Escapees RV Club: Should You Join?

If you’re just jumping into full-time RVing or van life, you may have heard a little something about the Escapees RV Club.

You may not know that much, or whether it’s worth it to join.

However, with the Escapees super-low yearly membership fee of just $39.99, we think it’s well worth it for the community events, RV park discounts, gear discounts, information, and support you’ll receive.

Living in an RV or a van can feel a little lonely, especially if you’re just getting started. The Escapees RV Club gives you instant community, where you can hang out with people who share your own interests and values.

In this post, we’ll give you a rundown of all the benefits included in an Escapees RV Club membership, as well as paid upgrades to help your RV ing life go as smoothly as possible.

Click here to sign up for the Escapees RV Club right now.

What is the Escapees RV Club?

In 1978, Joe and Kay Peterson were living with their children in an RV and wanted to find a way to connect with other full-time RVers.

So, they founded the Escapees RV Club and created their first newsletter – printed from a hand-cranked portable printer. Their very first meetup was in 1979 in Bakersfield, California.

Now, 40 years later, the club has over 60,000 members, 100 employees and thousands of volunteers.

Escapees RV Club members participate in the annual Escapade, local chapter rallies and events, regional gatherings, Xscapers convergences and lots of other social events. Members also make a point to keep in touch and meet up as they travel across the countryside.

The Escapees hopes to accomplish this: “Our mission is to provide a total support network for all RVers.”

It’s guaranteed that if you join the Escapees RV Club, you’ll never be lonely on the road.

What is the Xscapers branch of the Escapees RV Club?

Back in 2015, Escapees RV Club President Travis Car and his wife, Vice President Melanie Carr, decided the club needed a separate branch for younger RVers and families living in motorhomes or vans.

A single membership fee of $39.99 per year gets you access to both Escapees and Xscapers events.

“When we were traveling in our RV and met people on the road, we’d ask if they’d heard about the Escapees, but they said it wasn’t appealing and didn’t address the needs of someone pre-retirement age,” said Melanie.

“That’s when we realized we weren’t fulfilling the need of working-age RVers. So, the Xscapers is catered toward a younger demographic, the working RVer.”

Now, the Xscapers accounts for 15% of the club’s overall membership.

During their Xscapers Convergences, which happen every January, Escapees RV Club members enjoy hiking, live music, karaoke, off-road trips, Bloody Mary bars and dance parties.

There are also daily speakers and opportunities to learn more about RVing and making an income on the road.

Xscapers also have smaller, regional meetups throughout the year.

Barbara Snyder, who lives in a campervan after losing her home to a fire, is a member of this group. So is Camille Attell, a full-time RVer who I’ve interviewed for my blog about making money on the road. 

Jodi Zander, who lives in a camper van and makes money selling essential oils, said she loves being a member of the Xscapers, and it’s where she met everyone she currently travels with.

It seems like an awesome group of people of all ages and walks of life.

Head here to join the Xscapers, which you get alongside your RV Escapees membership.

The benefits of membership with the Escapees RV Club

Membership to the Escapees RV Club costs only $40 per year, which includes the entire family. Along with that fee, you also get access to lots of other benefits.

Here’s some of what you get when joining The Escapees.

Escapees RV Park Discounts

When you join the Escapees RV Club, you’ll get discounts at over 800 commercial RV parks. Those parks offer between 15%-50% off a campsite.

There are 18 Escapees owned RV parks as well from Washington State to Florida which offer unique options and amenities for RVers.

You can find those discounted RV campgrounds on The Escapees Directory.

Your Escapees RV Club membership also gets you discounts at popular RV camping organizations Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome.

Also, Escapees members can purchase an optional membership to SKP Co-Op Parks, with offer shared amenities and community gatherings.

Escapees RV Club Member Discounts

If you end up joining the Escapees RV Club, you’ll get access to tons of different retailer discounts. Here are some of the companies where you’ll get discounts:

• Battle Born Batteries
• Good Year Tires
• Wholesale Warranties
• SYKL Power Bikes
• Costco
• Mobile Internet Research Center
• Dish
• Pet Insurance
• And more!

As you can see, you’ll end up making back that $39.99 annual membership fee in no time!

Escapees Mail Forwarding Service

For an additional fee, all Escapees RV Club members can gain access to the Escapees mail forwarding service.

The club has been operating their mail forwarding service since 1985, and will receive, hold and forward your mail upon request. They’ll also scan your mail upon request.

The Escapees RV Club offers addresses in Texas, South Dakota or Florida. You can use these addresses to set up legal domicile if you’re a full-time RVer.

When you’re ready to have your mail forwarded, all you have to do is call, email or send instructions online as to where to ship your letters and packages.

The cost of mail forwarding ranges from $95-$135 per year, depending on which package you select.

RVers Job Exchange

If you’re RVing full-time and need a way to make money on the road, the RVer job exchange is a great resource.

This job exchange is free to both the public and RV Escapees Club members.

You can browse full-time, part-time or temporary jobs all over the United States, in fields as diverse as social media strategist, to wait staff to campground hosting.

The focus of the Escapees Job Board is to provide job opportunities outside of the outdoor hospitality industry, more geared toward young professionals.

You can also post your resume to this job board.

Roadside Assistance

To be there in your time of need, Escapees has partnered with Saferide Motor Club to bring you the Escapees Roadside Assistance program (ERA).

Unlimited Roadside assistance provided by the Escapees RV Club gets you towing service, mobile mechanic service, tire change, fuel delivery, lockout service, battery jump starts, winching assistance and hotel & rental car discounts.

This RV Roadside assistance is great peace of mind for RVers.

The Escapees Roadside Assistance program is available in the US and Canada, for as little as $109/year.

RV Social Events and Convergences

Membership to The Escapees Club provides you with tons of opportunities to socilaize and meet other RVers. Some solo RVers or van lifers meet people at one of these events and then travel together.

Here are some of the events put on by the Escapees RV Club:

• Escapees Escapade
• Escapees Head Out Program
• Escapees Hangouts
• Xscapers Convergences
• Escapees Birds of a Feather
• Escapees Local Chapters

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to get involved and meet like-minded people. The Escapees RV Club is the best way to find community and friendship on the road.

Most of these social events are included in your Escapees membership, except for the Head Out Programs.

Educational Opportunities

There are also plenty of education opportunities, with classes on RV maintenance and safety, budgeting for travel and learning how to manage your RV’s weight.

The RV Boot Camp walks you through everything you need to know to maintain and operate your RV safely. In three days, you’ll learn about tire and weight safety, basid RV systems, proper towing techniques and much more.

The RV Boot camp costs $250 for one person and $400 for a couple, which is cheaper than non-members pay.

There are also plenty of online events and webinars you can join.

“We also have an RVers group camp program, which lasts one weekend and people learn everything about RV maintenance, safety, etc,” said Club VP Melanie Carr.

Click here to join The Escapees RV Club.

Finding Community with the Escapees’ Social Events

We touched on it a little bit above, but we wanted to go into a little more detail about the types of social events offered by an Escapees membership. A lot of people join the club to make new friends.

Keep in mind that the Escapees did cancel some events in light of COVID, and moved some online.

But generally, here’s a breakdown on what you can expect from Escapees RV Club gatherings:

National Rally: Escapade

The Escapees RV Club’s national rally is the largest and most diverse of all social gatherings.

RVers and van lifers get to participate in seminars, social gatherings, nightly entertainment, games and more over five days.

You can shop the vender marketplace enjoy live music and talent acts in the evenings. A great place to socialize and meet fellow RVers!

Head Out Programs (H.O.P.S)

The Escapees also offers Head Out Programs. These programs are excursions to unique locations, special events and theme-related activities with fellow RVers.

The Club plans the itinerary and makes all the reservations for campgrounds, tours and restaurants. All you have to do is sign up, and show up!

Some examples of past HOPS include the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, the Rose Parade, visiting Alaska, or participating in activities like white-water rafting or riding ATVs.

The cost to sign up varies greatly depending on activity.

Escapees Hangouts

Hangouts are a casual way for Escapees RV Club members to get to know each other in a campground setting.

These social events feature a lightly structured schedule with group campfires, potlucks and happy hours.

Optional activities include things like bike riding, kayaking, foodie tours and brewery tours.

Xscapers Convergences

The Xscapers is a part of the Escapees RV Club that focuses on working-age RVers.

This 5-10 day event can either be dry camping or full-hookups, and features a light schedule with activities that take place outside of working hours.

Expect fun events like margarita throwdowns, dance parties, group grillouts and overland trips.

Xscapers Annual Bash

The Xscapers Annual Bash is a great event to join if you’re looking to meet up with working-age RVers.

You’ll find speakers covering various RV topics, dance parties, games and margarita contests.

This is one of the largest gatherings for Xscapers – in early 2020, 600 members showed up for the festivities.

Escapees Birds of a Feather (BOFs)

Escapees BOF groups share lifestyle interests such as boondocking, working on the road, disaster relief, hiking, amateur radio or quilting.

You can join and browse particular BOFs after joining The Escapees RV Club.

Local Chapter Events

Chapters are where you find events closer to home. Join activities like local luncheons, holiday get-togethers or local sporting events.

Local chapters also arrange campouts at locations just a few hours away from a particular city.

There are 57 local Escapees RV Club chapters to date.

Join The Escapees RV Club now

Escapees Memberships are Up

Over the past few years, the Escapees RV Club has noticed an uptick in membership. One reason is that more and more people are ditching the 9-5 suburban life for one on the road.

“A lot of our Xscapers events started small, but since then, family attendance has definitely risen,” said Melanie. “There are so many different resources offered for families.”

Xscapers events give children time to play and meet other children, which is great for their socialization while living full-time on the road.

One of those families is the Foleys, a family of five who live in a motorhome and make money selling products on Amazon.

It’s so awesome seeing people living outside the box, whether that’s in a van, RV, sailboat or tiny home. And it’s equally awesome seeing groups like The Escapees RV Club providing so many resources to make people’s lives easier.

If you’re interested in joining The Escapees RV Club, click here.

Conclusion on joining The Escapees

We think the Escapees is a great resource for people who are either full-time or part-time RVing. The club is also open to van lifers and pretty much anyone who has a home on wheels.

You’ll find all types of people from a variety of age groups, whether you’re a retired RVer or traveling with your family and working.

A variety of social events are a great way to meet like-minded RVers, and to find friends for your children to play with.

The Escapees RV Club offers tons of benefits for a really affordable membership price of just $39.99. You’ll get discounts on RV parks, gear, and access to educational opportunities for an additional fee. You can even get mail forwarding!

We think joining The Escapees RV Club is a no-brainer, and we hope you thoroughly enjoy your membership!

Join the Escapees RV Club now.

Other stories to check out: