What you'll discover
- Understand the 2021 acquisition and what it means
- See the key differences between both networks
- Find which membership tier includes Boondockers Welcome
- Learn which network fits your travel style
Important: Same Company
Both Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome are part of the same company and the same affiliate program. Smart RV Hub may earn a commission on qualifying memberships purchased through either brand at no extra cost to you.
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Which network fits you?
Pick what matters most for your travel and see which membership earns the join.
Best fit
Harvest Hosts
Harvest Hosts is built around wineries, farms, breweries, and museums, with more than 6,000 hosts to choose from.
The $99 Classic plan covers this network on its own.
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission if you join, at no extra cost to you.
You keep seeing both names and are not sure if you need one membership or two.
Harvest Hosts acquired Boondockers Welcome in 2021, so both now run under the same app and the same account login.
But the two networks offer genuinely different overnight experiences, and not every membership tier gives you access to both.
New to the concept? Our starter guide to the membership idea covers the basics first.
No nightly fee once you join, a purchase from the host is customary
Start Your Harvest Hosts MembershipAffiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
How Do Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome Compare Head to Head?
Harvest Hosts is built around unique business venues such as wineries, farms, and breweries, while Boondockers Welcome connects you with private property hosts.
Both networks are available through combined Harvest Hosts membership tiers from $169 per year.
| Feature | Harvest Hosts Network | Boondockers Welcome |
|---|---|---|
| Location Type | Businesses (wineries, farms, breweries, museums) | Private homeowners and landowners |
| Number of Locations | 6,000+ business hosts | 3,300+ private hosts |
| Experience Style | Activity based: tastings, farm tours, local shops | Quiet and private: residential driveway or rural land |
| Purchase Expected | Customary: wine, produce, beer and similar | No: good guest etiquette only |
| Hookups Available | Some hosts, for a small fee; most stays are self contained | Occasionally: varies by host |
| Host Interaction | Business staff: often a tasting room or farm stand | Personal: homeowner or fellow RVer |
| Included In | Classic ($99), Classic+BW ($169), All Access ($179) | Classic+BW ($169) and All Access ($179), or on its own for $79 a year |
| Best For | RVers who want activity based stays at wineries, farms, and breweries and are happy to spend about $30 a night with the host | RVers who prefer quiet, private stays with no purchase expected and occasional hookups |
Want both networks? See the Classic+BW plan (affiliate link) →
Which Harvest Hosts Plan Includes Boondockers Welcome?
The base Classic plan covers Harvest Hosts business locations only, while the Classic+BW and All Access plans add the Boondockers Welcome network of private hosts.
Current offer: Boondockers Welcome on its own is $79 a year, and Harvest Hosts lists 15% off with the code SAVE, which brings your first year to $67.15 (checked 20 October 2026).
Classic, $99/year
Access to the Harvest Hosts business network only.
That is 6,000+ wineries, breweries, farms, and museums across the US and Canada.
Boondockers Welcome is not included at this tier.
Classic+BW, $169/year (Popular Choice)
Covers both networks, so you get 6,000+ Harvest Hosts business locations plus 3,300+ Boondockers Welcome private hosts.
That is over 9,300 stops across North America. The All Access tier adds more than 300 golf courses for a 9,600+ total.
The extra $70 over Classic opens an entirely different style of overnight stay, which is what makes this tier worth a close look.
All Access, $179/year
Everything in Classic+BW, plus more than 300 golf courses and an Escapees RV Club membership that Harvest Hosts values at $49.95. The price difference from Classic+BW is just $10.
If you are going to upgrade to Classic+BW anyway, All Access is worth the extra $10 for the full network.
What Is Each Network Really Like?
Harvest Hosts stays are active evenings at a business with a tasting room or farm stand, while Boondockers Welcome stays are quiet overnights on a private homeowner's property.
Harvest Hosts: Experience Driven Stays
Every Harvest Hosts stop is tied to a local business, a winery, craft brewery, working farm, or museum that has signed up to host RVers overnight.
You park, do a tasting or pick up some produce, then sleep in their lot. It's an active evening, not a passive one.
Because you're dealing with business staff rather than a homeowner, the interaction is friendlier than a campground check in but still a commercial exchange.
Best for
- RVers who enjoy local food and drink
- Travelers who want unique roadside experiences
- Road trippers moving location to location
Keep in mind
- A purchase is encouraged, about $30 a night suggested
- Self contained RV required, most sites have no hookups
- One night typical, up to four at many hosts
Boondockers Welcome: Private and Quiet Stays
Boondockers Welcome runs on a completely different model. Hosts are private homeowners, fellow RVers and outdoor enthusiasts who open their driveway, yard, or rural property to travelers passing through.
This is essentially moochdocking made formal.
Moochdocking is the long standing term for staying for free on private property, and Boondockers Welcome turns that informal arrangement into a structured network of vetted hosts rather than relying on friends and family.
You might end up in a suburban driveway for a quiet night, or on a rural property with open sky and no neighbors for miles. No tasting room, no shop to browse.
Just a peaceful stop and a host who genuinely wanted you there.
Best for
- RVers who prioritize privacy and quiet
- Full timers covering long distances
- Travelers who enjoy community connections
Keep in mind
- Hosts choose who they accept
- Location density varies by region
- Requires respectful guest behavior
Not sure your rig fits either network? Our guide to host site size limits covers the length and setup rules before you request a stay.
Curious what a host night really costs once the expected purchase is counted? Our real cost per night breakdown walks through the math.
Which Network Is Right for You?
Choose Harvest Hosts if you enjoy local food, drink, and built in activities, and choose Boondockers Welcome if you prefer a quiet, private overnight with no purchase expected.
You'll love Harvest Hosts if...
- You enjoy wine tastings, farm stands, and local breweries
- You want memorable overnight stops with built in activities
- Your RV is fully self contained
- You camp 3 or more times per year and want to cut campground costs
You'll love Boondockers Welcome if...
- You want a quiet overnight stop without a social obligation
- You want a safe driveway or private property in an urban area
- You enjoy connecting with other RVers and like minded hosts
- You travel frequently and want more stop options between campgrounds
Can You Use Both Networks?
Yes, with the right membership tier. The Classic+BW plan ($169/year) includes both networks in a single app.
- Use Harvest Hosts locations for experience driven stops, wine country, farm to table orchards, craft beer destinations
- Use Boondockers Welcome when you want a quiet overnight in a residential area or on rural private land
- Mix and match based on your itinerary, both networks appear in the same Harvest Hosts app
For a deeper look at the full platform, read our verdict on the whole membership. If you are new to free camping, our guide to camping without paying a site fee is a good starting point.
Ready to join both networks? See Classic+BW membership pricing (affiliate link) →
Our Take
The Classic+BW plan at $169/year gives you over 9,300 locations: business hosts for evenings with a bit of atmosphere and private hosts for nights when you just want to park and sleep.
The base Classic plan at $99/year is worth it if you only care about wineries, farms, and breweries.
But $70 more adds 3,300+ private hosts, more than half again as many stops, and an entirely different category of stop.
If you are already going with Classic+BW, the All Access plan at $179/year adds golf courses for $10 more, easy upgrade if you want every location on the map.
Head to our membership overview page for a full breakdown of all plan options, or compare every plan side by side in our guide to Harvest Hosts membership tiers.
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boondockers Welcome still a separate company from Harvest Hosts?
No. Harvest Hosts acquired Boondockers Welcome in 2021. Both networks now operate under the Harvest Hosts brand.
You access Boondockers Welcome locations through the Harvest Hosts app and website, depending on your membership tier.
Which Harvest Hosts plan includes Boondockers Welcome?
The Classic+BW plan ($169/year) includes both networks. The All Access plan ($179/year) also includes both, plus more than 300 golf courses and an Escapees RV Club membership valued at $49.95.
The base Classic plan ($99/year) gives you access to Harvest Hosts business locations only, not Boondockers Welcome.
What is the difference between Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome locations?
Harvest Hosts locations are businesses such as wineries, breweries, farms, orchards, and museums that invite RVers to park overnight while supporting the business. Boondockers Welcome locations are private homeowners who offer their driveway or property to fellow RVers, usually for a night of quiet parking.
Do you need to buy anything at Boondockers Welcome stops?
No. Boondockers Welcome hosts are private individuals, not businesses. There is no purchase expectation.
The etiquette is to be a good guest, arrive as agreed, respect the property, and leave a thank you. Harvest Hosts business locations do expect support, and Harvest Hosts recommends spending about $30 a night, such as on a bottle of wine or a beer flight.
How many locations does each network have?
The Harvest Hosts business network has more than 6,000 host locations such as wineries, breweries, farms, and museums. Boondockers Welcome adds over 3,300 private homeowner hosts.
The Classic plus Boondockers Welcome plan covers both for more than 9,300 stops across North America.
Do Boondockers Welcome locations have hookups?
Sometimes. Hookups vary by host, and some private hosts offer water or electric while others do not.
Most Harvest Hosts business locations have no hookups, though some offer electric or water for a small fee, so a self contained RV is expected at both networks. Always check the listing before you arrive.
Is there a stay limit at Boondockers Welcome?
Stay length is set by each host. Many private hosts welcome one or two nights, and some allow longer stays at their discretion.
Harvest Hosts business locations are typically a single overnight, though many allow extra nights up to four in total, sometimes for a fee.
Which network is better for first time members?
It depends on your travel style. New members who enjoy tastings and local food often start with the Harvest Hosts business network, while those who want a quiet private overnight lean toward Boondockers Welcome.
The Classic+BW plan removes the choice by including both for $169 a year.
Can you book Boondockers Welcome stays in advance?
Yes. You send a request to the host through the platform and wait for confirmation, since private hosts choose who they accept.
Harvest Hosts business locations also ask you to call or message ahead so the host knows to expect you. Booking ahead is good etiquette at both networks.
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