Paid hosting on federal land
Private companies hold contracts to operate campgrounds for the Forest Service and other agencies. They hire hosts as seasonal employees, not volunteers. This is the least-known route and usually the best-paid one.
- Who hires
- American Land & Leisure, which describes itself as the largest private concessionaire in the US and lists operations in Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, Colorado and Michigan. Recreation Resource Management of America covers Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana and New Mexico, mainly May through October. California Land Management and Vista Recreation hold similar contracts.
- Apply
- Directly to the concessionaire, not the agency. Both major operators take applications year round for their waitlists.
- Required
- You must bring an RV or camper trailer. At least one operator excludes tents and soft-sided pop-ups.
- Reported pay
- $14 to $25 an hour for Forest Service campground host roles, median near $16.80, from job aggregators rather than the employers
Neither major concessionaire publishes a pay rate anywhere on its site. We read both employment pages in full. They describe the work, the states, the duties and how to apply, and state no hourly rate, no site value, and no indication of whether the site is provided or deducted. Treat the aggregator range as market colour, not an offer. Ask for the rate in writing before you drive anywhere.
Live vacancy status, September 2026. Recreation Resource Management publishes availability by state for its 2026 season. Colorado shows several openings still available. Arizona, Idaho, Montana and New Mexico show most positions filled, with applications accepted against future openings.
What to confirm before you accept
Hookups vary and are rarely stated. One concessionaire listing offered a septic connection only, with no other utilities on site and showers at a separate recreation area. A paid position with a dry site is a very different calculation from a paid position with full hookups.
Work out what an offer is worth
Who's hiring
- Recreation Resource Management of America — Hiring now
- American Land & Leisure — Hiring now, year-round waitlist
- Vista Recreation — Applications open winter for the May-October season
- Rocky Mountain Recreation — Applications open winter for the summer season
- ExplorUS — Rolling, plus a general interest form
- FIND Outdoors — Applications open winter for the summer season