Quick answer: firewood can carry invasive insects and diseases, such as the emerald ash borer and spotted lanternfly, that kill trees far from where the wood was cut. That is why many campgrounds, parks and states ban or restrict firewood brought from outside the area. The safest choices are to buy firewood near your campsite (the Don’t Move Firewood campaign suggests within about 10 miles where possible) or to buy firewood certified as heat-treated under USDA or state standards. Gathering dead and down wood is allowed in some places and banned in others, so check the rules for your exact site, and always follow current fire restrictions.
Firewood looks harmless: a few logs in the trunk, saved from the woodpile at home or bought cheaply on the drive. Yet moving firewood is one of the main ways tree-killing insects and diseases spread to new forests. A single infested bundle can start an outbreak hundreds of miles away, and once established, some of these pests have proven almost impossible to eradicate.
This guide explains the rules you are likely to meet, why they exist and how to stay within them while still enjoying a campfire. It is part of our camping safety guide, which covers fire, weather and wildlife.
Sources: Don’t Move Firewood campaign (The Nature Conservancy); USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) firewood guidance and heat-treatment standard; USDA Forest Service and state forestry agency invasive pest information (emerald ash borer, Asian longhorned beetle, spotted lanternfly, spongy moth); National Park Service firewood regulations, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park; U.S. EPA Burn Wise program; Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Checked October 2026.
Why Firewood Rules Exist
Insects and fungi that live in or under bark can survive in cut wood for a long time. When people carry that wood to a campground, the pests can emerge and find new trees. The Don’t Move Firewood campaign, run by The Nature Conservancy with support from federal and state agencies, describes firewood as a major pathway for forest pests that cannot spread far on their own.
Native forests often have little resistance to these invaders. Trees evolved without them, and the natural predators that keep pests in check in their home ranges are absent.
Pests that travel in firewood
| Pest | Trees affected | Notes from agency sources |
|---|---|---|
| Emerald ash borer | Ash trees | First found in the United States near Detroit in 2002; has since killed vast numbers of ash trees across much of the country |
| Asian longhorned beetle | Maples and many other hardwoods | First detected in the U.S. in Brooklyn, New York, in 1996; eradication requires removing infested trees |
| Spotted lanternfly | Tree of heaven, grapevines and many hardwoods | First detected in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014; egg masses are laid on wood, vehicles and outdoor items |
| Spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth) | Oaks and many hardwoods | Egg masses can hitch rides on firewood and camping gear |
| Walnut twig beetle (thousand cankers disease) | Walnut trees | Spreads a fungal disease that kills black walnut |
| Oak wilt and other fungal diseases | Oaks | Can move in infected wood |
Many other borers and diseases are regional. That is why rules differ by state and even by park.
The Rules You Are Likely to Meet
Firewood rules come from several levels of government and from campground operators. They can overlap.
State quarantines and restrictions
Many states restrict firewood entering from other states or from quarantined counties. Some require firewood to be certified heat-treated if it crosses certain lines. Others set mileage limits, such as banning firewood from more than a set distance on state lands. The Don’t Move Firewood website maintains a state-by-state summary that links to each state’s official rules.
USDA APHIS ended its federal domestic quarantine for emerald ash borer in 2021, shifting its focus to biological control and other tools. State and local rules still apply, and other federal quarantines remain for some pests.
National, state and local parks
Many parks set their own firewood rules. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, for example, allows only firewood certified as heat-treated by the USDA or a state agency, or dead and down wood collected inside the park. Other parks require firewood purchased within the park or within a certain distance. Rules are usually posted on the park’s website and campground pages.
Private campgrounds
Private campgrounds and RV parks may ban outside firewood and sell bundles on site. Read the reservation confirmation and campground rules before you pack wood from home.
Fire restrictions come first
Even legal firewood cannot be burned when fires are banned. During dry seasons, land agencies issue stage 1 and stage 2 fire restrictions that limit or prohibit campfires. Our guide to fire restrictions on public lands explains what each level allows.
What "Local" Firewood Means
The Don’t Move Firewood campaign recommends buying firewood as close as possible to where you will burn it, suggesting within about 10 miles where you can, and treating 50 miles as an outer limit in many cases. Some state rules use specific distances, and those legal limits take priority.
Practical ways to buy local wood:
- Campground stores and hosts often sell bundles cut nearby.
- Roadside sellers near the campground can be a good source; ask where the wood came from.
- Local hardware and grocery stores in the nearest town often stock local or certified wood.
- Park concessions may sell wood approved for that park.
Avoid the temptation to stock up at home before a long drive. Even wood from your own yard can carry pests you cannot see.
Certified Heat-Treated Firewood
Heat treatment kills insects and many pathogens in wood. USDA APHIS has a heat-treatment standard for firewood that requires wood to reach a core temperature of 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least 60 minutes. Producers in compliance agreements with APHIS or their state agriculture department can label wood as certified heat-treated.
How to recognize it
- Look for a certification label naming the USDA APHIS or state program, the producer and often a compliance or certificate number.
- Expect packaged wood, usually in shrink-wrapped bundles or boxes.
- Do not confuse “kiln-dried” with certified heat-treated. Kiln-dried wood has been dried, but unless the label states it meets the certified heat-treatment standard, it may not satisfy park or state rules.
- Keep the label while camping in case a ranger asks.
Certified wood usually costs more, but it is often the only firewood allowed to travel across state lines or into certain parks.
Gathering Firewood at the Campsite
Collecting wood on site is sometimes allowed, sometimes limited and sometimes banned outright.
| Place | Typical rule (always confirm locally) |
|---|---|
| National forests | Collecting dead and down wood for a campfire is commonly allowed in dispersed areas; some areas restrict it; cutting live trees is prohibited; taking wood home usually needs a permit |
| BLM land | Often similar to national forests; check field office rules |
| National parks | Varies widely; many parks prohibit gathering, especially in busy campgrounds |
| State parks | Many prohibit gathering any wood, dead or alive |
| Wilderness areas | Fires may be banned at certain elevations or near lakes |
| Private campgrounds | Usually prohibited; buy from the campground |
Our guide to dispersed camping rules covers other regulations on public lands.
Gathering responsibly
Where gathering is allowed, the Leave No Trace Center’s guidance is to use only dead and down wood that you can break by hand, roughly no thicker than an adult’s wrist. That approach:
- Leaves live and standing dead trees for wildlife habitat
- Avoids stripping one area bare, so gather over a wide area
- Produces wood that burns completely to ash
- Avoids the need for saws and axes, which leave scars
Never cut live trees or branches, and never peel bark from standing trees. Our article on Leave No Trace for campers explains how minimizing campfire impacts fits with the other principles.
Choosing Wood That Burns Well
Dry wood matters
The EPA’s Burn Wise program recommends burning only dry, seasoned wood, with a moisture content of 20 percent or less. Wet or green wood smolders, produces more smoke and is hard to light. Signs of dry wood include:
- Cracks or splits on the ends
- Lighter weight than fresh wood of the same size
- A hollow sound when two pieces knock together
- Bark that peels easily
An inexpensive moisture meter gives a more reliable reading.
What not to burn
The EPA and fire agencies warn against burning:
- Painted, stained or pressure-treated wood, which can release toxic chemicals
- Plywood, particleboard and pallets, which may contain glues or treatments
- Trash, plastics and food packaging
- Driftwood from salt water, which can produce corrosive and harmful fumes
- Poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac vines, whose smoke can cause serious lung and skin reactions
How Much Firewood to Buy
Campground bundles vary in size, so there is no exact rule, but a small evening fire burned down to coals before bed uses far less wood than people expect. A modest fire for cooking and an hour or two of sitting around usually needs only a bundle or two, depending on the wood and the weather. Buying one bundle at a time has advantages: you are not left with extra wood that you cannot legally take home, and you can buy more locally if the first batch burns quickly.
Hardwoods such as oak, maple and hickory burn longer and produce better cooking coals. Softwoods such as pine and fir light quickly and burn hot but fast, and they tend to pop and spark more. A mix works well: softwood kindling to start, hardwood to keep the fire going.
Storing wood at camp
Keep firewood off the ground and covered so dew or rain does not soak it overnight. Store it well away from the fire ring, where a stray ember cannot reach it, and away from tents. A tarp or the campsite’s picnic table shelter works. In bear country, firewood is not an attractant, but food scraps tossed into the fire are, so burn only wood.
Firewood Alternatives
When rules make firewood difficult or fires are restricted, alternatives keep camp comfortable:
- A camp stove for cooking. Our comparison of camp stove vs campfire cooking explains when each makes sense.
- Propane fire pits, where allowed. Some fire restrictions treat devices with on/off valves differently from wood fires, so check the specific order.
- Lanterns and warm layers for evening comfort.
- Compressed firewood logs made from recycled sawdust, which some campgrounds accept; check rules before bringing them.
If You Already Brought Firewood
If you arrive with wood from home and discover it is not allowed:
- Do not leave it at the campground or dump it in the woods.
- Ask the campground host or ranger what to do. Some areas have collection points.
- Burn it promptly and completely, only if local officials say that is acceptable and fires are allowed.
- Do not take leftover wood to your next stop, especially in another state.
How to Spot Signs of Pests in Firewood
You may not be able to see an infestation, which is why the rules exist. Still, report wood with:
- D-shaped exit holes about one-eighth inch wide, a sign of emerald ash borer
- Round, pencil-sized or larger exit holes, which can indicate Asian longhorned beetle
- Gray, mud-like patches on wood or gear, which may be spotted lanternfly or spongy moth egg masses
- Sawdust-like frass in bark crevices
State agriculture departments and the USDA have reporting lines and online forms. A photo and location help.
Common Mistakes
- Packing firewood from home for an out-of-state trip.
- Assuming kiln-dried means certified.
- Gathering wood in parks where it is prohibited.
- Cutting branches from live trees.
- Burning pallets, painted lumber or trash.
- Ignoring fire restrictions because you bought legal firewood.
- Leaving unburned wood behind. Our guide to campfire safety explains how to burn down and drown a fire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't you bring firewood to a campground?
Firewood can carry invasive insects and diseases, such as emerald ash borer and spotted lanternfly, that kill trees. Many campgrounds and states restrict outside firewood to keep these pests from spreading.
How far can you move firewood?
The Don’t Move Firewood campaign recommends buying it as close as possible to where you will burn it, ideally within about 10 miles. Some states and parks set legal distance limits that you must follow.
What is certified heat-treated firewood?
It is firewood treated under a USDA APHIS or state program that heats the wood to a core temperature of 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least 60 minutes. Look for a certification label.
Can I collect firewood at my campsite?
It depends on the location. Many national forests allow dead and down wood for campfires, while many parks prohibit gathering. Never cut live trees, and check local rules.
Is kiln-dried firewood the same as heat-treated?
Not necessarily. Only wood labeled as meeting a certified heat-treatment standard satisfies most rules that require heat-treated firewood.
What should I do with leftover firewood?
Leave it with the campground host if they accept it, or burn it completely where fires are allowed. Do not carry it to another area.
