Here’s How to Live in a National Park, Totally Free

Picture yourself living and camping in some of the most sought-after places throughout the United States- trading rent prices for light work around a campground.

The secret to staying for free where everyone pays to visit?

Being a Camp Host.

There are many ways to work remotely and enjoy seeing the United States, but few things compare to living right in the heart of our National Parks. Unlocking gorgeous new “backyards” with each new bucket-list destination you check off, with no shortage of places where you can park your camper and enjoy nature. 

Is your interest peaked? Here’s how to camp host at beautiful national parks.

How to Become a Camp Host in a National Park

Here’s how the process really works, in simple terms.

First, you need to create a profile on Volunteer.gov, which is the federal government’s website for recruiting and managing volunteers.

You are not applying to a general “camp host” pool.

Instead, you apply directly to specific openings at individual parks. Each listing is separate, with its own requirements and timeline.

When you search, use the filters on the left side of the page. You can narrow results by agency, city, or state. There is also an option to filter out positions that do not offer lodging.

That filter matters.

Not every volunteer role comes with a campsite.

Experience helps. If you have done campground hosting before, worked in customer service, or handled basic maintenance, that can strengthen your application.

Most positions require:

• A valid U.S. driver’s license
• Your own RV or trailer

Listings usually specify the maximum RV size allowed and what hookups are available. Some sites provide water and sewer but no electricity. Others may offer full hookups.

A few parks offer different arrangements. Some allow tent camping. Others provide furnished cabins. One listing at Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado reportedly includes access to an electric golf cart and a furnished one-bedroom apartment.

Want to Host at Yosemite? You Might Want to Look at Other Options

Places like Yosemite receive a large number of applications. If you are new to hosting, you may have better luck applying to a lesser-known park, such as Buffalo National River in Arkansas.

Most campground host roles are unpaid.

Your compensation is the campsite or RV hookup. In exchange, you agree to meet the park’s required weekly hours and responsibilities, which vary by location.

Each listing outlines those details clearly.

Before applying, read the full description carefully so you know exactly what you are committing to.

Here are a few more tips:

• Build strong relationships with management as you start camp hosting and use them as references for future applications 
• Apply early. These are seasonal gigs and most campgrounds want to know they have all their bases covered well before they open. 
• Follow up with a friendly phone call. Competition is strong; make yourself memorable.
• Offer skills other than just customer service (light maintenance, groundskeeping, cleaning, etc can go a long way)
• Emphasize if you’re in a self-contained rig and don’t need a prime RV spot

What to Expect as a Camp Host in a National Park

As the eyes and ears of a campground, you play a vital role in keeping everything running smoothly. Your responsibilities would vary from one campground to the next, but predominantly would include:

• Checking in guests and educating them on the campground and park
• Watching over campground and reporting to the proper authorities 
• Keeping common areas and campsites clean
• Light groundskeeping and maintenance 
• Serving as a welcoming presence for visitors
• *exact job requirements vary by location, but are usually manageable and straightforward. 

You typically work 32 hours per week over 4 to 5 days, with the rest of the week to take in nearby sights. The duration of each job can vary- and if it’s a good fit, some places may ask you to come back each year or even stay through the full season.

Why You Might Love Camp Hosting

Apart from drifting off to the sound of owls hooting softly in the distance or the fresh crisp air each morning, the benefits of being a camp host at a National Park include:

• free + safe place to stay and unwind
• great home base so you can explore at your pace on your days off 
• protecting and educating others on the local environment 
• deepening your connection with nature 
• keeping our national parks clean and beautiful for future generations 

Some Hard Parts about Camp Hosting at National Parks

Like anything else, this type of lifestyle may not be for everyone. Some things to consider: 

• must have your own travel rig 
• seasonal, unpaid labor- remote work or savings is also usually needed
• can have poor to no cell service
• can be a long drive to basic conveniences or towns
• includes light manual labor such as cleaning facilities or groundskeeping
• not all campgrounds are built for bigger RVs 

Even so, these camp host positions are the perfect way for many travelers to see our beautiful national parks and surrounding areas for free in exchange for a few hours a day, a few days a week. 

Not Sure Which National Park to Choose? This Might Help.

If fishing, hiking, and forested views are what you seek, the Buffalo River NPS in Arkansas is absolutely beautiful and often hiring multiple hosts for their various campgrounds there as well as along the Ozark National Scenic Riverway where tubing, fishing, and wooded camping is everywhere you look.

If the desert is more your vibe, Dinosaur National Monument has three campgrounds hiring a camp host year round, each with their own private cabin! Or if you want one of the most archaeologically unique backyards, check for openings at Chaco Culture NHPs Gallo Camp Host; having remnants of a huge Puebloan Hub from 1,000+ years ago shimmering in the moonlight at this dark sky area is just something else entirely to experience.

If you want to aim for the big parks, Zion NP may be taking on new hosts at the South Campground location, and Yosemite NP is often looking for camp hosts for six locations- though you may need a more rugged rig to access some of them. The Great Smoky Mountains NP is gorgeous as well, and has multiple campgrounds including the Smokemont and the Cataloochee Campground that hire seasonal camp hosts.

Alternatives to Camp Hosting in National Parks

If you don’t land a camp host position in a National Park, or just want to see what else is out there, worry not- there are plenty of other places looking for work-trade help all over the US. 

Other Places to Camp Host or Work-Trade

• State Parks
• Private Campgrounds 
• Add yourself to the KOA camp worker directory and check out their jobs
• River Outfitters, Ski Resorts, and Travel Guide Companies

You can also use this link from Kamper Jobs as a comprehensive job search for camp related work across the US, which breaks down jobs by state and description- including if it’s a paid position or not. 

Is Being a Camp Host Worth It?

Camp hosting won’t be for everyone, and that’s okay. For myself and many other travelers though, seeing some of the most beautiful parts of our country for free makes the answer to that question an easy yes.

Top National Parks I personally could wake up to any day include Glacier, Acadia, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and Olympic National Park. 

You can’t go wrong with any area of the country though, from the picturesque scenery of New England, through the desert biomes in the Southwest, to the breathtaking Pacific Northwest.

There are opportunities everywhere- so matter where you see yourself being happiest, rest assured there will be a place nearby looking for someone like you. The only thing left to figure out now is where you want to go first.