TL;DR: Harvest Hosts Members are encouraged to spend $30 per night's stay at a Host location. This supports Hosts' small businesses, gives you a meaningful travel experience, and sustains the program.
If you’re new to Harvest Hosts or are considering becoming a Member, one of the most common questions you might have is: Do you have to buy something during a Harvest Hosts stay?
It’s a fair question, and an important one to know so you can fully understand the proper etiquette before you request a stay.
The short answer is: Yes, you are strongly encouraged to purchase something during your stay.
In this guide, we’ll explain how Harvest Hosts works, what’s expected of guests, and why making a purchase is an important part of the experience.
How Harvest Hosts Stays Work
Harvest Hosts is built on a simple idea: connecting RV travelers with local businesses across North America, allowing for more meaningful and exciting travel experiences.
Instead of paying a nightly camping fee for an overnight stay, members are asked to support the Host’s business.
Yes, you should buy something! Your purchases at a Host location are the only way they get compensated for Hosting. Harvest Hosts does not pay businesses to Host, or take a cut of their earnings.
We recommend checking out the Host’s profile ahead of time to see what they have for sale, and make sure it matches what you’re willing to purchase. It can be a tangible good, an experience, a meal, a drink, or an amenity during your stay. We’re not expecting you to fill up your RV with products you don’t want.
Why Supporting Hosts Matters
When you stay at a Harvest Hosts location, you’re not staying at a campground—you’re staying at someone’s business.
That means:
They’re offering space on their property
They’re welcoming travelers into their environment
They’re sharing their time, resources, and space
Making a purchase helps ensure:
Hosts continue participating
The program remains sustainable
Future travelers can enjoy the same experience
What Kind of Purchases Are Typical?
The type of purchase depends on the host. Here are some common examples:
At Wineries
Bottles of wine
Tastings
Merchandise
At Farms
Fresh produce
Eggs, meats, or dairy
Honey
Homemade goods
At Breweries
Craft beer
Non alcoholic beverages
Food
Branded merchandise
At Attractions
Admission tickets
Tours
Gift shop items
At Markets or Shops
Local products
Artisan goods
Specialty foods
Additionally, you may find that Hosts offer hookups for a fee or take donations - these are alternative ways you can support your Host when they offer a limited selection of products.
How Much Should You Spend?
We recommend spending $30 per night’s stay to make your stay financially worthwhile for your Host, but it’s not a hard rule. If there’s a stay where you only end up spending $25, your Host should not chase you down for an extra five dollars.
We find that on average, Members spend between $30-$50 at each Host location, before we even started this spending guideline.
What If You Get The Chance to Buy Anything?
While purchases are strongly encouraged, there may be situations where you don’t make one.
For example:
The host is closed when you arrive
You arrive late or leave early
The Host’s business is closed during your stay, but they’re still taking overnight guests
The offerings don’t fit your needs
Your Host doesn’t have anything for sale (e.g., wildlife rescues and houses of worship)
If the Host’s business is closed when you arrive, we recommend patronizing the business before you leave the next day. If your Host doesn’t have anything for sale, or nothing you’d like to purchase, we recommend sending them a donation. Your Host’s profile may include a link for this.
Why This Model Works
Harvest Hosts is different from traditional camping, and that’s what makes it special.
For RVers
You get:
Unique overnight experiences
Scenic locations
A more personal travel experience
No nightly camping fees
For Hosts
They get:
New customers
Increased visibility
Direct support from travelers
This balance is what makes the system sustainable—and why guest participation matters.
Tips for Supporting Your Host
If you want to make the most of your stay, here are a few simple ways to support your host beyond the financial aspect.
Engage with the Experience
Instead of just parking overnight:
Join a tasting
Take a tour
Walk the property
The experience is part of what you’re there for.
Be Respectful of Time and Space
Follow arrival times, parking instructions, pet policies, and any other guidelines or house rules provided.
Leave a Positive Review
After your stay, leave a review to let other Members know about your great experience, and boost the Host’s number of stay requests.
Common Misunderstandings
Let’s clear up a few common misconceptions.
“It’s Free Camping”
While there’s no camping fee for one-night stays, it’s not truly “free” in the traditional sense. The expectation is that you’ll support the host in some way. And if you book extra nights at a Host location, there may be fees.
“I Can Stay Without Interacting”
While some hosts offer a more hands-off experience, engaging with the host is part of what makes these stays unique.
“It’s the Same as a Campground”
Harvest Hosts stays are:
Short-term (usually one night)
Experience-focused
Less about amenities and more about connection
Usually more scenic and serene
FAQ: Harvest Hosts Spending Rules
Does paying for Hookups count as supporting the Host?
Yes! If your Host charges a fee to use hookups, and you want to use them, this counts towards the $30 recommended spend. However, if you do not want to use the hookups, you are not obliged; you can choose to support the Host in another way.
Do you have to buy something during a Harvest Hosts stay?
It is strongly encouraged to purchase something or make a donation to support your Hosts.
How much should you spend at a Harvest Hosts location?
A general guideline is to spend about $30 per night’s stay.
What happens if you don’t make a purchase?
You may receive a poor review from your Host. Supporting hosts helps ensure they continue participating in the program. If no one patronized Hosts’ businesses during their stay, they wouldn’t continue to Host our Members.
How does this work if I booked a stay with extra nights?
You should support your Host each night of your stay. For your first night’s stay, you should still support your Host’s business. If your Host does not charge you a fee to stay extra nights, you should patronize your Host’s business each extra night of your stay as well. If your Host charges you a fee to stay extra nights, your first night’s support + the extra night fees should suffice.
Why does Harvest Hosts encourage purchases instead of charging fees?
This model supports small businesses directly and creates a more meaningful travel experience.
Final Thoughts
By supporting your host’s business during your stay, you’re
Helping a small business thrive
Helping sustain the program
Enhancing your own travel experience
And often, those purchases become part of the memories you take home.
Because at the end of the day, Harvest Hosts isn’t just about where you park. It’s about the memories you make and the places you discover along the way.
For more information about the expectations of Harvest Hosts Members, check out the code of conduct.
Harvest Hosts is a unique RV camping membership that offers self-contained RVers unlimited overnight stays at 9,600+ unique locations across North America with no camping fees. Stay at farms, wineries, breweries, museums, golf courses, attractions, and other one-of-a-kind destinations while enjoying memorable travel experiences and the peace of mind that comes with knowing a safe place to stay is always nearby.
