Work camping can be an excellent opportunity if you don’t mind trading some work for a place to stay. It gives you a meaningful way to spend your time, introduces you to wonderful people from all over the country (and sometimes the world), and the best part? You get a “free” campsite in exchange.
If you’ve ever tried work camping, you know it can be a mix of adventure and routine. Some of you may have worked at several different campgrounds across the country, while others return to the same favorite spot year after year.
Of course, work camping isn’t for everyone. You might have discovered that the schedule or the type of work just didn’t fit your lifestyle, and that’s perfectly okay. For many RVers, the appeal depends on whether the job feels like fun or like an obligation.
Even if you’ve never done it, you may have thought about giving it a try. Would the chance to meet new people, spend time in a beautiful location, and save money on camping make it worth it for you? Or would you rather keep your travels completely free of work responsibilities?
If you are considering it, here’s an article by Nanci Dixon pointing you to work camping success!
So tell us—Have you ever been a work camper? If yes, was it at multiple locations, or do you prefer returning to the same park? If you tried it but decided it wasn’t for you, we’d love to hear about that, too. And if you haven’t work camped yet, would you consider it?
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RVT1227b
Yes, for 4 years. Recently moved from Workkamper to CG Manager. Not a position I dreamed of wanting (after 30+ years in the workplace, many of those as a supervisor/manager) but I thought “why not, let’s give it a whirl.”
Officially, no & don’t want the job. Unofficially, I (and many others) have pitched in to either help other park guests, or to assist with park maintenance.
RVers who are stationary for more than a month usually get to know the park and its management fairly well. A certain level of trust can develop between the guest and the management. While we don’t own the park, we care about where we are living.
No, we are not work campers but we are camp hosts. We love hosting and commit to 2 months a year. We volunteer in the early spring and help get the campground ready to open for the season. Love it.
Like you, I don’t think of volunteer camp hosting as work camping, but I suspect the term is just used in the generic way that applies to us.
I’ve found that there are too many people who are verbally – and get physically – abusive if you ask them to ‘keep your kids away from our campfire’ — turn down the music — etc. etc. etc. If they do that to an individual parked a site or two away, imagine blowing their top at a campground who has some authority!
We’ve been work camping for a couple of years, volunteered for the COE a couple of times. The volunteer work is fine, not that much work and most campers are respectful and thankful. Working in commercial campgrounds especially seasonal ones sucks. Too many of the seasonal campers, particularly the younger ones with feral children feel privileged and entitled. They don’t want anyone reminding them of the rules in the contract they signed. Then you have management that won’t back you and straighten out the campers.
Exactly why I wouldn’t wanna be a camp amper but that’s just my opinion
Sort of a matter of definition. We are full timers, and most of my work is done remotely while I am “camping” and my wife is a vendor at RV rallies.
Never, but for years and years, my sister and brother in law were the camp host at Dr. Creek at Fish Lake and they really enjoyed it.
She I retired I actually retired. Ok I didn’t actually retire per se but do volunteer a lot. We did a volunteer camp-hosting at a local state park to help out. It was in the fall and the main season was over. You can also volunteer for at a “habitat for humanity” RV build event.
Worked at Amazon for 4 different Christmas seasons, the sugar beet harvest twice, & oilfield gate guarding in Texas about a half dozen times. Also maintenance in a campground once, & worked in a grocery store in Alaska one summer for 6 weeks. All these jobs took place while travelling fulltime between age 65 & 71, while we postponed drawing social security until we could get the maximum at 70. We would work about 4 months per year & wander the rest of the year.
Just finishing our 3rd season in Skagway AK. Working retail sales here and before worked in a large RV park in West Yellowstone MT.
Thank you for the question, RV Travel! I have considered work-camping, but eventually dismissed the idea. I doubt that we will ever work-camp. Have a great week and safe travels!
We have 5 years and counting. We have been to so many different places. This year we added Idaho to new states we worked in a state park at. Next year is Oregon and Washington. We are hoping to finish 2026 working in an Arizona state park. We are currently in Texas state park working. It marks the third different Texas state park. We love it!