Technically, Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome have always been fans and champions of any self-contained Recreational Vehicle. But they are making it clear now that they want self-contained Bus and Van dwellers to feel welcome.

Why do these Memberships matter?

You may have experienced showing up to a campground—after making reservations—only to be turned away because you are in a bus. This is all too common for people with bus conversions. It doesn’t matter how amazing the inside is, the beauty of the outside, or how big the rooftop deck is—they aren’t going to welcome you into their campground. 

This is a very sad reality, but it is the reality. And while campgrounds are slowly coming around to welcoming bus people, you might still get hit with the old “10-year rule”. Either way, it can be difficult to find spaces in some private campgrounds.

This is where Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome come in clutch for the bus conversion community.

They are inviting the bus conversion community to be a part of their community. 

What is Harvest Hosts?

Harvest Hosts began as a discovery of something that had already been done—kind of. The founders discovered agritourism in Europe. The concept was quite simple and continues via Harvest Hosts in North America. Self-contained RVers stay overnight (one night) on farms in exchange for purchasing products from their businesses. This created a beautiful give-and-take exchange which started with locations in Washington, Oregon, and California. And has now blossomed into what Harvest Hosts is today.

Today, Harvest Hosts prides itself on being the largest, most engaging RV network in North America. You’ll find over 3,500 unique RV experiences, just waiting for its members to enjoy. Now, Harvest Hosts includes a variety of farms, wineries, breweries, distilleries, golf courses, and many other attractions.

What is Boondockers Welcome?

Boondockers Welcome was built by a mother-daughter team with the belief that RVers are typically happy people. This company was designed by RVers for the benefit of RVers. They wanted to create spaces for strangers to become friends over their mutual love of RV travel.

The idea is that RVers would be welcomed onto private property. This means they get to avoid having to stay at crowded and noisy Walmarts, Cracker Barrels, rest areas, and on BLM land. Not only do they get to avoid those areas, but they get to connect with one another in the process. 

Today, Boondockers Welcome has over 3,200 locations all across North America with 70% of those Hosts offering hookups to some degree. Between the welcoming attitude of the Hosts, the offering of hookups, and being able to stay up to five nights, Boondockers Welcome is a great addition to a Harvest Hosts Membership for RVers.

Two Become One

In June of 2021, Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome became one entity. Harvest Hosts realized the value and common goals between themselves and Boondockers Welcome—helping RVers have unique RVing experiences—and decided to merge the two companies. Overnight, Harvest Hosts became the largest RV network under one platform.

With the assimilation in the rearview mirror, these two have gone wild with expansion—without losing their individual and collective vision.

Growth and Trajectory

On August 16, 2022, Harvest Hosts was not only ranked 70th on Inc.’s annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States but No. 1 in the Travel and Hospitality category. And while ranking high on Inc.’s list is great, what is even more impressive for its members is the eclipsing of 7,000 locations as a company.

This means Harvest Hosts All-Access Membership Members now have over 7,000 locations all across North America where they can rest their heads at night without worrying about the “knock”—telling them it’s time to move along. In addition to getting great sleep and making new friends, the impact on small businesses Harvest Hosts members is having is remarkable too.

Harvest Hosts is projecting that members will spend over $40 million at their Host locations this year alone. This is contributing to the growth and expansion of small businesses all across North America. This helps these businesses continue to innovate, hire, and give back to their communities. This is truly a great expression of the new “share economy” that is growing before our eyes.

Why Is This Good News for Bus Nuts?

It is good news because one of the fastest growing private companies in North America loves bus conversions! As you know, not all places you go are overly welcoming to the bus conversion community. 

It is super awkward and embarrassing to show up in your custom-built bus and be denied access to a campground. Even having to be inspected or not being permitted because of the “10-year rule” feels like a slap in the face. Although there are more and more campgrounds coming around to accepting bus conversions, with Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome, you don’t need to wait or face judgment.

This is what makes Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome so great. They aren’t out to keep you away. As long as you are a self-contained vehicle, they want to connect with you, become friends with you, and will welcome you onto their property.

How Do You Get Connected?

Harvest Hosts offers a few different ways for you to be a part of what they are doing. You can become a Host, a member, or share everything Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome has to offer.

Becoming a Member

Members of Harvest Hosts and/or Boondockers Welcome offer several different membership plans that provide access to different types of properties.

The Boondockers Welcome Plan gives you access to over 3,200 locations in the U.S. and Canada, and the yearly cost is about the same as two nights at a typical campground. These Hosts vary from land in the middle of the desert to a parking spot in the Colorado Rockies. There is a wide range of different properties, but none of them disappoint.

The Harvest Hosts Classic Plan has over 3,500 locations, and the yearly cost is about the same as two nights at a typical campground. This plan features a variety of farms, wineries, distilleries, and other attractions.

The Harvest Hosts + Boondockers Welcome Plan gives you access to over 6,700 locations, and the yearly cost is about the same as three nights at a typical campground. This plan combines everything you get with the Harvest Hosts Classic Plan and the Boondockers Welcome Plan.

The All Access Plan gives you access to everything Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome has to offer— at over 7,000 locations—plus it adds in the use of their golf courses. My favorite part about having the golf course option is you almost always have amazing views of well-manicured grounds. It makes for a really peaceful stay—and I’m not even a golfer. You’ll get all of this at the yearly cost of just three to four nights at a typical campground.

Membership Bonus

One of the hidden benefits to Harvest Hosts is their exclusive discounts—worth over $1,000— with some amazing partners. Things like Costco memberships, Jackery solar generators, Goodyear tires, coffee, and so much more. These bonus perks are available above and beyond your membership.

Become a Harvest Hosts Host

Harvest Hosts connects thousands of RVers with farms, golf courses, wineries, breweries, and other area attractions. This gives them free marketing for all of these RVers who understand there is an expectation to patronize a local business. Host locations never pay anything and don’t give up any percentage to Harvest Hosts.

As a Harvest Hosts Host, you simply offer up your unique RVing location to Members for a chance to stay—and hopefully connect. You’ll get to meet RVers from all over the continent, spread the word about your business, and increase your revenue.

Become a Boondockers Welcome Host

As a Boondockers Welcome Host, you’ll get the chance to connect with thousands of individuals and travel vicariously through them. You’ll hear all about their experiences, learn about the lifestyle, and meet some of the nicest people on the roads today.

You will open up your land for RVers to stay. You don’t need to provide hookups—but they are always appreciated. You don’t need to be able to Host 45-foot bus conversions. You may only be able to Host a mid-sized or small bus conversion—and that’s okay. The idea of Boondockers Welcome is to offer what you have, and share who you are. This is what makes Boondockers Welcome so special.

It’s time to join!

This is the fastest growing unique camping network in North America, and they don’t have plans of slowing down anytime soon. Plus, all of their memberships have a 3-month 100% money-back guarantee! There is no risk, so sign up today!