TL;DR: Learn how to use the Harvest Hosts Trip Planner to find affordable RV stays, discover unique overnight stops, access campground discounts, and save on road trips.
Planning an RV trip should be exciting. There's nothing quite like mapping out a new adventure, discovering scenic destinations, and imagining all the places you'll explore along the way.
But there's one part of RV trip planning that can quickly become frustrating: finding affordable places to stay.
Between rising campground rates, popular destinations booking up months in advance, and the challenge of finding RV-friendly accommodations along your route, overnight stays can become one of the biggest expenses of an RV vacation.
Fortunately, finding affordable campsites along your route doesn't have to mean spending hours searching different websites or sacrificing comfort and convenience.
With Harvest Hosts, RV travelers can use the interactive Trip Planner tool to map their adventures and discover unique overnight stays and discounted traditional campgrounds along their route.
Whether you're planning a weekend getaway, a cross-country adventure, or a longer RV road trip, these tools can help you travel smarter, save money, and discover memorable places along the way. Keep reading to learn how to use Harvest Hosts to find affordable RV camping options along your route.
Why Finding Affordable RV Campsites Can Be Challenging
One of the greatest benefits of RV travel is the freedom to explore at your own pace. You can spend a few days in a national park, explore a charming small town, or change your itinerary when you discover somewhere interesting.
However, finding affordable overnight accommodations isn't always easy. Traditional campgrounds can vary significantly in price depending on location, season, amenities, and demand.
A basic campsite might be relatively inexpensive, while a full-hookup RV resort near a popular tourist destination can cost considerably more.
Subscribe to learn more about Harvest Hosts, exciting updates, & more!
Your Adventure Awaits!
Discover New and Exciting Places with Friends and Family
For travelers taking longer trips, those nightly expenses add up quickly. With a $50 per night average campsite fee, after ten days of camping you've spent $500.
These estimates don't include fuel, food, activities, or other travel expenses. And cost isn't the only challenge. You also need to find campgrounds that accommodate your RV, offer the amenities you need, and fit naturally into your route.
That's where Harvest Hosts can make a difference.
Find Affordable RV Camping With Harvest Hosts
Harvest Hosts helps make finding RV camping options along your route easier in two key ways: through the map of Hosts that allow Harvest Hosts members to book overnight stays with no camping fees and through the Campground Partners Program, private campgrounds that offer Harvest Hosts and Escapees RV Club Members discounts on nightly camping fees.
Instead of searching multiple platforms for different types of accommodations, Members can find both classic Harvest Hosts locations and Campground Partners on the Harvest Hosts Map. Then you can search for both along your route with the Trip Planner tool.
Unique Overnight Stays With Harvest Hosts
Harvest Hosts connects self-contained RV travelers with participating wineries, farms, breweries, museums, attractions, and other small businesses throughout North America. Pay a yearly membership fee and get unlimited overnight stays with no camping fees at all locations.
In return, Members are encouraged to support their Hosts through purchases, such as buying wine, enjoying a meal, or shopping for locally made products. Hosts can decide to allow members to stay extra nights, but they may charge you a fee to do so.
Harvest Hosts locations are especially useful for travelers who want to break up driving days with interesting experiences.
Discounted Campgrounds Through Campground Partners
For travelers who prefer traditional campgrounds, Harvest Hosts also offers access to its Campground Partners Program.
This membership benefit connects RVers with RV parks, campgrounds, and resorts offering discounts on nightly camping fees and exclusive perks.
Depending on the campground, Members may receive a percentage discount on their entire stay, a discount on a night of their stay, or additional benefits such as complimentary amenities.
And the best part?
The Campground Partners Program is included with Harvest Hosts membership at no additional membership cost. That means you can enjoy unique Harvest Hosts stays and save at traditional campgrounds during the same road trip using just one membership.
How to Use the Harvest Hosts Trip Planner
One of the most useful tools available to Harvest Hosts Members is the built-in Trip Planner. Instead of searching for overnight accommodations one city at a time, you can create a route and discover locations along the way.
The tool is particularly helpful for RV travelers who want to avoid unnecessary detours and organize multi-stop adventures.
Step 1: Open the Harvest Hosts Trip Planner
Start by logging into your Harvest Hosts account on the website or mobile app. From the Member Dashboard, select the Plan Trip option. On the website, you can also access trip planning through the search area of the Discover Map.
The Trip Planner allows you to create a route between your starting location and destination. For example, imagine you're planning a road trip from Washington DC to New York City.
Step 2: Enter Your Starting Point and Destination
Begin by entering where your trip starts. This could be your home, your current location, or a destination where you're already planning to stay.
Next, enter your final destination. The Trip Planner will use these locations to plot your route on the map.
This gives you a visual starting point for finding RV accommodations without having to search every nearby community individually.
Step 3: Add Stops Along Your Route
One of the most valuable features of the Harvest Hosts Trip Planner is the ability to add multiple stops. Maybe you're planning a trip from Chicago to Yellowstone National Park but want to visit the Badlands along the way.
You can add cities or destinations between your starting point and final stop to shape the route. This is especially useful if you prefer scenic highways instead of the fastest interstate route. You can also rearrange your stops as your plans change.
For longer road trips, this makes it easier to build an itinerary around the places you actually want to visit. Once you find a Host you love, you can also add those to your route!
It's important to know that this does not count as submitting a stay request, you will still have to go to the host profile, select your dates, submit a stay request, and wait for approval before showing up.
Trip planning tip: Add specific cities along your preferred route to help keep the map aligned with the roads you want to travel.
Step 4: Adjust the Distance From Your Route
Not every great overnight stay is located directly beside a highway. Sometimes a short detour leads to a beautiful vineyard, peaceful farm, or affordable campground.
The Harvest Hosts Trip Planner includes a route-radius setting that lets you choose how far from your planned route you're willing to search.
This feature can help you balance convenience with the opportunity to find more affordable or interesting overnight stays.
For example, a campground located 15 miles from your route might offer a better rate than one directly beside a major tourist destination.
However, remember to consider fuel costs and driving time when deciding whether a detour is worthwhile.
Step 5: Use Filters to Find the Right Overnight Stays
Once your route is established, use the Discover Map filters to narrow your options. Depending on your membership and the location types you're searching, useful filters include:
Host categories such as wineries, farms, breweries, and attractions
Campground Partners
RV length
Electric or water hookups available
Hosts that allow extra nights
Same day bookings
Filters are especially useful when you're traveling in a larger RV or have specific accommodation needs.
For example, if you're driving a 40-foot motorhome, you can focus on locations that accommodate your vehicle rather than sorting through unsuitable options.
If you need electricity, you can search for Hosts offering hookups or look for a traditional campground through the Campground Partners Program.
Step 6: Explore Locations Along Your Route
After entering your destinations, setting your route radius, and choosing your filters, select Show Hosts to view matching locations. The map displays available location options along your planned route.
Click or tap a location to view its preview card and learn more about the property.
For Harvest Hosts locations, you'll find details such as the type of business, parking requirements, amenities, and Member reviews.
For Campground Partners, you'll find information about the campground and its available Member discounts or perks.
You can switch between map and list views to compare options. This makes it easier to evaluate several overnight possibilities without repeatedly starting a new search.
Step 7: Save Your Trip
Once you've created a route you like, save it to your account. Saved trips can include multiple waypoints, travel dates, and a description. You can return later to edit your itinerary, rearrange stops, and add locations.
For example, you might save a trip called "Summer Colorado and Utah Adventure" and continue adding overnight stops as your departure date approaches.
This is particularly helpful when planning a longer RV vacation over several weeks.
Step 8: Add Hosts and Arrange Your Stays
As mentioned previously, when you find a Harvest Hosts location you want to visit, you can add it to your trip. For Campground Partners, the process is different.
You'll review the campground's discount information and follow its preferred booking instructions, which may involve making a reservation through the campground's website or calling directly. That distinction is important when organizing your trip.
What Is the Harvest Hosts Campground Partners Program?
It brings together participating campgrounds that offer special rates or perks to Harvest Hosts Members.
The program includes more than 1,100 participating RV parks, campgrounds, and resorts across the United States and Canada, including locations associated with well-known campground brands.
Unlike a traditional Harvest Hosts stay, Campground Partners are established campgrounds that charge you nightly camping fees to stay there and offer amenities like as full hookups, showers, laundry facilities, recreational activities, and other conveniences in exchange for your payment.
For RV travelers who want to combine affordable camping with comfort, it's a valuable membership benefit.
Why Campground Partners Are Especially Useful for Longer RV Trips
Harvest Hosts overnight stays are a wonderful way to discover unique businesses, but most are designed for self-contained RVs and don't provide traditional campground hookups.
That's why Campground Partners can be such an important part of a longer itinerary.
Recharge Your RV's Batteries
After several nights of dry camping, you may want access to electrical hookups.
A Campground Partner can provide an opportunity to recharge your batteries and use appliances without relying entirely on your RV's off-grid power system.
Refill Water and Empty Holding Tanks
Freshwater and wastewater capacity can determine how long you're comfortable traveling without hookups.
A traditional campground with appropriate facilities can help you prepare for the next portion of your adventure.
Enjoy Showers and Laundry Facilities
Long road trips often require occasional stops for laundry, showers, and other everyday conveniences.
Campground Partners can provide those amenities while helping you save on the nightly rate.
Stay Multiple Nights
While most Harvest Hosts stays are designed for one night, traditional campgrounds are often better suited to longer visits.
If you're spending a week or more exploring a national park, city, or scenic region, a Campground Partner can serve as a convenient home base.
Access Family-Friendly Amenities
Some participating campgrounds offer swimming pools, playgrounds, recreational activities, and other amenities.
For families traveling with children, these features can make campground nights an enjoyable part of the vacation.
Additional Ways to Save Money While Planning an RV Road Trip
Finding affordable campsites is an important part of budget-friendly RV travel, but there are other ways to make your money go further.
Plan Shorter Driving Days
Long driving days can increase fuel costs and make travel more exhausting. Use the Harvest Hosts Trip Planner to identify overnight options that fit naturally into your route.
Avoid Unnecessary Detours
A campsite with a lower nightly rate isn't always the cheapest option if reaching it requires a long detour. Compare potential savings with the extra fuel and time required.
Travel During Shoulder Seasons
Campground rates can be lower outside peak travel periods. Spring and fall can also offer comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds in many destinations. Check seasonal operating dates before making plans.
Look for Multi-Night Discounts
Some Campground Partners offer special deals for extended stays. If you're planning to spend several nights in one destination, review the campground's offers before booking.
Take Advantage of Member Perks
A campground discount isn't always the only way to save. Complimentary Wi-Fi, firewood, hookups, or other amenities can reduce additional expenses during your stay.
Plan Ahead, but Stay Flexible
Use saved trips to organize your preferred route and overnight stops. At the same time, identify alternative accommodations in case your plans change. A flexible itinerary can help you avoid expensive last-minute decisions.
Harvest Hosts Trip Planner Features That Make Road Trips Easier
Beyond finding overnight accommodations, the Harvest Hosts map includes additional tools that can help you prepare for your journey.
Map and Terrain Views
Switch between street, terrain, and satellite views to get a better sense of the areas you're traveling through. This can be especially helpful when exploring mountain regions or unfamiliar rural destinations.
Cell Coverage Layers
The map offers cellular coverage overlays for major carriers. These can help you estimate connectivity near potential overnight stops, although actual service may vary.
Weather Layers
Weather overlays can help you monitor temperature, precipitation, and wind conditions while planning. For RVers traveling through areas with changing weather, these layers provide additional information for route planning.
Dump Station Locations
The map includes a dump station layer that can help you locate places to empty your RV's holding tanks. This is especially helpful when combining dry camping with traditional campground stays.
Always verify that a dump station is operational and accessible before making a special trip.
Frequently Asked Questions About Finding Affordable RV Campsites
How do I find affordable campsites along my RV route?
Trip planning tools! You can use the Harvest Hosts Trip Planner to enter your starting location, destination, and additional stops. Adjust the route radius and use filters to discover Harvest Hosts locations and Campground Partners along your route. This makes it easier to compare overnight options and plan a more affordable RV trip.
What is the Harvest Hosts Campground Partners Program?
The Campground Partners Program is a membership benefit that provides access to discounts and perks at participating RV parks, campgrounds, and resorts across the United States and Canada. Members can find these campgrounds through the Harvest Hosts website and app, review available offers, and book directly with each campground.
Do Harvest Hosts Members get discounts at RV campgrounds?
Yes! Harvest Hosts Members have access to the Campground Partners Program at no additional membership cost. This is a network of 1,100+ private campgrounds, RV Parks, and RV resorts that offer exclusive discounts and perks to Harvest Hosts and Escapees RV Club members.
Can I save my RV road trip in the Harvest Hosts Trip Planner?
Yes. The Harvest Hosts Trip Planner allows Members to save trips with multiple stops, travel dates, and descriptions. You can return to your saved trips, edit routes, rearrange stops, and add Host locations as your plans evolve.
Plan More Adventures and Spend Less on Overnight Stays
RV travel is about freedom, exploration, and discovering new places. But enjoying the open road doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune on campgrounds.
With the Harvest Hosts Trip Planner, you can map your route, discover unique overnight stays, and find accommodations that fit your travel style.
And with the Campground Partners Program, you can access exclusive discounts and perks at traditional RV parks, campgrounds, and resorts without purchasing a separate campground discount membership.
That means more flexibility when planning your trip. Spend one night at a winery, another at a farm, and the next at a discounted campground with full hookups. Explore local businesses, recharge your RV, and continue your journey without feeling limited to one type of accommodation.
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.
