How I Made Work Camping Work in an SUV

When people picture “work camping,” they usually imagine a big RV parked under the trees somewhere while someone checks guests into a campground office.

My version looked a little different.

I was living out of my SUV.

And somehow, that still turned into one of the most peaceful and productive seasons I’ve had on the road.

Landing a work camping spot

I found a position at Cherry Hill Campground in Darien Lake New York.

The job itself was simple. My responsibilities were:

• Cleaning the bathrooms

• Keeping the surrounding areas tidy

• Sweeping out the rental cabins after guests checked out

  
  

In exchange, I didn’t receive a paycheck. What I received instead was something just as valuable for someone living on the road:

A safe place to park my SUV.

For vehicle dwellers, that can be worth more than people realize.

Working across the street

Since the campground arrangement didn’t include wages, I needed another way to earn money.

Conveniently, directly across the street from the campground was Six Flags Darien Lake.

So I took a job there as a games operator.

Every day I simply walked across the street to work.

No commute, no wasting gas, no complicated logistics.

Just a short walk to a seasonal job and back to camp.

For someone living in a vehicle, that kind of setup is gold.

My little outdoor living room

One of the unexpected advantages of that summer was how much personal time I had.

Next to my SUV I set up a small screen tent. Inside it I created a simple little space where I could sit, relax, and work on things that mattered to me.

At the time, I was deeply into making jewelry. I spent hours in that tent designing pieces, experimenting with materials, and just enjoying the quiet rhythm of creating something with my hands.

It became my tiny outdoor studio.

Looking back, it felt like a strange mix of campsite, workshop, and living room all rolled into one.

And it worked.

The reality of work camping in a vehicle

Work camping in an SUV is possible, but it definitely comes with complications.

Many campgrounds only accept workers who arrive in fully self-contained RVs.

That means they expect people to have:

• Built-in bathrooms

• Showers

• Water systems

  
  

My setup was much more basic.

My “bathroom” was a portable toilet that I placed outside my back driver-side door. I used the door itself as a privacy shield.

My “shower” was usually baby wipes.

That kind of minimalist setup doesn’t always fit campground policies, even if the work you’re doing has nothing to do with your living situation.

Because of that, SUV and van dwellers sometimes have to work a little harder to find the right opportunity.

Where I actually find work camping jobs

The best place I’ve found work camping opportunities isn’t a fancy website.

It’s Facebook.

If you type “work camping” into the search bar on Facebook, you’ll find several groups dedicated specifically to:

• Campgrounds looking for help

• Seasonal job postings

• Travelers sharing opportunities

  
  

Many campground owners post directly in those groups when they need workers.

There’s one catch, though.

A lot of campgrounds prefer hiring couples. Two workers for one campsite is simply more efficient for them.

That can make things a little harder for solo travelers like me, but not impossible.

Sometimes it just takes a little patience and a little persistence.

Why that summer still stands out

Looking back, that stretch at Cherry Hill Campground stands out as one of those moments where everything lined up just right.

I had:

• A safe place to park

• A simple job that kept the campground running

• A second job that brought in cash

• Time to work on my own creative projects

  
  

And most importantly, I had the freedom to build a life that worked for me, even if it looked unconventional from the outside.

Living in an SUV means constantly adapting.

But every once in a while, you find a setup that just clicks.

And when it does, it reminds you why so many people choose life on the road in the first place.

Please share your work camping stories, especially if you're in an SUV or van. How did you adapt?