July 2024 news, with member details checked September 26, 2026.
Harvest Hosts announced on July 19, 2024 that it had acquired the membership and events portion of Escapees RV Club. Escapees Mail Service and Escapees RV Parks were excluded, per the Carr family’s letter as published by RV PRO on July 18, 2024. As of September 26, 2026, the only Harvest Hosts plan that includes Escapees membership is All Access.
Last updated: September 26, 2026
Chuck Price has 35+ years of RV camping experience and owns a 2018 Hymer Aktiv Class B.
At a glance
- Best For: All Access is the only Harvest Hosts plan that lists an Escapees RV Club membership, shown as a $49.95 value (plans page).
- Confirm Before You Join: All Access lists at $179.00 a year, and the plans page showed a lower price on September 26, 2026. Check the current price before you buy.
What Harvest Hosts bought from Escapees
Harvest Hosts acquired the Escapees RV Club membership and events business in July 2024, per its July 19 announcement. The deal covered the club, not every business that uses the Escapees name. The three official statements describe the scope in different words, so the table below quotes each one.
| Source and date | What transferred to Harvest Hosts | What stayed out |
|---|---|---|
| Carr family letter, published by RV PRO and RVBusiness on July 18, 2024 | “the management and operations of Escapees RV Club’s membership, support services, educational programs and events” | “the Escapees Mail Service and Escapees RV Parks, which will remain under existing management and ownership” |
| Harvest Hosts blog, July 19, 2024 | “the membership and events portion of Escapees RV Club” | “Travis and Melanie Carr continue to oversee the mail forwarding and Escapees RV parks.” |
| PR Newswire release, Aug. 13, 2024 | “the Escapees membership platform, including memberships, events, education and community services” | The Carrs “will continue to operate the mail service and campgrounds without interruption.” |
Harvest Hosts said on July 19, 2024 that the two would “continue to operate as separate entities.”
What stayed with the Carr family
Escapees Mail Service and Escapees RV Parks did not transfer to Harvest Hosts. The Carr family’s letter, as published by RV PRO on July 18, 2024, says, “This transition excludes the Escapees Mail Service and Escapees RV Parks, which will remain under existing management and ownership.” The same letter says, “SKP Co-Ops will continue to be an Escapees RV Club member-only benefit owned and managed by members of the Co-Ops.” It was signed by Cathie and Bud Carr and Travis and Melanie Carr.
The split still held in 2025. Harvest Hosts’ help center, updated Oct. 2, 2025, says, “Escapees RV Club and Escapees Mail Service are two separate companies.” The same page says Escapees Mail Service “remained under the original ownership.” It also calls mail service “an add-on to an Escapees membership” that is billed separately.
What each side said
The Carr family letter (published July 18, 2024)
In the version RV PRO published on July 18, 2024, the Carrs wrote, “Current benefits and services as Escapees RV Club members will continue without interruption.” They explained the choice this way: “Harvest Hosts is a company that shares our values and dedication to the RV community.” The letter says CEO Joel Holland “has been an Escapees member for several years.”
Harvest Hosts (July 19 and Aug. 13, 2024)
In the July 19, 2024 blog post, Joel Holland wrote, “I’m thrilled to announce that Escapees RV Club is now part of the Harvest Hosts family.” The post told Harvest Hosts members, “Your current Harvest Hosts memberships and benefits remain unchanged.” It said there were “no immediate plans to increase membership fees for either Harvest Hosts or Escapees members.” It also said “Over 25% of Escapees members are already part of the Harvest Hosts family” at the time of the announcement.
In the Aug. 13, 2024 release, Holland said, “With a shared passion for enhancing the RV lifestyle through exceptional experiences and a vibrant community, it was a natural fit to bring the two organizations together.” Travis and Melanie Carr, identified in the release as the former President/Co-CEO and Vice President/Co-CEO of Escapees RV Club, said, “With Harvest Hosts, we have found a partner whose vision and dedication to the RV community aligns with our own.”
What it means for members now
Escapees membership is included in only one Harvest Hosts plan, All Access. On September 26, 2026, the Harvest Hosts plans page listed “Escapees RV Club Membership ($49.95 value)” under All Access. Prices and plan contents change, so check harvesthosts.com/plans before you buy.
| Plan | List price | Includes Escapees membership |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | $99.00/year | No |
| Harvest Hosts + Boondockers Welcome | $169.00/year | No |
| All Access | $179.00/year | Yes, listed as a $49.95 value |
The plans page showed a lower price than the list price for each plan on September 26, 2026, with no promotion explained. Harvest Hosts says memberships run “a full 365 days from the day you join, renewing on that same date each year.”
A standalone Escapees membership costs $49.95 a year, per Harvest Hosts’ help center, updated Feb. 27, 2025. The same page says the membership is free for active-duty US military. This review found no source saying an Escapees-only membership includes Harvest Hosts locations.
For how host stays work, see how Harvest Hosts works. To weigh other memberships, see how Harvest Hosts compares with Good Sam and RVO.
If you are weighing a paid membership against free overnight spots, read the hidden costs of free RV parking.
Background on both organizations
Escapees RV Club
Joe and Kay Peterson launched Escapees in 1978 as a 5-page newsletter for 164 RVing friends and founding members, per the club’s own guide. Harvest Hosts’ 2024 release agrees, calling the club “Founded 46 years ago by Joe and Kay Peterson.” The Escapees guide, dated Dec. 5, 2022, put membership at “over 70,000 RV enthusiast members.” The same guide defines SKP as “A nickname for Escapee, an abbreviation used to describe a club member.” For what the club offers, see our guide to Escapees RV Club.
Harvest Hosts
Don and Kim Greene founded Harvest Hosts in 2010, per its About page. Joel and Mary Ashley became the owners in 2018, and Joel has served as CEO since 2018. The page calls its guiding principle “to make people’s lives happier through road travel.”
In August 2024, the release credited Harvest Hosts with 9,000+ locations across a portfolio that included Boondockers Welcome, CampersCard, CampScanner and Brit Stops. The About page now says Hosts grew “from 600 in 2018 to over 9,700 in 2026.” The 2024 figure counts locations across the portfolio, and the 2026 figure counts Hosts.
Frequently asked questions
Did Harvest Hosts buy Escapees RV Club?
Yes. Harvest Hosts announced on July 19, 2024 that it acquired the membership and events portion of Escapees RV Club (Harvest Hosts). Its Aug. 13, 2024 release describes the membership platform, including memberships, events, education and community services (PR Newswire).
Does Harvest Hosts own the Escapees Mail Service?
No. The Carr family’s letter, published by RV PRO and RVBusiness on July 18, 2024, said the Mail Service and Escapees RV Parks would remain under existing management and ownership (RV PRO). Harvest Hosts’ help center, updated Oct. 2, 2025, says the club and the Mail Service are two separate companies (help center).
Do I need an Escapees membership to use Escapees mail forwarding?
Yes. Harvest Hosts’ help center says the mail service is an add-on to an Escapees membership and is billed separately (help center). Check current terms with Escapees Mail Service before you sign up.
Which Harvest Hosts plan includes Escapees?
Only All Access. On September 26, 2026, the plans page listed Escapees RV Club Membership as a $49.95 value in All Access, and not in Classic or Harvest Hosts + Boondockers Welcome (plans page). Check the plans page before you buy.
How much is Harvest Hosts All Access?
All Access lists at $179.00 a year. On September 26, 2026, the plans page showed a lower price with no promotion explained (plans page). Prices change, so confirm on harvesthosts.com/plans before you buy.
Does an Escapees membership give me Harvest Hosts locations?
No source found in this review says it does. Harvest Hosts sells host access through its own plans, and Escapees appears only as an included benefit in All Access (plans page). A standalone Escapees membership is listed at $49.95 a year (help center).
Did prices go up after the acquisition?
In July 2024, Harvest Hosts said there were no immediate plans to increase fees for Harvest Hosts or Escapees members (Harvest Hosts). This review found no official statement on later changes.
