9 Best Camping Fire Pits (2023 Reviews and Guide)

Camping is great, but having the best camping fire pit is even better. To me, it almost seems pointless to go camping without some sort of fire, whether for cooking or just ambiance or some marshmallows.

How do you find the best camping fire pit, though? There are several types. Some are wood-burning some propane, and some for cooking.

This post will discuss the nine best camping fire pits, why you should invest in a portable camping fire pit, what kind might best fit your needs, and campfire safety.

Here’s a quick look at our top 3 best camping fire pits:

Best Camping Fire Pit

When it comes to fire pits for camping, there are a lot of choices. We will help you narrow down the field and share how these models stack up to one another.

With that, let’s get to it.

Outland Living Firebowl 870

For many reasons, the Outland Living Firebowl 870 portable propane gas fire pit is one of our favorite propane fire pits. This fire pit gets excellent reviews for its quality materials, smokeless flame, and ease of use.

It is 19 inches in diameter and 11 inches high, weighing 25 pounds. This propane fire pit has an output of 58,000 BTU/HR. It is straightforward to use, hook it up to a 20-pound propane tank, turn the dial low, and light the center ring with a lighter.

No more gathering messy wood that smokes everyone out. Just light and enjoy this fire pit. The flame is very natural-looking, and the lava rocks that are included add a nice touch.

Most importantly, it produces a smokeless flame and is CSA approved, which can be used during most fire bans. In addition, the Outland Living Firebowl is a spark-free propane campfire, making it a safer option than a wood-burning fire.

This fire pit is made with durable, high-quality steel and a protective enamel finish. It comes with a cover, a carrying kit, a pre-attached 10-foot hose, lava rocks, and an adjustable regulator for varying flame height.

You can do some simple cooking over this fire pit, such as marshmallows and hot dogs. Be sure not to let anything drop on the lava rocks, though you wouldn’t want to ruin the look of them.

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UCO Flatpack Portable Stainless Steel Grill and Fire Pit

We love the UCO Flatpack Portable Stainless Steel Grill and Fire Pit because it is such an excellent value for what you get. It folds down very small and only weighs 3.3 pounds, yet it can provide a nice campfire and grill for your food.

This portable fire pit is a wood-burning fire pit also designed for grilling. It is a perfect camping fire pit for anyone needing to take less heavy gear. Excellent for backpackers, car camping, and anyone needing a very lightweight, portable, and functional fire pit/grill.

This grill is made of high-quality stainless steel and folds to 1.5 inches thick. So it can fit in a backpack! The size of the grilling space is 13 x 10 inches and can feed 3-6 people depending on what’s cooking.

The base of this fire pit is very stable and keeps the fire off the ground. With only a 30-second setup, you can get your fire going quickly. In addition, the quality stainless steel construction will help with rust and corrosion.

The UCO Flatpack Portable Stainless Steel Grill and Fire Pit is a great value. It is one of the most affordable fire pit/grills out there, and you can’t beat the fact that it weighs 3.3 pounds.

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Pop-Up Fire Pit

This portable Pop-Up Fire Pit is great because it can handle a good-sized fire but is lightweight and very portable. In addition, it’s designed to handle both wood and charcoal.

It only weighs about 8 pounds and is 24 inches by 24 inches with a height of 15 inches. It collapses into a nice carrying case that is included and can be set up in 1 minute without any extra tools.

The bottom of the fire pit is stainless steel mesh surface meaning your campfire will get excellent airflow. It can hold up to 125 pounds of wood or charcoal, preventing ash from slipping through.

The unique design of this camping fire pit creates less smoke, making sitting around the fire even more relaxing. It also exceeds the US Forest Service regulations on fire pans.

It does not come with a grill for cooking, but you could put marshmallows, hot dogs, or whatever stays on a stick over the fire.

Honestly, this is just a cool-looking fire pit with sleek, clean lines, stainless steel construction, and how your fire is up off the ground. It looks good, works even better, and is perfect for camping, the beach, or your own backyard.

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SUCHDECO Portable Fire Pit for Camping

This Portable Fire Pit is my favorite camping fire pit for backpackers due to its extremely lightweight and portability. It’s a safe and quick way to have a campfire in a short time and can go just about anywhere. You just need to light your firewood and enjoy!

The medium 16.5-inch model fire pit weighs about 2 pounds but can handle about 11 pounds of wood. That is plenty of wood for a nice hot fire.

When assembled, it is 16.5 inches by 16.5 inches with a height of about 13 inches. It collapses down very small and fits nicely in a carrying case that can be attached to your backpack straps.

The fire pit is available in multiple size options.

You don’t need any tools to assemble the fire pit. Just connect the stainless tubes to the support frame. It’s easy to assemble, especially if you like puzzles or origami :).

The fire pit is made with anti-heating stainless steel material and limits the amount of ash that slips through to the ground. You can take the fire pit camping, fishing, hiking, backpacking, or even to the beach.

The stainless steel mesh design allows for perfect airflow, which also makes for an easy start. No need to perfectly arrange the wood to allow for airflow. The mesh takes care of it. The setup is quick, just minutes, and you can get your campfire going.

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Fire Sense Portable Folding Round Black Steel 22 Inch Fire Pit

The Fire Sense Portable Folding Round Black Steel 22 Inch Fire Pit is a great dual-purpose camping fire pit in that it can just be a nice campfire, but it can also grill up your camping meals. This grill is designed to be used with wood and not charcoal because of how the grill is positioned.

This fire pit is 22 inches in diameter and about 15 inches high, weighing about 7 pounds. We love that the legs collapse and fit nicely in the included carrying case. It is made of quality alloy steel.

It also comes with a one-piece, dome steel mesh fire screen and a screen lift tool that is very handy. This is one of my favorite features because it keeps the sparks contained, creating a safer fire.

You can cook directly on the grill or use a pot or pan for cooking. And, of course, anything on a skewer can be cooked over the flame. Get the s’mores ready!

This is a nice-looking fire pit that will serve you well camping or even in your backyard.

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Outland Living Model 863 Portable Propane Fire Pit

The Outland Living Model 863 Portable Propane Fire Pit is an excellent option for a propane fire pit. It is a very non-messy way to have a beautiful campfire. Just turn the knob, light it, and enjoy.

It is a realistic campfire without the hard work and time it takes for a wood fire.

This camping fire pit is 21 inches in diameter and about 9 inches high, weighing 26 pounds. It has a total output of 58,000 BTU/HR and can run for about 8-12 hours, depending on its set height.

To save propane, run it high until the lava rocks heat up and then turn it down about ⅔ the way, and this should be nice and toasty.

This Outland fire pit is an excellent addition to your camping gear or backyard BBQs because it is an instant campfire. The included 10-foot hose is long enough to keep the 20-pound propane tank out of sight, creating a more realistic fire. The included lava rocks are also a nice touch.

This fire pit is clean, smokeless, and a CSA-approved fire pit, safe to use during most campfire bans. Since there is no messy wood, there is no messy ash, smoke, or sparks. This is a very safe alternative to wood fire pits.

We really like this fire pit because of the hot flames produced so quickly, the 10-foot hose included, and the cover and carrying case. This is such a nice fire pit that gets you quickly enjoying your clean, safe campfire in seconds. And when you are done, you just turn it off, so easy.

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Solo Stove Ranger Outdoor Fire Pit

The Solo Stove Ranger Outdoor Fire Pit is by far the coolest, most modern-looking fire pit I have ever seen. The technology behind it is unique. It maximizes airflow to create a low-smoke fire. It uses wood chunks, but it looks like some type of modern gas stove.

Because it uses real wood, this camping fire pit is super portable and can be used in many places. In addition, its sleek stainless steel, upright cylinder shape will surely catch some glances.

The bottom vent holes take in cool air, which feeds the fire and creates a blast of hot air that reduces smoke. This thing is pretty high-tech.

It is 15 inches in diameter, 12.5 inches high, and weighs only 15 pounds. It comes with a drawstring bag so you can carry it wherever you need to, camping, the beach, or BBQs in your backyard.

The Solo Stove Ranger Outdoor Fire Pit burns so efficiently that you are only left with a few ashes that can be easily dumped in the garbage. It’s a very clean, easy, and beautiful fire pit.

You can cook marshmallows or hot dogs over this hot fire, but don’t drip on your pretty fire pit. It’s so nice to look at. I’d want to keep it shiny. This is a pricey fire pit, but you really are getting a very efficient and portable fire pit.

One thing to note is you will need to cut the wood into smaller pieces so they will fit in the fire pit.

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BALI OUTDOORS Wood Burning Fire Pit

The BALI OUTDOORS Wood Burning Fire Pit is perfect for a bigger family or group of friends camping. It’s bigger than others, but it does dual duty and gives you a big wood-burning fire pit and a grill for cooking.

It is also an excellent-looking fire pit that would be great for your backyard. If you need to warm a larger group of people and feed them, too, this is the fire pit for you.

The grill can swivel 360 degrees out of the way of the fire, so you can have more control of your cooking. Food can stay warm on the grill, but you can swivel it off the flame so it doesn’t overcook. The cooking grill is also adjustable, so you can get the height needed to cook your food.

The BALI OUTDOORS Wood Burning Fire Pit is pretty big. It is 32 inches in diameter, 25 inches high, and weighs 27 pounds. Not the most portable fire pit, but it deserves a shout-out for its dual-purpose ability.

There is an outer ledge around the fire pit to set cooking utensils or skewers. This fire pit comes with a poker and a log rack to help optimize airflow through your firewood.

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Inno Stage Stainless Bonfire Fire Pit

The Patented Stainless Bonfire Fire Pit is a high-tech camping fire pit that uses wood pellets. It is unique in using wood pellets, burning mess-free, and creating a smokeless fire.

It has a modern 2-tiered design that allows for maximum airflow and combustion efficiency. The bottom vent holes take in air to create the perfect airflow needed to make a very hot fire. In addition, the design of this stainless steel fire pit makes for a very beautiful and smokeless flame.

It is 15 inches in diameter and about 12.5 inches high, weighing under 17 pounds. It is made of high-quality stainless steel, resistant to high temperatures and rust. This fire pit will last you for many years.

The flame is hot and smokeless, and you won’t have to deal with any sparks. This fire pit is safer for that reason for sure. The clean-up of ashes is also very easy. They are contained in the bottom of the fire pit and can easily be dumped out when cool.

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Why Take a Camping Fire Pit With You?

Why not just build your own fire?

I think the biggest reason is the safety factor. With a portable fire pit, you control exactly where it sits and move it if needed. Also, since the fire pit uses wood, you have an actual metal container for the wood, usually off the ground.

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The fire is also easier to put out when it is contained. In addition, many new high-tech wood-burning fire pits have better technology to help with sparks and disposal of ashes, creating a safer fire.

With propane fire pits, you really are going with a safer fire. They can be turned off instantly and are often allowed during fire bans.

Nothing is worse than planning a camping trip with a fire ban at the last minute to spoil things.

In our area, if there is a burn ban, we can still use a propane fire pit most of the time.

They are mess-free, smoke-free, and can be started and shut off in seconds. So you don’t have to spend time pouring buckets of water and stirring up the ashes to put out the fire.

Things to Consider When Shopping for a Camping Fire Pit

When shopping for a camping fire pit, remember a few key things for an unforgettable outdoor experience. First, think about portability. Second, consider the fuel source. Finally, check for safety features like spark screens and sturdy construction. Safety should always be a priority.

Type of Fire Pit

Wood burning, propane, ability to cook or grill

Wood burning is nice because you can have family time while gathering firewood. In addition, some people really like the wood smell, the popping sound, and the natural flame.

You can cook a variety of food with a wood fire. But, you will have a smokier fire and more mess with wood. Some of the new modern designs take wood and are clean and smoke-free. Check out the Solo Stove Ranger Outdoor Fire Pit or the Patented Stainless Bonfire Fire Pit.

Propane is quick, clean, and easy. It is also by far the safer option. Many propane camping fire pits are allowed, with so many campgrounds having fire bans.

Most of these come with a long hose, so your 20-pound propane tank is out of sight, which helps with ambiance. In a matter of minutes, you can have a smokeless hot fire. Then, of course, there is the issue of ensuring you don’t run out of propane. You cannot go into the forest and gather fallen propane tanks.

Marshmallows and hot dogs are fine for a propane fire pit, but I would do anything more than that. They can be more portable than you think too. Check out the Outland Living Firebowl.

Size, Weight, and Portability

Be sure to get the camping fire pit’s dimensions and actual weight (don’t forget to factor in a propane tank if needed). You need to have space in your vehicle for it and not be a burden if it’s too heavy.

Functional for your purposes

Make sure the fire pit is something you will genuinely enjoy and fits your needs on your adventures. Think about how you are going to be using it. Will it work for other situations or just camping?

Price

Price is a significant factor. You want to get your money’s worth. Get a good quality fire pit that will last you many camping seasons. You’ll save money in the end.

Get Your S’Mores On!

We hope this was a helpful post and answered your questions about finding the best camping fire pit for you.

Most of all, we just want you to get out there and explore, spend time in nature with family and friends, and have a wonderful time.

Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.