The U.S. Forest Service manages 193 national forests covering 193 million acres across 44 states — and those forests contain more than 8,000 developed campgrounds, many of which are staffed by volunteer camp hosts. National forest campground host positions put you in some of the most breathtaking terrain on the continent: alpine meadows above the treeline in the Rocky Mountains, ancient redwood groves in the Pacific Coast ranges, and the high desert ponderosa pine forests of the Southwest.
Forest Service camp host positions may include a free RV site (hookups vary by campground — many remote sites are electric-only or have no hookups at all); some also include a daily stipend for expenses — always confirm with the specific district listing. In exchange, you serve as the on-site presence for the campground: registering campers, distributing information about fire regulations and Leave No Trace principles, performing light maintenance, and reporting issues to the district office.
National forest campgrounds are often in remote locations with limited cell coverage. Before committing to a placement, research the nearest town, the drive in and out (grade, road surface, tight turns), and what hookups are available at the host site. Browse current U.S. Forest Service campground host and volunteer positions below, sourced from Volunteer.gov and updated continuously throughout the season.
These are volunteer positions managed by the U.S. Forest Service. HitchPath is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Forest Service or any government agency. Listings are sourced from Volunteer.gov. Always review the official listing before applying.