10 Best Portable Fire Pits for Tailgating [Propane & Wood]

Tailgating is a fun way to spend the time leading up to a game or event. Adding a fire pit to your tailgate can make it even better. Tailgating fire pits are great when it is cold outside, but they are also a great source of light for night games.

Some of the fire pits on our list can safely cook food as well, potentially allowing you to leave your grill at home. I like the Bali Outdoors wood burning fire pit for tailgating because it gives off a large amount of heat and is also great for grilling.

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These are our choices for best fire pits for tailgating:

Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit for Tailgating (click here to view)
Lemy Wood Burning Metal Firepit for Tailgating (click here to view)
Bond Propane Gas Fire Pit for Tailgating (click here to view)
KingSo Wood Burning Steel Tailgating Fire Pit (click here to view)
VIVOHOME Metal Wood Burning Tailgating Fire pit Table (click here to view)
Outland Living Deluxe Portable Propane Fire Pit (click here to view)
KingSo Wood Burning Steel Fire Pit (click here to view)
Outland Living 883 Propane Burning Fire Pit (click here to view)
Piedmont Portable Steel Fire Pit for Tailgating (click here to view)
TIKI Low Smoke Stainless Steel Fire Pit (click here to view)

Probably the first decision you will want to make is whether you want a propane fueled fire pit or a wood burning fire pit. Wood Burning fire pits for tailgating are great for lighting, warmth, and grilling. Propane fire pits don’t have all the smoke of wood burning fire pits and are also great for warmth and lighting. Many propane fire pits aren’t recommended for grilling though.

I prefer wood burning fire pits for my tailgate as I like the ability to grill food and the natural ambiance they give off. This is why I prefer the Bali wood burning fire pit. I prefer the taste of food from a wood or charcoal fire than that of propane fire pit.

Propane fire pits can be more convenient in that you don’t have to bring wood or coals to burn and there isn’t any clean up afterwards. Also, propane fire pits may be your only option depending on the stadium open flame restrictions. You will want to know the regulations ahead of time before buying a portable fire pit for tailgating.

Table of Contents

Best Portable Wood Burning and Propane Fire Pits for Tailgating

Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit for Tailgating

This Bali Outdoors portable fire pit provides plenty of warmth and light but also has a built in cooking grate. The grate swivels a full 360 degrees, which is very convenient when taking food on and off the grill. This is a wood burning fire pit, which I like because of the natural outdoor atmosphere it provides. I also like that this fire pit for tailgating is very easy to assemble.

Here’s what this Bali tailgating fire pit looks like:

This is the current price of this Bali Outdoors portable fire pit for tailgating available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about this fire pit:

Burning Method – The Bali portable fire pit burns wood or you can also use charcoal for grilling. This fire pit doesn’t come with wood, so you would need to supply that yourself.

Material – This is a steel fire pit which will help it last. It also has 4 steel legs that provide stability on most surfaces. It also comes with a steel poker for stoking the fire.

Weight – This Bali Outdoor tailgating fire pit weighs about 27 pounds. The steel frame is very sturdy which makes it easier to pick up and carry.

Click here to buy this Bali Outdoors wood burning portable fire pit available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). As discussed above, make sure you are allowed to burn wood while tailgating at the stadium.

Lemy Wood Burning Metal Firepit for Tailgating

Having a fire pit look nice and still give you great functionality is a great combination. This Lemy decorative fire pit for tailgating has a square shape and a faux stone table top design. It is a wood burning portable fire pit that comes with a cooking grate. This fire pit also comes with a safety mesh cover to keep sparks from flying out.

Here’s what this Lemy wood burning fire pit for tailgating looks like:

This is the current price of this Lemy portable fire pit available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about this fire pit:

Burning Method – This fire pit burns wood but you can also use charcoal when you are grilling if you would prefer that. The wood or charcoal doesn’t come with your purchase, so you will need to provide that.

Material – This Lemy tailgating fire pit is made from steel that has a powder coated finish that helps prevent rust. As mentioned, it has a square frame that has 4 legs. The table top is an artificial stone.

Weight – This portable fire pit weighs about 30.4 pounds. The square frame does make it really easy for two people to carry. There is some assembly required, but I’ve found the directions are easy to follow.

Click here to buy this Lemy wood burning fire pit for tailgating available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). As mentioned before, since this is a wood burning fire pit check any restrictions for tailgating with a fire.

Bond Propane Gas Fire Pit for Tailgating

Propane burning fire pits can be very convenient options for a tailgate. This Bond Propane burning tailgating fire pit has an auto ignition switch that allows you to get the heat on instantly. It has a locking lid and handle that make it really easy to transport to your tailgating site. It is made of steel but is lightweight compared to many wood burning options.

Here’s what this Bond Portable Propane Tailgating Fire Pit looks like:

This is the current price of this Bond Fire Pit for tailgating available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about this fire pit:

Burning Method – This Bond fire pit burns propane gas. When using this propane burning fire pit, check with the manufacturer to make sure it is safe to cook on. A propane bottle is not included, so you will need to purchase one.

Material – It is a made with steel and completed with a bronze and copper finish which help it hold up to heat and weather. It also comes with pumice decorative stones that when lit give off a beautiful glow.

Weight – The fire pit weighs about 20.5 pounds and it comes with a handle that makes it pretty easy to pick up. The handle is supported by a locking lid, which makes carrying it effortless.

Click here to buy this Bond fire pit for tailgating available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). This is a propane fire pit, so you shouldn’t have any issues with fire restrictions but it is always best to check ahead of time.

Other Tailgating Fire Pits to Consider

KingSo Wood Burning Steel Tailgating Fire Pit – This KingSo wood burning fire pit has a unique design that gives off a lot of light that helps create a lively atmosphere for your tailgating party. You can also grill on this fire pit, which is extremely convenient. It is made of steel and weighs about 38 pounds, so you might want two people to carry it. Click here to view this KingSo wood burning fire pit for tailgating at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

VIVOHOME Metal Wood Burning Tailgating Firepit Table – This VIVOHOME fire pit table is another great option for those looking for a fire pit you can grill on and it provides a lot of heat and light. It has a steel square frame with four legs that also comes with a mesh covering to keep any sparks from escaping the pit. The table top has a faux stone design, which is a nice decorative feature. Click here to view this VIVOHOME wood burning tailgating fire pit available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

Outland Living Deluxe Portable Propane Fire Pit – Propane fire pits for tailgating are great options because you don’t have to worry about bringing wood or left over coals at the end of the tailgating party. Not only is it convenient to use, it is also easy to carry as it only weighs 23.3 pounds. I also like that there isn’t any smoke when using it. Click here to view this Outland Living Deluxe portable fire pit for tailgating available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

6 Things To Consider When Buying a Fire Pit for Tailgating

Tailgating Fire Pit Accessories

When it comes to fire pits for tailgating, you want to make sure you have everything you need. The first thing you will need to get is the fuel source. Usually companies do not include propane or wood with your purchase. So you will likely need to get it on your own.

In general, you won’t need many accessories when using a propane burning fire pit. It is always a good idea to have a pair of heat resistant gloves and a protective fire mat though. You will also want to make sure your fire pit comes with a propane hose and attachment (vast majority do).

For wood burning fire pits, you will likely want or need a few more accessories. As with propane fire pits, having gloves and a mat are always a great idea. You may also want to buy a grilling grate, fire tool set, and a wood rack. Also, once it gets cold outside, you may want to look into a fleece jacket or battery heated golf jacket.

Burning Method

When buying a fire pit for tailgating, your options are propane or wood burning. Both of these are great options, but keep in mind what you want your fire pit to do and if the stadium you tailgate at has any open flame restrictions.

Propane fire pits for tailgating are typically a little lighter and you likely will need less accessories and set up time for your tailgate. They also don’t don’t have an open flame, which means no smoke and will likely pass any open flame restrictions your stadium may impose. Most propane burning tailgating fire pits are not recommended for grilling though, but you should check with the manufacturer to know for sure.

Wood burning portable fire pits are great for tailgates because they typically allow for grilling and are a great source of heat and light. The added light may also be great for playing a late night game of cornhole. The added grilling functionality might allow you to leave the grill at home, but you do typically need a couple more accessories like fire tools and gloves. Keep in mind that depending on the stadium, wood burning fire pits may not be allowed due to their open flame.

Height

While the height of your tailgating fire pit may be easy to overlook, if you want your fire pit to double as a grill, you definitely don’t want a short unit that makes cooking awkward. With that said, shorter fire pits are better for sitting around, as you don’t want your flame to get too high. When deciding on the right fire pit for tailgating, just make sure you know what all you want out of it and what height is best for you.

Weight

The weight of your fire pit will determine how easy it is to transport it back and forth to your tailgating site. Fire pits can weigh over 40 pounds, which depending on the shape, it might mean needing more than one person to comfortably carry it. Keep in mind that your fire pit weight will likely be that of the unit itself, so wood and propane bottles will add more weight if you have them in it when you are moving it.

Tailgate Setup

Getting the fire pit in place is the easy part. Setting up the grill, tent, and TV is the hard part. If you are hosting a tailgate party, here are some of our other resources to help you get the party going in the right direction:

Tailgating Restrictions

Depending on where you tailgate at, there may be restrictions on open flames or wood burning fire pits. When you are looking to buy a tailgating fire pit, it is always a good idea to check with your local stadium authorities on what they allow. Fire pits for tailgating are great, but just make sure they are allowed.