A Peaceful Community Host Just Minutes from Laurel, Mississippi
When planning our trip to visit family in Louisiana, we wanted to spend a couple of days exploring Laurel, Mississippi, made famous by HGTV's Home Town stars Erin and Ben Napier. Southern Miss Community Host in nearby Petal turned out to be the perfect location for that adventure.
Unlike many Harvest Hosts locations, Southern Miss offers full hookups, making it a unique stop for RVers who enjoy a few extra comforts while traveling. We spent two nights here and, once we were settled in, thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
First Impressions
Our first impression was...well...a little stressful.
Getting our 46-foot Brinkley fifth wheel and F-450 through the entrance gate proved to be much more challenging than we expected. Looking back, had I known how difficult the arrival would be for a rig our size, I probably would have chosen another location.
Thankfully, that stressful arrival wasn't representative of the stay itself.
Once we made it through the gate and got parked, we quickly realized why this location consistently receives outstanding reviews. The property is beautifully maintained, peaceful, and welcoming.
The Campsite
Southern Miss is one of the few Harvest Hosts locations we've visited that offers hookups.
Water
Electric
Sewer (available but not used during our stay)
Rather than charging a camping fee, they simply ask for a donation:
$15 if using electric
$10 if using sewer
Considering everything they provide, we personally felt the suggested donation was more than fair and chose to leave a little extra in the honor box during our stay.
One feature we especially appreciated was the option to stay up to four nights, something that's uncommon with many Harvest Hosts locations.
The Hosts & Hospitality
Both of our hosts were incredibly kind and welcoming.
After the excitement of our arrival, I honestly expected them to be less than thrilled with us, but that couldn't have been further from the truth. They remained gracious, helpful, and made us feel completely welcome.
It's obvious they care deeply about providing a wonderful experience for visiting RVers.
The Little Moments
One of my favorite memories wasn't something listed in any brochure.
Our site was beside a carport with several hummingbird feeders hanging nearby. Throughout the day, tiny hummingbirds would dart around the feeders, often flying close enough to watch from my window while I sat inside keeping cool as the temps were in the upper 90's with a heat index well into the 100's.
It was one of those quiet moments that makes RV travel so special.
At the same time, it made me think about the hummingbirds we used to watch at the home we sold before returning to full-time RV life. It's a reminder that while this lifestyle allows us to experience incredible places, it also means leaving behind some of the little things we once enjoyed. Thankfully, every now and then, those memories find us again.
What to Know Before You Go
While we truly enjoyed our stay, I do have one recommendation for fellow RVers.
If you're traveling with a large fifth wheel or motorhome similar to ours, be prepared for a tight entrance and limited maneuvering room. Our total length, including the truck, is around 65 feet, and this location pushed the limits of what I'd consider comfortable.
If your rig is under about 40 feet, I think you'll likely have a much easier experience.
Once parked, however, the stay was relaxing, quiet, and enjoyable.
Would We Stay Again?
Absolutely, if we ever decide to downsize our RV.
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Have you ever stayed at a Harvest Hosts location? We'd love to hear about your favorite stop!
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Big Bertha @ MS Harvest HostsView of Yard @ MS Harvest HostsHummingbird @ MS Harvest Hosts
After leaving the Moonlight Drive-In, our second Harvest Hosts stop took us to Shenandoah Caverns in Quicksburg, Virginia. Even though we chose not to tour the caverns themselves (we're both a little claustrophobic), this turned out to be a wonderful overnight stop that offered beautiful country views and a peaceful place to spend the night.
Harvest Hosts guests park in a designated parking area separate from the daytime visitors. Once the business closed for the evening, we had the area almost entirely to ourselves except for one van camper parked nearby. Looking out across the open field, we were treated to the sight of a herd of deer running and playing through the cornfield across the road. It was one of those simple moments that makes RV travel so special.
When we first arrived, there was an unpleasant odor in the air. We assumed there must have been farm animals somewhere nearby, although we never actually saw any. Thankfully, it wasn't enough to take away from an otherwise enjoyable stay.
Although we skipped the cavern tour, we spent time browsing the displays inside the welcome center and enjoyed burgers and milkshakes from the café. Both were excellent and made for a relaxing afternoon before settling in for the evening.
Our Experience
This was an easy, quiet overnight stop with plenty of room to park. There are no hookups, but generators are permitted, making it a convenient option for self-contained RVs.
The setting was peaceful, the scenery was beautiful, and watching the deer at sunset became the highlight of our stay. It was the perfect place to unwind after a day on the road.
What We Loved
Peaceful overnight parking with plenty of room
Gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside
Watching deer play in the cornfield across the road
Friendly welcome center with interesting displays
Delicious burgers and milkshakes from the café
Generator use permitted
A Few Things to Know
No hookups are available.
There was a noticeable odor when we first arrived, likely from nearby farm operations, although we never saw any animals.
If you're uncomfortable in confined spaces like we are, you can still enjoy the property without touring the caverns.
Would We Stay Again?
Absolutely. While we didn't experience the caverns themselves, we thoroughly enjoyed everything else about our visit. Between the peaceful setting, beautiful scenery, delicious food, and relaxing atmosphere, this was a wonderful Harvest Hosts stay and one we would gladly visit again if our travels bring us back through the Shenandoah Valley.
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Have you ever stayed at a Harvest Hosts location? We'd love to hear about your favorite stop!
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Shenandoah CavernsView from our RVView from our RVDeer in FieldSign at Shenandoah CavernsCavern's CafeCavern's CafeDisplay inside Shenandoah Caverns Welcome CenterDisplay inside Shenandoah Caverns Welcome CenterDisplay inside Shenandoah Caverns Welcome CenterDisplay inside Shenandoah Caverns Welcome CenterDisplay inside Shenandoah Caverns Welcome Center
After an eventful first travel day, we finally arrived at our destination...
Moonlight Drive-In in Abingdon, Virginia.
Located just off Interstate 81, not far beyond the Tennessee-Virginia state line, it would become our very first Harvest Hosts experience.
When we traveled full-time years ago, Harvest Hosts wasn't something we had ever used. This time around, we wanted to try something different, and honestly, I picked this location simply because I couldn't resist staying at a classic drive-in theater.
As soon as we arrived, we got Big Bertha parked and started setting up camp.
Or at least we tried to.
Our first setup brought yet another unexpected surprise.
This time, our leveling jacks decided they didn't want to cooperate.
Thankfully, Brinkley's Customer Care team was only a phone call away. Their representative patiently walked us through the issue over the phone, and before long we had everything working correctly.
One more problem solved.
As for Paisley...
She handled her first travel day much better than we expected.
She spent a little while hiding underneath one of the cabinets while we were getting set up, but once she realized the RV had stopped moving, she cautiously came out to investigate and quickly returned to her normal curious self.
One travel day down...
Many more to go.
Not long after we finished setting up, the skies opened up.
Rain poured down, putting a temporary pause on our plans.
Fortunately, it eased up just long enough for us to make our way to the concession stand when it opened around 7:00 that evening.
Walking inside felt like stepping back in time.
The nostalgic atmosphere was exactly what I had hoped it would be.
Vintage signs.
Classic movie theater charm.
The smell of fresh popcorn filling the air.
It was everything you'd expect from an old-fashioned drive-in.
Of course, we couldn't leave without ordering a few treats.
I enjoyed a big bucket of wonderfully salty popcorn while Greg chose nachos. We both grabbed fountain drinks before heading back to the RV.
The plan was simple.
Lower the patio.
Relax outside.
Watch a movie under the stars.
Mother Nature, however, had a different idea.
The rain returned shortly after we got back, and we honestly weren't sure if the movie would even play.
While we waited, we stretched out inside the RV...
And promptly fell asleep.
When we woke up around 9:00 or 9:30, we discovered the movie had indeed started. It wasn't one we were particularly interested in, so instead of watching it outside as we'd planned, we spent a quiet evening relaxing inside Big Bertha, listening to the rain and enjoying our first night on the road.
Sometimes Plan B turns out to be just as enjoyable as Plan A.
Our first Harvest Hosts stay may not have gone exactly as we imagined, but by the end of the evening we were already looking forward to visiting many more Harvest Hosts locations throughout our travels.
If they're anything like Moonlight Drive-In, we're in for some wonderful adventures.
Our Thoughts
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Moonlight Drive-In was the perfect introduction to Harvest Hosts.
Between the nostalgic atmosphere, friendly staff, delicious concession food, and unique overnight experience, we couldn't have asked for a better first stop.
Even though the rain changed our evening plans, we'd absolutely stay here again.
Sometimes the destination isn't about everything going perfectly.
Sometimes it's simply about making memories.
And this stop gave us plenty of those.
Have you ever stayed at a Harvest Hosts location? We'd love to hear about your favorite stop!
