You Can Become a “camp Host” and Live in National Parks for Free

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Existence increasingly resembles a subscription model, and commissions continue to rise. Rents are still much higher than they were just a few years ago, and buying a home now requires some form of supernatural help, unless you have some kind of trust fund in your life. But when times get tough, people get creative, and more people are looking at a camper van or Life van.

While living in an RV full-time can certainly be cheaper than renting an apartment or buying a home, there are still inevitable costs. First, you need to buy a motorhome or camper. Then you need to rent campsites, which range from free ( on federal land but without utilities or amenities) to almost $15,000 a year at commercial campsites.

It’s still cheaper than most rentals, but if you’re really strapped for cash, you can cut your housing and utility costs to zero—and maybe make some money, too. If this sounds like a good idea to you, consider camp host jobs.

What is a camp owner?

A camp host or park host is a person who operates a campground in a national or state park or a private campground. When people arrive in their RVs, the camp owner welcomes them, checks them into the campsite, and makes sure they are hooked up to water, electricity, and other amenities, if available. The owner is usually also responsible for a long list of other duties, including:

  • Service. The camp host typically performs light maintenance work, which typically includes cleaning bathrooms and other common areas and minor repairs.

  • Enforcement of rules. Campgrounds usually have written rules governing permitted conditions, noise levels, and other aspects of camp life. When someone breaks these rules or makes a complaint, the camp host is expected to resolve the problem.

  • Information. The Camp Host is expected to be knowledgeable about camp life in general and the specific campsite under his or her care, and to answer questions from campers. They are not usually expected to be experts at the park itself, only at the campsite.

The camp owner lives right at the campsite. The requirements for being a camp host are generally fairly easy: you must be at least 18 years old, you must own some kind of motorhome (the type and size of that motorhome may limit the number of campsites you can work at), and pass a basic background check. In addition, some outdoor skills and familiarity with RV camping are required.

Camping Products You Should Consider:

Advantages and disadvantages

If you have an RV and enjoy the nomadic camping lifestyle, becoming a camp host can be a great way to cut your costs as they almost always include free RV parking and on-site hook-ups. This means you can live rent-free and utility-free as long as you fulfill your role, plus you won’t have to regularly pay to fuel your RV.

Most camp host positions are volunteer, meaning free rent, hookup, and Wi-Fi are all you receive in compensation. But some camps pay up to $66,000 a year . Most jobs at the camp will pay close to minimum wage, determined either by the state in which it is located or the current federal minimum wage. You must commit to a specific period of service , which can range from two weeks to year-round. You could also potentially combine multiple short-term positions to have free rent all year long. Even if being a camp host doesn’t pay, it’s still a great way to cut costs and save money.

Of course, there are potential disadvantages to consider:

  • The job can be a bit messy, especially cleaning bathrooms.

  • You are more or less always on duty; If vacationers have problems in the middle of the night, you will be the one to wake them up.

  • This is physical work and it can be dirty. You will also have to work in all kinds of weather.

  • Utilities vary by camp. A big issue for many people is laundry: some campgrounds offer laundry services as part of their camp host privileges, but many don’t, so you’ll have to think about how you wash your clothes.

If you’ve thought about all this and think this might be the perfect way to live cheaply and maybe also make a little extra money, how do you get a job as a camp host?

Job search for camp organizers

Finding a camp host position is no different from looking for other types of work. There are several ways to find such a job:

If you decide to take on the position of a camp host, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • Plan ahead. Just because these are volunteer or low paying positions doesn’t mean you can just show up and get it. It can take several months between applying for a camp job andgetting one , so find out where you want to live and get started early.

  • Be flexible. There are many parks and campgrounds throughout the country. If you’re looking to work with a host to save some money, be prepared to travel. You may have to commit to more than one position if you hope to make this a full-time gig, and moving from one location to another to maintain those free connections may require some logistics.

  • Sure. The RV camping life isn’t for everyone. If you’re new to the business and are mostly inspired by your anemic bank account, consider trying your hand at being a camp host before committing fully to it.

If you already have a camper, hosting offers a potentially free life. If you think the camping lifestyle might be for you, it’s definitely worth a try.

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