What is the Best Portable Propane Fire Pit?

Camping is not just sleeping out in the open. It is the smell of the outdoors, feeling the dirt beneath your feet and the wind running through your hair. The smell of sausages sizzling on the hot barbecue, the stories told around the campfire. Snuggling up inside a sleeping bag listening to the wind and the rain against the tent canvas and smelling the intense natural perfume of the fresh pine forest in the morning.

Camping is an experience and having a campfire is an integral part of it. Without the campfire, have you ever been camping, or just sleeping outside? With that in mind, we have handy reviews of 5 portable propane fire pits:

• Outland Firebowl 870 Premium Portable Propane Fire Pit
• Heininger 5995 58,000 BTU Portable Propane Outdoor Fire Pit
• Camco 58031 Little Red Campfire 
• Camp Chef Juniper Portable Propane Fire Pit

Now you can enjoy that cozy, comforting fireside feeling regardless of where you camp.

How To Buy The Perfect Portable Propane Fire Pit

Choosing the perfect propane fire pit for your needs isn’t easy, but it does help ensure you spend your money on the right product so it is well worth that extra effort. Rush into a purchase and you could end up paying over the odds for a product that doesn’t work that well, that possibly doesn’t even suit your needs.

Research pays off with this kind of purchase because chosen well it could last you many years and camping adventures to come. Your future self is sitting around that toasty campfire now thanking you!

So, how do you buy the perfect portable propane fire pit?

Style

Style does not come over substance with fire pits but, it does count for something. If you’re precious about your camping setup and the way it looks then you will want a fire pit that matches. Mostly they come in black or copper with a few lighter stainless steel models.

However the color doesn’t really matter once it is dark, so pay more attention to the cut-out pattern. There are pits with attractive cut-out designs that look beautiful when the fire is on at night. For the best look choose something that looks good in the day, but dazzling at night.

Weight & Size

If you buy a fire pit for at home you’re not really limited to weight, or even with size if you have a decent backyard. However, when it comes to camping, even an inch or an extra ounce can count, especially if you’re carrying items in a rucksack! With that in mind, think about where the product will sit when transported.

You should then consider how many people you are trying to keep warm. Smaller 18-inch fire pits work for small families or friendship groups, but you will need something more substantial for more people.

Cost

Most decent propane fire pits for camping sit under $200 dollars with some good but basic models sitting under $100 dollars. Anything customized will add to the cost, as will special additions like multi-layered features.

Consider your budget and think practically about what you need, then about what you want. This will ensure you’re keeping practicalities in mind first, stopping you getting seduced by snazzy sales wording and extra features.

Safety

The product should be safe above everything else. It is not worth risking anybody’s safety for the sake of a fire pit. Look for features like a safety shut off valve, long hose and the base being made from anti-heat material so you can move it without burning your fingers.

Features

Some features are really useful with propane fire pits and if you can get them without paying any extra, then you’re on to a good thing. For example a zipper bag makes for clean and easy transportation. Plenty of lava rocks makes for better aesthetics and extra material to radiate heat. Look for extra features that make your use of the fire pit easier.

The Advantages Of Portable Propane Fire Pits

Portable propane fire pits are advantageous for many reasons. Of course, they provide a quick and easy way to enjoy the warmth and an extra cooking facility when camping, which all adds to the outdoor experience. They also have lots of additional benefits too such as the fact that they don’t produce any smoke or odor so you don’t smell like the fire the next day. They are also cheaper to run than wood fires.

One of the main advantages of propane fires though is that you can still use them in areas with a fire ban. According to statistics, up to 90 percent of wildfires are caused by humans and within this last year there were over 50,000 wildfires in the US burning over 8.8 million acres of land. Fire bans are justified and should be respected.

Each state has its own laws on campfires and different national parks have their own rules as well, and so in areas where you want the natural beauty of the outdoors but you can’t have a crackling wood fire, instead you can enjoy the flickering flames of a portable propane fire pit so you don’t have to miss out.

Qualities To Look Out For

When choosing your fire pit try and forget about price as a leading factor. Look at pits within your price range of course, but try not to nitpick over $10 dollars when it comes to buying a quality product.

Instead of focusing on the design, the size and safety features, read the reviews and look for consistent complaints about certain features. If the product seems to have an issue with a feature that is important to you, move on and look elsewhere. There are plenty of portable propane firepits to choose from so, you can choose to be picky about where you invest your money.

A Cheaper Alternative

If you really want to save that money, why not consider building your own fire pit? There’s so many to DIY your own portable propane fire pit, but this video caught our attention. You can build a fire pit out of a flower pot!

The Best Way To Use A Portable Propane Fire Pit

You can use portable propane fire pits in lots of different ways. You can have it on your back porch to use as a nighttime heater for when you sit outdoors. You can have it in the back of your truck as a source of heat for cooking if you’re a drive out and catch a sunset kind of family. You can also take it camping and enjoy it as a source of light, heat and as an extra cooking element. For the best enjoyment when camping follows these guidelines:

• Place the fire pit a few yards from your RV or Tent if you plan to place it in the center of your chairs throughout the trip
• Have a dry place ready to store the pit should it rain
• Disconnect the hose between uses unless you have a safe path to place the hose
• Stock up on plenty of propane for the fire pit before the trip so you never have to go without fire
• Sit around the pit in the evening with the rest of the lights shut off and toast a few marshmallows over it for extra coziness

Are Propane Fire Pits Better Than Wood Fires?

For the camping experience, probably not. Let’s be honest, there isn’t anything better than chopping your own wood and lighting your own fire. Sitting and enjoying it, tending to it and teaching your kids how to light it is all some of life’s basic memorable experiences. However, sometimes there isn’t time to do that.

Sometimes there isn’t enough wood on hand, or perhaps the weather is bad and you need to be able to have the fire under a porch. Sometimes it’s nice just to have an instant fire to enjoy without smelling of it the next day. This is where portable propane fire pits excel. They don’t make you smell, they require no wood or tending, and they will work wherever you want them for as long as they have fuel.

Outland Firebowl 870 Premium Portable Propane Fire Pit

The Outland Firebowl 870 is a top-tier portable fire pit, designed for those who want a reliable, durable, and high-output fire pit for camping and backyard gatherings. It’s lightweight at 24 pounds and features a 58,000 BTU heat output, making it powerful enough to keep everyone warm, even on chilly nights. It comes with useful extras such as a 10-foot hose, lava rocks, and a chrome valve for flame control. It’s ideal for fire-ban areas where traditional wood fires aren’t allowed, offering a smoke-free, easy-to-use alternative.

This fire pit is built with high-quality, durable steel and finished with a weather-resistant coating to withstand outdoor conditions. It’s perfect for larger groups, thanks to its wide 24-inch bowl that radiates heat efficiently. The CSA approval ensures safe use in various settings, and it’s designed to be easy to transport. Whether you’re camping, tailgating, or just relaxing at home, the Outland Firebowl 870 combines practicality with long-lasting performance.

Heininger 5995 Portable Propane Outdoor Fire Pit

The Heininger 5995 Fire Pit is a lightweight and portable propane fire pit, weighing only 22 pounds, and perfect for campers who prioritize ease of transport without sacrificing heat output. This model delivers 58,000 BTU, ensuring a consistent and robust heat source, ideal for small to medium-sized gatherings. It’s designed to be efficient and user-friendly, with a simple assembly process and quick connection to propane tanks via the included 10-foot hose.

Durability is another key feature, as the Heininger 5995 is constructed from high-quality steel with a weather-resistant finish, making it suitable for year-round use. The lava rocks add to the aesthetic, giving the fire a natural, campfire-like appearance. While it lacks some advanced features found in more expensive models, its simplicity and strong performance make it a highly popular choice for campers seeking a reliable, budget-friendly fire pit.

Camco Little Red Campfire

The Camco Little Red Campfire is a compact, highly portable propane fire pit designed for camping enthusiasts. Weighing in at just 11 pounds, it’s one of the lightest fire pits available, making it easy to transport to any campsite. Despite its small size, it delivers a powerful 65,000 BTU of heat, providing warmth for small gatherings. The realistic-looking logs and compact 11-inch diameter give it a charming, traditional campfire look, and it’s perfect for campgrounds with fire restrictions.

This fire pit comes with an 8-foot propane hose, allowing for easy connection to standard propane tanks, and includes a locking lid for safe transport. While small, it still provides excellent heat and ambiance, making it ideal for couples or small groups. The smokeless flame and approval for use in many campgrounds make the Camco Little Red Campfire a great choice for those who need something portable but effective for cozy campfires.

Camp Chef Juniper Fire Pit

The Camp Chef Juniper Fire Pit strikes a balance between portability and high heat output, making it an ideal choice for campers who need versatility. This propane fire pit delivers a strong 55,000 BTU heat output, ensuring warmth even on colder nights. It includes foldable legs, which make transporting and setting up the fire pit quick and easy. The 19-inch diameter provides ample space for social gatherings, and it comes with lava rocks to enhance the flame’s glow, creating a cozy atmosphere.

Built with durable materials, the Camp Chef Juniper is designed for outdoor use, making it a reliable option for camping trips and backyard gatherings alike. The included cover and carry kit add to its portability, and the adjustable flame control makes it easy to manage the heat level. If you’re looking for a fire pit that combines portability with strong performance, the Camp Chef Juniper offers a solid mix of features at a mid-range price.

Enjoy The Perfect Portable Propane Fire Pit Next Time You Camp

Out of our 5 reviewed fire pits we felt the Outland Firebowl 870 Premium Portable Propane Fire Pit stood out as the best. It is slightly more pricey than similar products, but Outland know their portable fire pits. The safety is excellent as it is CSA approved, it looks really nice in the dark copper color, the carry case is really useful for portability and the auto-ignition makes it extra convenient.

It also produces an excellent amount of heat for its compact size, and most experiences of it are extremely positive which speaks volumes because you want to know that real-life Americans have bought the product and enjoyed using it.

The Outland fire pit is just one of many portable propane fire pits you can enjoy in a fire-ban area with any need for wood or fire tending. With an innovative and practical product like this, you can enjoy that cozy, authentic campfire experience wherever your next adventure takes you.