Average firewood cost

[DOUBLETROUBLE]

Just a quick question about firewood cost at the various camp grounds. We have a short trip planned next weekend but we live in northwest Ohio and are going to southeast Michigan and it is illegal to transport firewood. The site is only 30 minutes from our house but I don't want to risk the fines and such and ruin the weekend.
Can some of you give me an idea of the average cost of firewood at campgrounds and how much do you get for the money paid. Thanks.

[Sundancer330]

Most of the Michigan state parks sell small bundles (6-8) foot long pieces for about $6, about the same size sold at gas stations, private parks usually do a bit better but not much

[WinnieView]

About the same price out west.

[Midnightmoon]

I purchased a couple of bundles in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina last month and it averaged right around that $6 mark also. Seems to be fairly standard.

[adwizard]

$5 a bundle at many Wi state parks. But not unusual to see as high as $7. Gas stations...$5-$6/bundle

[John from Central Florida]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

I purchased a couple of bundles in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina last month and it averaged right around that $6 mark also. Seems to be fairly standard.

X2

[Crabman]

Almost the same price as gold for what you get. 5 to 7 bucks for a few small sticks of wood in a bundle. One of my pet peeves, if you won't let me bring in firewood at least give me an affordable alternative. A good fire on a cold Fall night when it gets dark at 430 would cost more then the campsite did lol.

[Magnolia Tom]

In Texas state parks, you usually get 7 pieces for a “donation “ of $5. Not all parks enforce the “no outside “ firewood

[RogerR]

There is always construction somewhere in the neighborhood so I stop and ask for ends and pieces of 2x4 or 2x6s. They make great starter wood and are easy to split into little pieces.

Because they are construction wood and fresh (not stored in a firewood pile somewhere for months) I have never been questioned on the bug safety of them when I camp.

They also have a nice piney scent when lit and cost nothing but my time to stop and ask. Also, better than filling up a landfill!

I buy a bundle of firewood to sustain the fire. Sometimes you will find a wood vendor outside of parks who are much cheaper on the way to camping.

[harryjr]

At Gifford Pinchot State Park in PA a few years back the camp host had made a deal with a local cabinet shop to dump scraps from the cabinet making on his site.

The shop was happy not to pay landfill fees. We had kiln dried hardwood for the fire. Everybody won.

[Bassdogs]

Originally Posted by RogerR

There is always construction somewhere in the neighborhood so I stop and ask for ends and pieces of 2x4 or 2x6s. They make great starter wood and are easy to split into little pieces.

Because they are construction wood and fresh (not stored in a firewood pile somewhere for months) I have never been questioned on the bug safety of them when I camp.

They also have a nice piney scent when lit and cost nothing but my time to stop and ask. Also, better than filling up a landfill!

I buy a bundle of firewood to sustain the fire. Sometimes you will find a wood vendor outside of parks who are much cheaper on the way to camping.

X2. I have only purchased packaged firewood maybe 2 times in 40 years of camping. As we are now retired, we take longer trips south and or west. When we arrive at a destination where we will stay for a week or so I am immediately on the prowl for construction dumpsters. They are pretty easy to find along the beach or newly developed areas. I always ask before a dumpster dive and have never been told no. The contractor typically says to wait until they shut down for the day so I don't get in the way on the job site.

[DOUBLETROUBLE]

I think I may split some of my fire wood down a little smaller to mimic the small stuff they sell. I don't want to spend $50 on firewood, we like to have a fire going most of the time even if it's just to sit around it.

[Duke4857]

I do not like paying over $850.00 for a cord of wood. A cord is 4x4x8=128 cubic feet. Most of the bundles I see are .9 cubic feet. These places are price gouging every one who pays that price for their fire wood. It is unfair for them to charge those prices. They are just after your money in your bank account. Do not buy their wood and they will be forced to lower prices. It might take a year without a fire, but they would get the idea. This is my personal protest. I just do not like the price gouging.

[LuckyDuck]

We just returned from a trip to Oregon. The two state parks we stayed at charged $5 per bundle — about 6 quarter-split logs, pretty standard. I would’ve brought my own from home, but park rep told me prior that they don’t allow wood from California because of pests. Our third stop was a favorite private campground back in California — bundles there are $8! Their site rates are reasonable, though, so if wood keeps them down, I’m OK with that.

[Midnightmoon]

Just one additional comment. There is a little place in Jennerstown Pa where we have rented a cabin several times over the years. Firewood was included in the cost of the cabin and the stack outside your door was replenished each night of your stay. The cabins were a little $$$ and I don't know how much of that cost was the firewood. However, I really like the concept.

I've never seen something like this at a campground. Other than an outside vendor near the camp or buying the bundles in the camp store, I don't recall coming across a campground doing this on their own. Would be nice to see.

[DOUBLETROUBLE]

I guess I'm just stubborn, I don't like to pay for firewood so close to home when I get mine for free. I heat my home with only firewood so I have plenty here available to camp with. It would be different if I we're going a good distance away from but I'm not......yet. lol

[norty1]

Many times if you look around, you will find locations near cg's that have stacks of dry firewood for sale. In NC we have purchased a small stack for around $10 bucks that was the equivalent of about 4 of those $6 stacks.

Make sure the cg will allow you to bring in local wood to avoid the hassle. Some could care less about any ash borer and just want a monopoly on sales of wood.

[Ruth]

Not all campgrounds in NH enforce the don’t move wood rule. We always bring our own NH grown firewood with us. We also use wood for heating in the winter as well as our own fire pit..

[Sundancer330]

Originally Posted by Duke4857

I do not like paying over $850.00 for a cord of wood. A cord is 4x4x8=128 cubic feet. Most of the bundles I see are .9 cubic feet. These places are price gouging every one who pays that price for their fire wood. It is unfair for them to charge those prices. They are just after your money in your bank account. Do not buy their wood and they will be forced to lower prices. It might take a year without a fire, but they would get the idea. This is my personal protest. I just do not like the price gouging.

At our state parks in Michigan its the campground hosts that sell the firewood. They told us the profits go toward buying supplies for the kids activities, books, board games, art supplies, bike decorations for parades, etc., etc. I dont have a problem spending $12 a night for a few hours of fire where the profits go toward a good cause.

[33 RLDS]

I hate buying wood after spending all spring cutting, hauling and splitting my own. Most campgrounds in NY are a rip off for what you get. Usually as you get near the entrance to most CG, there is always somebody with a fire wood stand selling firewood with the honor system. They always give you much more wood for your $5 than the campgrounds do.