Workcamping is a great way to pay for your trips while you travel! You can find temporary workcamp jobs across the country using the following job search resources…
In many cases, the only thing stopping RVers from traveling more is money. RV is expensive and making up for the costs can be a real challenge, regardless of someone’s age or employment status.
Whether you’re retired, have another job that doesn’t cut it, or just want to make travel more affordable, work camping is a great way to earn money on the road.
Fortunately, there are many job-finding websites and apps available designed specifically to help RVers find work while traveling. You can join and follow various job camping sites to make it easier than ever to make extra money.
What types of work camp jobs are there?
You may be concerned that age, ability, and experience play a role in getting camping jobs. While this is always true to some extent, there is a wide range of jobs available that make work camping a viable option for almost everyone.
You will see many listings for seasonal jobs, such as Christmas tree lots, pumpkins, or festivals. Even retail stores and amusement parks post for seasonal work during the holiday season.
There are also many job opportunities throughout the year, such as camp host jobs, tour guide, campground maintenance, customer service, food service, camp general store clerk, camp job office and many other miscellaneous jobs.
Some positions are full-time with long hours, while others are part-time with flexible hours and everything in between. There is also a range from short-term work to permanent positions and more!
Basically, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a solo traveler or a working camping couple. So I say it’s worth a look regardless of your situation if you want to offset the costs of the trip.
How well do work camp jobs pay?
You won’t get rich from labor camp jobs. After all, they are usually temporary positions that do not require extensive experience or very specific skills. However, you can offset a good portion of your travel expenses depending on how much time you are willing to spend.
Many private campgrounds, private RV parks, and public campgrounds offer free camping and some free amenities (such as electricity) in exchange for a certain number of hours of work at the camping shop or on the grounds. If you exceed the required number of work hours, some camping jobs will also pay you.
Minimum wage is often the starting point, but it depends entirely on the job and the type of work. You’ll also need to consider where you’re working. Work camp jobs in New Mexico, for example, probably won’t pay as much as one in California.
10 Best Resources for Finding Work Camp Jobs
There are several great resources available to help you find work on the road. I recommend checking job listings and posting a resume online to multiple sites to increase your odds of finding the best match.
Let’s start with the most popular one that has turned “labor camp” into a word…
1. News from Workamper
Steve Werner talks about Workamping for American Land & Leisure, an employer that hires hundreds of Workampers for outdoor jobs in nine states. https://t.co/SRExqfzcWr pic.twitter.com/tW7c8A7Roo
– Workamper News (@WorkamperEditor) October 5, 2022
Workamper News (usually just referred to as Workamper) is the original resource for RVers, which is why workcamping as a whole is often referred to as “workamping.” It’s the go-to resource for campers and campers when you need a job.
Their website is very easy to use and they have one of the largest databases available full of job opportunities. It’s a great starting point for anyone entering the traveling workforce.
You can try it for free for 30 days.
2. Volunteer.gov
This site features volunteer jobs for: US Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, US Geological Survey, Service National Resource Conservation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and US Bureau of Reclamation.
You can narrow your search criteria by filtering by keywords, activities, difficulty level and host housing, just to name a few.
This site was highly recommended by fellow RVers in response to a post in our RV Lifestyle Facebook group.
3. Amazon Camperforce
Amazon Camperforce has really been climbing the ranks of the best job-finding resource for RVers. As we all know, Amazon employs a massive workforce and is constantly growing.
Amazon offers seasonal warehouse jobs in several states. Current warehouse locations include (more currently under construction):
- Portland, OR
- Phoenix, AZ
- Houston, TX
- Cincinnati, OH
- Lexington, KY
- Louisville, KY
- Nashville, TN
- Tampa, FL
You can pick, pack and ship customer orders in a highly technological and secure work environment. All you have to do is apply, reserve your own campsite and show up.
4. CampHost.org (Vista creation)
CampHost is operated by Vista Recreation, which is a private company that partners with various public agencies to operate outdoor recreation areas.
It’s an excellent resource for those specifically looking for a campsite host job. Most workcamp jobs are seasonal, roughly May through October, although some positions in warm climate states may be year-round.
Camp hosts manage shops, marinas, canoe rentals, boat ramps, and horseback riding facilities, but the most common position is managing a small camp or part of a larger camp.
5. Battle of Jobs
Camp host couple needed in Savoy, TXhttps://t.co/sU4b42yzJ8
— Kamper Jobs (@KamperJobs) October 5, 2022
Kamper Jobs is another popular job search site because it’s 100% free. The website and user experience aren’t as nice as some other options on this list, but that’s the trade-off for a free service.
You’ll find hundreds of job listings in a variety of great locations across the country. The good thing is that they show you the newest jobs right on their home page, so you can easily see what’s available right away before diving into your search.
6. WorkcampingJobs.com
Workampingjobs.com is another free site built by RVers for RVers. The site was created by Jerry and Cynthia Winegard to give VR workers and those companies that hire them a place to meet for free.
“We don’t use this site for a living, so we don’t charge anything to our visitors,” the couple states on their site. “We offer the site as a service to our VR friends. As long as the ad revenue covers the hosting costs, we’re happy.”
7. Helping Hands
The program of the Xanterra Travel Collection, which manages the Yellowstone National Park Lodges, among many other things, offers part-time and short-term jobs for people over 18 who want to experience the park in a different way.
You can find seasonal and full-time jobs on the website.
8. National Parks Arts Foundation: Artist in Residence Program
If you’re the creative type, the National Parks Arts Foundation has an Artist in Residence (AIR) program that houses participants in accommodations (many offer camping as an option) for a month and pays participants a stipend or reimbursement for their time
It’s a very exciting opportunity for those looking for a creative outlet while traveling in an RV.
9. Happy tramps
Happy Vagabonds is a basic website that isn’t very attractive. However, it is still a good resource for work camper jobs if you want to consider all of your options.
The website is useful if you want to search for jobs by state. However, if you want to filter and specify your search parameters, I would recommend the other resources on this list.
10. Individual State opportunities
In addition to the above, many states also have their own websites to search for volunteers to host particular camps. Here are some links (this list is not exhaustive, just a sample):
A real life working couple
Here’s an interview we did with Jim and Rhonda Phipps, a retired couple who are veteran campers. They share what boot camp is all about and how it can help pay for your RV trips and RV life.
Camping can be expensive.
Especially if you spend more time traveling in outdoor spaces. Or maybe you’re living and working from your RV.
Traditional campsites can also be crowded and noisy. Sometimes it can feel like the opposite experience you’re looking for by getting away from civilization and into nature.
This may be why you are looking for cheap or free campsites and that is why I am here to help. I’ll introduce you to boondocking at off-the-beaten-path campsites, and then teach you how to find them.
This e-book (not a print book, but you can print it yourself if you want) is available right now.
Here’s your ultimate guide to cheap or FREE RV camping
