Whether a campfire is allowed depends on where you are and when. Rules are set by the land agency or local government, change with conditions and can switch from allowed to banned within days.
There is no single national campfire law. A national forest, a state park, a county, a city and a private campground can each set their own rules, and conditions such as drought, wind and fire danger change those rules during the year. A fire that is fine in spring may be prohibited in late summer.
The safest assumption is that you must check each time. The U.S. Forest Service and other agencies say to find current restrictions before you travel, and recreation.gov advises checking for closures and whether campfires are allowed at your destination.
Many federal and state land managers use stages. Under Stage 1 as used by the Forest Service, fire is generally banned, including charcoal and briquettes, with exceptions such as pressurized-gas stoves and grills and campfires in fire structures provided by the Forest Service in developed recreation sites. Stage 2 includes the Stage 1 bans and adds further limits, such as on open-flame torches and engine-powered tools during set hours.
These descriptions come from a Forest Service source and apply to that system. Other agencies define their stages differently, so read the order for the specific area you plan to visit instead of assuming the names mean the same thing everywhere.
Some orders allow fires only in permanent, provided structures at developed sites, which means a ring in a managed campground can be fine when a dispersed site down the road is not. Others close fires entirely. The distinction can catch people off guard, so read the wording carefully.
Check the end date as well as the start date. Some orders expire on a set day and others stay in force until the agency lifts them, so assume nothing about when a restriction ends.
A burn ban is usually a local or state order that prohibits open burning, and it is a separate thing from a federal restriction stage. Counties, fire districts and states may issue them, and what they cover differs. Some include only brush and yard debris burning, while others include recreational fires.
If a ban is in effect, do not assume a fire pit is exempt. Ask the issuing office whether a ring, a gas fire pit or a charcoal grill is covered.
Burn bans can also be tied to air quality, not only to fire danger. A day of poor air in some areas can bring a temporary ban on wood smoke, so check for that kind of notice in the cooler parts of the year as well as in summer.
Start with the agency that manages the land: the national forest or ranger district, state park, BLM office or campground host. Their websites and recorded phone lines usually list the current status. For private land or a backyard, call your local fire department or city office.
Check again the day you leave, since rules can change quickly. Keep a backup plan such as a camp stove, because a trip should not depend on a campfire being allowed.
Allowed does not mean safe. Follow the site setup in how to build a campfire, avoid hazardous, dry or windy conditions even when there is no formal restriction, and put the fire out completely using drown, stir, feel.
At home, a different set of rules applies. Backyard fire pit vs campground fire ring rules explains what to ask your city.
A ban is an opportunity to cook another way. A propane stove, where permitted, can handle a lot of meals, and some restrictions allow pressurized-gas cooking while banning wood fires. Marshmallows, hot dogs and pies can wait for the next trip.
Our gear is built for wood fires in places where they are allowed, and we encourage every customer to respect local rules. See the fire tools and starter kits page for what we are developing.
Also keep in mind that restrictions exist for practical reasons. Dry vegetation, low humidity and wind are the conditions in which a small campfire can turn into a large wildfire, and the people who write these orders are balancing the fun of a fire against the danger of one. Following the order protects you, the people around you and the place you came to enjoy.
Even without a formal restriction, use judgment. Forest Service guidance says not to build a fire in hazardous, dry or windy conditions. Look at the grass, the wind and the forecast, and be ready to cancel the fire if conditions turn.
Many seasoned campers keep a stove in the car for exactly that reason. It lets you cook dinner when a fire is not wise, and you can still gather around a lantern for the evening.
Finally, if you see smoke or fire that nobody is watching, report it by calling 911 and describing the location as precisely as you can.
A short conversation can save a ruined weekend. Ask whether fires are allowed today, and if so, where. Ask whether firewood can be collected, bought nearby or must be brought in, and remember the guidance on not moving it far. Ask whether charcoal, gas stoves and fire pits are treated differently and whether restrictions may change during your stay.
Camp hosts and rangers see these situations often, and most are glad to explain. Write the answers down, or take a photo of the posted notice, so everyone in your party follows the same plan.
The agency or government that manages the land, such as the Forest Service, a state park system, a county or a city.
Not automatically. Some restrictions allow fires in provided structures in developed sites, and others do not. Read the order.
Often, pressurized-gas stoves are allowed under Stage 1 Forest Service rules, but confirm the specific order.
Check the land manager's website or call their office, and check again right before you leave.
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