If you’ve ever wanted to trade campground fees for a free place to stay, the National Park Service is now recruiting volunteer campground hosts for summer 2026 in Washington state, and RVers across the country are eligible to apply.
Dozens of host positions are currently open at national park sites, offering RVers the chance to camp without paying site fees in exchange for light volunteer duties.
Where camp hosts are needed in Washington
At Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area in Washington, multiple hosts are needed between May and early September. Volunteers receive a campsite with hookups in exchange for helping monitor camper check-ins and assisting with basic campground upkeep.
Another role, at Willaby Campground in Olympic National Forest, runs from late April through October. Duties include greeting visitors, answering questions, and helping maintain facilities. The site is best suited for smaller rigs (under 20 feet) and includes electrical hookups plus a $35-per-day stipend.
At San Juan Island National Historical Park, volunteer couples are being recruited for visitor services roles. Hosts receive a full-hookup RV site—including water, sewer, electricity, and Wi-Fi—while assisting park visitors during the busy season.
What hosts do
Most campground host roles are unpaid, with compensation typically provided through a free campsite or hookups. Responsibilities vary by park but often include:
• Welcoming and assisting campers
• Light cleaning and maintenance
• Restocking restrooms
• Monitoring campground activity and reporting issues to rangers
Hosts are not law enforcement—they simply serve as extra eyes and ears for park staff.
Requirements
Applicants generally must have:
• Their own RV or trailer
• A valid driver’s license
• The ability to perform light physical tasks (walking, lifting, etc.)
Hookup availability, rig size limits, and length of stay vary by location.
How to apply
All positions are listed on Volunteer.gov, the federal volunteer portal. RVers can search by state, park, or amenities (such as sites that include lodging or hookups). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and popular parks tend to fill quickly, so early applications are encouraged.
For RVers looking to cut travel costs while spending a season in scenic public lands, campground hosting remains one of the most popular ways to stay—and stay free—in America’s national parks.
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RVT1248b
When we were younger (I’m 92 now) we considered being a campground host. We are both polite, helpful and kind. My wife retired as an attorney for employee problems with their employer. I was an engineer technical writer and overall handyman. However, after graduation from high school I knew I would soon be drafted for Korea. Went to work at Standard Stations pumping gas, airing tires, adding oil and water, washing windshields. Not hard. Serving was pleasant work. However, once in a while someone would try to con you, or just not be nice. From that experience I knew that I could not be serving people. As for restrooms, men might leave a dirty sink. The women left everything dirty and messy.
Thank you for sharing the news, RV Travel. I wonder how many applications they will have to wade through in order to select hosts for these campgrounds? Do they go without hosts if applications are too sparse or lack necessary qualifications? Have a great day and safe travels!
I just checked the site you gave us. They gave me zero in Washington. I even tried Lake Roosevelt as I could see doing that for a month.
Oh well in a month or two off to Idaho-Nevada-Montana, wherever the little snow we’ve received is gone, before the fires start up. Hopefully we will get 20′ of snow Sunday and everything will be Kool….
Thinking positive.(;+)…………….