Three Sites to Attract Overnight Guests (That Aren’t AirBNB)

Listing your farm as a campsite may be simpler than you think. Here are three websites making it happen for farmers.

FarmStay

FarmStay’s website begins with one important prompt, “I want to _______.” with options ranging from milking a cow to taking a class. The site was founded in 2010 by two self-proclaimed “city folk” who had moved to the country and started a farm. The farm’s search engine features several hundred farms across the U.S.

Their journey is chronicled in the book “Country Grit: A Farmoir of Finding Purpose and Love.” 

According to FarmStay’s website, farms can join the search engine for FREE after meeting FarmStay’s accreditation of quality. Monthly subscriptions (ranging from $20 to $37) feature a farm more prominently on the FarmStay site. All booking is done privately on farms’ websites, as FarmStay considers themselves simply a “Referral Network.” 

HipCamp

HipCamp offers broader experiences than FarmStay, ranging from wildlands to working farms, according to the company’s search engine. Outside Magazine reports the HipCamp network to include more than 565,000 campsites.

For farms interested in enrolling, the complimentary $1 million liability insurance policy offered for every booking is a big draw. Details are listed on the company’s website.

HarvestHost

HarvestHost differs by charging campers an annual subscription fee (ranging from $69.30 to $125.30) according to the company’s website. Hosts are not paid by guests, but instead, guests are encouraged to purchase products from the farms they visit.

According to the company’s website, the HarvestHost network offers farms access to more than 250,000 RV subscribers. In 2021, HarvestHost merged with BoonDockers Welcome, expanding the campsite network to more than 5,000 sites, according to the company’s website.

The HarvestHost search engine lists key details about each site, such as whether hookups are provided and whether “day of” requests are permitted.

Wrapping It Up

Whether you’ve engaged in vacation rentals before or you’re a first-time explorer, there are many income opportunities available. HarvestHost, FarmStay and HipCamp may elevate your visibility to online customers.