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How To Become A Campground Host

This post was updated on March 15th, 2024

older man with brown hat looking at a campground sign - feature image for campground host
Photo via NPS.gov

How To Find Campground Host Jobs

Camp hosting is a great way to work and enjoy a particular area of the country for a season. Becoming a campground host is fun and rewarding, and positions aren’t difficult to find or obtain, but you will want to take a few things into consideration before you dive in.  

What is a campground host?

A campground host is an individual or a couple that provides services to a private, state park, or national park campground. Hosts must be at least 18 years of age and able to supply their owner camper. Hosts are often retired people who like to travel and spend their summers in cooler climates. They also generally like the outdoors and are eager to help others.

Campground hosts provide that personal touch that make campers feel welcome. If you like people, and are generally friendly and helpful, this might be just the position you are looking for.

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What does a campground host do?

The actual duties will vary by campground but mostly consist of meeting and greeting visitors, camper registration, firewood sales, site maintenance, cleaning of facilities and sites and more. You might even assist at the entrance station at a park, maintain a message or bulletin boards, or participate in interpretive programs.

Campground hosts might also answer questions about local attractions, activities and trails, or local services such as gas stations, stores, or medical facilities. They might even refer visitors to forestry officials or other park administrators.

My father-in-law spent a number of his retirement years camp hosting, and his duties also included helping to carve out trails, plant trees, pick up dog poop, and wrangle snakes. While wrangling snakes would not be my favorite aspect, the job of a campground host will keep you on your toes and isn’t likely to be boring.

pink sign to clean up dog poop
One of your duties as a campground host might be to clean up the grounds of dog waste. Photo via Flickr.

Things to consider about workamping

Are you a people person? Do you mind enforcing rules or cleaning toilets? Is low pay or even volunteer work going to be a problem for you? What do you think about being on call 24/7?

Other considerations regarding campground hosting jobs might include concerns about wildlife in your area. How remote is the campsite? Will it take you an hour to get to town to get groceries or even longer to find a Walmart or a chain store? If you answer these questions honestly, that will tell you a lot about whether a campground hosting job is for you.

You will need to put your best foot forward and put your application in well ahead of the season. That means probably at least six months in advance. If you aren’t within that window, don’t panic; you will likely still be able to find something, but it may not be all that you want the first season. Just go with the flow, learn, and keep looking for that perfect position. The more experience you have, the easier job hunting will be.

Getting the job

Once you get that all-important interview, make you are positive and talk about any experience you have that might relate to the job, even if you don’t have any prior experience being a campground host. Once you get the job offer, make sure it lines up with what you want, and then be in agreement with your employer on the length of your commitment.

Although sometimes jobs don’t work out, staying on for the specified time will go a long way toward getting a good review and getting your next job. Remember, the job is temporary, and even if it’s not great, you will get through to the end. Then you will know what to look for the next time you work.

Of course, campground host jobs will require you to have an RV to live in. Make sure the campground doesn’t have any RV type or length restrictions. If you haven’t already been living in the RV, make sure it will be comfortable for the duration of the season. This could mean colder or hotter weather in the beginning, end, or in-between. Whether it’s a van, truck camper, trailer, or tent, spend some time in it before you head to your job.

Keeping a positive attitude will go a long way toward enjoying what you do and being able to see the positive in every situation. Take time to enjoy nature. Watch the sunrise or catch the elk as they take a stroll through the campground. Throw your fishing pole in a lake or stream or strike up a conversation with other campers. There are so many wonderful people with interesting stories. Don’t forget to take a journal and record your epic adventures.

How much do campground hosts make?

Be aware that campground hosts positions are often volunteer. As you search for positions that might interest you, keep an eye out for those that provide a salary or stipend.

Generally, a campground host is provided a full hookup RV site in exchange for a certain number of hours worked. As a campground host, you might possibly receive some extras such as firewood or the free use of the campground amenities.

Your position is very important. Just by being there, campground hosts are invaluable in keeping campgrounds safe from vandalism and property damage. Also, don’t accept a position if they require you to pay for your site.

How to find campground host jobs

Finding a campground host position is not that difficult; you just need to know where to look.

State Parks

You can start with finding a state park that you would like to work/volunteer with or one that is close to you. Go to this link to find parks by state. https://www.stateparks.org/locate-a-park/

Once you have selected a state (I chose Arizona), a link will take you to that park’s website. A volunteer link at the bottom took me to a page with information about Arizona’s volunteer programs, ways you can volunteer, and a link to start the application process. Most states will have similar pages.

National Parks

National parks also have campground host volunteer positions available. You can start your search at  http://bit.ly/NPScampgroundHost.

Other places to search for campground host jobs

Workamper News

Workamper News is one of the best places to find camp hosting and other work camping positions. This organization requires a membership to get the most up-to-date job listings, but it is worth the $20 per year you will pay. You will have to pay a little more for some of their online tools. Check out www.workamper.com for more information. You can search for volunteer positions at https://workamper.com/volunteer-opportunities.

Workers on Wheels

Workers on Wheels is a site that lists jobs available throughout the USA. Various positions are posted regularly, including paid employment, work-for-site jobs, and volunteer positions.

Visit https://www.work-for-rvers-and-campers.com/help-wanted.html for more information.

Indeed

If you aren’t sure where you want to camp host, searching Indeed could be a good starting point. A search will net jobs of varying lengths, as well as some volunteer and some paid.

Check out the available positions by clicking https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=Campground+Host.

Vista Recreation

Go to the Vista Recreation website at https://camprrm.com/jobs/ for campground host positions available across the US. You can choose a state and see what might be available in that area.

Forest Service

You’ll find the Forest Service website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/volunteers, where you can find regional campground host positions.

Now go for it!

Campground hosts are the concierges, as well as public relations, marketing, customer service gurus, and face of the campground. While your duties might be many and varied, they will all come back to helping people. If that sounds like something you might like, get out there and do it. You won’t regret the friends you will make, the sights you will see, and sharing the stories of all your epic adventures.


Choosing the right campground is important. It can be the difference between an average RV trip and a great RV trip. RV LIFE Campground Reviews is the most trusted source of campground information in the industry. Millions of RVers use and trust Campground Reviews, which also provides the vast resources available in RV LIFE Pro, the best tool for planning and navigating your RV trips.

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