Are you looking for a unique RV camping experience with your family? Harvest Host allows you to stay overnight on special locations across Canada and the USA, with a wide range of wineries, farms, museums, breweries, and restaurants to choose from.
But is Harvest Host really worth it? In this article, I’ll explain the following:
- what is Harvest Host: how does the membership work and
- if it’s worth getting the yearly membership.
But if you’re in a hurry, my short answer is: Yes! You bet it is!
We’ve been Harvest Host members for the past three summers and we’ve had amazing experiences. A friend of mine even traveled across Canada,mostly using Harvest Host locations.
That’s pretty cool!
With over a million Americans living in RVs, traditional campsites (and even more national campgrounds) are crowded in the right season. This is where Harvest Hosts comes in. You can stay in a beautiful place, away from the crowds, and you don’t need to book six months in advance.
For our first experience with Harvest Host, we stayed on a bison farm in Southern Idaho. It was a lot of fun. It was the perfect place for our family. We learned about bison; we went on a field tour to meet the herd of bison (and to pet them).
So, is a Harvest Hosts membership worth it?
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What is Harvest Host?
Harvest Host is a membership program for unique RV overnight stays. It allows self-contained RVers to access a database of over 5,000 hosts in the US and Canada. Most Harvest Host locations are in the US at the moment, but it’s slowly growing in Canada.
Harvest Hosts in a nutshell
💰 How much does it cost to stay at Harvest Hosts locations? The Harvest Hosts annual membership fee is $99.00 and it offers you unlimited overnight stays.
🚌 Who can use Harvest Hosts? All classes of RVs, including motorhomes, travel trailers, and fifth-wheel trailers, are allowed. You can also use Harvest Hosts if you’re using a rental RV. ❌ Folding camping trailers or pop-up campers is not allowed
🏕️ How long can you stay at Harvest Host locations? In most cases, visits are limited to 24 hours. Some hosts may allow longer stays if there is availability and the guest has made arrangements with them directly.
📍 How many locations does the harvest host have? Harvest Host has more than 5,000+ locations, across the USA and Canada.
🇨🇦 Is Harvest Hosts worth it in Canada? Yes, Harvest Hosts is worth it in Canada. There are approximately 1,000 hosts across Canada. The province of Ontario has more than 400 hosts, while Quebec has more than 200.
What kind of camping locations are available on Harvest Hosts?
Hosts vary from wineries to breweries, museums, farms, and so many more. They allow you for overnight camping stays on their property for free.
Since you don’t need to pay campground fees, Harvest Hosts suggests that you support local businesses by making purchases from them. To show your appreciation, Harvest Hosts suggests spending a minimum of $20. You could, for example, buy a bottle of wine or a wine-tasting tour at a winery in exchange for an overnight stay at a farm and museums.
Who can use Harvest Hosts?
All classes of RVs, including motorhomes, travel trailers, and fifth-wheel trailers, are allowed. You can also use Harvest Hosts if you’re using a rental RV.
However, all vehicles must be fully self-contained, with an interior toilet and built-in holding tanks. That’s why the use of folding camping trailers or pop-up campers is not allowed. Sleeping in cars or minivans or pitching a tent is also prohibited, but self-contained converted vans are allowed.
The use of outdoor cooking facilities and dumping of greywater on the guest’s premises is prohibited.
Since many of the hosts are wineries, farms, or museums, they can’t offer traditional camping infrastructure like electricity, water, and sewer hookups. Some of the hosts may offer electricity and water, but it is not all will.
📝 Note: A self-contained RV is a vehicle that can function without outside resources. This mainly means you’re autonomous for cooking and don’t require toilet facilities when you park overnight somewhere.
How much does the Harvest Hosts membership cost?
The Classic membership costs USD $99 per year. It allows for unlimited stays and offers access to around 5,000 locations.
You can also use the Harvest Hosts + Boondockers Welcome membership, giving you access to over 8,000 hosts.
And if you’re a golf player, you might want to add the option of golf course hosts.
In addition, Harvest Hosts also offer 100% money back within 3 months if you are not satisfied with the program. There is a Member Success Team to assist you at any point. You can also get additional discounts and savings amounting to USD $700.
👉 You may also want to check out Welcome Boondockers if you wish to stay on someone’s private property.
Our Harvest Host review
We love using Harvest Hosts, especially farm stays, with the kids! It’s been an incredible experience. It’s so fun to arrive to a place, get to know the owner and let them show us around their properties.
The kids love it when we’re staying on farms with animals.
For example, during our stay at the bison farm in Idaho, we had the chance to experience the wagon rides and explore bison fields. It was an unforgettable family trip and one that we will cherish for many years to come!
Another thing I love about Harvest Hosts is that it’s perfect for planning last-minute getaways. I have a hard time planning my summer camping trips in January when it’s still winter, and by the time I’m ready to plan, most state and national park campgrounds are full. But Harvest Hosts opens up new opportunities.
For example, we planned a super last-minute Canada Day camping trip (I booked on the Thursday evening, for a Friday evening stay). I looked at so many campgrounds nearby and everything was fully booked, but we found this great farm stay in Brooks through Harvest Hosts.
🏕️ Sign up for Harvest Host now.
Is Harvest Hosts Worth It? 6 Benefits to Harvest Host
As I mentioned previously, the Harvest Hosts membership is totally worth it if you plan on camping a few times per season. It’s a great camping app to have. There are many benefits, but here are the main ones:
▶️ It’s flexible. You don’t need to make bookings months in advance. You can make reservations at least 24 hours in advance. If you’re driving cross country, there are some convenient locations to spend the nights.
▶️ It offers unique locations. Harvest Hosts isn’t just about wineries and breweries. There are plenty of museums, farms, country clubs, and golf courses. We, for example, stayed on a bison farm in Idaho. With more than 2,000 farms listed as hosts, there are some excellent locations for nature lovers, too.
🏕️ Sign up for Harvest Host now.
▶️ It supports local businesses. Harvest Hosts encourages the members to spend more on local businesses. Apart from enjoying the excellent locations, you also experience the host’s product offerings. And in most cases, you will end up loving the products on sale.
▶️ It’s kid (and pet)-friendly. You can select places that offer the right range of activities for the kids. Hosts who offer vineyard trips, hiking trails, play areas, and hayrides can be a great choice.
▶️ It’s affordable. With the $99.00 yearly membership, you get unlimited access to all the locations across the year. It’s also recommended to purchase $20.00 worth of local product from your host. Can you believe we paid USD $130 for one night in a campground in Camel-by-the-Sea during our trip to California?
▶️ There are lots of options. Harvest Hosts have over 5,000 hosts spread across the United States and Canada. And the numbers are growing continuously. You can check the location map to get an idea.
How to get started with Harvest Hosts
1. Sign up
The sign-up process is super simple. You’ll need to create an account and enter your personal information about your rig.
You can sign up on the desktop website or directly in the app.
2. Search for your first stay
Once you pay your membership, you automatically have access to the online hosts’ directory. So you can start searching for your first stay.
There is an online Directory of Hosts that will allow you to find out the details necessary to plan your trip. Each host has its own information page that gives you:
- a description of the property,
- hours of operation,
- contact information,
- amenities available,
- photos, and
- reviews.
3. Organise your trips
The membership dashboard also allows you to take the following actions:
- Download the Harvest Hosts membership card and a separate vehicle badge.
- Search hosts by using an interactive host map based on your preferences of location, state, or route.
- Check the host’s calendar through the Request-A-Stay system and request a booking.
- View your Harvest Hosts account and make the necessary changes.
- Create trips and save your favorite hosts.
- Upload your own host reviews and photos to help out other members.
🏕️ Sign up for Harvest Host now.
Camping with kids? All you need to know about Harvest Hosts and kids.
Traveling with kids? Check out the post we wrote about our experience on a bison farm in Idaho using Harvest Host.
Check the “amenities” section of the guest listings to find out more about the offerings. In addition, you can also read reviews from other visitors. Besides, your kids can learn new things during the trip. All in all, Harvest Hosts can offer some great options for traveling with kids.
Since most of the hosts are pet-friendly, pet parents will have no problems either. The host’s page has a special “pets allowed “filter for searching. In addition, many hosts also mark their page with a “pets welcome” sign.
It’s best to keep your pet on a leash during camping. Since many farms have working animals, ask the owner about what’s best for your pet. Also, you’re expected to clean up after your pets.
🏕️ Sign up for Harvest Host now.
Final Thoughts: So, is Harvest Hosts worth it in 2024?
Absolutely!
The Harvest Hosts membership is a great way to discover special places that you never knew about. It’s also a great way to support a small local business and positively impact the community.
Interacting with the hosts and experiencing their business setting is a major aspect of the entire program.
With thousands of free overnight locations and each one having its own distinct features and flavors, it’s a great resource for travelers. Add to that the fantastic experiences and an atmosphere that’s far more peaceful than a noisy campsite.
Related Articles
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- Boondockers Welcome vs. Harvest Hosts: Which Is Best (2023)?
- The Best Camping Apps for the Entire Family
Emilie is the founder of Love Life Abroad. She helps moms plan epic road trips and outdoor adventures with their families. Because who said adventuring had to stop once we have kids? She’s based in the Canadian Rockies and shares her love for the region as well as other unique places in Canada & USA. She works with tourism boards and outdoor brands to inspire families to experience new unique destinations and outdoor activities.