How much firewood do I need for one night of camping?

There is no fixed number, but a useful benchmark is that a single thick log burns for about an hour. Estimate how many hours you want the fire to run, then plan for extra in cold, wet, or windy weather when wood burns less efficiently.

What is the best firewood for a campfire?

Dense hardwoods are the best all around choices. Oak, beech, birch, and ash burn slowly with steady, long lasting heat, so you get more burn time for less wood. Ash is especially handy because it burns even under moist conditions.

Should I use softwood or hardwood for a campfire?

Use both. Softwood ignites quickly and is ideal for starting the fire, while hardwood burns slower and hotter to keep it going for hours. Start with softwood and kindling, then feed in hardwood logs once the fire is established.

Why does my firewood burn so fast?

Thin or small pieces burn quickly, and so does softwood compared to hardwood. Wet or green wood also burns inefficiently. To slow things down, use thicker, fully dry hardwood logs and control the airflow at the center of the fire.

How can I make my campfire last all night?

Use completely dry wood, start with softwood and kindling, then add longer hardwood logs. Keep the fire well fed, maintain airflow at the center, and lean on thick logs that take longer to burn through.

How Much Firewood Do I Need For Camping?

There is no single magic number for how much firewood you need on a camping trip. The right amount depends on how long you are staying, the weather, the size of your logs, and what you want the fire to do. Get it wrong and you are either hauling dead weight or shivering at 2 a.m. with nothing left to burn.

Firewood does a lot of work at a campsite. You use it for warmth on cold nights, for cooking, and for the simple pleasure of a fire to sit around. Run short and the whole trip can suffer. This guide walks through the five factors that decide how much wood to pack, the firewood types worth choosing, and how to make every log last.

Match the Wood to Your Trip Length

The amount of firewood you need will vary with the duration of the trip, whether it is a single day out or a full week in the backcountry. Decide up front how many campfires you plan to set up and roughly how long each one needs to run.

The rule here is simple: the longer the trip, the more wood and kindling you should carry. A useful planning benchmark is that a single thick log lasts about an hour, so estimate your nightly fire hours and multiply from there.

Account for the Weather

Weather has a big effect on how much you will burn. If you are camping in winter, plan on a large amount of firewood, because cold nights ask a lot more of a fire than mild ones do.

Wet and windy conditions also reduce the burning efficiency of wood, so pack extra in unsettled weather. A good habit is to bring a full rick of wood for each day rather than guessing low and running out.

Pick the Right Size of Wood

The size of your firewood determines how quickly it gets consumed. If you want the fire to last longer while using less wood, carry thicker logs that take longer to burn through. Thickness and hardness both slow down how fast a piece is eaten by the flames.

That said, you cannot start a fire on big logs alone. When lighting up you still need lighter, smaller firewood that ignites easily and quickly, then you can feed in the thicker pieces once the fire is established.

Thin, dry pieces and kindling to get the flame going.
Thicker logs to keep heat steady and stretch your supply.

Decide What the Fire Is For

The purpose of the campfire is a major factor in how much wood you need. You might build one to cook, to stay warm, or just for the relaxing things in life, and each goal burns a different amount.

Think about what you are cooking and how long the fire has to last. A fire that must burn through the night to keep you warm in cold weather needs far more wood than one that only has to last long enough to cook a meal. Remember the benchmark that a single thick log runs about an hour.

Know Your Firewood Type

Different firewood lasts for different durations. Softwood will not burn at the same rate as hardwood, so the type you choose changes how many bundles you should carry to the campsite.

To build a fire that lasts all day, go for hardwood. Oak, birch, and maple are dense, slow burning choices that give you more heat for less wood.

Choose the Best Firewood for Camping

To help you prepare, here are some of the best firewood types for a campfire, whether you are cooking or just trying to stay warm.

Beech: An excellent campfire choice. Its dense hardwood burns hot and clean without sparking, lasts a long time, and keeps you warm on the coldest winter nights. Its smooth bark does not flake out, so you are not left with bark scattered around once the fire dies down.
Birch: Quality ranges from excellent to average depending on the species, with Black Birch the most desirable for a campfire. Its dense fibers let it burn long and hot, and it gives off a soft, pleasing smell as it burns.
Oak: Generally considered one of the very best fuels for a campfire. It burns slowly with consistent flames and produces excellent, long lasting heat. Its strength and density mean a longer fire for less wood, and White and Red Oak are the most popular choices.
Walnut: A dense hardwood that is easy to work with and burns clean, so it will not leave a mess around the campsite, and it gives off a pleasing aroma. It has medium density and does not throw as much heat as some others, which makes it a good pick for summer trips.
Ash: One of the best on this list because it burns even under moist conditions and produces a steady flame with great heat. It also works well in a wood burning stove, making it a true multipurpose firewood.

Keep the Campfire Burning for Long

Packing enough wood is only half the job. These habits help you get the most out of every log so your fire lasts.

Use wood that is completely dry. Even a little moisture left in a log means it will not burn as long.
Start the fire with softwood, which ignites easily, then add hardwood to keep it going for hours.
Use longer logs to keep the fire burning through the night.
Choose the right type and the right size of firewood for the job.
Keep plenty of kindling and tinder on hand to maintain the fire and get a good flame going.
Maintain airflow at the center of the fire to keep it burning.

How Much Firewood Do I Need for Camping? (Here's Your Answer)