How to Get Camp Host Job

- A National Park Listing(some no pay)
Hope this is helpful!
*My name is Brian. I started living full time in a self built camper van in 2014 in my hometown of San Diego, CA. I hit the road full-time in 2015 to pursue seasonal work and travel around the U.S. I find free camping on public land and enjoy photography, hiking, biking, and kayaking in nature. Join me on my adventures.
Thanks for watching!

***Follow Your Dreams**
#campground host job

[AdventureVanMan]

If you have been a campground host please share about it here in the comments. Thank you for watching

[MC-oibr]

I have worked as a remote camp host for the last 6 years for Vista Rec.The year run from May 1 ST. to Sept 15 TH. got paid $18. a hour, $50. a month for fuel and I cash in bottles and cans (CRV) to make a extra $500. to $1000. per season.

I have had my campgrounds burn to the ground and almost lost my life. Chased more bears out of camp then I can count and I even had one bear right in my face. Many dog attcks from camper who let there dogs off the leash. I have kick out many campers for non payment, behavioral problems and not following the campground rules. I have had to put crazy camp fires out that campers have made or ones that they left. I have received many death threats over the years. Cows pooping all over my campground and we are talking about six foot or better spray. I have had to clean rat and fly infested pit toilets. Everytime I open restroom door i'm ready for anything from throw up, poop and peep every were. I had people complain about everything from bugs, dust, smell pit toilets (outhouse) and paying for extra parking ($10. per night). Campers banging on my door at 10 o'clock at night asking were thier camp site is. Had many people calling my boss to try to get me fired for asking them to follow the rules.

On the upside i get 40 hours a week and a company truck (5 years out of 6). Most of the camphost sites are great, big and away from the camp. I only see my boss for about 30 minutes a week when he pick up the paper work and drop off supplies. The true trick to the job is time management, to know when things need to be done and take lots of breaks. I love working seasonal, 4 1/2 months on and 7 1/2 off to do what I want. I do collect uneployment on the off season while I look for winter work. I do love being off grid and working by myself. With Vista if you do a resonable job for the season the campground your to come back to year after year.

I do stay in the camp most of the time. I only go to town to buy food or cash in the cans/CRV. I do live like a king in the camp. I have 1 KW of solar, 275 gallon water holding tank, two 55 gallons tanks for hauling water, propane for heating and cooking, bucket toilet. I even have clothes washer and cell phone for the internet. I do have a TV, DVD player and a X Box for extra entertainment for those rainy days.


I have meant alot of nice people over the years from all over the world. I have got invited to dinner and got free drinks many times. I do enjoy telling camper about all the thing to do in the area and telling bad bear jokes.

Yes, I will go back for my seventh season next year.

[scable-eqbp]

Me & my wife just picked up the most unusual and interesting nomad job, we will be working at the Los Vintos Wind Farm in Texas which is owned by the Vista Corporation. They provide a camp site with full hookups. Our job will be to maintain the property at the base of each wind turbine. They provide all the tools and transportation. The job pays $25 an hour for each of us, it's a 10 hour shift, actually 9 hours because they give us a 1 hour paid lunch break and it's a 4 day work week, that gives us Friday thru Sunday to relax. They require a 6 week commitment, but you can work long past the 6 weeks if you choose to.

[michaelhamerski]

Be aware of Camp Hosting in Alaska. Wife and I did it for 2 months, with no power, water, sewer. Got paid $14/hour for two of us. Worked out to be $500/week before taxes. In Alaska, that is starvation wages, milk was $7/gallon, gas was $4.50/gallon, loaf of bread $6.50.

[GaryNichols]

I workamped for the first 6 years of being a nomad, the first year and a half was all campground hosting. I did not do any work for 3rd party like you did. In fact, none were for any private parks. All of my campground hosting was at several state parks and one national park. I had less than a satisfactory experience at one Georgia state park that happened to be managed by a 3rd party rather than by the state DNR like the others. But every other place I hosted was a fantastic experience, especially the national park (Great Sand Dunes NP in Colorado) where they made me feel I was a very valued member of their team. The park staff even held a dinner party for me at the end of the season and gave me some thank you gifts.

[RainStrom_]

We have been a camphost for 7 years. From the Keys up to top of Florida and the panhandle. Went to Louisiana and to Arizona, then back to Texas and now back to southern Florida. We loved every mile. Always volunteer no money paid to us.

[prpman]

It has been a few years ago but we did the CH thing for several seasons primarily for the National Park Service and one Colorado State Park. All were great experiences. We wanted full hook-up but without pay, volunteer only. At the locations we hosted they had paid maintenance staff. We were the hosts and that worked for us. Brian you shared some great tips. especially the one about interviewing the company about the location and expectations. Have seen other hosts arrive and depart within a short period because it wasn't what they expected.

[quinnedwards]

Great tips!! I wouldn't even have thought about lifting a mower as part of the job! I cleaned toilets to pay for grad school so I think I've cleaned enough toilets for a lifetime, lol. 😆 I'm working to build up my freelancing web design business now so I can take it on the road. Gorgeous desert scenery!! Safe travels ✌️

[MichaelQPowell]

I think that the distance to grocery stores is an important additional factor, Brian, as you described during your videos this past summer. If it is a really long drive, it could use up a lot of gas and really eat into your wages.

[sunnyla]

Great info, Brian, thank you! I worked at Yellowstone in 1974, paid minimum wage (waitress) & room (dorm style) and board, good deal and great experience. Got a part-time CH in Ouray, CO, in 2019. When I arrived, I was told it was full-time, sorry, no, so I left the next day🙃

[persuethedream]

Im an older person. Camphosted for 3 years. Never got paid but a free camping spot at state parks and 1 national park. Loved the work and it was great exercise. But my experience of the management at these parks was horrible. A lot of work with minimum tools

[paulmadkow]

I'm a camp host outside Park City Utah. Well, I'm off season now. To apply for Utah state parks is super easy. I applied for California state parks. What a pain. Lots of paperwork. I got 3 offers from Utah state parks in a few days. Awesome.

[susanstrickland]

Nice of you to leave the links for others, and take the time to provide info. Glad it worked out mostly good for you. 🙂👍

[NoFate]

The adventure continues!!! Thank you for sharing

[bntravelin]

We hosted at Great basin for two years and the grocery store was 67 miles each way.... Loved it

[michaeltaylor]

As a budding nomad wanderer, this was a great message. Thanks Brian for your channel and this index of employers and tips of the trade. Many happy travels brother.

[davidjabbusch]

I have been Host for 5 seasons. It might not be for everyone. I enjoy meeting new campers.

[wittelarry]

I was a host in Sequoia National Forest for California Land Management. One of the best jobs I ever had. Near and around Hume Lake.

[Vantasticviews]

Also, please be aware that some of these listings call for minimal hours but in reality require much more work than can be accomplished in those hours. For instance, I had four campgrounds to “manage” for 20 hours pay. These were larger campgrounds that required a lot of mowing and week whacking. I was expected to do this with often decrepit and falling apart equipment. A dozen bathrooms to clean every day and sometimes multiple times depending on how busy the campground was. Over 30 fire pits to shovel. And the most time consuming aspect was tracking people down because they hadn’t paid. Over two hours on one campground cajoling people that they needed to pay. No way this can all be done in 20 hours. So, I will say the company wasn’t really transparent or realistic about the time needed to actually get these things done. So, like Brian mentioned, be VERY clear about expectations on both sides. Also, make sure you will actually get paid over your contracted hours if you indeed need to go over those hours to get the job done. Good luck!!

[sylviajones]

Phenomenal view back there behind you.
Great video, Brian. 😊