Image courtesy of Yosemite Lakes RV Resort in California. Yosemite Lakes RV Resort in California is part of the Encore/Thousand Trails network of campgrounds.

 

By Maryann Hammers

 

Nothing says summer like a campout in idyllic scenic settings along a lakeshore, atop a mountain, or in the woods. Not the type to rough it? Check out these military deals on comfy cabins and cottages with all the amenities.

CALIFORNIA

Relax and enjoy the view from your private cabin at Coffee Creek Ranch, a 367-acre creekside guest ranch surrounded by the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and the Trinity Alps Wilderness. Fill your days with horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, and even gold panning. All-inclusive adult rates start at $250 a day or $1,250 a week, depending on the season. Military members and veterans (and their families) get a year-round 25-percent discount, reducing the price to as low as $188 a day or $938 a week. Rates include activities, meals, wireless internet, and nightly entertainment (from live music and line-dance lessons to bingo and bonfires). Call (800) 624-4480.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

With 185 forested acres and a half-mile of shoreline, Danforth Bay can accommodate large RVs but also offers intimate sites for tent camping along Ossippee Lake, or you can stay in a rustic or deluxe cabin. Military members get a year-round 10-percent discount. Learn more or call (603) 539-2069.

OREGON

Veterans with disabilities get free camping and free parking/day use with a special access pass at Oregon State Parks. Active duty military members pay regular camping and day-use fees but will get reimbursed. Enjoy bikeways, beaches, hiking trails, and junior ranger programs. It’s all explained here.

VIRGINIA

The timber-frame cabins at Shadow Mountain Escape are nestled in a woodland park setting on the Blue Ridge Whiskey Wine Loop, a few minutes from the Shenandoah National Park entrance, Luray Caverns, and Lake Arrowhead. Be aware: This is not a family resort. “Shadow Mountain is for couples only — we don't allow children,” says Karen Riddle, who owns and operates the property with her husband, a retired Army officer. Active duty, retired, and veteran military members get a year-round 10-percent discount. To get the discount when reserving online, just type the word “MILITARY” in the discount box (immediately under the “Special Requests” box) and click “apply code.” Call (540) 843-0584.

WEST VIRGINIA

Canaan Valley Resort, a state park in the Allegheny Mountains, offers a 15-percent discount on cabins and cottages and up to a 20-percent discount on recreational activities for active duty and retired military members. Cabins and cottages have up to four bedrooms, furnished kitchens, and a deck with a grill. Campsites start at $25 — but if you’re over age 60, you’ll get a 10-percent discount. Over age 62 and live in West Virginia? Take 50 percent off. Call (800) 622-4121.

NATIONWIDE

 

Nearly 200 campgrounds and cabin/RV resorts throughout North America are part of the Encore/Thousand Trails network, with amenities like boat rentals, swimming, hiking trails, and horseback riding. Active duty and retired military members get 20 percent off RV sites and rental units (cabins), for up to six nights. Find a campground here, book it online, and use promo code Military20 to get your discount. Call (877) 570-2267.

Jellystone Park is a campground franchise with 85 locations in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to campgrounds, you also can rent a cabin, cottage, or yurt. Military offers vary by campground, but discounts of 10 to 20 percent are available. One campground in Monticello, Iowa, (near Dubuque) offers free camping to active duty military members, and several campgrounds host Military or Heroes Appreciation weekends with discounts of up to 50 percent. Find a list of campgrounds, military discounts, and more information.

Explore the West’s great national parks in an RV. Sounds fabulous, but planning and arranging a great RV road trip is more complicated than you think. Let Tracks & Trails handle all the planning, logistics, and reservations, from booking the best campsites to reserving the RV and putting together a customized itinerary, complete with maps, driving directions, and fun activities. The tour operator, which specializes in self-drive RV trips in western national parks, offers military members 10 percent off planning fees. Expect to save abut $200-$400 with the discount. Call (800) 247-0970.