I just got on to a new site for RVers?

[MaraZen]

So I won't sign up until I get my RV, it looks good but what do you think about this site? Has anyone in here used it to help with where to go? Harvesthosts.com You all go places and save money when you can, do you think it would help all the RVers saving money?

 

[Neal]

I use and enjoy Harvest Hosts. It's not necessarily a savings as you are supposed to either shop at the hosts business or donate to them a small fee. It ends up costing the same as a campground or near to it but it provides unique destinations. Some have power, some are boondocking (dry camping).

 

[Underboss]

I have never found the value in the out of the way locations to stay for one night and have to buy something I do not need.

 

[wildebill308]

I use and enjoy Harvest Hosts. It's not necessarily a savings as you are supposed to either shop at the hosts business or donate to them a small fee. It ends up costing the same as a campground or near to it but it provides unique destinations. Some have power, some are boondocking (dry camping).

There are some who now allow you to stay for more than one day, Some/most charge for the extra days.

 

[GlampDaddy]

We have been members for several years, but not renewing next time around. It’s not the greatest value, but if you like that sort of thing…

 

[wildebill308]

So I won't sign up until I get my RV, it looks good but what do you think about this site? Has anyone in here used it to help with where to go? Harvesthosts.com You all go places and save money when you can, do you think it would help all the RVers saving money?

Yes it can save you money if you are smart about your stay. Also look at Passport America can get you 50% savings on your stay.

 

[CaptainGizmo]

After years of being a founding member, I dropped our membership and here's why:

1. We had MANY, MANY problems with the Hosts who said "oh, sure...no problem for your RV!" Despite us EMPHASIZING our size (45' long by 13' tall) and weight (60k lbs), we found they were nowhere near prepared for our beast. Dirt, access, turn-around, overhang, etc.

2. One time, we were brought into the thick of a full-blown Harvest Festival with hundreds of vehicles, and said NO WAY we were going to go into that sea of cars.

3. Many hosts had poor followup, or flat out had no idea what the program was.

4. Of all the "attempts", we actually only had one truly great experience, and that was our very first visit; it was at the Chiloquin Train Museum during the "rona" and it was great...had a special spot, with 50A and was a neat place.

5. Yes, we patronized the stores, one was a winery and that cost us plenty...LOL.

6. HH is a nice concept and run by some good folks. I just feel it's not a good fit for our coach, travel pattern, and general camping style.

Bottom line is, out of the 5 years, I think we used a Host maybe 3 times...not a good value and just another hurdle that we don't need to overcome.

For some smaller RV, laissez-faire, boondocking travelers who love to explore museums, small venues, farms, and golf course parking lots, it might be a great fit.

Hope this helps.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

We used our HH membership a few times in some western states. It just isn’t the right value to us for a few reasons:
1) We would only use HH while traveling to an area, as our style of travel is to get to where we want to see and stay there for weeks. HH was only used for those overnight stops for a place to sleep.
2) Most HH are off the beaten path of travel. This takes time and when coupled with reason 1, wastes too much time for us.
3) Doesn’t save any money. Expectation is that you support the business. HH isn’t about saving money but about a different travel experience.
4) Many of the places only sell stuff that I don’t want or need. We don’t drink alcohol and don’t golf.
We did have a few good experiences but it was too much work for us and didn’t fit our style of travel. Maybe if retired and in a smaller rig it would be better, but we let our membership lapse.

 

[Wemustrv]

We have been Harvest Host member for over 5 years and we love it. We use it when we are enroute to a destination. There are many options for places to stay. Typically we will stay at Vineyards as they are usually very quiet. We have stayed at vineyards, wineries, breweries, golf courses, museums and others. We have also used the BoonDockers Welcome sites. There is no required fee to stay at Harvest Hosts however it is suggested that you do purchase something. Many Harvest Host will offer power for a fee as well as extra days. We use it enough that the cost of membership is worth it

 

[Neal]

Sometimes it can get you closer to your destination. When I went to visit the Air Force museum HH got me the closest and it was a nice restaurant parking lot, good grass for the dog (always an important factor for my stays), and good food at the host restaurant where I ate several times it was so good. Nice people opening up their locations for us, can be a good thing.

 

[Headhunter]

This is our 4th year using Harvest Host. Like Neal stated, sometimes it gets you closest to your designated stop. If you only like to travel say 300 to 350 miles at a jaunt and there is NO RV parks near that desired stop distance, it is another alternative. I still think it's better than Walmart, or trying to squeeze in an overnight truck stop.

Plus we always read the reviews and try to stop at a place where there is food and drink. We had some really great stays. Wineries, Restaurants, Alpaca farms, and even an abandoned missile silo. But I could see a problem when they don't understand how big a 45 ft RV pulling a pickup truck can be. But That's not us, so for now we still use it.

HH

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

We renewed our HH membership for 2025 travels, and it's been just ok. My problem has been that we were committed to traveling this year without making reservations weeks or months in advance, and many hosts will not accept same-day reservations. We've stayed at two non-hook-up HH this trip, and trust me, it would have been cheaper to stay in a pull-through 50Amp full hookup site elsewhere. We won't renew.

 

[Wemustrv]

This is our 4th year using Harvest Host. Like Neal stated, sometimes it gets you closest to your designated stop. If you only like to travel say 300 to 350 miles at a jaunt and there is NO RV parks near that desired stop distance, it is another alternative. I still think it's better than Walmart, or trying to squeeze in an overnight truck stop.

Plus we always read the reviews and try to stop at a place where there is food and drink. We had some really great stays. Wineries, Restaurants, Alpaca farms, and even an abandoned missile silo. But I could see a problem when they don't understand how big a 45 ft RV pulling a pickup truck can be. But That's not us, so for now we still use it.

HH

We are like you in that we travel about the same distance in a day. It gives time to relax upon arrival. We are 70 feet long with our SuperCrew toad so we do have to watch where we choose. If they have space minus the toad I will unhook it so we can get it in. It has no been a huge problem for us. I just watch it when reserving and I will ask the host if I have a question.

 

[MaraZen]

After years of being a founding member, I dropped our membership and here's why:

1. We had MANY, MANY problems with the Hosts who said "oh, sure...no problem for your RV!" Despite us EMPHASIZING our size (45' long by 13' tall) and weight (60k lbs), we found they were nowhere near prepared for our beast. Dirt, access, turn-around, overhang, etc.

2. One time, we were brought into the thick of a full-blown Harvest Festival with hundreds of vehicles, and said NO WAY we were going to go into that sea of cars.

3. Many hosts had poor followup, or flat out had no idea what the program was.

4. Of all the "attempts", we actually only had one truly great experience, and that was our very first visit; it was at the Chiloquin Train Museum during the "rona" and it was great...had a special spot, with 50A and was a neat place.

5. Yes, we patronized the stores, one was a winery and that cost us plenty...LOL.

6. HH is a nice concept and run by some good folks. I just feel it's not a good fit for our coach, travel pattern, and general camping style.

Bottom line is, out of the 5 years, I think we used a Host maybe 3 times...not a good value and just another hurdle that we don't need to overcome.

For some smaller RV, laissez-faire, boondocking travelers who love to explore museums, small venues, farms, and golf course parking lots, it might be a great fit.

Hope this helps.

Thank you everyone for letting me know about this rv program. Sounds like I do not need to join. Saves on more money to not join, lol.

 

[Wemustrv]

As I mentioned earlier we have used Harvest Hosts almost 30 times in the past 5 years and have had two bad experiences. I would investigate a little further before completely ruling it out.

I am seeing more locations that now allowing same day reservations and additional days ( for a price)

When I am setting up a trip I use Harvest host and then I go to Google maps and look at the locations to get a good idea of the lay of the land. We are always up for an adventure so some of where we have gone others may not want to and I totally get that. Whatever you do if you do not feel comfortable looking at the route do not do it.

When we travel we are not typically on a mission where we have to be somewhere. We would fit Captain Gizmo's description of a "laissez-faire" traveler. This allows us to enjoy and take our time getting to our destinations. I will admit we have traveled to some pretty remote vineyards and the paybacks have been awesome. The people we have dealt with have been great.

I am used to having to go to some pretty remote areas and some very densely populated areas with limited access as I drive a Charter Coach part time and we don't get to choose where we go.

I also have to agree with Captain Gizmo in that I do believe Harvest Host is run by good people as are most of the Hosts. He is correct that some of the Hosts are energetic to host and do not understand when they say they have room for a 45' rig plus toad that not only does it mean they have a spot to park it but they have to have an area large enough for us to turn around to get out. When you go to turn around in our case a 41' motorhome with a 21' truck in tow it take a large area to make the turns. Everything factors in to make your trips a success. Here is one good example. A Brewery in Santé Fe' New Mexico. This ended up being in Old Town Santé' Fe'. As we were pulling in to the area we felt it was a little tight for us and we could not locate the parking area. My wife went into check us in a get parking instructions. We were told that we could park in the public parking lot after it cleared well that wasn't happening as it was full and really wouldn't have worked well if it was empty. Their next response was we could park on the street behind them we went and looked at it and it was all marked no parking. We went back in and told them that and the reply was oh charter buses parked there all the time. No one will bother you. We chose to move and and overnight at a nearby Walmart with permission.

 

[Jonf254]

So I won't sign up until I get my RV, it looks good but what do you think about this site? Has anyone in here used it to help with where to go? Harvesthosts.com You all go places and save money when you can, do you think it would help all the RVers saving money?

We use Harvesthost all the time, great program and worth every penny particularly if your planning to boon dock along your travels.Better then wall marts and rest areas.
My wife loves the app and uses it to plan stops along our route so we can maintain and manage our travel days keeping them fun and less stressful.