This list contains amazing opportunities in the last 25 states (alphabetically) in America. Seasonal work can be a wonderful way to spend your time off from school or work, or just travel the world full-time! It can also be a great way to earn extra qualifications or try something new. There are tons of jobs that you can do in an outdoors setting as well. If you’ve ever dreamed of working in outdoor spaces, one of these seasonal work options below may be the perfect start to your new career.
You can find information about the FIRST 25 states here: 25 Amazing Seasonal Jobs for Nature-Lovers in the United States
Montana
There are two national parks in the state of Montana: Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. Yellowstone, as the first national park in the United States, is well-known and visited by millions of people every year. The more people that visit, the more employees are needed to host them! You can find dozens of work opportunities near Yellowstone National Park – especially during peak tourism seasons. Nine Quarter Circle Ranch is located just on the edge of Yellowstone, and it would be a lovely place to work for the summer. Housing and meals are both provided for all staff members. On your days off, you’ll be a stone’s throw away from everything there is to see and do in Yellowstone!
Nebraska
Go Ape! USA is a zipline and adventure park that is hiring for a number of different seasonal work options in Nebraska. You can choose between the cities of Lincoln, Ashland, or Omaha to be your home base as you explore the entire state. The most fun positions to work are probably the Adventure Guide and Instructor positions, but you can also apply to work in site management or at the home office. Starting at one of these seasonal jobs is a great way to get started in the outdoor adventure industry.
Nevada
From Lake Tahoe to Death Valley, there are some truly jaw-dropping landscapes to explore in Nevada. Many adventure-lovers would take any job to be able to live and work in Nevada for a season – even a simple restaurant job. However – of all of the states I have researched so far, Nevada has one of the MOST AMAZING seasonal work opportunities. If you are interested in starting a career in conservation, then you need to look up the Great Basin Institute. You can apply to be a Restoration Crew Member without ANY science or outdoorsy certifications and spend the season working with the Nevada Conservation Corps! They pay at least $600.00/week (with opportunities to earn more), hire year-round, and also will give you a housing stipend.
New Hampshire
If you’re eager to work in and explore the northeast, New Hampshire is a fantastic place to go. There are tons of great hiking trails in the White Mountains and outdoor rock climbing locations scattered across the entire state. The most popular summer employment option will be summer camps and adventure tour companies. In the wintertime, however, ski resorts are the way to go. The Mountain Club on Loon Mountain does both! They hire throughout the entire year. The jobs pay around $16.00/hour, and housing is provided. In the summer, you can live on the mountain and spend your free time hiking. In the winter, you can spend your time skiing and enjoying the cold weather with your coworkers!
New Jersey
New Jersey is one of the best states to work in marine sciences. As part of the eastern coastline, New Jersey protects and cares for dozens of marine habitats and the species that live there. The New Logic Marine Science Camp is dedicated to expanding marine conservation awareness. They have a team of scientists who want to encourage the next generation of marine scientists by teaching them what it’s like to be one at a young age. Even if you don’t have a history of working in marine science, you can apply as an intern or support staff to teach lessons and lead activities for visiting students and their families. The pay is $14.00/hour and the season lasts from mid June to early September.
New Mexico
If you decide to find seasonal work in New Mexico, don’t forget to cross two more national parks off your bucket list! Carlsbad Caverns National Park and White Sands National Park are quite unique national parks – you won’t be able to find the same landscapes anywhere else in the United States. When you work nearby at a ski resort, you can spend your days off exploring these national parks (and enjoy the free skiing opportunities you get for being an employee). You can choose to apply for positions at Red River Ski Area, Taos Ski Valley, or Angel Fire Resort. The pay varies from $13.00/hour to $23.00/hour, depending on the position. Taos hires throughout the year – so keep New Mexico in mind for the summer as well.
New York
Because New York is the home of Niagara Falls, you may not be surprised to learn about the 70,000 miles of rivers and streams running though the state. From kayaking to boating, there are tons of water-related activities to do during the summer in New York. You can also find three major mountain ranges in New York: the Adirondacks, Catskills, and a sections of the Appalachian mountain range. What a diverse set of outdoor adventure opportunities to do during your free time! Find a position with the Raquette Lake Summer Camp to find a camp counselor job just outside Adirondack State Park. Housing is provided, and you’ll get four nights off each week (and six days completely off during the summer season). The pay starts at $2,500.00 for the season (mid-June to early August), but will increase based on your experience.
North Carolina
Picture this: you get to spend your entire summer on the beach. You find new spots to explore along the coastline every day, and occasionally visit the wild horses who live just 20 minutes north. You and your teammates regularly go out together to surf in the Outer Banks before or after work. Kitty Hawk Ocean Rescue is looking for ocean rescue guards who love the outdoors and the beach. The job pays $18.50/hour and housing is provided! When you get hired on you will learn how to perform water rescues and use ATVs and jet skis to monitor the coastline, working hard to keep everyone safe.
North Dakota
Let’s get you a seasonal work position at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The Theodore Roosevelt Nature & History Association is hiring for multiple positions within the park. Find seasonal work here (spring, summer, or fall) and you’ll get to see some amazing sights. From Painted Canyon to the wild horses that live in the park, you’ll have an endless list of hikes and sunset viewpoint to choose from. They usually offer free housing and pay starts at $15.00/hour. On days when you don’t want to explore the outdoors, you can head to Medora (a classic tourist town with a cowboy twist). Check out trnha.org to apply!
Ohio
Believe it or not, Ohio has 75 state parks. SEVENTY-FIVE. You can go pretty much anywhere in the state and be within driving distance of more than one fantastic state park. While you could find jobs anywhere – from more mountainous areas down to the shores of lake Erie – I’m focusing on a job that will allow you to spend your summer on the lake. You can make $18.00 to $20.00/hour working for The Boardwalk Family of Restaurants. Housing can be provided, and you’ll get some meal discounts as well. When you’re not working, there are a ton of different activities to try on Lake Erie. You can explore the different beaches, go kayaking, tour the Marblehead Lighthouse, and even ride rollercoasters on the Cedar Point peninsula.
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation offers a wide variety of seasonal work options and locations throughout the state. Thanks to the number of options, you’ll be able to pick from pretty much any area to live and work in for the season. You could work as a hatchery technician, camp host, license assistance, or find opportunities to work in many other outdoor-related careers. If you’d like to work somewhere specific, like the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, you can search for opportunities on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service career portal.
Oregon
When you visit Crater Lake National Park, one of the best places to stay is Crater Lake Lodge. It’s located just on the rim of the crater, inside the national park. Great news – you can work and live there, too! Crater Lake Lodge is looking for campground attendants, HR coordinators, tour reservation managers, and about 15 other related positions. You’ll meet other seasonal workers with the same goals as you – to live as close to nature as possible. Crater Lake National Park is a beautiful place to camp and hike. There are waterfalls, an island, and multiple biking trails as well. If you work during the winter months, you’ll even have the chance to view the northern lights.
Pennsylvania
If you know where to look, there are tons of outdoor adventure opportunities in Pennsylvania. Wilderness Voyageurs is an outdoor adventure tour company that is centralized in Ohiopyle State Park. There are great rock climbing areas in the forest, 30+ miles of mountain biking trails, and 150+ miles of kayaking and rafting waterways. Wilderness Voyageurs is hiring for a wide variety of positions (listed on their website), including bike mechanics, marketing coordinators, fly fishing instructors, and tour guides. Housing is provided for all staff, and job opportunities are available year round. To get a summer position, it’s best to start applying in January or February. Use the link above and click “apply for jobs” at the bottom of the page.
Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Parks and Recreation protects and manages thousands of acres of land in the state. If you’d like to spend your time exploring and taking care of Rhode Island’s natural areas, their website is a good place to start. They’re currently hiring for the summer season, which starts in May and lasts until October. You could apply to work as a lifeguard, beach manager, naturalist, park ranger, education assistant, and much more. Lifeguards, for example, get paid $14.00 to $18.75/hour (plus a $500 sign-on bonus and an additional $500 retention bonus if you stay though September). While lifeguarding is just one example of what you could do as seasonal work, it will also let you spend your free time off enjoying the beach and making new like-minded friends.
South Carolina
Congaree National Park, the only national park in South Carolina, contains one of the largest swampland areas in the United States. It’s a popular place to explore via kayak or canoe, but you can also hike and camp around many areas of the park. Environment for the Americas is hiring a biology assistant, paying $640/week for someone to help monitor and care for the firefly population in the park. You could spend your free time paddling around the park and enjoying the various campsites, while working with fireflies during your work hours. That sounds like an amazing opportunity to me. The working season lasts from early May to early August.
South Dakota
If you can find seasonal work in South Dakota, go for it! There are two national parks AND five other nationally protected areas in the state – enough to fill up an entire summer of adventure. Badlands National Park has a mixed landscape, full of unique rock formations and prairies. It was originally Sioux territory, but now it is co-managed by the NPS and the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The Badlands Inn is hiring food service workers, housekeepers, front desk workers, and groundskeepers to work at the Inn throughout the year. You can spend your season exploring and learning about the history of this park while working and living just miles away from the park entrance.
Tennessee
One of the most famous national parks lies on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina – Great Smoky Mountains National Park! As the MOST visited national park in the country, Great Smoky Mountains NP is bound to hold tons of seasonal work opportunities for you. You could work as a whitewater rafting guide for Rafting in the Smokies, or as a zipline attendant for CLIMB Works. Both job positions place you near or inside of the national park and provide housing. You don’t need any experience to apply for these positions; they will teach you everything you need to know when you arrive. Apply, choose whichever options seems more fun, and enjoy your summer in the Smokies!
Texas
Out of all of the possible outdoor adventure-related jobs, being an Outdoor Education Instructor is one of the best opportunities you can find. Not only do you get do work in the outdoor space, but you will also find pathways to similar full-time positions much more easily than others. The Outdoor School, just northwest of Austin, Texas, is a great place to get started in the industry. You don’t need ANY experience to apply, and the pay goes up to $375.00/week. You’ll have the option to apply for the fall or spring seasons. Schools in the area will schedule field trips to visit The Outdoor School, and there are a ton of different adventure activities that you will be teaching week-to-week. Housing is provided, and meals are provided as well.
Utah
Utah’s five national parks are all amazing in their own ways, but Bryce Canyon is truly unique. It’s one of the only places in the world where you can see hoodoos! Hoodoos (also known as fairy chimneys or tent rocks) are rock spires formed by erosion. Bryce Canyon is an international dark sky park and also has a ton of fantastic hiking trails. If you want a job that will let you explore this national park for the entire summer/fall season, check out the opportunities at Under Canvas. Under Canvas provides glamping and lodging services, so you could work in food, housekeeping, or management services – all while living just 15 miles from Bryce Canyon.
Vermont
A majority of the undeveloped land in Vermont is mountainous and heavily forested. This makes it perfect for people who love hiking, camping, and spending time immersed in nature. The Green Mountain State has a beautiful landscape and there are many groups out there dedicated to protecting its wild spaces. The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, for example, hires conservation and farm crews to spend their days working in trail maintenance, carpentry, forestry, and restoration. You could apply with zero work experience, join a crew, and spend the season doing good work – work that contributes to the environment and connects you with other people who are passionate about the outdoors. Housing and meals are provided, and the pay ranges from $481.00/week to $800.00/week.
Virginia
Shenandoah National Park is famous for being just 75 miles away from Washington D.C. It’s the ideal place for outdoor adventure fanatics to escape into the wilderness. There are over 500 miles of hiking trails to explore – and almost half of them pass by waterfalls or swimming holes along the way. There are a few lodges located inside the park that you can work at, and housing costs only $35.00/week. If you work at the Skyland Lodge, Big Meadows Lodge, or Lewis Mountain Cabins, you will also be able to participate in most of the activities put on at each space (horseback riding, rock climbing, repelling, etc.).
Washington
How about a job that lets you go kayaking every single day? That sounds amazing. Anacortes Kayak Tours is looking for sea kayak guides to work the 2024 spring/summer season (May through October). The pay starts at just over $16.00/hour, plus tips. They’re located on the San Juan Islands in Washington State. You’ll spend your days leading tour groups on sea kayaking adventures! The San Juan Islands are connected to the mainland by a bridge, so you will still have easy accessibility to explore the North Cascade mountain range during your time off. Being a sea kayak guide requires a few certifications as well. CPR and First Aid certifications are important, so be prepared to get that training done before you start.
West Virginia
Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia. There are dozens of beautiful trails and campsites located on the mountain and on the nearby Appalachian ridges. From early spring to late fall, Spruce Mountain is a popular spot for hikers and nature lovers of all kinds. If you’d like to spend your season living in the mountains, you need to check out Experience Learning. They put on education programs and summer camps where outdoor professionals can share their passion for the outdoors.
You could work as an outdoor field instructor or a mountain bike summer camp instructor. The seasons last from March to November, with a shorter summer season that is also available. The pay ranges from $65.00/day to $105.00/day, depending on your position and prior experiences. (They have a merit-based pay system that you can access on the website linked above.)
Wisconsin
When you’re looking for an outdoor job that will let you travel and explore the United States, working in hospitality or retail feels like the most boring option. That’s why I’m doing my best to show you the most outdoor-focused and meaningful opportunities out there. The Wisconsin Conservation Corps, for example, has some of the best outdoorsy/seasonal work opportunities in the state. If you work for them, you’ll get to spend your working hours making the world a better place. You’ll be working on projects that protect the environment and make it safer for people to learn about nature. The WCC is hiring naturalists, conservationists, environmental educators, invasive species prevention technicians, and more. Housing and meals are always provided. I hope you look over all of the different positions and figure out which one fits you best!
Wyoming
Wyoming has countless wilderness areas that are known worldwide for their beauty. Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Devil’s Tower are visited by millions of people each year – and for good reason! They are protected wild spaces with jaw-dropping landscapes and hundreds of amazing species that call Wyoming home. If you’d like the opportunity to live and work in Yellowstone national park, I have two options for you. Yellowstone Park Service Stations is looking for retail associates and warehouse assistants. Alternatively, the Yellowstone National Park Lodges need restaurant workers and housekeepers. Both employers provide housing and meals as well. No matter which employer you choose, you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of Yellowstone National Park every single day.
