Getting Started · The Camp Log

Firewood: Buy It Where You Burn It

Here's a small thing most people get wrong, and it matters more than it sounds: don't bring firewood from home. Buy it where you'll burn it. It feels fussy until you know why — and once you do, you'll never haul a log from your backyard to a campground again.

The one rule

Get your firewood within about 50 miles of where you'll burn it — buy it at the campground or a store nearby — or bring wood that's been certified heat-treated. Then burn all of it before you leave. That's the whole rule: buy it where you burn it.

Why it matters (it's not red tape)

Firewood is how tree-killing insects travel. The emerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly, Asian longhorned beetle, and others hitch a ride in the bark of a log and get dropped into a forest that has no defense against them. One carload of "free" wood from home can start an infestation that kills thousands of trees. That's why so many states and parks legally restrict moving firewood — and why the campground often won't let you bring your own.

What to actually do

Buy a bundle at or near the campground. It's overpriced — that's the deal, just budget a few dollars a night for it.
Want to bring wood anyway? Look for "USDA certified heat-treated" or kiln-dried, stamped on the bundle. That's been treated to kill pests and is generally legal to move.
Burn it all before you leave. Don't haul leftovers home or on to your next site — that defeats the entire point.
Check the park's rules first. Some sell wood on-site, some require it, some ban outside wood outright.

Bring the fire, not the wood

The thing you should pack is a way to light it. Local wood can be damp or stubborn, and you can't count on finding good kindling. Toss in some fire starters or a few sticks of fatwood and a long-reach lighter, and you'll get a fire going in any conditions. (Free version: dryer lint packed into a cardboard egg carton.)

Got your wood? Here's how to build a campfire with it.

It's a tiny habit that feels like a hassle and turns out to be one of the most important things you can do for the places you camp. Buy it where you burn it.

Common questions

Can you bring your own firewood camping?

Usually you shouldn't, and often you legally can't. Moving firewood spreads tree-killing pests, so most parks ask you to buy it locally (within about 50 miles) or bring certified heat-treated wood. Check the park's rules before you go.

Why can't you transport firewood?

Insects like the emerald ash borer and spotted lanternfly travel in the bark of logs. Wood from your area can carry pests into a forest that has no defense against them, so moving firewood is restricted in many states and parks.

Where do you get firewood when camping?

Buy a bundle at the campground or a nearby store or gas station. It costs more than wood from home, but that's the trade for not spreading pests — and local wood is usually drier and burns better anyway.

What does 'buy it where you burn it' mean?

It's the rule of thumb for firewood: get your wood within about 50 miles of where you'll burn it, and burn all of it before you leave, so you're never transporting pests.

Dragonfly Supply is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission — at no extra cost to you.