work in Canada?
Thousand Trails has exactly one location in Canada: Cultus Lake Lindell Beach in British Columbia. If you camp anywhere outside BC, Thousand Trails offers essentially no Canadian coverage. Northern Stay was built to fill exactly this gap for Canadian campers.
Can I have more than one camping membership?
Absolutely. Many members use Northern Stay for Canadian camping and Thousand Trails when traveling in the United States. They complement each other well — Northern Stay covers Canada, Thousand Trails covers US locations. There's no conflict in holding both memberships.
What is Harvest Hosts and is it worth it for Canadian RVers?
Harvest Hosts is a membership program (~$99 USD/year) that gives RVers free overnight stays at wineries, breweries, farms, distilleries, and other unique hosts. There are thousands of locations across North America, with strong Canadian coverage in BC wine country, Ontario agricultural regions, and the Maritimes. It requires a self-contained RV — no hookups are provided. Most RVers use it alongside a traditional campground membership like Northern Stay, not as a replacement. It's particularly good for scenic stopovers between campgrounds.
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Browse Our 68 Campgrounds

Explore all 68+ Northern Stay campgrounds by province, amenity, and availability. Filter by location and see exactly where you'll be camping before you buy.

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Canada's Campground Membership
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68 privately owned campgrounds. No nightly fees. Coast to coast.

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