Author Topic: Firewood for Camping $$$$  (Read 8354 times)

tooqk4u22

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2832
Firewood for Camping $$$$
« on: June 29, 2015, 03:15:58 PM »
Went camping this weekend and ended up spending quite a bit on firewood - it was split between four families using a single campfire and it was cool and rainy the whole time so we burned more than usual.

Anyway, we had to purchase it from the camp store at about $5 per small bundle - probably ended up spending $100 on firewood for two nights of camping. 

We were respectful of the fact that your not supposed to bring in your own if you're not from the area (due to potential pests/disease) and searched for a local source nearby but no luck. 

Anyway, it seemed like a lot, maybe this is more of a rant than an ask but are there other options other than foregoing it.

choppingwood

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 531
Re: Firewood for Camping $$$$
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2015, 03:25:58 PM »
I use a "reduce" strategy. I either start the fire later in the evening or have one every second day.


zolotiyeruki

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5603
  • Location: State: Denial
Re: Firewood for Camping $$$$
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2015, 04:04:35 PM »
20 bundles of firewood in 48 hours? Even my pyromaniac Boy Scouts can't burn that much!  How big of a bonfire did you have!?

The trick is to only have a fire as big as you actually need for warmth and cooking.  Also, scavenge for firewood if your campground allows.

Eric

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4057
  • Location: On my bike
Re: Firewood for Camping $$$$
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2015, 04:46:21 PM »
Wow, those must've been some small $5 bundles!  It seems like there's always a guy selling wood out of a wheelbarrow or shed near most campgrounds.  If you can find him, that's usually the best deal.  Second best is usually Home Depot or Lowes (that wood has been kiln treated so it's okay to move if there's not one nearby).  That will at least get you a large bundle for $5-$7.  Then the campground host if applicable.  And last the gas station/convenience store bundles.  If you get stuck going this route, making a couple of stops to try to find ones that have oak instead of pine will help you get better value.

Personally, I never skimp on firewood.  The most enjoyable part about camping is having a nice fire.  So even if you get stuck paying $5 per small bundle, it's still worth it to me.  But of course it's always nice to get a huge fire for cheap.

regulator

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 469
Re: Firewood for Camping $$$$
« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2015, 06:38:35 PM »
Mostly we camp near or in National Forests where there is ample wood to gather for free.  Other than that, you are stuck buying it.

kimmarg

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 750
  • Location: Northern New England
Re: Firewood for Camping $$$$
« Reply #5 on: June 29, 2015, 06:55:51 PM »

We were respectful of the fact that your not supposed to bring in your own if you're not from the area (due to potential pests/disease) and searched for a local source nearby but no luck. 


I believe you but I'm suprised. We went to our local state park for the day last weekend and passed no less than 10 people selling firewood in the side of the road on the way in. Ask in the closest town, there has to be some nearby!

melanie2008

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 46
Re: Firewood for Camping $$$$
« Reply #6 on: June 29, 2015, 07:03:00 PM »
$5 is a standard price for firewood. I honestly haven't seen it for cheaper.  The stuff I see at stores and campgrounds is $5. Pests such as the pine beetle are serious issues. When we camp (which is often), we use about 1/2 of a small pack each night.

bogart

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1094
Re: Firewood for Camping $$$$
« Reply #7 on: June 29, 2015, 08:50:03 PM »
We use one or 2 bundles a night and also pay $5/bundle.  We usually buy direct from the campground as it's (a) easy and (b) a way to support (a little bit) the state park systems that we use and love.

We often scavenge wood from others (moved-out-of!) campsites, often to good effect -- an advantage of not arriving/leaving the same day as everyone else (i.e. usually not Friday-Sunday) in my experience.  People will often leave 1/2 -- 1 bundle of unused wood behind and I have no problem picking it up and using it (if they have truly moved on).

tooqk4u22

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2832
Re: Firewood for Camping $$$$
« Reply #8 on: June 30, 2015, 07:39:28 AM »
20 bundles of firewood in 48 hours? Even my pyromaniac Boy Scouts can't burn that much!  How big of a bonfire did you have!?

The trick is to only have a fire as big as you actually need for warmth and cooking.  Also, scavenge for firewood if your campground allows.

They were small and dry so they burned quick (good thing though). Keep in mind it wasn't a normal 48 hours.....it rained the whole time so we were around the campfire the whole time....so it wasn't like normal where you start a fire a dusk for an hour or two then go to bed.  Other than 6-7 hours each night for sleeping there was a fire going. 

Wow, those must've been some small $5 bundles!  It seems like there's always a guy selling wood out of a wheelbarrow or shed near most campgrounds.  If you can find him, that's usually the best deal.  Second best is usually Home Depot or Lowes (that wood has been kiln treated so it's okay to move if there's not one nearby).  That will at least get you a large bundle for $5-$7.  Then the campground host if applicable.  And last the gas station/convenience store bundles.  If you get stuck going this route, making a couple of stops to try to find ones that have oak instead of pine will help you get better value.

Personally, I never skimp on firewood.  The most enjoyable part about camping is having a nice fire.  So even if you get stuck paying $5 per small bundle, it's still worth it to me.  But of course it's always nice to get a huge fire for cheap.


We were respectful of the fact that your not supposed to bring in your own if you're not from the area (due to potential pests/disease) and searched for a local source nearby but no luck. 


I believe you but I'm suprised. We went to our local state park for the day last weekend and passed no less than 10 people selling firewood in the side of the road on the way in. Ask in the closest town, there has to be some nearby!

No more surprised than we were....we expected to find some/many options, even drove to the nearest town ((about 15 minutes away) nothing along the way and nothing in town.  This is a major camping area with several state options and private options....so I was really surprised.

GuitarStv

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 23128
  • Age: 42
  • Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Re: Firewood for Camping $$$$
« Reply #9 on: June 30, 2015, 07:58:28 AM »
Mostly we camp near or in National Forests where there is ample wood to gather for free.

+1

The whole idea of paying for firewood kinda makes me giggle. . . my dad didn't consider it a camping trip if you spent less than eight hours portaging into the middle of nowhere.

jacksonvasey

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 134
Re: Firewood for Camping $$$$
« Reply #10 on: June 30, 2015, 12:49:49 PM »
You could be like my FIL's typical 'customers'.  He stacks a few bundles on the side of the road for $3 a bundle, and people mostly either just take it without paying or leave $2 total for like 5 bundles.  I would guess some of them come back later if they didn't have cash on them, or had too large a bill for the amount of wood they were getting, but come on.

partgypsy

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5206
Re: Firewood for Camping $$$$
« Reply #11 on: June 30, 2015, 01:01:13 PM »
That sounds excessive, but maybe the bundles are really small?

If the families knew each other, pick a campfire each night to be the one that people hang out at. We do only summer fall camping but even so only have the fire lit in the evening, because otherwise hiking, doing other activities. Use a camp stove for cooking when don't have a fire lit.


 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!