Imagine living in the heart of Yosemite Valley or on the rim of the Grand Canyon without paying a dime for rent. If that sounds like a dream come true—well, it can be a reality. The National Park Service (NPS) is now hiring summer campground hosts for national park sites across the United States.
A recent roundup by National Parks Traveler highlighted campground host positions open for the summer of 2026 at a number of popular national parks. But there are far more positions than that available. Outside’s recent search of available NPS camp host jobs revealed nearly 60 different roles at locations ranging from Yosemite to Devil’s Tower, Bryce Canyon, North Cascades, and Lake Mead.
How Do I Apply?
For starters, you need to create a profile on Volunteer.gov, the federal government’s portal for recruiting and managing volunteers. Unlike some federal jobs, if you want to be a camp host, you don’t apply to a general pool. Instead, you apply to specific listings at individual parks.
You can use the filters on the left side of the search tool to search for positions by agency. The filter tool also allows you to search by city or state, and eliminate jobs that don’t offer lodging space.
Prior camp hosting, customer service, or maintenance experience is a plus. Participants will also usually need a valid U.S. driver’s license and their own RV or trailer to live in. The listing typically specifies the max size and hookup situation. For example, some sites offer water and sewage, but no electricity.
Some hosting jobs allow for tent camping; others offer furnished cabins. One role at Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado, for example, comes with an electric golf cart and a furnished one-bedroom apartment.
Competition is fierce for campground hosting jobs at ultra-popular parks like Yosemite. If you don’t have much prior experience, it’s smart to apply at a location that’s lesser-known, like this summer hosting job at Buffalo National River in Arkansas.
What Does Being a Campground Host Entail?
The vast majority of campground host jobs are unpaid. Compensation is a free campsite or RV hookup. In exchange, every host job has different requirements depending on its location.
Most camp host jobs involve working outside for most of the day. Hosts are responsible for keeping the campground and fire pits clean, performing basic maintenance, restocking the toilets, and assisting visiting campers with check-in. Hosts also serve as the eyes and ears of park rangers, patrolling the grounds and ensuring campers follow the rules. You aren’t expected to enforce these rules, but you are expected to report to the park’s law enforcement.
Some camp host jobs also have very specific (but usually mellow) requirements. This camp host position at Mammoth Cave requires the ability to lift at least 25 pounds. The role at Arizona’s Chiricahua National Monument states that hosts must be able to walk at least one mile per day.
Many national parks have dedicated pages on their websites that explain the role, such as this page for Great Basin National Park in Nevada. You can also find all available camp host jobs and detailed information on Volunteer.gov.
When Should I Submit My Application?
The NPS processes applications on a rolling basis, and the most sought-after destinations, like Yosemite, fill up quickly. So if you want to trade your office chair for a campfire this summer, dust off your resume and hit submit sooner rather than later.
The post Want to Live in a National Park Rent-Free? Here’s How. appeared first on Outside Online.
