Skip to main content

Camp for (Almost) Free at Breweries, Vineyards, and Farms with Harvest Hosts

Right now, travel is all about the sharing economy. Airbnb popularized the idea of crashing in a stranger’s house. Spin-off sites like FreeHouse and Hipcamp took the concept further, targeting road trippers in search of off-grid and rustic accommodations respectively. Harvest Hosts is reinventing it yet again by inviting travelers to stay at vineyards, breweries, and farms around the country for next to nothing.

Harvest Hosts - Unique Camping at Farms and Wineries

Harvest Hosts boasts a growing network of more than 600 “campsites” around the United States. All are situated amid one-of-a-kind surroundings like lavender farms, wildlife rehabilitation facilities, craft breweries, and local vineyards. The thrust of the site is not merely about finding cheap accommodations. Instead, the focus is on fostering connections with local people and businesses — about sharing in the fruits of their and, if you care to participate, your labor.

Serial entrepreneur Joel Holland recently bought the company. After a short but successful career in the online media licensing world, the young CEO decided to try his hand at something new and entirely different. Holland is an avid road trip fan but found traditional campgrounds to be noisy, cookie-cutter, and overcrowded. In Harvest Hosts, he saw something markedly different:

“My mission with Harvest Hosts is simple: RVing provides a sense of ultimate freedom, which most people seek and not enough find. We can help a lot of people live happier lives if we can get them off of the couch and onto the open road. From sleeping under the stars at a vineyard in California to enjoying a picnic at an alpaca farm, members of Harvest Hosts get to stay at a 5 billion-star ‘hotel’ at more than 600 locations for free.”

Most bookings are handled through the company’s free mobile app and the entire system works like most other sharing economy websites. Every user is provided with a dedicated profile page where they can upload photos, share a bit about themselves, and outline any relevant personal details. Travelers can leave feedback about their respective hosts and vice versa.

harvest hosts rv
Harvest Hosts owner, Joel Holland (Right) Harvest Hosts/Facebook

There are a few minor catches. The most important is travelers are expected to arrive in their own, self-contained rigs, whether that means in an ultra-light travel trailer, a van/SUV, or a mega-RV. Hosts provide only the space to park, meaning there are no traditional campground utilities (electricity, water, cable) of any kind. Also, stays can only be booked one night at a time. Although, it’s easy to imagine travelers can discuss additional nights with property owners once they arrive.

Membership requires a flat annual fee of just  $49 and there are no per-stay fees. However, the site recommends travelers support their host establishments in a meaningful way ($20 is a solid guideline). That means grabbing a six-pack at a brewery, a bottle of Cabernet at a vineyard, or a basket of cheese and fresh produce at a Harvest Hosts farm.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Hitch Hotel Might Be the Most Compact Travel Trailer We’ve Ever Seen
hitch hotel seaside

For some camper and RV owners, there’s no such thing as too big. For others who value mobility, versatility, and portability, less is more. That’s where a well-made, ultra-light travel trailer comes in. The new Hitch Hotel, billed as the “world’s first expandable wheel-less trailer," may be the most clever and compact model we’ve ever seen.

Previous

Read more
Futuristic Polydrop Travel Trailer Looks Straight Out of Blade Runner
polydrop trailer

Blame it on the rise of the digital nomad and the inescapable draw of living the van life — the travel trailer space has become crowded indeed. There are swanky European models with retractable roofs for stargazing, models designed to serve as “basecamp” for hardcore adventurers, and rugged, off-road-ready trailers capable of going just about anywhere. The unique, minimalist Polydrop travel trailer lies somewhere in the middle.

The most striking thing about the Polydrop Limited Edition Trailer is the bold, asymmetrical shell. The sharp, seemingly haphazard angles — the design elements that put the “poly” in Polydrop — are sure to polarize even the most future-forward road-tripper. It’s a sleek, unique design that feels plucked from a Blade Runner concept.

Read more
Do you need a passport to go to Canada?
What to know about traveling to Canada
U.S. passport book

Traveling to Canada from the United States is relatively straightforward, but the documentation required can vary depending on your mode of transportation and citizenship status. While a passport is the most widely accepted form of identification for international travel, alternative options are available for U.S. citizens entering Canada by land or sea.

What you need to know about traveling to Canada
So, what exactly do you need to cross into Canada? It really depends on how you're getting there.
What documents do I need to cross the Canadian border by car?
If you're a U.S. citizen traveling to Canada by land or sea, you have a few options for acceptable documentation:

Read more