In our latest book, Where Should We Camp Next? Budget Camping we make the case that a Harvest Hosts membership is one of the great values in American camping right now. And the more we use our membership–the more we believe this to be true. An official Harvest Hosts stay is limited to one night–so many RV owners that we know use them as stops on their way to and from destinations. Staying at a Harvest Hosts location is a great way to rest up after a long drive, or to extend a great vacation just a little bit longer. Why spend the night in the parking lot of a big box store when you can spend the night at a winery, a brewery, or a farm? Harvest Hosts locations are also spread out across the entire country and there are over 5,000 of them. So it would be quite hard to visit all of them in a single lifetime.
The thing that we may love the most about our Harvest Hosts membership is that, while they may be known for wineries and farms, there are dozens (if not hundreds) of other types of hosts in their extensive network. How does a comfortable overnight at a minor league baseball stadium, a space museum, or a 1950’s diner sound? There are so many cool locations for nostalgic Harvest Hosts stays–and many of them are also perfect for summer.
To listen to Jeremy interview Harvest Hosts CEO Joel Holland about “12 Nostalgic Harvest Hosts Locations that are Perfect for Summer” please click on the media player above or subscribe to The RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
To get your own annual Harvest Hosts membership make sure to use promo code ECLIPSE24 to save 20 percent.
Without further ado, here is a sneak peek at Joel’s terrific list of nostalgic Harvest Hosts locations. To find out more about each one make sure to listen to our interview with Joel on the RV Atlas podcast.
1. The Gateway Grizzlies (Minor League Baseball Stadium)
How cool would it be to catch a minor league game and enjoy a cold beer and then be able to walk right back to your RV for a safe and comfortable overnight stay in the stadium’s parking lot? At the Gateway Grizzlies Stadium in Sauget, Illinois you can do just that. Singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch takes on a whole new meaning when your RV is waiting for you out in the parking lot. When it comes to nostalgic Harvest Hosts locations that are perfect for summer this one is certainly top notch and fun for the entire family.
2. Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner
Is there anything more nostalgic than an authentic 1950’s American Diner? Imagine pulling into Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner in Yermo, California after a long day of driving and parking your rig and heading inside to the counter to order a burger and fries. Or imagine waking up with the Calico Mountains as your backdrop and heading into Peggy Sue’s for coffee and breakfast before hitting the road. Either scenario sounds terrific to us. Just make sure you say hello to Betty Boop before you go!
3. Galaxy Drive-In Movie Theater
Parking your rig for the night at a drive-in movie theater like the Galaxy Drive-In in Ennis, Texas and catching a summer movie sounds like a dream to us. And this isn’t the only Drive-in movie theater in the Harvest Hosts system–there are a whole bunch of them. What an amazing slice of Americana and how convenient if you are traveling near one of these locations! Sign us up for an epic night in front of the silver screen in the great outdoors!
4. Roy’s Motel & Cafe (and Old Gas Station)
If Roy’s Motel & Cafe in Amboy, California seems like something out of an old movie–that’s because it is. This location was often used by film and music video directors because of its stunning desert sunsets and nighttime skies filled with stars. Make sure you grab one of the over four dozen craft sodas while you are here. They make for a perfect summer treat after a long, hot day of driving.
5. Tallahassee Automobile & Collectibles Museum
There seems to be a strong correlation between people that love RV’s and people that love classic automobiles. If that sounds like you then make sure you put a stop at the Tallahassee Automobile & Collectibles Museum in Tallahassee, Florida on your personal Harvest Hosts bucket list. This museum earns raves reviews from guests and may be one of the most popular Harvest Hosts locations in the country.
6. Stafford Air and Space Museum
The Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford, Oklahoma has an excellent permanent collection of aerospace artifacts and interactive exhibits that is appealing to anyone who is interested in the history of flight and space exploration–and who isn’t interested in the history of flight and space? We certainly are. There are four parking lots here for self-contained RVs, and they are level and easy to navigate. The staff here is also very helpful, and they respond quickly to requests for reservations.
7. Mike’s Route 66 Outpost & Saloon
Mike’s Route 66 Outpost & Saloon has “a beer and wine bar that boasts a trove of local brews and fine wines. And a “full menu [that] caters to both the ravenous explorer and the culinary connoisseur.” And it is located in Kingman, Arizona on historic Route 66. This Harvest Hosts location has nostalgic summer vibes that will appeal to the. most road-hardened and wanderlust-filled travelers. So if you ever feel like heading west–head to Mike’s Route 66 Outpost and pull up a chair at the bar. They are waiting for you with a frosty mug and a surprisingly adventurous menu.
8. Train Mountain Railroad (Railroad Museum)
The RV parking sites at Train Mountain Railroad in Chiloquin, Oregon are lovely and shaded and adventure awaits just around the corner. This Harvest Hosts location boasts “over 36 miles of 7.5 gauge track, creating a network of miniature railroads that span an impressive area 2 miles by 4 miles” that “awes its visitors.” The woods here are lovely and your entire family will love exploring them on these charming miniature railroads.
9. Mom’s Memories Antiques & Mary’s Book Shop (Antique Shop)
Whether you are looking for a cute trinket to decorate your next campsite or your next great read, make sure to stop at Mom’s Memories Antiques & Mary’s Book Shop in West Plains, Missouri. Whether you are a full on junker or just a casual reader–you will find a treasure or two to bring home on your next great road trip. The RV parking is also shady and spacious.
10. The Battlefield Country Store
It’s hard to beat a good country store for sweets and treats and specialty items that are perfect for stocking up an RV on a roadtrip. At The Battlefield Country Store you can “wake up with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee tantalizing your senses” or “treat your taste buds to a kaleidoscope of ice cream flavors that promise to be as unique as your journeys.” Fredericksburg, Virginia is also an incredible part of the country for history buffs that love a good road trip. Put this delightfully sweet Harvest Hosts location somewhere near the top of your summer road trip bucket list.
11. The Birthplace of Country Music Museum
If you are a country music fan then a stop at The Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, Virginia is an absolute must! This Harvest Hosts location is “an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution” and an “award-winning museum that invites you to delve into the pivotal 1927 Bristol Sessions” which is “an event that music historians fondly dub as the “big bang” of country music.” This location straddles the Tennessee/Virginia border and will please casual fans of country music and its most loyal diehards.
12. Mrs. Littles Tea and Toys (Tea House)
This quirky and unique Harvest Hosts location in Hamilton, Missouri “invites road-weary travelers to park their home on wheels and explore an enchanting blend of delectable lunches and the simple joys of handcrafted toys.” Mrs. Littles Teas and Toys allows its guests to take a step back in time to an America where life was lived at a slower and more relaxed pace–and enjoy a tasty lunch while they do. It sounds perfectly inviting and perfectly charming to us!
So do the rest of these nostalgic Harvest Hosts locations. All of them pass the summer road trip travel vibe test with flying colors!
