Can you bring firewood camping? Rules on moving firewood
Why states and parks restrict moving firewood, what certified heat treated wood is, and how to check the rules before you go.
Often you can't, or only certain kinds. Firewood carries insects and diseases, including the emerald ash borer, which has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees in North America. Many states, national forests and parks limit where firewood can travel, and some campgrounds only allow wood bought on site or nearby.
What's usually allowed
- Certified heat treated firewood. Wood heated to the USDA standard (60°C at the core for 60 minutes) and labeled with a certification stamp. Many parks and states accept it from anywhere.
- Local firewood. Wood bought close to where you'll burn it. The allowed distance varies by state and park.
Plain "kiln dried" isn't always the same as certified heat treated. Look for the certification on the label.
Check before you go
- Look up the park or campground's own rules on its website. They're often stricter than the state's.
- Check your state on Don't Move Firewood, run by The Nature Conservancy, which keeps a state by state map of firewood rules.
- Keep the receipt. Some states require proof of where the wood came from.
Finding camping firewood
Most camping wood is sold in bundles at stores near parks, or in bags from local suppliers. Camping firewood suppliers and firewood bundles are listed by state.