Where to Camp: Harvest Hosts?

[John McMillin]

Just getting back into Scampin' after a seven-year hiatus. It seems like campground space has gotten much more unavailable. The best Colorado National Forest sites are already booked through next summer! And I'm less eager to go boondocking alone in isolated places.

Once I got active on this topic, I've started getting promos from Harvest Hosts. It's a network of farms, wineries, museums and what-not that allow HH members to camp for free at their facilities. The members pay $99 a year, and promise to buy something, anything from the host.

Has anyone here tried this? What was it like? The website shows splendid scenes of Class Cs parked in vivid lavender fields, but I imagine the reality is more often a parking lot. Still, I'm intrigued by the low price and the impressive number of sites.

[John in Santa Cruz]

My wife joined the local Elks lodge to be able to sue their wonderful swimming pool, then found numerous Elks lodges have RV camping. Some are indeed just parking lots, but others are quite nice RV parks. most of them have water+30/50A electric hookups, and an onsite dump station, others have full hookups at each campsite.

We haven't tried a Harvest Host yet. If we're traveling, we'll just find places to camp off the side of a quiet road, or in a BLM/NF location for overnight.

[Keith2000]

One limitation is that you have to be fully self sufficient. No hookups and no bathroom facilities should be expected.

If you’ve got that covered it may be nice. We haven’t tried it yet, but others seem to enjoy it. Especially if you like wine and other stuff that is sold at HH places.

[jerrybob]

Harvest Host is very popular around here. PArt of the deal is you are supposed to spend money in the hosts business or trade some labor. We have a local lavender farm which is HH.....you camp in a big field...no hookups.....and either buy their products or harvest lavender or pll weeds....people seem to love it. We also have a local winery.....you camp in a beutiful field.....I believe they require you to spend $50 at their winery....which is only a couple bottles. We also have a brewery who is HH.....they have two spots for travelers......folks love their pizza and beer. HH is a good thing for many folks.

[RBRV]

I am a second year member and have yet to use the membership. Maybe because options are limited in my state. It may be worthwhile for extended cross country travel.

[Gerry]

We are members of Boondockers ( part of H.H) and used it a few years back on our cross country trip and it worked out fine. One place had Power we could use and another place had water and Power we could use.
I am located in Western Maine and we host people and we offer Electric hook up, all thought it is only 20 amp and also have a sewer dump.
Hosting one person last summer was a problem as they kept on trying to use an Electric heater and I told them it wouldn't work. Maybe their gas heater didn't work?
As said we used it going cross country and we couldn't get a site in Yosomite Valley so we Boondocked at a hosts place about 20 miles out and drove into the valley every day.
When looking for a place to stay the '"Add" will tell you what the site is like and how big of a trailer it can handle.
we found this to be a little bit off at one place.
they offered 30 amp service .... but they already had that one service booked out and we had to make do with just a 20 with was no problem. But be awear things like this can happen.

[John McMillin]

Thanks for the info! I suppose you'd lack the usual campground amenities like a picnic table, and no fires allowed. Were you the only camper at the HH site?

[Gerry]

it all depends on the host ... stayed at one that had an outside kitchen complete with grill sink and fridge, also had fire pit with chairs.
I have a screened in gazzebo with electric lights, power, grill and tables and chairs.

[Mr Lynn]

Don't most of the Harvest Hosts limit you to a one-night stop?

[jerrybob]

Some do...some don't...just depends. Our local brewery limits to a single night.....our lavender farm is one week.....our local winery is 3 nights. Best to ask and check ahead.