Eco-friendly transportation also plays a role in sustainable camping.
In summary, eco-friendly camping is all about making thoughtful decisions that align with environmental stewardship. From reducing waste and avoiding harmful products to minimizing your fire and wildlife impact, every step you take toward sustainability helps protect nature. Camping should be a celebration of the outdoors—not a threat to it. By embracing these practices, you can enjoy the serenity and adventure of the wilderness while leaving it just as beautiful as you found it.
If you’re hiking or biking to your campsite, you’re already making a low-impact choice.
The more people adopt green camping practices, the greater our collective ability to preserve the wild places we love.
Learn how to build and safely extinguish a campfire, how to store your food properly (especially in bear country), and how to stay warm and dry in case of bad weather. Practice fire safety by keeping fires small and using designated fire rings.
Camping offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with nature, but it also comes with a responsibility to protect the very environments we enjoy. As outdoor spaces face increasing pressure from tourism and climate change, practicing eco-friendly camping is more important than ever. With a few conscious choices, campers can significantly reduce their environmental impact and help preserve the beauty of forests, lakes, mountains, and trails for future generations.
When it comes to building your fire, you’ll need three types of fuel: tinder, kindling, and firewood. Tinder includes small, dry materials like leaves, twigs, or paper that ignite easily. Kindling is slightly larger sticks that catch fire from the tinder and help ignite the firewood. Choose dry, local firewood to reduce the risk of spreading pests or diseases across regions. Avoid using accelerants like lighter fluid or gasoline—these can cause uncontrollable flare-ups and are unsafe in outdoor settings. Start small, using a match or lighter to ignite the tinder, and gradually add kindling and logs as the fire grows. Keep the fire manageable—about knee-height is usually sufficient for cooking and warmth.
Some campgrounds and public lands have restrictions or outright bans on open flames, especially during dry seasons when wildfire risk is high.
Clear away leaves, pine needles, and debris in a wide radius around the fire area. Dig a small pit if necessary and surround it with rocks to help contain the fire.
If there’s no designated spot, select a site on level ground that’s at least 15 feet away from tents, trees, shrubs, and any other flammable materials.