The Adventure Doesn't End When Camp Does - Best Spots to Explore After Your Season

You've just spent three months living rent-free, eating well, and getting paid to do something meaningful. By August, most counsellors have a decent amount of USD sitting in their account - and a J1 visa that lets them travel before heading home. The NZ spring is still weeks away. The US is right there. It would be a waste not to use it.

Here's the thing about travelling the USA on a camp wage - it's more doable than you think. Hostels are cheap, Greyhound buses and budget flights connect most major cities, and if you team up with a few camp mates, costs drop even further. You don't need to be flash about it. Some of the best experiences over there cost next to nothing.

"I had dreams of going travelling, getting a bit of work experience, and being somewhere hot. Camp seemed like a great way to do all of those things at the same time."

- Laura, Camp Counsellor

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What the adventure actually looks like at camp

Before we get to the post-camp travel, it's worth saying - the adventure starts the moment you arrive. Camp is not a quiet experience. You'll be hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, archery, swimming, and running activities you probably haven't tried since you were a kid yourself. You'll be working hard, but you'll also be doing it somewhere stunning - many camps are set on lakes, in forests, or tucked into the mountains. It's a legitimate outdoor adventure, with the added bonus of getting paid for it.

Four spots worth heading to after camp

Once the season wraps, most Kiwis have two to four weeks before they need to fly home. Here's where to point yourself - all solid options for a backpacker budget.

01 New York City, New York - East Coast Classic

If your camp is anywhere on the East Coast, NYC is an easy and obvious first stop. It's overwhelming in the best way - and cheaper to enjoy than most people expect. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge, wander Central Park, eat a proper New York slice for a few dollars, and explore neighbourhoods like the West Village or Williamsburg for free. Skip the tourist traps and just walk. The city does the rest.

02 New Orleans, Louisiana - Culture and Food

New Orleans is one of the most unique cities in the world and genuinely one of the most affordable for travellers. The food alone is worth the trip - beignets, gumbo, po'boys - most of it dirt cheap. Bourbon Street gets all the attention, but the real magic is in the live music spilling out of bars on Frenchmen Street every single night, for free. It's the kind of place that hits differently to anywhere else in the country.

03 Grand Canyon and Utah's National Parks - Outdoors and Adventure

If you've spent a summer in the outdoors, you're not going to want to spend your post-camp weeks in a city. The American Southwest is made for people like that. The Grand Canyon is as spectacular as it sounds, and Utah's national parks - Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches - are world-class hiking destinations. Camp at the parks to keep costs down, grab an America the Beautiful pass for around $80 USD, and you've got access to every national park in the country for a year.

04 San Francisco and the Pacific Coast Highway - West Coast Road Trip

Flying home from LA is one of the most common routes for Kiwis, which makes a West Coast swing a natural fit. Start in San Francisco - Golden Gate Bridge, Mission burritos for under $15, free city exploring - then make your way down the Pacific Coast Highway to Los Angeles. If you can split a hire car with a couple of camp mates, the drive itself is the highlight. Pull over whenever you feel like it. That's the whole point.

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A few practical tips before you go

✈️ Book flights early - Domestic US flights are cheap if you book ahead. Leave it last minute and prices spike fast.

🎒 Travel with camp mates - Split hire cars, hostel rooms, and food costs. You'll have already built the friendships - use them.

🗺️ Plan loosely - Know your rough route but leave room to move. The best parts of any US trip are usually unplanned.

💵 Keep a buffer - Don't spend every dollar at camp. A $500-800 USD travel buffer goes a long way in the US.

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"It was an opportunity to help other people while having the best summer and experiencing a different country."

- Sophie, Special Needs Camp Counsellor, Iowa

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Americamp NZ is operated by International Working Holidays, Auckland-based and Kiwi-focused. We're the NZ arm of Americamp - backed by over 25 years of placing New Zealanders at summer camps across the USA. The application is free to start and our NZ team is with you every step of the way.

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The adventure starts with an application. Start yours for free here today.