We mention Harvest Hosts a lot, but for good reason—our staff loves staying at the incredible, unique, beautiful Harvest Hosts locations around the country.
One of our writers, Cheri Sicard, writes often about her stays at these locations. Here’s her recap of a wine-tasting Harvest Hosts experience in Mendocino County, and another time when she made some adorable alpaca friends.
If you’re unfamiliar with Harvest Hosts, here’s how it works: Pay a one-time annual membership fee (usually $99, but on sale right now for $84.15) and stay at more than 5,250+ wineries, breweries, farms, museums, historical sites, and more.
What’s in it for you? A free place to stay with absolutely gorgeous views. All the hosts ask is that you purchase something from them—a wine tasting or a bottle of wine, a beer, a jam or jelly or a museum entrance. That’s it! You can click here to learn more.
Want to travel the USA for free, including free gas and food? Harvest Hosts has your dream job. Become the company’s Chief Retirement Officer! No joke, applications are being taken now. The benefits are beyond outstanding! More info here.
I have been a member for several years now but this is the first year that we stayed at one, It was a nice farm in VA and would do again. My issue has always been that hosts were never near my route. Another is not having electric available when the temps are in the 90’s. Not wanting to run generator all night.
Yes a member for a few years, but still haven’t had the opportunity to stay at one.
Same here! We had a reservation, but weather prevented us from using it.
Regarding Harvest Hosts, we were members for several years in the “early days.” We did not renew back in 21 when we had an almost two year “vacation” from RVing. When we bought our little travel trailer in early 23, we decided not to rejoin HH. We have heard from some folks on the road that they think it is no longer worth it while others still think it’s great. We will not be going back.
We used to be members and we loved it! Spent many a night at a winery, brewery, or museum. Now that we’ve taken a seasonal position as Asst Managers of a campground our travel has slowed and the membership no longer seems necessary. If our plans change and regular travel picks up we will consider HH once again.
Once the number of Harvest Hosts gets to the same level as Sam’s Club’s, Walmart’s, Cabela’s plus all of the other places that we stay at overnight AND they are conveniently located along my route then and only then will I become a member.
Call us spoiled, but we use our TT more as a ‘rolling hotel room’ than a ‘camper’. I want FHU, and at a minimum, electric. Can we boondock? A limited yes, but again, not our preference. We have been to plenty of breweries, wineries, and farms. All charming*, but it doesn’t offset boondocking. And I won’t violate the premise of Harvest Hosts to just use a location as an overnight rest stop.
*Blew a head gasket in rural MN during deer hunting season. We were visiting cousins at their 70 horse riding/boarding stable. Since we were stuck for a week, we were handed muck boots the next morning. LOL, quite willing to help family, but hardly charming!
I recently saw that you can set a filter for electric hookups for HH.
We were for several years; however never stayed using the membership, as their locations were never on our route, time and place. As non-drinkers, the allure of wineries, breweries, and the like have little or no interest.
We’ve been a member of BoonDockers Welcome for years, so we were grandfathered in when Harvest Hosts bought them. But we only pay the reduced premium for the BoonDockers Welcome features of the site. We have stayed at BoonDockers Welcome sites all around the country & met some very nice hosts.
Chasing that almighty dollar is a serious disease.
We have been members for three years now and it works perfectly for us!
Many stops from Toronto to our winter destinations in the Southwest and then back again. We also use it when we travel to Northern Ontario to visit family. Golf courses, museums, farms, wineries, breweries, etc. Quite a bit of variety and usually not too far from our paths. Nothing but good things to say about it.
Thank you, RV Travel! 🙂 I joined us and even added golf courses in our first year of real RVing (2017). I renewed through 2020 and then let it lapse. Despite traveling 35,000 miles, we never found a location convenient to our route of travel until 2020. On one trip we stayed in one location twice and in a second location once. Thus, three uses in three years. I can see it being a good deal for wandering full-timers, but we ain’t them. We hosted a Boondockers Welcome (BW) site for 4 years and may again. I find BW sites far more likely to be useful to us. Thanks again, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
We will use HH unless we need air conditioning.
Like others, we had the membership for a few years, but found them either out of the way for us, or we needed more than a “one night’s stay” and that didn’t work for them. The times we did stay it was lovely and we enjoyed our visits, but the cost vs the visits didn’t pan out.
I regret I have never used them, as I tend to stay two nights to rest after a long drive, and they are or were, limited to one night only.
Boondockers Welcome Hosts for 5 years and 150 guests! But not likely to join HH. The name tells much of the story, “Welcome” to our home, vs, “Harvest” the guests.