📋 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.
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 5,858 hosts to choose from.
The $99 Classic plan covers this network on its own.
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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 plain English guide to what Harvest Hosts is covers the basics before you dive into the network comparison.
Quick Answer
Harvest Hosts locations are businesses — wineries, breweries, farms, and museums — where you park overnight and support the host by making a purchase.
Boondockers Welcome locations are private homeowners who open their driveway or land to fellow RVers. No purchase required — just good guest etiquette.
Unlock Both Networks From $169 a YearAffiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Affiliate Disclosure
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How Do Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome Compare Head to Head?
Harvest Hosts is built around unique business venues — wineries, farms, 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 | 5,905+ business hosts | 3,445+ private hosts |
| Experience Style | Activity based — tastings, farm tours, local shops | Quiet, private — residential driveway or rural land |
| Purchase Expected | Yes — wine, produce, beer, etc. | No — good guest etiquette only |
| Hookups Available | Rarely — self contained RVs only | 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) only |
| Best For | RVers who want activity based stays at wineries, farms, and breweries and are happy to make a small purchase | RVers who prefer quiet, private stays with no purchase expected and occasional hookups |
Want to unlock both networks? See the Classic+BW plan (affiliate link) →
Which Tier Gets You What
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.
Classic — $99/year
Access to the Harvest Hosts business network only.
That is 5,905+ wineries, breweries, farms, and museums across the US and Canada.
Boondockers Welcome is not included at this tier.
Classic+BW — $169/year (Popular Choice)
Unlocks both networks — 5,905+ Harvest Hosts business locations plus 3,445+ Boondockers Welcome private hosts.
That is over 9,350 stops across North America. The All Access tier adds more than 330 golf courses for a 9,700+ 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 golf courses and additional perks. 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 Each Network Is 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 expected — budget $20-$50
- Self contained RV required — no hookups
- One night stay limit per location
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
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) unlocks 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 Harvest Hosts review. If you are new to free camping, our guide to what is boondocking is a good starting point.
Ready to unlock both networks? See Classic+BW membership pricing (affiliate link) →
Our Take
The Classic+BW plan at $169/year gives you over 9,350 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 doubles your options and adds 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 Harvest Hosts hub 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 golf courses and additional perks.
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 — 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 a purchase, such as a bottle of wine or a beer flight.
How many locations does each network have?
The Harvest Hosts business network has more than 5,905 host locations such as wineries, breweries, farms, and museums. Boondockers Welcome adds over 3,445 private homeowner hosts.
The Classic+BW plan unlocks both for more than 9,350 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.
Harvest Hosts business locations rarely have hookups, 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, so Boondockers Welcome can offer more flexibility for a quiet break.
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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