Do you dream of living a life of travel and adventure?
Do you watch full-time RVer videos on YouTube and like us, have one or more of these thoughts?
“I could never leave my job to travel full time.”
“They must have a lot of money!”
“HOW do they do it, and why is it so easy for them?”
We’ve been there, and we’ve even allowed ourselves to feel discouraged instead of inspired when watching those videos. We were a one-income family when Matt, a police officer, began experiencing health issues that were significantly impacting his ability to perform his job safely. We had to make some quick decisions if we were going to lose his income. We had an RV that we joked about a year prior saying we loved it so much we could live in it. That would give us a roof over our heads, so now we just needed to figure out a way to replace his income.
We discovered a way to not only replace the income but also eliminate other expenses so we could live on the road full-time, something we thought could only ever happen “someday.” It may be something you’ve heard of before, or if you’re like us, you may have heard of it but never realized the potential.
We are going to show you how you can make money AND live at amazing places all over the United States, places so many people only dream of!
So what is this called? WORK CAMPING!
Since we hit the road, we have met so many people who have never heard of work camping OR they’ve heard of it but never realized the potential!
What is Work Camping?
Everyone’s definition is going to be different, but overall it is working + camping = work camping! As middle-aged adults with several years before retirement, we define work camping as working a seasonal job, likely at a campground or resort, in exchange for wages, our campsite (no rent!), and utilities (no utility bills!)! We love it when we also receive free WiFi and laundry!
We use work camping to fund our full-time travel life, but not everyone’s needs will be the same when looking for positions. Maybe you don’t need the income but would like to live in an amazing place for a season rent and utility free! You can do that with work camping! The possibilities are endless, and we will talk about where to look for these positions below.
Why is Work Camping Important?
This is one of the best parts about work camping! When you make a commitment to a campground or another seasonal work camping job, you become part of a team. There’s something special about this lifestyle and the contribution we get to make as work campers. You are helping the owners grow their business by serving their very important guests during the busiest season. The way you show up and support them as a work camper can have a tremendous impact on their business. We consider it such an honor each season no matter what our job descriptions are!
How Much Money Do Work Campers Make?
We have seen hourly wages starting at $9/hour, with most paying between $10-$12/hour per person. We have made up to $21/hour plus bonuses. Some places do ask that you work a certain number of hours per week to cover your site, and additional hours are paid. You will want to be sure that the job description and all of the terms are in writing before you commit to a position. This is great for all involved because it clarifies expectations for both parties!
What Jobs are Available for Work Campers?
Here are some of the many great opportunities available for work campers!
Camp Hosting
This is what most people think of when they think of work camping. We’re giving it its own category. We’ve all seen the camp host signs when we pull into a campground, right? Camp hosts are usually volunteers for national parks, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), state, county, or municipal campgrounds as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These positions provide your site and utilities for free, no wages, in exchange for anywhere from 15-25 (on average) hours per week. Camp hosts often work in the office, assist guests, clean bathhouses or other facilities, site cleanup, mowing, repair work, or other miscellaneous duties.
Work Camping Couples
This is what we do! We have worked at both privately-owned campgrounds as well as corporate-owned, and we will talk about that more in the future! With these positions, we are employees and are paid for all hours worked, usually around 28-32 hours a week. We also receive our site and utilities for free. Some places offer additional benefits such as free laundry and free WiFi. There are also campgrounds and resorts that ask you to work a certain number of hours each week in exchange for your site, and any additional hours are paid. When you’re working as a couple, the women usually work in the office doing reservations, administrative work, and customer service. The men are usually on the maintenance/groundskeeping team which can include escorting guests to their sites, garbage pickup, mowing, and site cleanup and maintenance. There are also housekeeping/cleaning positions for couples, and we’ve done that as well. It really isn’t as bad as it seems! 🙂
Foodservice
If you love the foodservice industry, there are some fun opportunities available for work campers! Positions include line/prep cooks, servers, bartenders, cafe workers, baristas, food truck workers, and more! You may receive wages plus tips, and your site and utilities may also be part of the compensation package!
Amusement Parks
Adventureland Amusement Park is a popular work camping opportunity that we’ve seen recruiting at RV shows. Adventureland is located outside Des Moines, Iowa and is a family-owned business that has been hiring Work campers for over 20 years! You are paid for all hours worked, and at time of writing, you start at $9.50/hour. They offer season-end bonuses as well, AND you receive your campsite with electricity for free! We’ve heard that Dollywood in Gatlinburg and Six Flags in New York also hire work campers!
Property/Animal Caretaking
These positions are usually around 20-25 hours a week and have varying responsibilities. Property caretaking includes groundskeeping and anything the property owner requests. We’ve seen animal caretaking requests for entire farms or just specific animals all the way from cats to horses and almost always includes feeding, watering, manure removal, and monitoring animal health. Site and utilities are almost always covered for these positions, and some include additional pay.
National Parks
When you work for a national park, you’re usually working for a contracting company like Xanterra or Delaware North. These companies operate stores throughout the national parks ranging from gift shops, outdoor recreation, and foodservice. They usually have openings for cashiers, stockers, cooks, warehouse associates, porters, kitchen helpers, servers, housekeeping, and so much more! You are paid for all hours worked, and at the time of writing, Delaware North is hiring with wages starting at $15/hour. Full hookup RV sites are available for a minimal cost. Fees for water, sewer, and electricity may be extra depending on location. They also offer an employee meal plan, store discounts, and free recreational activities! You may even receive a season-completion bonus! We met a wonderful couple who worked for Delaware North in Yellowstone. They told us they were working 4-5 days a week, from 32-40 hours each week. We have heard that Delaware North is looking at a 4-day workweek for their employees which would be amazing!
Shorter-Term, High-Paying Work Camping Jobs You Need to Know About
Now we’re going to cover a category of seasonal work that is a little different. These are jobs that pay VERY well in a short amount of time. They are definitely hard work, but many work campers commit to these jobs each season to replenish their savings or to fund their travel and allow them to take time off for several future months.
Sugar Beet Harvest
When you hear sugar beet harvest, is your first thought that you are out in a field harvesting the beets? That’s not the case! You actually work at the piling stations so while you’re not out in the fields harvesting, you are still working in an open field where the piling stations are. This job is very weather dependent as they can’t harvest the beets if it is too warm or too cold, and rain impacts the harvest as well. You need to commit to the full month of October, and they do ask you to arrive at the end of September. On average, the harvest ends up being 10-15 working days, but as we mentioned above, it will all be based on weather. They do have alternating shifts, so be aware that night shift may be required. At the time of writing, starting wages in North Dakota are $19.50/hr. The first 8 hours are straight time and last 4 are time and a half. Saturdays are time and a half, and Sundays could be up to double time depending on your location but for sure time and a half. Season completion bonuses are also available. They also recently began offering a “stay pay” program which means if you can’t work due to weather, you are compensated for 4 hours per day.
Truck Driver for Sugar Beet Harvest
These positions tend to be in western MN. We know your first thought is don’t I need a CDL? You actually don’t when you are working for a farm in MN! They do require driving experience and may run a history on your driving record. When we were working in MN, we saw countless trucks hauling sugar beets from the fields to storage sites. We noticed several women driving these trucks, too! The trucks were running 24 hours a day, and we’ve heard the scheduling is flexible. This is a short season for approximately 3 weeks in the beginning of October but just like the beet harvest, it is all weather dependent. At the time of writing, starting wages are $18/hour with campsite included.
Truck Driver for Crop Harvest
This is something Matt did in the fall, and he will definitely be doing it again! He worked for a private farmer and assisted with their fall harvest of corn and beans by driving a semi from the fields to grain elevators or storage bins. The days were LONG (up to 16-18 hours a day), but the work wasn’t hard. He was not out in cold weather for long stretches of time. The pay at time of writing is $20/hour, and site and utilities are included.
Pumpkin Patches, Christmas Trees, Fireworks
We can’t speak to the exact requirements for these positions or the pay, but we have been in touch with one of the places that do pumpkins and trees in California. These jobs can range from 1-3 months, and you work a lot of hours in the short time you are managing the retail lots. You need to be in decent shape to work these jobs. As part of your compensation, you receive a site (some have FHU), and we’ve seen hourly wages offered in some cases, a base salary plus commission for others, including a few that pay $3,500-$5,500/month plus bonuses.
Other Unique Opportunities
- Wineries
- Sales/Advertising
- Working a kiosk for MLB’s spring training
- Here’s the most unique one yet… a listing for a remote astrophotography/astronomy site looking for a work camper to assist with maintenance, groundskeeping, feeding horses and assisting astronomers. How fun is that? There is truly something for everyone!
How to Get Started with Work Camping
It can feel super exciting to learn about the possibilities with work camping and extra overwhelming not knowing where to start. We’re here to help you!
1. Identify your needs in relation to income and your schedule
Since we are not retirement age and do not have multiple streams of income, we needed a full-time-ish income, but we were also wanting to work less than 40 hours a week. Each person is going to have different needs and desires when it comes to both the income and the schedule so talk through this to understand each other’s thoughts and expectations.
2. Location, location, location!
This is where things get really fun! Where do you dream of visiting and exploring for more than the 1 or 2 weeks of vacation time you get each year? Or do you prefer to stay closer to home as you ease into this lifestyle? We went with one of our many dream locations and started applying in that part of the country. You will want to factor in fuel prices to reach each location.
3. Create your resume!
We know this step can feel daunting, but here’s what we’ve done. We have created resumes that list our job history, but we highlight the aspects of our previous positions that will be beneficial as a work camper. We love to present what we can do for the employer versus focusing on what our needs or wants for the position are. Be sure to include a cover letter which is your opportunity to let your personality shine, and remember to attach a couple of pictures of yourselves and your rig!
Now that you have identified your income and scheduling needs, have an idea of the area of the country you would like to consider, and your resume is ready to go, it is time to start applying for jobs!
Where Do I Find Work Camping Jobs?
We’re so happy you asked because we just put together the ultimate guide to the top work camping job websites! You’ll find the top 20 websites for work camping jobs along with some great information about what each site offers!
Tips for Success with Work Camping
- Work hard – Working a seasonal job doesn’t excuse us from hard work. Be the kind of work camper that every employer dreams of having and hopes to have back each season!
- Be flexible and patient – As a work camper, your environment and job description will change every few months. It may take a bit to adjust to the new work environment. You may be asked to help fill in here or there so it is important to remain flexible and patient with each position. We always look at it from a team approach and are happy to be flexible and help as needed so we all achieve success.
- If you end up in a job you aren’t happy with, stay focused on the fact that it is short term, and you can take what you’ve learned from this experience and use that in your decision making for your next position!
Frequently Asked Questions
The Last Things You Need to Know About Work Camping
- If you have a dream in your heart to live a life of travel and adventure, chase that dream with everything you’ve got! If you don’t know where to start, we would love to help you with that. Work camping is a great option to get you on the road! We have met so many people while we’ve been working who have told us they’ve waited their entire lives to be able to travel to this location. They always tell us that we will never regret this lifestyle choice and the fact that we didn’t wait. Someday isn’t a guarantee so why keep waiting for it if may never come?
- As with every job, there always seem to be one or two unpleasant parts, and when we run into those while work camping, we just remind ourselves of two things. #1 – “This is short-term. We’re only here for a few months. We’ve got this!” #2 – “This is worth it because I get to LIVE here (insert most amazing location like, ‘two blocks from the entrance to Yosemite National Park!’) the entire season for FREE while everyone else is using their one or two weeks of vacation time.”
We are thankful that we’ve been able to fund our travels and become full-time RVers thanks to work camping. Even better, we truly enjoy the work we are doing and the people we’ve met along the way!
We are here to answer any questions you have! You’re welcome to leave a question or comment below! You can also find us on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram! If you know of someone who is dreaming of life on the road, we’d be so grateful if you’d share this with them!
Are you ready to get started?