Camping in a Vineyard: Harvest Hosts

Yes, you can camp in beautiful places for free.

When you are traveling across the country in a motorhome or travel trailer, there will be times when all you want is to find a quiet place to just pull over and rest for one day. You don't want to pay $40 or more at a campground each time you make a quick stop and you aren't a big fan of camping at a rest area or shopping center parking lot. Well, that's where Harvest Hosts can help. A wonderful group of winemakers, farmers, brewers, distillers, and museum owners have joined together to provide free places for campers to enjoy the beauty of nature while supporting the local communities in which we travel. Most of the camping at these places is "dry camping", which means no water or electric hookups. So, only those of us with water and sewer tanks in our campers are allowed to participate. But, don't let that discourage you. Having to use your generator to charge your batteries or to run air conditioning is worth it, cause the places are beautiful and the hosts are so welcoming!


My Experiences So Far

I stayed at two different Harvest Host sites since I joined in July 2019. 

My first harvest host experience was at a small vineyard in Curwensville, Pennsylvania. Starr Hill Winery is located about 10 miles (20 minutes) from Interstate 80.  For me, this was a great stop as it was about halfway across the state of Pennsylvania traveling from Ohio to New Jersey.  The owner, Ken has created a very welcoming spot for campers by the vineyard's wine shop. He has a covered bandstand with tables and chairs and even has an electric hookup (30 and 50 amp) available if you want to pay $10 for it. Otherwise, your stay is free.

Ken gave me a quick tour of the winemaking process and then it was time to taste some wine. While I liked quite a few, I decided to buy some Riesling. The crisp, dry wine was perfect with my dinner. As I ate dinner, the view of a white gazebo nestled in among the green vines and the mountains in the distance was so beautiful and relaxing. After the sunset behind the mountains, fireflies danced across freshly mown grass and the stars came out. The night was so quiet and peaceful that I fell asleep as soon as my head hit my pillow.  I highly recommend this host for those of you who might be passing by on your travels in Pennsylvania.

My second harvest host experience was at a farmer's market in Hackettstown, New Jersey. Donaldson Farms is also located off of Interstate 80. (Warning, your GPS may want to take you down Grand Avenue. There is a railroad bridge with 10 feet of clearance on this road, so call the hosts to get alternative directions to Allen Road if your motorhome is too tall)  Donaldson Farms is near the downtown area of Hackettstown on a busy road, but the easy access to shops and restaurants makes up for the sound of traffic. The Donaldsons also schedule lots of fun activities and events at the market. Friday nights when they have a band can get really busy.

When I arrived, the staff was very friendly and helpful. Donaldson Farms allows campers to park in their overflow parking area alongside their cornfields.  This host has the ability to provide camping sites for up to 4 campers at a time. Harvest Host encourages campers to support their hosts by buying some local goods. The fruits, vegetables, homemade bread and jam that I bought were delicious. It was so tempting to go over and get some snacks and some veggies to stock my fridge. This farm was a fun place to stay and if you are looking to do some sightseeing in Morristown or other places along I-80, this harvest host is a great home base.

So, you might be asking, how does this work?

• First, you join Harvest Hosts by paying an annual fee of around $79. I paid less because I found an RV blogger who posted a discount code on their YouTube channel. (And, I know, I said the camping was free and it is after you pay your membership fee each year.) 

• Second, you download the Harvest Host app onto a smartphone and/or laptop. 

• Third, once you have a travel route in mind, open the app to use the map to see what harvest hosts are along your route.  Pick one that you think looks interesting.

• Fourth, call the host to see if they can host you on the day you would like to visit. Check to see if they have a preferred arrival time.  Ask about low bridges or weight limits in the area.  

• Fifth, once you arrive ask where to park. Then support your host by buying a bottle of wine, a case of beer or some homemade jams. If they give tours, take a tour of the farm or vineyard. Enjoy the nature all around you and the peace and quiet of the countryside.

Want to Join?  

Stop by the Harvest Host website at get 15% off your annual fee by using my referral link
http://harvesthosts.refr.cc/cathyspencer  (this link discount was valid still as of January 14, 2020)

If you are already a member, click the comment link below to share the locations of your favorite harvest hosts. I would love to find some amazing new places to stay in the coming year.