There are many options when it comes to where can stay with an RV or camping: state, federal & private campgrounds, boondocking, Walmart parking lots and… one of our favorites: Harvest hosts. Harvest Host is a service that is all over the USA, providing spots to camp at places like wineries, golf courses, breweries, farms, and more (we even stayed at a church once!). You pay a basic annual fee and then can stay at any of the places (it is all reservation/availability-based ). Most places offer items you can buy (e.g. wine from wineries or sweaters from an alpaca farm). Head to this link to find out more details.

The camps are usually basic, with no hook-ups or wifi, but there are a few that offer free WiFi, and a greater few that offer hook-ups. Most hosts have space (after hour parking lots of wineries, breweries, etc) and have sufficient spaces for all sizes of RVs (though you should check to make sure your RV is compatible).

Some memorable ones include:

• Our very first harvest host stays, an alfalfa farm in Wyoming. It was very peaceful, green and even offered some fun exploring grounds!!! (Nearby was an old scrap yard filled with old cars and trucks) It was a raspberry farm before, and they had frozen raspberries you can buy. The host was so friendly and we talked about farming…. It was very informative!

• Mecca Grade Estate Malt, a Century farm in Oregon. They grow Kentucky bluegrass seeds for lawns and carrot seeds. The main attraction is that the farm also malts barley for beer. Since February, they have been making their own beer (using the malt they made and filtered by the bluegrass). My dad, being a home brewer loved chatting with the owner and trying his beers. We kids loved some of the toys from their kids. Most hosts are very friendly and eager to share and connect!

• Sawdust Alpaca farm, Nevada. They have almost 50 alpaca on the farm, including a few younger ones at different times of the year. The owners of the farm, Carolyn and Glenn (both are in their 80s!!), are super active and energetic about their alpacas. Glenn is very passionate and chatted about their animals, farming and life experiences! We loved chatting with him, petting their animals and helping with chores. They offer both fast wifi and electricity. It is pretty spacious and leveled!

• Valley view winery, Oregon. It has a large open grassy space for corn hole and other activities. we had the whole place to ourselves that night. They had a good selection of wine, and if you arrive before closing time, they have tasters.

• Jackson Hole Still Works, WY. This place was great. The parking lot is tight so not for all sized RVs but the owners were great, the location was quiet and there is some fun hiking in the hill right in the back. My parents also enjoyed their frozen sloshies ;-)

Harvest host is a really good tool for finding places to stay when you are traveling with a RV! The hosts are super nice and knowledgeable about their products. They have spaces for all sorts of RVs. I found they all have a good, energetic vibe. We haven’t stayed at the golf courses (my parents don’t golf!), however we heard it is a great way to start the day on the green and most places offer a discount tee time! One last thing, most HH only have space for 2 or 3 RVs, so they are pretty quiet (though even in the ones with more, everybody respects others as in being part of a community). And best of all: most places offer a discount for their products and services to Harvest Host guests!