🔥 Best Types of Firewood for Camping

When camping, the best types of firewood are those that burn hot, long, and clean—meaning they produce minimal smoke and few sparks. Here are top choices, broken down by hardwoods and softwoods, along with tips for what to avoid:

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Hardwoods (Best for Cooking and Long Burns)

These are dense and burn hotter and longer—ideal for warmth and cooking.

• Oak – Burns very hot and slowly; great coals for cooking.
  
• Hickory – High heat, long-lasting, with a pleasant aroma; excellent for grilling/smoking.
  
• Maple – Steady burn, less smoke; good all-around wood.
  
• Ash – Burns well even when not fully seasoned; easy to split and manage.
  
• Birch – Burns quickly but hot; great starter or mixing wood.
  

Softwoods (Best for Starting Fires)

Burns quickly and lights easily—great for kindling or quick fires.

• Pine – Good for starting fires, but burns fast and can be smoky/resinous.
  
• Cedar – Smells great, easy to light, and produces a crackling flame (but can spark).
  
• Fir – Burns clean and smells pleasant, but not as hot or long-lasting as hardwoods.
  

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❌ Firewood to Avoid

• Green or unseasoned wood – Too much moisture = lots of smoke, hard to light.
  
• Treated or painted lumber – Releases toxic chemicals.
  
• Softwoods like spruce or poplar – Burn fast, with poor heat output and lots of smoke.
  
• Wood with mold, fungus, or insects – Can be unsafe and spread pests.
  

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🌲 Pro Tips

• Use local firewood: Prevent the spread of invasive pests (many campgrounds prohibit bringing wood from outside the area).
  
• Mix hardwood and softwood: Start with softwood to light easily, then add hardwood for sustained heat.
  
• Bring kindling and firestarters: Dry twigs, dryer lint, or store-bought firestarters make ignition much easier.
  

Knoxville campground sells the perfect type of firewood at the campground so you never have to worry about finding the right type of firewood!