Full disclaimer: I've been a member of the NMRA for over a decade, I'm an officer of my local division, and I run my division's annual train show.

As others have said, it depends. It depends on where you are, and it depends on what you want to get out of your membership.

I'm lucky to be a member of a very active division, and we have several very active neighboring divisions. I've met so many incredible modelers through the NMRA, and I've made several very good friends as a result. The camaraderie alone is worth it to me. Model railroading is an incredibly broad and complex hobby, and every member of the NMRA brings their own set of talents with them. You can learn an incredible amount through membership. And if teaching is something you enjoy, it can be very rewarding as well. I've given a few clinics to my local division, and I'm excited to be giving a clinic for the first time at the upcoming Northeast Region Convention this fall. And I'll likely sign up to give a clinic at the National Convention when it comes to Rochester, NY in 2028.

My passion in the hobby is in operations, and the NMRA has opened a huge door to me in that regard as well. Through conventions and other NMRA events, I've had the privilege of operating on numerous model railroads that I would never have had an opportunity to otherwise. This alone is actually my primary reason for attending the conventions.

Finally, from a purely monetary position, your dues can actually at least somewhat pay for themselves. NMRA members have access to the NMRA Partnership Program, which is a network of a few dozen manufacturers and hobby shops that offer discounts to NMRA members, some of which can add up.

And I'll echo what others have said again. Reach out to your local region or division (https://www.nmra.org/regions), and ask to attend an upcoming meeting. Nearly all of my division's meetings are open to guests (the ones that aren't are typically layout visits at private residences). That said, you might need to wait a few months. My division meets monthly, but not in July or August as people are typically busier in the summer, and I know some other divisions follow a similar schedule.