Top (or most known) way to Earn

Many people search for the top way to earn extra money on the road. Whether you live the RV lifestyle or you are trying to hustle a side gig along the way. The number 1 way most people gravitate, is remote work.

Remote work can be any type of method of working a traditional job from home (or a location not in an office). Several jobs offer this as a ‘benefit’, although the work climate is changing a little back into a more traditional route.

When searching for a remote job to earn extra money, ensure there are not any unintended road blocks in your path. Double check that the job is truly ‘remote’, meaning you do not have to check into an office periodically. Another tricky catch is that many jobs are now employing trackers for your IP, meaning a roaming or different gateway will signal that you are on the road and not at a ‘house’. Some companies are very anti-nomadic lifestyle. When in doubt, be upfront about how you live and what you are trying to achieve.

A less well-known way to Earn on the Road

There are several companies that produce maps for campgrounds. The largest, and most well known, is Southeast Publications. Most of these companies hire you on as an independent contractor. This means they give you access to thier database of available campgrounds, you choose which one you would like to work, then you negotiate with the campground for your stay. You work with the companies in the local area to get ads for the maps/guest guides and the company provides you a percentage of the profit after printing.

It is generally accepted that the campgrounds will provide you two weeks of camping for free in exchange for getting advertisers and creating thier maps.

This is a pretty good deal – however I have done this one. There are some implications and challenges you should be aware of.

The campgrounds that are in the available pile are there for a reason. The seasoned contractors have left them there. Either the private businesses in the area have a poor view of the campground, the Campground is difficult to work with or it is simply too far from anyone to get advertisements. There are ‘golden opportunities’ amongst these and it is possible to be quite successful.

We decided to leave that particular job as the economy worsens because our conscience would not allow us to ask for money from the businesses that may already be struggling. We are not salesmen and have the luxury of not needing a job, per se.

Even more esoteric ways to Earn Money

There are several other options out there. For instance, were you aware there is an annual sugar beet harvest? You can sign up for this and make really good money while camping for free. There are seveal opportunites, like Christmas tree sales, pumpkin sales, seasonal help on farms and ranches, etc… These are all a little difficult to track down, and do not last for long. Opportunites such as these usually pay well, provide some sort of free camping (with varying degrees of hook-ups provided), but last anywhere from a few days to a few months.

Another great learning experience is lighthouse minding. Seriously. You can go live in a lighthouse for a predetermined period of time, and ensure it is operating properly. These are usually for a limited period of time, and are actually fiercly sought after. Check this post out from “Wheeling It“, it is a great resource.

A final way to Earn Money while mobile

This last method is pretty popular and relatively easy to get into. There are some pitfalls and a few things to be aware of.

Camphosting, or Workamping, is exactly what it sounds like. Campgrounds allow you to camp for free in treturn for your work at their campground. There are A LOT of different ways this arrangement can be come to – and a lot of different compensation.

Federal Land

If you would like to work on Federal Land, a National Park, Beurea of Land Management or in Army Corps of Engineers, check on Volunteer.gov. There is often very little experience required, they are located in some of the most beautiful locations in the United States, usually only want 20 hours a week, and are pretty solid once you have been accepted for a position. The majority provide some sort of hook-ups (but not all) and most provide a type of stipend – but not very much (think $20 a day you work). You are definitely not going to get rich, but if being away from it all is your happy place – look them up!

KOA

Kampground of America (KOA) also employ variety of positions. These are more lucrative and can be found here. They almost always provide full hook-ups and a variety of compensation plans for hours worked. KOA positions also usually require significantly more time, they usually look for 30 hours+ and may require some background knowledge in specific areas to be hired.

These areas can be as easy to have experience in as basic lawn maintenance or housekeeping, or as complex as proprietary software experience to run the front desk. A lot of these positions provide training, as every one has to start somewhere, but not all.

Private Campgrounds

The last place to look, and potentially the most bang for the buck, are private campgrounds. There are a LOT of sites that list these opportunities. The site I have found to be the most accurate is here. These jobs are often the ones that pay the most, have the best terms, best hook-ups and really interesting situations.

However, they are also the ones that have the most reported problems. Personality conflicts with owners, long term staff or long term campers is often the number one problem. Another potential problem is that sometimes, after traveling all of the way across the country to get to the position, it is either not as advertised or no longer exists. Do research before approaching one of these private campgrounds, and once accepted for the position, remain in contact until your arrival date.

There are ways to earn cash – you just have to be inventive

This list is by no means conclusive. However, they are the most popular and sought after way of being a zero-sum traveller. That is, traveling around without having to spend more than you make simply traveling.

We are currently working 4 days (just one of us) 6 hours a day at a BLM campground in exchange for a campsite and stipend. It’s abslutely beautiful here. There are a lot of outdoor activities for us to enjoy, and it is winter, but the temperature stays around 50 during the day and 30 at night. But, if you need FHU, or a large amount of cash – these types of positions are not for you! We only have water and electric and access to the onsite dump. Did I mention we have 3 full days off and are camping for free?!

Check out our adventures here, and come back often for updates on our travels and local experiences! Who knows, you may just decide you want to try this lifestyle out yourself!