A man camp is temporary housing for workers at remote oil, gas, pipeline and construction sites. Most camps use trailers or modular units near the job. Workers live in shared spaces with shared bathrooms, dining halls and laundry. Camps work for short rotations of a few weeks, but for assignments of several months many workers and companies choose a private furnished apartment in Midland or Odessa instead.
What is a man camp?
A man camp is temporary housing set up near oil fields, gas wells, pipeline routes and construction sites where permanent housing is limited. The camp sits close to the job so workers can sleep and eat without a long commute.
Most camps use trailers, modular buildings or prefabricated units that can be moved when the job ends. Companies set them up fast and take them down fast. Camps house crews for assignments that last weeks or months, typically at locations too far from towns for a daily commute.
The name comes from the fact that crews in oil, gas and extraction work are mostly men, though women work at these sites too. The term does not mean the camp is men-only.
Camps became common in the Permian Basin, the Bakken and other oil regions during boom cycles when local apartment inventory cannot handle the influx of workers.
How man camps are set up and run
Camps range from basic trailer parks to larger dormitory-style compounds with hundreds of beds. The setup depends on the size of the crew, the length of the project and how much the company wants to spend on worker comfort.
Most camps provide a shared cafeteria or meal service, shared bathrooms and laundry facilities, and shared recreation areas. Some camps offer private rooms. Others use bunk-style sleeping quarters with two, four or more beds in one room.
Larger camps may have strict rules for behavior, check-in times and guest policies. Security at the gate, no alcohol on site, no visitors after a certain hour. Smaller camps may be informal collections of RVs or trailers with minimal oversight.
Camps are typically located on or near the work site, often miles from the nearest town, grocery store or hospital. The goal is to keep the commute from bed to rig or pipeline as short as possible.
Who uses man camps in the Permian Basin
Oil and gas drilling crews, completion crews, pipeline construction teams and heavy equipment operators use camps during assignments in remote parts of West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. The work sites are spread across the Permian, and not all of them are close to Midland, Odessa or other towns with available housing.
Companies send workers to man camps when the project site is too far from town. A crew working far out cannot make the commute twice a day, especially on dirt roads after a long shift.
Some companies pay for the camp stay directly. Others give workers a per diem and let them choose where to stay. The per diem approach gives workers the option to stay in a camp, rent a room in town or split an apartment with other crew members.
Camps work for short rotations of a few weeks, especially for crews that fly in and out. For assignments of several months, many workers and companies look for alternatives that offer more privacy and rest between shifts.
What to expect at a man camp
Expect shared spaces. Dining halls, bathrooms, laundry rooms and recreation areas are used by dozens or hundreds of workers.
Noise is constant because workers are on different shifts and people come and go at all hours. Day shift is sleeping while night shift is getting ready. Doors open and close. Trucks start up. Alarms go off. Rest is hard to come by in a shared environment.
Meals are provided on a schedule, usually cafeteria-style. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at set times. If you work off-hours or come off the job at odd times, you may miss the meal window. Some camps have a small kitchen area where workers can heat up leftovers or make a sandwich, but do not expect a full kitchen.
Laundry is done in a shared facility, often on a first-come basis. You haul your clothes to the laundry room and hope a machine is open. If all the washers are full, you wait.
Camps located on the lease site may have strict rules about guests, alcohol and leaving the property. Security at the gate may log who comes and goes. Some camps prohibit guests entirely.
Internet access varies widely and may be limited or unreliable. Remote locations mean weak cell signal and satellite internet that slows down when everyone is streaming after the shift.
Medical care, groceries and other services require a drive to the nearest town. A camp miles from town means a round trip for a pharmacy run or a doctor visit.
Questions to ask before booking a man camp
Is the room private or shared? How many people will be in the unit or trailer? Knowing whether you get your own room or share with three other workers makes a difference in how much rest you will get.
What meals are included, and what are the meal times? Can you cook your own food if you work off-hours?
Are laundry facilities on site, and are they shared or in-unit?
What utilities, internet and services are included? Some camps bundle everything. Others charge separately for laundry or internet.
Are pets allowed? What is the guest policy?
How far is the camp from the job site, and how far from town for groceries, pharmacy and other needs?
What is the minimum stay, and what happens if the assignment gets extended or cut short?
Is parking available for a personal vehicle or work truck?
The private apartment alternative for longer assignments in Midland and Odessa
For assignments of three months or longer, many workers and companies choose a furnished apartment in Midland or Odessa instead of a camp. A private apartment gives each worker or team a front door, a full kitchen, a washer and dryer in the unit, and no shared bathrooms or dining halls.
Workers get rest between shifts without the noise and traffic of a shared camp. You control when you sleep, when you eat and who comes and goes.
Having a kitchen means a worker can cook meals on their own schedule, which matters when working nights or irregular hours. Buy groceries and cook what you want when you want it. No cafeteria schedule, no waiting in line.
In-unit laundry means no waiting for machines or hauling clothes across a camp. Throw a load in before your shift, move it to the dryer when you get back. Small things make a difference over a long assignment.
Apartments in town put workers closer to grocery stores, pharmacies, urgent care, restaurants and other services. Midland and Odessa have everything a worker needs without a long drive.
ACHS rents fully furnished apartments in Midland and Odessa with a three-month minimum stay and all utilities, cable and internet included in one monthly bill.
How ACHS works for crews and individuals
ACHS houses individuals and whole crews: oil and gas teams, pipeline contractors, construction workers, travel nurses and relocating professionals. One person or ten people, the process is the same.
Each apartment is fully furnished with sheets, towels, dishes, housewares and a washer and dryer in every unit. Bring your clothes and your work boots and move in.
ACHS owns and operates Mesquite Terraces in Midland and Faudree Ranch in Odessa, with a combined total of 588 apartment homes. The two properties are owner-operated, which means bookers deal directly with the owner’s team, with one point of contact from the first call to move-in.
Pet friendly, with a 24-hour gym on site.
Call Affordable Corporate Housing Solutions for availability and rates for your next Permian Basin assignment. Whether you are booking for yourself or a whole crew, ACHS can help you get set up in Midland or Odessa for the length of the job.
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