TL;DR: Harvest Hosts offer unique RV camping experiences at diverse locations. Ensure a smooth stay by reading the Hosts profile, booking in advance, parking in designated spots, respecting host rules, walking dogs responsibly, inquiring about generator use, keeping noise low, and making a purchase.
A Harvest Hosts membership is an excellent tool for all RVers. For a low yearly membership fee, RVers get unlimited overnight stays with no camping fees at 5,900 unique RV camping locations. These include farms, vineyards, museums, breweries, distilleries, and so much more.
Harvest Hosts stays can lead to some extraordinary and unique experiences you would not find at a typical campground or RV park. With the opportunity to camp in these amazing places, there are some necessary rules and etiquette that come with staying on private property that Harvest Hosts members should heed.
These rules ensure that our gracious Hosts are respected as they allow members to camp on their business properties. Keep the following Harvest Hosts etiquette rules in mind for an experience that is fun, friendly, and respectful to all parties involved.
1. Submit a Stay Request, Don’t Just Turn Up!
When you find a Harvest Host location you’d like to stay at, be sure to request a stay! Most Hosts use our digital booking system. At the top right of a Host’s profile, there’s a button that says “Check Availability.” Follow the prompts to select your dates, provide your Host with the necessary info, add on any extra nights/hookups, and then click submit request.
Submitting a request doesn’t mean you can just turn up on the selected dates. Wait for a confirmation email before assuming you’re allowed to stay.
If your Host requests bookings be made over the phone, call ahead to let them know you plan to visit. When you call, introduce yourself and explain that you are a Harvest Hosts member. Tell the host when you would like to visit and any other pertinent details they may need to know before your stay.
Read the Host’s profile closely to learn their preferred arrival hours, the size limits they accept, the RV parking area and more.
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On the morning of, let your Host know what time you plan to arrive, and alert them if any delays come up. You are also able to message your Host with any questions you have before your stay begins.
2. Park in Designated Areas
When you arrive at your Harvest Hosts location, park only in the designated camping areas. Some places may have specific sites, but others may just have a general area where they would like RVs to camp.
If you were not told where to park in the Host’s profile, then try to park out of the way while you go inside to ask where to set up. If you cannot find the business owner, try calling them. It’s important that members never block the entrance to a parking lot or business, as this could inhibit other customers from visiting. RVs tend to be large in size, so be sure to park further away to ensure there is enough room for other cars to park.
3. Ask Before Rolling Out the Full Camp Set-Up
Since most Harvest Hosts stays are for one night only, most members avoid setting up their entire campsite. If you are parking in the general parking area, keep outdoor items, such as chairs, a table, rugs, a grill, decorations, and whatever other outdoor items you like to use packed up.
If you have your own specific campsite, it’s okay to set out chairs and anything else you would like to enjoy during your stay, but avoid leaving things outside that could make your site look cluttered or messy. In general, just use your best judgement, and keep in mind that you are a guest. In addition, be sure to dispose of your own garbage, and do not just assume that you can use on-site dumpsters without permission.
4. Walk Your Dogs in Appropriate Places and Clean Up After Them
Most Harvest Host locations are pet-friendly, allowing you to bring your furry friend along with you on your stay, but Hosts may have rules about where your dogs may or may not be allowed on the property and leash requirements. Read the rules on their Host profile beforehand before requesting a stay to make sure you’re comfortable with the house rules. This is especially important when staying at farms, to keep your pet safe around barn animals.
If you are camping with a dog, try to keep the barking to a minimum, and ask where the host would like you to walk your dog. Be sure to keep your dog on a leash, and clean up after them, disposing of all waste appropriately.
5. Ask About Generator Usage
Since electric hookups aren’t available at all locations, you may need a way to charge your batteries and power your devices during your stay. If your preferred electricity source is a generator, be sure to read the Hosts’ profile to learn how they feel about generator use. Most will allow you to use your generator during the day, and then set overnight quiet hours where generator use is not allowed.
6. Keep Noise to a Minimum
As mentioned before, as a Harvest Hosts Member, you are a guest on someone’s private property. Keep general noise to a minimum during your stay out of respect for your host. Avoid loud music, excessive generator use, noisy animals, or anything else that could disturb your host. Some noise is reasonable, but just try to be considerate to your Host during their quiet hours and business hours when they will often have customers.
7. Make a Purchase!
There are no camping fees when you stay one night at a Host location, so be sure to compensate them for their generosity by making a purchase at their place of business. This could include anything from a few bottles of wine to some fruit, a six-pack of beer, admission to their museum, or whatever other service or product the host provides. Our guideline is around $30 per stay. In this way, you are supporting a small business, while also showing gratitude to your host for allowing you to stay.
If you booked a stay with extra nights, your Host may charge you a fee to stay extra nights. If they do, you should still patronize the Host’s business for the first night of your stay. If your Host does not charge an extra nights fee, follow a rough guideline of $30 per night to thank them for their generosity.
Additionally, paying to use Hookups counts towards supporting your Host during your stay.
8. Don't Overstay Your Welcome
Your stay is only as long as it says in your confirmed booking request. If you booked a one-night stay, don’t just assume you can stay another night because the Host offers extra nights. However, you can ask if you find yourself wanting to stay longer, but accept their answer
On the day of your departure, do your best to leave by your Host’s preferred check-out time, which you can find on your Host’s profile.
Hosts are often flexible with check-in and check-out times, but ask ahead of time to avoid overstaying your welcome. This may seem like a lot of rules, but most of these are just general tenets of politeness that you should keep in mind when staying overnight anywhere in your RV.
FAQ: Harvest Hosts Etiquette
Where can I find the full list of Harvest Hosts rules?
Do I have to buy something when staying at a Harvest Hosts location?
Harvest Hosts Members are strongly encouraged to support the host with a purchase. Ideally, you should only stay at Host locations that offer items or experiences that interest you. If the Host offers limited items for sale, a donation is encouraged. This is what keeps the program sustainable. $30 is the recommended amount per one-night stay.
What happens if I need to cancel a stay?
You should always try and cancel at least 24 hours in advance. You can do this by navigating to your upcoming stays, clicking on the host, and then you’ll find the cancel stay button. If you have to cancel with less than 24 hours notice, message or call to your Host to let them know AND cancel via the Harvest Hosts platform. If you booked via phone, cancelling via phone will suffice. “No-shows” and excessive last-minute cancellations may be subject to membership suspension.
What happens if I break a rule?
Hosts may decline future stays, and repeated issues can impact membership standing. Respect protects everyone.
These rules ensure that both the hosts and the members are on the same page and respect each other. Following these will ensure a fun and successful stay on all of your future Harvest Hosts adventures.
Harvest Hosts is a unique RV camping membership that offers self-contained RVers unlimited overnight stays at 9,600+ unique locations across North America with no camping fees. Stay at farms, wineries, breweries, museums, golf courses, attractions, and other one-of-a-kind destinations while enjoying memorable travel experiences and the peace of mind that comes with knowing a safe place to stay is always nearby.
