Ways You Can Volunteer While You RV

Contributor

Lindsay McKenzie

Favorite Trip

Our favorite trip was when we first hit the road full-time and drove all the way up the coast of California and into Oregon. Our first 3 months as full-time RVers we drove the entire Pacific Coast Highway and camped at different beautiful beaches along the way. We then drove through the towering redwoods in Redwood National Forest and continued on through Oregon and Idaho on our way to Glacier National Park in Montana. There was so much stunning scenery and adventure around every corner that entire trip.

Home Base

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Favorite RV

We loved our Winnebago Navion 24D. It was nimble so we could park it pretty much anywhere but it still gave us a comfortable living space with the Murphy bed. We drove it all over the country!

About Contributor

Lindsay McKenzie travels full-time in her Winnebago Navion with her husband Dan and their 2 dogs. Originally from Colorado, they have been seeking adventure together for 10 years now and have done a lot of international traveling, including living in Costa Rica. They took the leap into full time RVing after experiencing life-altering news. They viewed the news as a life “detour” and started a travel and inspirational blog called Follow Your Detour. Lindsay has grown more passionate about pursuing her dreams and a leading a fulfilling life, while inspiring others to do the same. She loves that RVing allows her to be in nature and do more of what she loves. You can usually find her on the river fly fishing, hiking to sunset spots, or at a local brewery. (All photos by Lindsay McKenzie, except where noted.)

Traveling around the country in an RV is the American Dream for many. The opportunity to see the beauty of our great nation, check off bucket list items, and expand your horizons are just a few benefits of RV travel.

But, have you ever considered volunteering along your adventures? Giving back while you explore can offer a whole new level of excitement on your journey!

Here are some resources for finding volunteer work while you travel in an RV:

Camphosting

Many campgrounds and RV parks seek out camp hosts. Each position varies in the duties involved, how long the commitment is, how many hours are required, and other factors. But, one of the benefits is that you’ll receive a free RV spot in exchange for your volunteer time.

Most state parks throughout the country have a volunteer program of some sort. Not only do they typically need camp hosts, they also need volunteers for their various programs, visitor centers, and other positions. These volunteer positions are typically posted somewhere on their website.

Volunteer in the National Parks

Each national park is different, but nearly all of them will have some sort of way you can lend a hand. Some parks have a partner organization that leads volunteer projects and efforts. Friends of Acadia, for example, is a non-profit that is dedicated to preserving and protecting Acadia National Park and offers drop-in volunteer days every week.

sign at park that says maintained by volunteers

Even if it’s not posted on a National Park’s website, you can call ahead or speak with a ranger about the ways you can offer a hand. This is a fun volunteer activity because you can enjoy the beauty of the park, while learning more about it and giving your time to help protect it. You also typically don’t have to have a time commitment and can simply help out for a few hours or a couple days!

Volunteer.gov

Volunteer.gov is America’s Natural and Cultural Resources Volunteer Portal. You can search for volunteer opportunities all over the U.S. and filter your results for RV accommodations, interests, and location. Volunteer opportunities vary from office and clerical work, to tour guides, to pest/disease control, and historical preservation. You’re sure to find a position that is a good fit for you!

Other Organizations

Group of volunteers helping on trail in acadia national park

There are so many great organizations to get connected to all across the country. Some even cater to RVers!

Habitat for Humanity has a program called RV Care-A-Vanners. Through the program, RV parking is arranged in exchange for your help with house construction and/or renovations and disaster relief.

DOVE is another great organization and is affiliated with the American Red Cross. Much of the information on their website is specifically for training RVers to assist with various Red Cross projects. Their website states that “members of DOVE are fully trained and qualified Red Cross Disaster Workforce Volunteers and they participate in disaster services in some capacity, such as performing administrative tasks at a local chapter, serving on their Disaster Action Team (DAT), teaching disaster classes, or going on deployment to disasters, local or national.”

There are also many churches that have various volunteer and missions programs for RVers. N.O.M.A.D.S, S.O.W.E.R.S, and R.V.I.C.S are a few popular ministries. Consider researching and contacting non-profit organizations in the area you plan to RV to and see if there’s any way you can get involved and help out during your stay.


Volunteering and giving back as a tourist is a great way to make your travels more meaningful and memorable. Plus, having an RV can make it much more convenient! Even if you don’t arrange a specific opportunity during your RV road trips, there are still lots of ways you can leave your mark in each place you visit.

There’s always trash that needs picking up, people to help, and good deeds to be done. Hopefully this post has inspired you to think about the ways you can do more than just explore! After all, this land is our land, and it’s all our responsibility to take care of it and each other. We’d love to hear other volunteer opportunities that are great for RVers in the comments below!

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