We don’t always have the best luck with weather when camping, and occasionally that means getting stuck in wet weather like rain. No matter the weather, you still need a campfire to keep warm, cook food, and other important tasks. So how long does wood take to dry after rain?
Wood takes between 2 and 3 days to dry out after rain as long as it’s not further exposed to additional moisture.
Of course, you should always store your wood in a dry place to prevent this from happening, but these things happen to almost everyone.
There are some additional factors that will impact how long wet wood takes to dry which we’ll cover in this guide.
How Long Does Wood Take To Dry After Rain?
As we covered earlier, most wood take between 2 to 3 days to dry out after rain to the point where it’s acceptable to use in a campfire.
There are several things to consider that will affect how long wet wood takes to dry, so be sure to read through the next section.
Factors That Affect How Long Wet Wood Takes To Dry
The Type Of Wood
Hardwoods like oak, maple, walnut, and hickory are less porous and more resistant to moisture than softwoods such as redwood, pine, and cedar.
Having said that, how long it takes logs to dry out will be faster if it is hardwood.
The Wood’s Size
If you have a bunch of small sticks or smaller pieces of split wood then the total surface area of that wood will have gotten wetter and deeper into the wood versus a large log or chunk of firewood.
This rule works two ways:
- Smaller wood pieces will be quicker to dry completely.
- Larger wood pieces will not be as wet closer to the core due to their volume and can be used faster, but may take longer to fully dry.
Seasoned Vs Unseasoned Wood
Wood has a natural moisture level before it’s cut and has a moisture level that’s too high to make it good for burning.
This wood is often called “green wood”, and is one of the types of wood that is toxic to burn.
Seasoned wood is wood that has been cut and has had ample time to dry, making it much more suitable for burning in campfires.
Seasoned firewood will be ready to burn after rain faster than unseasoned firewood because it’s starting moisture level was much lower to begin with.
Humidity Levels
The relative humidity level and climate of the area you’re in has a big affect on how long wood takes to dry after rain.
The higher the humidity level, the longer it will take to dry out the rain on firewood.
Weather Conditions
Exposure to sun and wind can rapidly speed up the drying time of firewood after rain.
Alternatively, damp or humid weather and continued rain or mist can really slow the wood drying process down.
How To Check If Firewood Is Dry After Rain
There are a few ways to check if firewood is dry after rain:
Use A Moisture Meter
A wood moisture meter is the easiest and most accurate way to check if your wood has dried out enough after rain for burning.
You simply insert the probes into the piece of wood you’re checking and the meter will show you the percentage of moisture content in the wood.
Aim for a percentage below 20% for acceptable moisture content in the wood you’ll be burning.
How To Manually Check If Wood Is Dry
Take a look for the following characteristics to make sure your firewood is dry enough for burning after rain:
- The wood is light in color
- The wood weighs less than it did previously
- The surface of the wood is dry and warm
- Hollow sound when knocking two pieces of wood together
- No hissing sounds when burning the wood
- Cracks in the end grain of the wood
How To Dry Wet Firewood Faster
Use the following tips to help your wet wood dry quicker while camping:
Get The Wet Firewood Off The Ground After Rain
Elevating the wood and getting it off the ground will promote airflow from the bottom and prevent the wood near the bottom from rotting.
If you have firewood rack brackets, go ahead and use those, or if you’re camping you can make a makeshift platform out of sticks or other objects.
Anything’s better than letting your wet firewood sit on the ground.
Expose The Wet Wood To Sunlight
Set your wet firewood where it will get as much sunlight throughout the day as possible, as the heat from the sun will help to dry out the wood quicker than if it’s placed in the shade.
Cover Up Your Wet Firewood
Protect the top of your wood pile by placing the stack of wet wood under a tree or using a tarp or other makeshift cover (even boughs will work in a pinch).
The goal here is to keep additional rainfall from getting to your wood, making the firewood take even longer to dry after rain.
Get Air Flowing
Don’t cover up the sides of your wood pile – air and wind can circulate through your wet wood stack when the sides are left open, promoting faster dry times.
Place The Wet Firewood Near Heat
Just like the sun’s heat can help dry out wood, so can additional heat from a nearby source such as a campfire.
Place the wet wood close enough to the fire where you can feel the heat but far enough away where the wood won’t actually catch fire.
This exposure will help your wet wood dry faster after rain.
How Long Does Wood Take To Dry After Rain? Wrapping Things Up
Hopefully you don’t get caught out in the rain during your next camping trip! If your firewood gets wet, understand that it should only take 2 to 3 days for the wood to dry out enough so that you can use it safely in your campfire.
Have you dealt with wet firewood while camping before? What was your experience, and did you use any tips we didn’t cover in this guide?
Let your fellow campers know in the comments below.
While you’re here, check out our other useful camping guides and gear reviews:
- Tents that fit a queen air mattress
- How to make a DIY camping bed
- Our guide to the best E-Port tents
- How long does Jetboil fuel last?