Camp firewood is a must-bring on your next overnight outdoor adventure. After all, what’s more peaceful than sitting beside a roaring fire beneath a clear night sky free of light pollution? It’s even better if you’re sharing the experience with your loved ones. But that calm, relaxing image can be disrupted by subpar camp firewood—and many people don’t even realize it. Low-quality logs can create excessive smoke that can make it difficult to breathe and cause your eyes to burn. It’s hard to relax when you’re so uncomfortable!
Thankfully, choosing higher-quality camping wood can keep your outdoor adventures tranquil by ensuring smoke production remains low. Plus, the best options will allow your fire to burn longer and hotter to maximize your enjoyment. Below, learn five things to know about camp firewood before you buy it so you can avoid negative experiences at your next outing.
Before we discuss those five things, take a moment to look at the Rochester camp firewood offered by ProCut Firewood by clicking the button below. We provide high-quality, kiln-dried wood in convenient sizes that are perfect for your next camping trip.
1. Rochester Camp Firewood Bundles Are Convenient
When buying firewood, there are several sizes to choose from. Larger sizes, like full cords, are excellent for stocking up on wood at home. But these larger purchasing sizes aren’t necessary for camping trips and would be a hassle to transport to your site. That’s where firewood bundles come in…
Firewood bundles are a smaller purchasing option consisting of a handful of logs, usually wrapped in plastic or netting. The packaging and size are designed to make bundles easily portable—perfect for your camping trip!
The five to seven wrapped pieces can be easily transported in any vehicle or even carried for a while to more remote campsites. In fact, an average adult can likely carry two or three bundles at one go, and even an older child might be able to carry one – that’s how convenient and portable they are!
But what if you’re going on an extended camping trip in a rustic cabin, like a week-long family vacation? If you will be staying near Rochester, Minnesota, we recommend ordering one or two of our mini stacks, depending on your needs. Mini stacks come with about 80 pieces of wood, making them perfect for extended trips.
2. Opt for Hardwood
Hardwoods are better for burning for several reasons. Most significantly, these varieties provide longer, hotter, cleaner burning times than their softwood counterparts. Let’s break that statement down to explain:
- Longer: Hardwoods are denser than softwoods, meaning there’s much more wood to burn. Thanks to this, each log will burn longer, and you may need less firewood for the same burn time.
- Hotter: Log density also affects how hot the fire gets. How hot a firewood will burn is measured in BTUs per cord, and hardwoods (like birch or ash) top the list.
- Cleaner: Hardwoods don’t have the same sticky sap as softwoods like pine, so they offer a cleaner burn without the creation of excess smoke or creosote.
Birch, cherry, hickory and oak are excellent hardwoods for your next campfire. These woods can be used individually or mixed with fantastic results.
3. Go Local
Local firewood is always the best choice whenever possible. Why? Local wood negates the risk of introducing invasive species to a new area. When an invasive species enters an ecosystem not designed to support it, the consequences can be devastating. For example, Illinois is currently under a federal quarantine for the Emerald Ash Borer – an invasive beetle that destroys ash trees and could eradicate them from the region.
But you may find it hard to source all local camp firewood for your stay. You can gather small sticks at most campgrounds and rural sites to help start the fire, but finding larger logs may be challenging. The good news? The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved an excellent alternative. This leads us to our next point…
4. Kiln-Dried Options Are Best
Kiln drying is a USDA-approved method for purifying camp firewood before moving it from one location to another. So, if you live near Rochester but are camping in another state, you can carry kiln-dried wood from home. However, anything that hasn’t been purified using this process has to remain at home.
But safe transportation and reducing potential ecological harm are far from the only reasons kiln-dried camp firewood options are best. A few other excellent reasons to use this option over seasoned wood include:
- Moisture content guaranteed to be below 20%
- Easier ignition
- Longer, hotter fires
- Less smoke production
- Cleaner burn to reduce air pollution
- Use less wood to create and continue your fires
- Zero bugs, mold, mildew, fungus, chemicals and other undesirables
5. Safety When Using Camp Firewood
Before you light your first fire of the night, it’s crucial you understand everything necessary to stay safe – and keep the natural environment around you safe, too. A few essential safety tips and best practices to utilize when using camp firewood include:
- Keep your fire at least ten feet away from any flammable structures
- Only burn fires with plenty of overhead clearance (no overhanging limbs or structures)
- Ensure the ground is level and free of anything flammable – open dirt, concrete, stone, or brick are the best options
- Always check local regulations for no-burn alerts before starting your fire
- Avoid lighting fires when there are strong winds
- Use a long-handled, well-insulated tong or fire poker for maneuvering logs inside the fire
- Keep a bucket of water and a first aid kit on hand
- Always create a fire-stop buffer using a circle of water, bricks or stones (not river rocks)
- Never leave your fire unattended
- Fully extinguish your fire before leaving the area
Staying safe around campfires is essential if you want to have a good time without issue!
Camp Firewood FAQs
Before you head out on your next wilderness adventure, you likely have some questions about camp firewood. Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions we receive from our customers on the topic. We hope you find them helpful!
Why can’t I use green firewood for camping?
Green or freshly cut wood is not ideal for camping. Its high moisture content makes it harder to ignite and causes more smoke. For a cleaner and more efficient fire, it’s better to use kiln-dried firewood, although seasoned firewood can do if you have no other option.
How much camp firewood should I bring to my next trip?
The amount of firewood you need depends on the length of your trip and how often you plan to have a fire. A general rule is to bring one to two bundles of firewood per night. However, you may need as many as three bundles of firewood per night if you plan to cook over your fire or need to build larger fires to accommodate larger groups.
Can I collect firewood at the campsite?
Some campgrounds allow you to collect firewood from the surrounding area, but many restrict or prohibit it to protect local ecosystems. Always check the specific rules of the campground. Plus, the wood you pick up from the ground likely contains undesirables like mold, mildew, bugs and chemicals. It’s always better to plan ahead and bring kiln-dried firewood if possible.
How should I store my camp firewood at the site?
Store firewood off the ground, covered with a tarp or in a firewood holder, to keep it dry and protected from the elements. This helps ensure it stays dry and is easy to burn.
Can I use camp firewood for cooking while camping?
Yes, firewood can be used for cooking, but ensure it is properly kiln-dried to avoid excessive smoke. Hardwood varieties are generally better for cooking as they produce consistent heat. Of course, you can also bring a small amount of special cooking wood if there’s space for it.
Many people love cooking over the fire when camping!
How can I properly split my camp firewood?
If you purchase from a reputable firewood distributor like ProCut Firewood, your wood will already come in ready-to-use sizes for most standard applications. However, if you need to split wood, use a splitting axe and make sure you’re working on a stable surface. Aim for the center of the log and split with controlled, powerful swings. Safety gear, like gloves and safety glasses, is recommended.
What if I still have questions about camp firewood?
We recommend checking out our firewood FAQs if you still have questions about camp firewood or related topics. If you still can’t find your answer, call us at (507) 280-7780. One of our firewood experts would happily answer your questions and provide expert guidance!
Get Premium Kiln-Dried Camp Firewood in Rochester Today!
Ready to strike out to the great outdoors with some premium kiln-dried camp firewood in Rochester? ProCut Firewood is proud to offer a premium product and top-notch customer service to our customers in Rochester, Minnesota and the nearby Twin Cities area! Fill out the contact form below to get started.
