The open road, the adventurous trails, a freshly brewed beer, handcrafted pizza, conversations and laughter under the stars. This is what we live for, camping, beer, and biking. And is there really anything better than camping, beer, and biking, at a Harvest Hosts brewery?
SOUTHERN HARVEST HOSTS BREWERY CAMPING, BEER & BIKING GUIDE
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee – There are no Harvest Hosts breweries with mountain biking trails nearby in these states.
This Southern Harvest Hosts Brewery Camping, Beer and Biking Guide is one of several regional guides giving you instant access to mountain biking trails that match up with free camping at breweries nationwide.
In this guide for each specific area you will find:
- Harvest Hosts (HH) Brewery
- Mountain Biking Trails near the HH Brewery
- Additional Trails and Breweries in the Surrounding Area
- Suggested Routes to Best the Enjoy the Trails and Breweries
MTB Project reports that the U.S. has over 144,000 miles of trails on over 44,000 trails. Combine those stats with over 9000 craft breweries and over 100 of those breweries offering FREE camping through a Harvest Hosts membership? Dude, your beer and biking vacation just became a complete no-brainer.
What is this Harvest Hosts thing?
Harvest Hosts is a membership for RVers (or van-lifers) that provides FREE RV camping at over 7000 wineries, breweries, distilleries, farms, museums, and other unique locations. You don’t have to be full-timers to use Harvest Hosts; you simply need to be self-contained in your RV (or van or truck camper), meaning you don’t require or expect the host site to provide you with any RV necessities like water, power or sewage.
We’ve used Harvest Hosts at numerous different locations. It is one of our favorite traveling memberships. Breweries are, of course our favorites, but we’ve used our membership at orchards, vineyards, museums, alpaca farms, and a variety of other places.
Why Harvest Hosts?
Why not? OK, so yeah, we do get affiliate income from Harvest Hosts if you sign up through our link. You get a benefit from this, as well. If you use our Harvest Hosts link, you get 15% OFF the regular price.
We’ll do the research; you do the riding and drinking.
Picture this. The RV is packed. The beer fridge is full. The mountain bikes are tuned and raring to go. You’re ready for an adventure. But that RV needs to find a place to camp. The beer fridge will be empty sooner than you think and those bikes are itching to get some mud on them…NOW!
If you have been anything like us, you know it takes time to plan. We pull out both our smartphones ladened with all the top notch apps dedicated to beer, biking, and camping. Two hours later, research done, we are ready to go. Two hours? That’s time that could’ve been spent on the trail leading into time drinking that well earned beer.
Camping, Breweries, Trails: all in one place
So, we have done the work for you by putting together a listing of all the trails that match up with local craft breweries that match up with free camping (Harvest Host breweries) – all separated by regions of the country. Did you know we also have a Craft Beer Travel and Adventure Journal matched up by regions of the country, as well? What a beautiful way to track your beer and biking adventures. Click here to check out the Journal.
We sought out the Harvest Hosts craft brewery locations that have mountain biking and craft breweries within a 50 mile radius. Now that’s a beer and biking vacation.
Southern
Harvest Hosts Brewery Camping,
Beer, and Biking Guide
ALABAMA
Harvest Hosts Brewery – Gadsden, Cullman
Located about 75 miles southeast of Huntsville, Back Forty Beer Co. is situated in historic downtown Gadsden, in a 27,000-square-foot Sears & Roebuck Warehouse built in the 1940s. The original Back Forty location offers their signature brews, plus Gadsden-only specials, and food from the Back Forty Test Kitchen. The food menu changes every week depending on what fresh ingredients Executive Chef Chris Wood has found.
Goat Island Brewing is located about 50 miles south of Huntsville or about 55 miles west of Gadsden, making it a great place to double-up on Harvest Hosts with Back Forty Beer Co. Established in early 2015, Goat Island Brewing was founded on friendship and a firm belief that it is never too late to go after your dream.
Mountain Biking Gadsden and Cullman
Mountain Biking Gadsden, Cullman, and Surrounding Areas
With the Black Creek trail system being less than three miles from Back Forty, this area is perfect for the biking first, beer second, bed third, repeat scenario. Add in the rest of the region for biking and brews, here, Alabama will surprise you.
- Black Creek Trails aka Noccalula Falls
- Lake Guntersville State Park
- Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
- Huntsville Trails
Nearby Riding and Breweries
We’ve spent a lot of time in this region exploring trails and breweries. While our home base was Lake Guntersville State Park with mountain biking trails right outside our door, it was worth the day trips exploring Cullman, Gadsden, and Huntsville. Huntsville – this rocket town will surprise you with its many trail systems and 11 breweries! With many of them within what’s known as its purple cup district (where you can walk with beer in hand), this is a place to wander to ALL of the breweries. Check out our Stout Conversation with Green Bus Brewing in downtown Huntsville.
Suggested Routes
You’ll need at least a week here to experience all of the trails and breweries, but since most of us still have to work to earn money, we understand if you only have a few days. If that’s the case, I’d start in Gadsden riding the trails, hit the HH brewery, enjoy a blissful night’s sleep, and then hit the trails again near there, and with a couple of other non-brewery HH’s right in this same area, drink some wine, enjoy another free night’s stay, and then head towards Huntsville for a few days riding and drinking (stealth camping or other campgrounds may have to define your night’s stay there, but it’s worth it). If you have more time, head towards Cullman and maybe a restful day of chilling at Goat Island Brewing, catching a movie in your rig before you crash hard from all the riding.
Return to state by state navigation.
ARKANSAS
Harvest Hosts Breweries – Springdale
Located just a few miles west of Fayetteville, Saddlebock is an environmentally friendly brewery with site-grown hops, food available, live music, and volleyball court. There is a winery and historic mill nearby, and you’re right on the edge of Fayetteville, which is known for several other excellent breweries.
Mountain Biking Springdale, Bentonville, and Fayetteville
Mountain Biking Springdale, Bentonville, and Fayetteville
So many trails, miles upon miles of places to explore. This region is a true playground for mountain bikers. Sadly, we have not played here yet. We have been here, and we’ve visited Saddlebock. Why oh why did we not ride? It was cold, rainy, drizzly, and we were only passing through. We will be back.
- Mt. Kessler
- Mt. Fitzgerald
- Hobbs State Park
- Lake Atlanta
- Coler Preserve
- More, more, and more – so many trails in this region to explore
Nearby Riding and Breweries
This area of Arkansas is one of the renowned places to both ride and drink craft beer. With so many places to choose from, maybe this article will help you out a bit for mountain biking. As for the breweries, just visit them all – practicing moderation, of course.
Suggested Routes
With a few other Harvest Hosts vineyards and attractions close by, you could hit up all the trails and all the breweries in this region, well maybe not all of them. But with your HH brewery in Springdale right in the center of all the mountain biking action, I’d start south in Fayetteville, spending a couple of days riding there and then spending the night at the Arkansas Air and History Museum (HH location). Then head north for a day of riding in Bentonville, before heading to the center at Springdale for your HH brewery night cap and sleepy time. With Tontitown Winery also serving as Harvest Hosts stay, you can head back north to the trails, knowing you’ll have a relaxing evening sipping wine before heading off to sweet dreams.
For more Arkansas fun, check out the Hot Springs area for biking, of course, but also the only brewery located in a national park and brewing with hot springs water.
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LOUISIANA
Harvest Hosts Brewery – Lafayette
Located about 20 miles northeast of Lafayette outside of Arnaudville, Bayou Teche Brewing is a family owned and operated brewery located near the Bayou Teche. With an on-site taproom and beer garden, Bayou Teche brews beers that complement their Cajun & Creole lifestyles. Live music and “Cajun Saucer” wood fired pizza (also on site) are also offered every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Mountain Biking Lafayette
Yep, mountain biking trails in Louisiana – not much for ascents or descents, but there are trails.
- Acadiana Park
Nearby Riding and Breweries
While there may not be a plethora of riding nearby, Baton Rouge is just over 50 miles from Bayou Teche, and with a few more trails here, along with several breweries, I’d say it’s worth a paying a visit here. That, and you must go to Parish Brewing – highly recommended.
Suggested Routes
With three other HH locations located near Bayou Teche Brewing and eight trails at nearby Acadiana Park, why not ride ALL the trails and drink ALL the beer. Start with that and then head towards Baton Rouge, where you’ll find a few other non-brewery HH’s nearby, a few more trails, and a few more breweries. Sounds like a plan I’d follow.
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MISSISSIPPI
Harvest Hosts Brewery – Biloxi
Just five miles east across the bay from Biloxi, Fort Bayou embodies a relaxed atmosphere this region is known for. Enjoy cajun inspired dishes and craft beer on their gazebo or great live music from anywhere in the brewery.
Mountain Biking Biloxi
Mountain biking in Mississippi? Yep, a few trails available for some fun before you stroll along the beach. That sounds like the best of both worlds, to me.
- Bethel Trails Desoto State Park
Nearby Riding and Breweries
With two other non-brewery HH’s in the region, less than 15 breweries in the entire state of Mississippi, and nine trails at Desoto State Park, you’ll be able to – once again – drink ALL the beer and ride ALL the trails, and have time to stroll the beach and play in the ocean.
Suggested Routes
I’d take this opportunity to get to know the area around here, instead of galavanting all over the place. Maybe ride some trails, stay at your HH brewery, wander the beach the next day, stay at another HH in the area, ride some more trails, take a nap on the beach the next day, ride some more trails, stay at yet another HH in the area, ride some more trails, stroll the town, learn the history. Sounds quite nice.
But, if you must galavant around, may we suggest Key City Brewing in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
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We’re not done yet.
Check out our other Harvest Hosts Brewery Camping, Beer, and Biking Camping Guides:
Stay tuned for more detailed Harvest Hosts brewery and biking locations coming soon.
Feeling adventurous? There are over 1000 Harvest Hosts locations (including an additional golf course membership), and once you become a member, you’ll have access to all those places. Many mountain biking regions that are close to Harvest Hosts breweries are also close to Harvest Hosts wineries, distilleries, farms, and more. So while you can only stay one night per location, there might be another location just down the road. Keep that mountain biking adventure going as long as you can.
Links and Resources:
- Harvest Hosts – membership site for free camping
- Trailforks – mountain biking trails, route planning, reports
- MTB Project – mountain biking trail guides
- Craft Beer Biking – LASL stories and adventures
- Craft Beer Travel and Adventure Journal – track your adventures and beer
We do our best to provide you with the most up to date facts; however, we are not perfect, so if you come across something that is not quite right, or you think we should add more, let us know. We appreciate all the help we can get.
Cheers!
