I’m all for making real fires when you go camping, but sometimes that’s not just feasible.
Whether it’s been raining for a long time, there’s a burn ban, or you’re just too tired, keeping a portable fire pit around would be a great idea.
Of course, there’s a lot of options out there, and it’s hard to know where to start.
We’ve got you covered with this review of the best out there for different situations.
The best portable gas fire pit for camping is the Outland Firebowl Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit. It’s designed specifically for portability while still giving off a good heat output. Outland makes a great and easy-to-use fire pit to put out and warm up with.
Keep reading for our other picks for different situations and the helpful buyer’s guide toward the end.
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Table of Contents
Best Propane Fire Pit For Camping In This Review
| Product | Weight (without the propane) | Heat Output (BTU) | Winner Of… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outland Firebowl 823 | 22 lbs | 58,000 | Best Overall Pick |
| Camplux Portable Fire Pit | 22.5 lbs | 52,000 | Easiest To Carry |
| Kinger Home Round Portable Propane Fire Pit | 26 lbs | 52,000 | Most Durable |
| Camco Compact Fire Pit | 17 lbs | 65,000 | Most Affordable |
| Bond Aurora Firebowl | 18 lbs | 50,000 | Most consistent and easiest to use |
Top Pick: Outland Firebowl 823 Outdoor Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit
The Outland Firebowl line is the best out there for portable gas pits.
It’s got the perfect mixture of price and quality.
The firepit is made out of stainless steel, the ideal metal for durability, price, and weight.
It’s a round shape and pretty lightweight at 22 pounds for the standard model.
Outland’s firebowl here is 19” inches round and 11” inches tall.
It offers a decent 58,000 BTU for heat output.
They provide a hose for your 20-pound propane tank to attach.
All in all, it’s designed to be the best of everything you need.
There are even several sizes to get depending on what you need, from 19” inches up to 24” inches.
Some models come with an additional case and carrying bag, but the base model doesn’t.
The only complaint here is that the hose will sometimes crack, but the company replaces them pretty quickly.
Pros:
- Nice heat output
- Easy to use
- Durable and lasts a long time
- Easy to carry
- Reliable brand
Cons:
- Hose may crack
Portable Propane Fire Pit Options From Home Depot
Home Depot is a great place to get portable gas campfires too.
Here are the two I’ve seen used well in the outdoors with a good success rate.
Camplux Portable Fire Pit
This Camplux backyard fire pit works just like a slightly lesser version of the Outland Firebowl.
Note: Link goes to Amazon, but this is also available at Home Depot.
It provides a slightly smaller heat of 52,000 BTUs while being almost exactly the same size (19” inches) and weight (22.5 pounds).
Its biggest plus is how it comes in at the same price but with a carrying kit (Outland reserves this for their premium options).
This portable gas fire pit is stainless steel, lasts a long time, and is easy to hook up and use.
A few people report issues with the lava rocks that come with it, but since most campers will remove these decorative pieces anyway, it may not matter to you.
Pros:
- Comes with carrying kit
- Provides good heat
- Average cost
Cons:
- Less heat than comparable sizes and models
- Lava rocks may overheat
Kinger Home Round Portable Propane Fire Pit
The Kinger round propane fire pit is a slightly more expensive option with the big plus of being the most durable on our list.
It’ll be around for a while, and it’s very reliable. I know a who use this as one of their propane fire pits for decks at home, but it does come with a lid and carrying case, making it a good fit for camping as well.
It’s a slightly larger 20” inches around and 12” inches tall and heavier 26 lbs.
The Kinger pit is harder to carry, but it’s designed a little more durably than the other options.
You don’t even need to start it manually. It comes with its own starter.
The campfire produces 52,000 BTUs and has 10’ feet of hose.
Pros:
- Biggest size
- Very durable and lasts a long time
- Automatic starter
Cons:
- Heavy
Best Small Propane Fire Pits
While the above options aren’t big, by any means, if you’re hiking or carrying your gear, you’ll want something a little extra small.
These are the quality gas campfires for you.
Camco Compact Fire Pit
My friend who uses the Camco Compact fire pit absolutely loves it.
It’s a small 14.5” inches around and a light 17lbs outside the package.
It even produces a powerful 65,000 BTU.
It’s the lightest and cheapest option on our list.
The small size doesn’t disperse the heat well, so the higher heat output feels much like the other options.
Still, it runs for almost 3 hours per one gallon of propane.
There’s not much to it, and some people say it only lasts a few years if you use it a lot.
But if you want a quick little round propane fire pit, this is an easy one to get and carry.
Pros:
- Small size for easy carrying
- High heat output
- Affordable price
Cons:
- Less durable
- Tougher to start
Bond Aurora Firebowl
As an outdoor propane fire pit, the Bond Aurora is an excellent option.
It costs more than the other on our list, but it makes up for this price with its consistent function and lightweight nature.
It’s a little smaller than most of the other products on our list at 18.5” and 18 lbs.
This one starts up the easiest and is perhaps the most versatile.
It has a lower heat output with only 50,000 BTUs, but this makes it a better fit for use on concrete, wood decks, as well as camping.
The polka-dotted hole structure on the outside does a better job of dispersing its lower heat, so you may not even notice it’s cooler than other gas fire pits.
Pros:
- Lighter weight and smaller size
- Works well every time
- Less heat makes it good for decks too
Cons:
- Costs more
Why Use A Portable Propane Fire Pit When Camping?
An experienced camper may look at this article and wonder why you’d go through the trouble of getting a portable fire pit.
After all, half the fun of camping is the sweet smell of burning wood around a campfire.
I completely agree. There’s nothing quite like a crisp evening looking at the stars around you while cozied up to a warm wood fire.
When I first discovered other campers were using these on occasion, I scoffed a bit.
But the idea stuck with me as I considered it.
Then finally, after we were biking for an entire day and we promptly got dumped on by a sudden rainstorm, I realized it was worth considering.
Don’t get me wrong.
95% of the time, I make a fire with real wood, but now I also keep the portable pit with me just in case I want it.
Take a look at these pros and cons to determine if it’s worth it for you too.
Why You Want One
Quick And Simple Start (Even When It’s Wet)
If you’re not skilled at making fires (and even if you are), it takes some time to get the fire going and then build it up to the point where it’s ready for cooking or producing a lot of heat.
Cut all this time out with a propane fire pit. Simply open the valve, light the pilot, and turn the gas up.
Within seconds, you’re good to go!
Not As Much Smoke
My wife and I are opposed on this one:
She loves smoke. I hate it.
Don’t get me wrong! I love the smell of a fire, but the smoke is the worse part for me.
With a propane fire pit, you won’t have any smoke at all.
Avoid A Burn Ban
Forest fires are a big problem, and when there’s a burn ban out, wood fires are a huge risk.
Never violate a burn ban. Not only do you risk major fines, but you could also start a fire that destroys miles of forest, property and even harm other people.
Propane fire pits aren’t typically part of this ban because the fires are small and completely under control.
Convenient When You’re Tired
I’m more than willing to put in the work for a fire when camping, but there are times when you’ve done a lot that day, you’re going to bed soon, and you just need fire now.
These are the time for a propane fire. Just start it, cook your food, and get to bed.
Little Preparing Needed
You’ve probably noticed a theme here with the propane fire pit’s greatest strength: convenience.
Here’s another area where my wife and I differ:
I love going and gathering wood, sticks, and leaves.
She hates it.
For her, the portable fire pit for camping saves on the preparation time of gathering the materials, clearing out the fire area, and setting up your wood.
No Mess, No Putting Out
As a former Boy Scout, I take my campfire seriously.
I always try to leave no trace by covering my mess when I’m gone, and I always put out the fire completely before going to bed.
This takes some time and effort, especially where you’re at the point where you’re ready for sleep.
A portable gas pit doesn’t need any cleanup or putting out. Turn the knob to off and close your propane valve if needed.
Why You Don’t Want One
Costs More Than A Normal Campfire
What’s really the cost of a campfire? Essentially nothing.
If you don’t have the wood on hand, buying some could cost you a bit, but most of the time, gathering wood isn’t hard if you get it before you go camping.
Most propane fire pits cost $100 and up for camping, especially if you want a good one.
Of course, they’ll last for years if cared for, but still, it’s something you may not be willing to spend.
Heat Output Is Limited
The amount of heat a propane pit puts off seems great at first, but in the long run, it doesn’t measure up to what a wood fire will put off.
Portable ones have less output anyway, but wood burns great.
It’s one of the reasons so many houses still use a wood-burning fireplace in the winter (my sister-in-law does, and it’s great!).
It may take some time to build up the campfire, but once it’s there, you’ll be toasty in no time.
Requires Propane
The inconvenience of carrying propane around is one of the biggest downsides of this fire pit.
Most come with the small one-gallon options, which are easy to transport but don’t last for long.
We also bring along a 20-pound propane tank with a hose attachment (though many propane pits come with the hose part).
This lasts for a long time, but it weighs quite a bit.
No Campfire Smell
If you drive around Michigan where I live from April to October, you’ll smell a campfire somewhere.
I know I’ve got some work to do at my house when we smell it. There’s something about the smell that attracts campers and makes you feel at peace.
With a propane pit that’s not there at all. It’s quite sad.
What To Look For In A Portable Gas Fire Pit For Camping
If you decided to go off our list or you want some more helping deciding which portable campfire option is right for you, this section will help you.
Safety
For me, safety is always a big issue of concern.
Most modern propane fire pits have automatic shut-offs if they get knocked over and don’t leak gas while not in use, but it’s always good to double-check and see what features they’ve added.
Other than checking the features, it’s worthwhile to search for the model you’re considering in a camping forum or general places like Reddit or Quora.
Other users will let you know real quick if they’ve had problems.
But if you stick with the ones on our list above, you won’t have to worry about it too much at all.
Portability
If you’re searching for a portable fire pit, then you don’t want a huge or heavy one.
But the downside of this is a smaller chance for heat output.
Think about the conditions you’ll be at your camp in.
How many people will need to use the heat?
What are you using the campfire for? Cooking? Warming?
When I’m with my whole family and kids, I don’t use it much other than warming us up while I get the campfire started.
But when it’s just my wife and me, it’ll do the job when we’re tired.
If you’re someone who likes to hike, a portable pit is doable, but you’ll want it to be small and light.
Not every size and weight is right for every situation and every person, but we put the weight on our picks for the best gas fire pits in the comparison chart at the top.
Heat Output
A propane fire pit will never match the heat of a wood campfire, but you still need to know what you’re getting into.
This lower heat actually makes them the only option for putting a fire pit in a tent (learn more at the link to our article).
Just because it’s bigger doesn’t mean it produces more heat.
In this case, look for the British Thermal Units (BTUs).
Mathematically, it stands for the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
This is according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
All you need to know is that the higher the number, the warmer the gas campfire.
Material
The material of the fire pit affects the durability of the product itself while also directly affecting the weight (and thus portability).
The best metal most campers use is stainless steel.
Stainless steel is durable, rust-resistant, and long-lasting.
It’s a little heavier than some other metals, but it’s not bad.
Powder-coated aluminum is the equivalent lighter version. It’s not quite as tough, but it’s much lighter.
Copper is another option in some, but it’s rarer.
It’s light and durable, but it costs a lot more.
A cast iron fire pit is another option, and it’s very tough.
However, it’s much heavier than most other metals.
Ease Of Use
There’s nothing worse than going to use a gas lantern or gas fire pit when it’s cold and wet and not being able to get the darn thing started.
Easy use is critical, and there’s no reason it should be hard to use at all.
The ones we chose are easy to use, so no worries there.
If you go off the list, be sure to check reviews and ask around on forums to make sure the manufacturer’s claims are accurate.
Price
A high price does not equal a better product, but a lower price usually means a poorer one.
Buy within your budget, but don’t be afraid to spend a bit, especially if you want it to last for years.
